Regarding bad deals: That “Silver” plan the article touts has a 45 dollar co-pay for a doctor visit.
You can go to a private, self-pay doctor and pay around $50-100 for a routine office visit as an existing patient (depends on the time spent, practice and complexity). Lower rates are possible because the doctor’s office does not have to waste staff time submitting claims. More often than not, the private doctor will have non-electronic records, and you won’t be asked how many guns you have. Check aapsonline.org if you’re interested.
There is a lot waste in the administration these large plans.