The ACA can suck it.

[arborgold]

That is all.

Well, no, not really.

I just got a denial letter in the mail today from a "real" private insurance plan due to preexisting conditions.

So I went to the pcip site to try to enroll in the new pre-existing conditions plans, only to discover that I can't.

Why not, you ask? Because, in an attempt to be responsible, I've spent the last 9 months on a short term (month to month) catastrophic plan. And in order to be eligible for the new pre-existing conditions plans created under the ACA, you have to be COMPLETELY without insurance for the last six months.

So apparently the gov'ts great plan to fix the health care crisis was to make people go six months with absolutely no health insurance coverage before offering them coverage.

Genius.

#fucktheACA

[teflep]

So, it is not the amazeballs thing one would hope for? Shocked I tell ya. (And sorry you are dealing)

[MrsAxilla]

The catastrophic plan doesn't count as coverage? I thought existing law is that as long as you have continuous coverage they can't deny you?

ETA: is it an individual plan?

[arborgold]

Oct 10, 2012 15:37:49 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

The catastrophic plan doesn't count as coverage? I thought existing law is that as long as you have continuous coverage they can't deny you?

ETA: is it an individual plan?

The catastrophic temporary plan is through the same company I was looking to get the "real" plan through (Golden Rule, aka United Health Care).

And, no, they can totally deny you still. That's what the pre-existing plan inventions were supposed to help with, though. If you were denied, you were SUPPOSED to be able to go get a plan through the exchange thingies. 'cept apparently you can't if you've had ANY type of coverage during the previous six months.

Again, the ACA CAN SUCK IT.

[MrsAxilla]

Oct 10, 2012 15:41:13 GMT -5 arborgold said:

Oct 10, 2012 15:37:49 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

The catastrophic plan doesn't count as coverage? I thought existing law is that as long as you have continuous coverage they can't deny you?

ETA: is it an individual plan?

The catastrophic temporary plan is through the same company I was looking to get the "real" plan through (Golden Rule, aka United Health Care).

And, no, they can totally deny you still. That's what the pre-existing plan inventions were supposed to help with, though. If you were denied, you were SUPPOSED to be able to go get a plan through the exchange thingies. 'cept apparently you can't if you've had ANY type of coverage during the previous six months.

Again, the ACA CAN SUCK IT.

You should totally write your congressmen.

[arborgold]

Oct 10, 2012 15:41:12 GMT -5 asdfjkl said:

Oct 10, 2012 15:37:49 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

The catastrophic plan doesn't count as coverage? I thought existing law is that as long as you have continuous coverage they can't deny you?

ETA: is it an individual plan?

Right? This is what I thought, too. Actually I thought that the pre-ACA law said if you'd had coverage in the last 90 days, you couldn't be excluded for pre-existing conditions.

That's only for employer based plans, sadly. Not individual plans.

Had I opted for COBRA (at $650 a month), and run out of COBRA, THEN the individual plans would have had to cover me, even with my pre-existing conditions. But I couldn't afford the $650 a month for COBRA, so I went with the short-term plans, and now I'm fucked.

[arborgold]

Oct 10, 2012 15:42:08 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

Oct 10, 2012 15:41:13 GMT -5 arborgold said:

The catastrophic temporary plan is through the same company I was looking to get the "real" plan through (Golden Rule, aka United Health Care).

And, no, they can totally deny you still. That's what the pre-existing plan inventions were supposed to help with, though. If you were denied, you were SUPPOSED to be able to go get a plan through the exchange thingies. 'cept apparently you can't if you've had ANY type of coverage during the previous six months.

Again, the ACA CAN SUCK IT.

You should totally write your congressmen.

I actually think I might. There's nothing they can do, I'm sure - but this is fucked the fuck up.

[ESF]

I went to look for individual plans a year or two ago. I was told that in the month of March, it was open enrollment, and I could get on an individual plan with no underwriting (ie pre-exes didn't matter, they'd have to take me at their normal, healthy woman in my age group rate). I don't know if this was just a California only law, or if it was part of the ACA. Might be worth looking into.

I'm really sorry though.

[aurora]

I didn't realize that either, so thanks for sharing. I'm sorry you're going through this. I think the health insurance industry in the U.S. is a travesty and that the ACA doesn't go nearly far enough.

