My health insurance adventure

Well, it happened. I finally threw in the towel and decided I needed to sign up for health care. Actually, I had no choice.

It was decided for me when the company who had my previous health insurance notified me that my plan did not meet Obamacare criteria and would be canceled.

My plan was a major medical coverage policy to protect against accidents and major illness. I had to pay for normal doctor visits and most procedures not considered major. Still and all, it provided a comfort level of coverage that suited my needs.

Besides, I always found it interesting when checking out of a doctor’s office. It was always surprising to see how much the cost of a regular or special office visit would be discounted for cash, often as much as 35 percent. That tells me how much insurance affects medical costs.

Like most people, I did not want to be without some sort of health coverage. Since I had no choice, I ventured into the health exchange world. Nevada has its own health exchange at which you can supposedly shop online. Not so, at least not in the fashion most of us are used to with Amazon, E-bay, and the like. There, you can peruse a plethora of choices before making a decision. On the state exchange, that isn’t the case.

When I first looked, I could use an estimator and access a general list of plans and providers which outlined premium ranges, co-pays, and deductibles. Somehow, after the first couple of times I looked, that went away. I know, because I bookmarked some sites that I couldn’t access again.

The “new” version of the exchange wanted all of your pertinent information before you shopped for insurance. Since I have an aversion to giving out information when I don’t know where it will end up, I found one other way. You can contact the providers, supposedly directly. Not so fast. When I called the provided numbers, I found I was talking to a referral person. I never could get out of them exactly what their function was, except to then refer me to yet another person at another number.

When I called that number, you guessed it, I was “screened” and then passed on to another person. This person was supposedly the agent’s representative. After fishing for information, that person finally passed me on to an agent. The agent seemed to only want to work from the information given and would quote only one plan that “best fit my circumstances.”

This happened repeatedly. After awhile, I quit answering calls at all hours of day and night soliciting “one size fits all” insurance. It led me to wonder how much each of these people were paid and how that affected the premiums. Let me be clear, I have no problem paying an insurance premium knowing the agent gets a piece of it. After all, they work hard and deserve that income. What I don’t care for is layer after layer of middlemen in the process. Surely there has to be a better way.

According to a recent revised Congressional Budget Office report, Obamacare will now cost $50,000 per person enrolled. That is just the government’s cost. It doesn’t consider insurance premiums or out of pocket costs paid. Further, they basically say they can’t score Obamacare anymore because of new taxes and changes to existing ones. After my experience, I now have a better understanding as to why that is.

I finally found an agent who would take time to explain options. After looking at several plans we finally selected one. Like many self-employed people, my income fluctuates from year to year. As do many enrollees as per published reports, I overstated my projected income to avoid the possibility of severe year-end penalties, so I am paying more than I probably need to but I just don’t need that hassle.

I am told I will need to re-enroll next year, probably with the same song and dance. But I am covered for a whole year. And I now have maternity care coverage! Just what I need.

If the reality of Obamacare weren’t so bleak, my experience would be amusing. The one thing I know more than ever is that Obamacare must go. All of you on employer-covered insurance, your time’s coming. When the employer mandate hits next year, if they don’t delay it again until after the election, you will see what I mean. Obamacare is a boondoggle.

Tom Riggins is an LVN columnist. He may be reached at news@lahontanvalleynews.com.