In 2009 I signed up for my own private insurance through Anthem, not employer insurance. The cost was $216 a month. Holy Stuff, I thought!
I barely used the insurance (and my premium stayed at $216) for over a year and then I started using it monthly because of health issue. That year my rate went up to $320 a month. I did the math and I was about breaking even having the medical costs paid. Sadly I learned I have a serious health issue and I can't work or barely function sometimes.
Then I stopped using the insurance for another year, but the premium stayed at $320.
The next year, 2012 I started monthly visits to the doctor for the same health issue and a very costly prescription medicine. The cost of my insurance went up to $405 a month. Again I did the math, ($480 cost for monthly prescription) and I was still coming out ok, but I wasn't employed anymore so this was a huge cost. But my plan covered my prescription without having to meet the deductible, so this was a HUGE benefit
At the end of 2012 I received a letter that my insurance plan wasn't good enough for the Affordable Care Act guidelines and that next year (2013) I would have to change plans. Anthem had a plan that met my current plan and the ACA guidelines for $520 a month! Are you kidding me??
So I called Anthem and explained my situation and explicitly told them I wanted a plan that immediately covered my prescription without having to meet the deductible first. The customer service people were half retarded so I had to talk with several people to get assured that my new plan would immediately cover my monthly prescription.
My new plan was only $280 a month and I was happy! Still a major ripoff really. But then when I went to get my $480 prescription filled I was told that it wouldn't be covered by insurance until the deductible was met. Unbelievable right? Oh not yet! Just keep reading.
So now I can't afford my prescription and I well get very sick without it. So I call Anthem to find out what's wrong, I showed them my recorded call where I was told several times ** that my plan covered my prescription without having to meet the deductible first **. Well I find out that my new plan wouldn't cover my monthly prescription drugs. AND this piece of scum sales person tells me I need to cancel this plan and get a new one. He has a new plan that will cover my monthly prescription drugs and its only $419 a month! Ok, and you'll cancel the other $280 plan right? Of course he said he would.
So next month (yes I went a whole month without my meds) I show up to pharmacy to find out that my new $419 a month plan doesn't cover my monthly prescription drugs either.
And, not only that but the idiot sales person didnt cancel my $280 plan, *so I was billed $419+$280 that month for insurance * and since I had to go to the doctor that month I couldn't not pay or try for a refund.
So now it's been two months and I'm ready to just give up when I learn that my Republican Governor fought the a-hole Republican state legislature to get Medicaid Expansion in my state. I seriously doubted I would be lucky enough to get accepted, but I have no job and a serious medical issue....So maybe?
Two weeks later I was completely insured! And I've had my monthly prescription drugs and doctor visits covered every time, not a penny out of my pocket. In fact my insurance pays me to get routine medical attention done like physicals and immunizations.
F THE INSURANCE COMPANIES AND F THE REPUBLICANS!!!