[Deleted]

Yep,mwhiich is why in reality this did nothing for h with his pre existing. we still have to pay an arm and a leg (pun intended) because he can't go on private insurance due to his missing limb.

[ttt]

I'm sure the Republicans' plan would have been much better.

I'm sorry that totally sucks. I hope you get a response from your Congressman (should be Rep Moran, right? try his FB page www.facebook.com/RepJimMoran).

[arborgold]

Oct 10, 2012 16:54:01 GMT -5 ttt said:

I'm sure the Republicans' plan would have been much better.

I'm sorry that totally sucks. I hope you get a response from your Congressman (should be Rep Moran, right? try his FB page www.facebook.com/RepJimMoran).

Yep, it's Moran, and I know him fairly well. Was just with him at a women's issues conference, and he and I talked for awhile while he was waiting for his ride to take him to his next appt. I've also got a meeting set up with the woman in charge of his "women's issues" work to talk about possible job leads, so I'll be raising it with her, as well.

grumble mumble grumble

[ttt]

Also, I think it's not until 2014 when all discrimination against pre-existing conditions ends

[ttt]

Oct 10, 2012 16:55:50 GMT -5 arborgold said:

Oct 10, 2012 16:54:01 GMT -5 ttt said:

I'm sure the Republicans' plan would have been much better.

I'm sorry that totally sucks. I hope you get a response from your Congressman (should be Rep Moran, right? try his FB page www.facebook.com/RepJimMoran).

Yep, it's Moran, and I know him fairly well. Was just with him at a women's issues conference, and he and I talked for awhile while he was waiting for his ride to take him to his next appt. I've also got a meeting set up with the woman in charge of his "women's issues" work to talk about possible job leads, so I'll be raising it with her, as well.

grumble mumble grumble

I should have known you are that connected

[decemberwedding07]

Oct 10, 2012 16:53:46 GMT -5 @irishbride said:

Yep,mwhiich is why in reality this did nothing for h with his pre existing. we still have to pay an arm and a leg (pun intended) because he can't go on private insurance due to his missing limb.

Seriously? A missing limb is a deniable previous existing condition? That just seems... really odd.

[Deleted]

Oct 10, 2012 17:03:44 GMT -5 decemberwedding07 said:

Oct 10, 2012 16:53:46 GMT -5 @irishbride said:

Yep,mwhiich is why in reality this did nothing for h with his pre existing. we still have to pay an arm and a leg (pun intended) because he can't go on private insurance due to his missing limb.

Seriously? A missing limb is a deniable previous existing condition? That just seems... really odd.

It's expensive. He needs a new leg every three years or so, and the cheapest ones start at 15k. Then there are doctors appointments and occasional surgeries. Long term, he will need lots of surgeries, like hip replacement, because his joints work harder than an able bodied person to over compensate for the missing limb.

[MrsAxilla]

Oct 10, 2012 17:06:01 GMT -5 @irishbride said:

Oct 10, 2012 17:03:44 GMT -5 decemberwedding07 said:

Seriously? A missing limb is a deniable previous existing condition? That just seems... really odd.

It's expensive. He needs a new leg every three years or so, and the cheapest ones start at 15k. Then there are doctors appointments and occasional surgeries. Long term, he will need lots of surgeries, like hip replacement, because his joints work harder than an able bodied person to over compensate for the missing limb.

Well, that makes sense, but my first thought was the same as decemberwedding's.

[ringstrue]

Dude. Get Moran on the dang phone and tell him to give you a job so you can get on that sweet govt. Ins coverage or whatever he has. Surely he could use you for something.

[arborgold]

Oct 10, 2012 17:56:29 GMT -5 ringstrue said:

Dude. Get Moran on the dang phone and tell him to give you a job so you can get on that sweet govt. Ins coverage or whatever he has. Surely he could use you for something.

That was actually my diabolical plan went I went to his women's issues thing.

A few months ago, I met w/ his women's issues staffer abt funding for int'l family planning, and when I heard she was going to be there, I made sure that we ran into each other. I asked if I could set up an informational interview w/ her, and at first she seemed a bit "oh, we don't really hire volunteers in the main office" but then we started talking about the work that we do and she became very much, "PLEASE set up an appt to come into the office in the next couple of weeks, and bring your resume. There are a few people I'd like you to meet."

So ::fingerscrossed::