Hurray for Obamacare! Vast improvement!

[unknownjulie]

I am signing up with Kaiser in Hilo and I realized that they no longer ask about "preexisting conditions" and also, the max per yr is 6300 out of pocket- so people will no longer be bankrupted by medical bills. This is awesome!! Wow!! I had no idea. I am now officially a fan!

[birdmove]

We are signed up too, and finally got our Kaiser med cards. Right now, the problem with Kaiser (and has been for a while) is that they have no doctors taking new patients. You can make an appointment to go in and see a doctor, but it will be whoever is available. They do have doctors taking new patients in Kona. Who wants to drive a coup0le hundred miles to see a doctor?

Jon in Keaau/HPP

[unknownjulie]

Hey birdmove. They are mostly rent-a-docs anyhow, so there's no reason to really request a particular one. They all seem pretty good. IMHO. They may not be there, the next time you go for an appointment again- anyhow. I signed up my son for your chessclass if you're able to email me- I can give you the details.

[DTisme]

There are plenty of dr's at Kaiser Hilo. I got my first appt. within a few days. (I switched from HMSA effective Jan 1) They told me at the desk that once you get to know some of the docs (yes, all but one are temporary), you can decide who you like and request them later. BC of ACA, I now get Rx coverage and pre-existing conditions no longer matter. I liked HMSA ok, but it worked out to $50 cheaper a month than HMSA was going to be in new year, with MUCH better coverage. LOVED the dr. I saw and am really impressed with the efficiency. Lab and pharmacy are right there, they quickly message you with your lab results, remind you to make mammogram appts, the dr. you saw actually follows up, etc. Only drawback is you still have to fly to Oahu for things like colonoscopies, and as said above, you can't pick a PCP. So what? There's more chance of getting in sooner if you have a choice of docs. And they asked if I'd prefer a man or woman my first appt. So far, VERY impressed. The dr. spent 45 min's with me. (probably a fluke, but for first appt., there were things to be discussed.) The dr. I saw is there for 6 months. If I go again within that time, I'll ask for her bc I liked her.

Only problem so far is that they double-debited my checking acct for the month of January. But they are aware and are fixing it.

They also have flu shot clinics, btw, during peak season, and I saw posters for support groups. I missed the flu shot clinic, but had no problem making an appt for a shot (they were out of shots the day I saw that dr.). So been there twice now and felt really well-cared-for. The nurse who gave me the flu shot stayed with me in the examining room for 10 min's afterward bc I have been known to faint. Very nice lady.

[ericlp]

When I signed up for Obamacare they told me Kaiser wasn't an option. Hmmmmmmm.... Did it change?

[Kelena]

Kaiser and HMSA both offer plans that conform to the requirements of the Affordable Care Act. You don't sign up for Obamacare. You sign up for a plan that is offered by one of the two insurers that offer plans conforming with the ACA (Obamacare). Kaiser is competing hard and is, based on anecdotal evidence, cheaper than HMSA in most instances. HMSA was nonetheless the best choice for me, but I had to sign up with them directly because the Health Care Connector website never functioned for me. The private contractors hired to build the website completely failed to deliver on their contract. Undoubtedly, they are seeking millions more based on "change orders" contending that they didn't REALIZE they would have to actually process applications, (consisting of not much more than income, name, social security number and date of birth and whether or not you smoke) and allow simple comparisons of the offerings of the TWO insurers competing in Hawaii.

[Guest]

I am glad it is helping some people. For me, it made my insurance go way up.

[punaticbychoice]

The best solution for health care is Medicare for all- womb to tomb, no one left out or without healthcare.
ACA (Obamacare, Romneycare)are nothing but a rip-off for Wall Street and its private for profit interests.

[Haaheo okole puka]

quote:

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Originally posted by unknownjulie

I am signing up with Kaiser in Hilo and I realized that they no longer ask about "preexisting conditions" and also, the max per yr is 6300 out of pocket- so people will no longer be bankrupted by medical bills. This is awesome!! Wow!! I had no idea. I am now officially a fan!

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$6300 is the yearly deductible atop the monthly payments?
And this is good how? Anyone care to share a pre Obamacare deductible? I had a 0 dollar deductible back in 2006.

If I wanted your opinion, I'd frame it for you!

[EightFingers]

I think the $6300 is the maximum out of pocket expense that she'd pay per year. Unkjulie didn't say what her deductable was or even her monthly payment (which would be reduced via subsidies if she had a lower income). You really can't compare yourself to her as she left out quite a bit of needed information.


It looks like the subsidies stop at incomes above $62,500/ year.