Professional Woodworkers and The Affordable Care Act

[Paul Wunder]

http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/1...care/?src=dayp

I am posting, NOT to be political but simply to pass on an article from today's New York Times written by Paul Downs, a custom Cabinetmaker from Philadelphia as he looks at the impact on his business of the new Health Insurance law. Paul is an official member here although he has never posted. This article will be one of a series written by him over the next few weeks. I know that we have many professionals here (I am not).

I hope that this subject matter doesn't cause problems here and I do think it may be useful. I suspect that the moderators will follow this closely.

[Matt Day]

This thread will likely get moved soon, but I enjoyed the article and look forward to his next article. I didn't know the ACA is based on age, sex, ZIP CODE, and tobacco use.

Thanks for posting.

[Mike Henderson]

Good, balanced article. Thanks for posting.

Mike

[Mark Carlson]

I liked the article and will look for his updates on how he makes out.

[Phil Thien]

Yep, I enjoyed the article as well, look forward to more updates.

In fact, I appreciate how the article avoids the politics of the issue.

[eugene thomas]

I really hope they mods do move this to proper forum.

[David Kumm]

One of the new requirements is that there can't be as large a price difference based on age as their used to be. Older people will be getting a benefit and young people will be subsidizing them. One reason why the system needs the young people to sign up. Employers with older workers are likely to see the impact of that- at least initially. Among my business clients, the group policies seem to be holding up. The people with individual policies are seeing cancellations and bigger increases. That is here in WI. I suspect different markets are different. Dave

[Earl McLain]

We're seeing the same thing in Indiana David, though our main small group carrier has not released our 1-1-2014 renewals yet. The downside on the Marketplace and SHOP offerings in our area is that the networks are incredibly narrow--with no coverage outside the network (for the most part--life threatening emergency being the main exception).
earl

[Paul Wunder]

In Connecticut, the networks are limited to the state of Connecticut. While CT has great hospitals, there appears to be no coverage that would enable someone to go the The Mayo Clinic or Johns Hopkins for specialized care if needed. I don't know if most commercial plans today have similar restraints. Maybe this will change over time with experience and listening to the public.

Some good news: A small businesswoman in CT (a friend) currently has a group policy that covers herself and her teenage daughter and pays almost $24K annually. I researched the CT marketplace for similar benefits and coverages and found a Blue Cross "Gold Plan" at <$15K. She was thrilled

[Wade Lippman]

Some good news: A small businesswoman in CT (a friend) currently has a group policy that covers herself and her teenage daughter and pays almost $24K annually. I researched the CT marketplace for similar benefits and coverages and found a Blue Cross "Gold Plan" at <$15K. She was thrilled

I lost my group insurance 2 years ago; they said I didn't have enough income to be considered a group. I was paying $14,000 for a family.
The only non-group I could find was $31,000, and it wasn't as good. I was rather upset.
Before the first insurance expired I found a group set up under the first phase of Obamacare for early retirees for $15,000 with somewhat better coverage than my original plan. I was thrilled.
Next year I can get even better insurance for $14,000. I am a happy man.

I am surprised though that a Gold plan for mother and daughter would be $15,000 Here it would be $8,000 for platinum. Maybe we are talking about different things.

[Steve Rozmiarek]

My small business's plan's for all our employees where cancelled, and a the cheapest in exchange option doubled the out of pocket and doubled the premiums for everyone. We were able to switch companies to find a similar plan to the old ones, out of exchange, but it changes the networks, so some of us lost doctors, and will only be able to use the cheaper rates for 2014. After that, we will apparently all be forced to go to a more expensive plan that none of us want. Interesting to see the extreme disgust from the usually ambivalent employees over that. Every one of them opted to stay outside of the exchange. This is a mess for my business and our people.

[John Sanford]

In Connecticut, the networks are limited to the state of Connecticut.

It would seem in smaller states, or for people who work and live in different states (how many folks living in Connecticut work in NY, and have doctors in NY, etc....) this could be a big problem.

[Paul Wunder]

It would seem in smaller states, or for people who work and live in different states (how many folks living in Connecticut work in NY, and have doctors in NY, etc....) this could be a big problem.

It certainly came as a surprise to me....and it most certainly must affect thousands of people who border NY from Connecticut or who just need the special skills of New York hospitals. But as I previously mentioned, CT is blessed with a number of nationally ranked hospitals. It does concern me that people in less populated states may have fewer choices.

One of the major advantages of Medicare is that a person can obtain care anywhere in the U.S. Most hospitals accept Medicare and most NYC metropolitan area Physicians do too. I am fortunate to be covered by Medicare so that this first iteration of the AFA Exchanges does not affect me.

[John Sanford]

It does concern me that people in less populated states may have fewer choices.

Well, for many of the less populated states, it may not make much difference. Out West, the less populated states face the problem of distance, not legal boundary. For the vast majority of people who live in Montana, restricting their network to just Montana isn't likely to change much. Rhode Island and Delaware, on the other hand, can easily be getting hosed by this, especially RI, which, based on my understanding of their economic situation, isn't in nearly the fine position you've described for Connecticut. Rationally speaking, why should they be? Connecticut and Mass. are right next door, with their world class medical facilities. In the same vein, if one has lived in NW Indiana their entire life, why sweat it that Gary doesn't have any top tier medical facilities? Chicago is right next door.

This is actually has the potential to be a huge problem for a significant part of the population. By court order, millions of non-custodial parents are required to provide health insurance for their children. Previously, many policies supported networks that would spill over into border regions of adjoining states. Now what?

One of the major advantages of Medicare is that a person can obtain care anywhere in the U.S. Most hospitals accept Medicare and most NYC metropolitan area Physicians do too. I am fortunate to be covered by Medicare so that this first iteration of the AFA Exchanges does not affect me.

Yes, but not only is Medicare age restricted, it's also, apparently, becoming less popular with health care providers, a trend that shows no sign of reversing.

[Pat Barry]

I really hope they mods do move this to proper forum.

Its already in off topic, where else can they move it?