Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

(Senator)Barrasso: Obamacare Deductibles So High, No One Gets to Use the Insurance
CNS ^ | May 25, 2016 | Susan Jones

Posted on 05/25/2016 7:51:08 AM PDT by xzins

The Department of Health and Human Services insists that the Affordable Care Act not only expanded health insurance to many more Americans, but it also "made everyone's insurance better."

But some Republicans are asking, what good is the health insurance if sky-high deductibles mean you never get to use it?

The Democrats' Affordable Care Act is a mandate -- "not to get care, but to get coverage," Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said on Tuesday.

"And many people are finding the coverage is not at all of value to them because they can't get care. Either...their doctors don't take Obamacare or the deductibles are so high that they're never able to get to the insurance," Barrasso told a news conference.

"The president may call this a victory for the American people. I think this is something the president should not be proud of at all."

Barrasso noted that on Wednesday, Healthcare.gov will start reporting the 2017 premium increases for Obamacare policies sold on the exchanges.

"The news is not good for the American public," Barrasso said.

"We're seeing numbers in New Hampshire above 40 percent increases; in New York, above 40 percent increases; in New Mexico, where Blue Cross-Blue Shield of New Mexico pulled out a year ago, they're talking about coming back in, but only if they can get a rate increase of over 80 percent.

"So, the people that can still get their insurance, they may be the lucky ones in the sense that so many people are no longer even able to get the insurance they've had.

"Obamacare is a sinking ship. When you take a look at the companies around the country selling insurance, about 25 percent were able to make money last year. And the only way they did it is because they set the deductible so high that for people who had that insurance, the deductibles were so high that they never actually got to the point where they used the insurance. They were just paying out of pocket all the way through.

Barrasso noted that in Idaho, the most commonly sold "silver" plan is considering deductibles of $6,850. "If you have insurance with a deductible of $6,850, is there any chance you're actually going to get to use that insurance?" he asked.

"President Obama went on the attack years ago before the health care law was passed talking about junk insurance. But what most people are finding on the Obamacare exchanges is exactly what President Obama is making them buy."


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 0carenightmare; 114th; 2016issues; aca; barrasso; deductible; obamacare; obamacaredeductible; obamacaredeductibles; obamacarepremiums
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-89 next last
Barrasso noted that in Idaho, the most commonly sold "silver" plan is considering deductibles of $6,850. "If you have insurance with a deductible of $6,850, is there any chance you're actually going to get to use that insurance?" he asked.

This is not a new criticism. It has been on Free Republic since before ObamaCare was even instituted.

If Americans are honest, ObamaCare is a wealth transfer program. They are taxed extra for ObamaCare and the deductible is nothing more than a money transfer to bureaucrats and insurance companies. We haven't even discussed premiums and copays.

A $6000 deductible is for most families the equivalent of zero insurance at all.

1 posted on 05/25/2016 7:51:08 AM PDT by xzins
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: All

ObamaCare has always been a ripoff. Free Republic has always known that.

Why are politicians just now seeing it?


2 posted on 05/25/2016 7:51:50 AM PDT by xzins ( Free Republic Gives YOU a voice heard around the globe. Support the Freepathon!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: xzins

This is exactly why ObamaCare was never supposed to be a health care law ... it’s a tax, plain and simple.


3 posted on 05/25/2016 7:55:09 AM PDT by Alberta's Child ("Sometimes I feel like I've been tied to the whipping post.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: xzins

“If you have insurance with a deductible of $6,850, is there any chance you’re actually going to get to use that insurance?”

I thought that was the point?


4 posted on 05/25/2016 7:55:34 AM PDT by zek157
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: xzins

That’s the point. And where is the MSM all blubbery over how many people signed up?


5 posted on 05/25/2016 7:58:10 AM PDT by SkyDancer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: xzins

The Republicans saw it for what it was. If you remember, Obamacare was passed without a single Republican vote.


6 posted on 05/25/2016 7:58:43 AM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (Socialism is always just one more murder away from utopia.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: xzins
This is not a new criticism. It has been on Free Republic since before ObamaCare was even instituted.

If only Senator Barrasso had read my tag line...it's been that way for about 6-7 years!

7 posted on 05/25/2016 7:59:24 AM PDT by Lou L (Health "insurance" is NOT the same as health "care")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: xzins

If I buy health insurance, I can no longer afford to go and see my doctor twice a year.

I can’t and won’t afford the premiums, because there is no point in paying through the nose for a product that I cannot use.

I can’t afford my drugs which I need to stay alive. I cannot afford anything that would trigger the deductible.

If I buy Obamacare, I will lose every last bit of health care that I pay cash for now.

If I buy Obamacare, I die.


8 posted on 05/25/2016 7:59:29 AM PDT by chris37 (heartless)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: zek157

I agree, and I personally have postponed doctor visits/treatment due to the out-of-pocket cost I would have, not willing to spend it if I can wait it out to recover.

I keep thinking that, at some point, the utilization will be low enough to bring the costs and/or deductibles back down a little, but probably for those who are getting free insurance and subsidized out-of-pocket costs, they are over-utilizing, which offsets those of us who use the coverage for catastrophic care mainly.


9 posted on 05/25/2016 8:00:57 AM PDT by NEMDF
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Blood of Tyrants

That doesn’t matter.

They have done nothing effective to stop it or reverse it. Instead that have funded it and let it remain alive.

Their votes were not needed to pass it, thus they can pretend they are against it, when they are obviously not against it.


10 posted on 05/25/2016 8:01:30 AM PDT by chris37 (heartless)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: xzins

Crony capitalism at its worst.


11 posted on 05/25/2016 8:02:11 AM PDT by Ciexyz ("You know who gets hurt? The people who worked hard, lived frugally, and saved their money."- Trump)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: xzins

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3401341/posts


12 posted on 05/25/2016 8:03:20 AM PDT by Red Badger (WE DON'T NEED NO STEENKING TAGLINES!...........................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: xzins

that was the plan all along. the people knew that and so did the politicians but it was passed in to law anyway. Any DC politician who now complains is just pandering and in full display of their duplicity to screw over the citizens. They know Trump will make a difference in how DC operates and the career politicians are all trying to get on board only to save their own asses.


13 posted on 05/25/2016 8:03:50 AM PDT by drypowder
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Blood of Tyrants

Only because no Republican vote was needed.

The Dems did need Republican votes to release the bill from Committee, however. And they got them.


14 posted on 05/25/2016 8:04:50 AM PDT by Bratch
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: xzins

No one gets to use the insurance and the cost of day-to-day care goes up 25-40% thanks to the insurance companies’ paperwork.


15 posted on 05/25/2016 8:05:50 AM PDT by hometoroost
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

That is a horror story. Have you sent it to Trump?


16 posted on 05/25/2016 8:08:57 AM PDT by xzins ( Free Republic Gives YOU a voice heard around the globe. Support the Freepathon!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: xzins

Catastrophic coverage for the price of a platinum policy.

The worst of all worlds.


17 posted on 05/25/2016 8:09:27 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum ("During a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act" --George Orwell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: xzins

I pay $250 a month with a $6,000 deductible.

It’s a wonderful plan:
My doctor is not on the plan, so I have to pay him out of pocket.

The coverage is generally 60%

Comes with all kinds of disallowed procedures and drugs

F#ck that.

Keep meaning to cancel and will do so today.


18 posted on 05/25/2016 8:10:09 AM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously-you won't live through it anyway - "Enjoy Yourself" ala Louis Prima)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: hometoroost

When you’re putting 6 grand into premiums already per year, then you’re paying 500 a month for coverage that you can’t use until you spend another 6 grand.

There is no way in the world that someone is not getting rich off of that, and it sure ain’t the working stiff who has to pay it.


19 posted on 05/25/2016 8:11:20 AM PDT by xzins ( Free Republic Gives YOU a voice heard around the globe. Support the Freepathon!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: xzins

Yes, I sent it the very same day I posted it!.........................


20 posted on 05/25/2016 8:11:56 AM PDT by Red Badger (WE DON'T NEED NO STEENKING TAGLINES!...........................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-89 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson