0 Dear Mr. President; my healthcare costs are up 330% since 2013; how's your bill working??

Really??

So, how is the new healthcare program working for you?  McCrabby and Mrs. M just got their increase for January (again) -- had to write our congressman, senators, and the president.  Our letter is below.

Curt MacRae
Coldwater, MI

September 26, 2014

President Barack Obama

White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. Obama:

I wrote a year ago to detail the effects of the “Affordable Care Act” on my life.  As a reminder, here are the bullets of that: 

·       Examining our new plans that are offered, we found that we must include maternity coverage (we both turned 63 last year, so we aren’t planning on more kids) and pediatric dental care (but not adult dental care).

·       We are now paying 208% of what we paid previously for the policy we were told we could keep

·       Raising our deductible from $2,000, to $10,000

·       Raising our co-pay maximum from $2,500 to $7,000

·       Paying for emergency room procedures, even AFTER deductibles are met

·       Paying for all prescriptions, unless we can get a generic which will cost about what we pay now

I also pointed out last year, what I predicted for other outcomes of this bill.

o   More than double our costs (and move that to 3-4 times if we actually get sick)

o   Think twice, or more, before seeking medical care, because we’re covered for “well” visits, but not for when we’re actually sick

o   The economy gets hurt (we were getting ready to buy a new car to replace our 12-year old car, but now those funds will go to healthcare)

o   Incent people to pick the highest deductible possible to keep rates down

o   Then, when illness hits, bankruptcy will follow because people will give up paying

o   Poor people will get coverage with government subsidies (squeezing middle class again)

o   Young people will “risk it” and pay penalties, rather than pay high costs to cover the poor

o   The system will have to raise rates because the young, healthy people aren’t in the program

I’m writing again to not to say “I told you so,” but to see if you think it will ever end.  We just got a notice this week that our coverage, which was $365/mo prior to your bill, and $846/mo this year, is going up to $1,201/mo in January.  And our co-pays are still three times as high. 

I heard an observation once, “I find it amazing that people who think we cannot afford to pay for doctors, hospitals, and medication, somehow think that we can afford to pay for doctors, hospitals, medication, and a government bureaucracy to administer it.”  Sounds right to me.

Can someone help?

 To repeat what I said in last year’s letter, this is the first time I’ve felt forced to pick what’s not best for my family, because the government is telling me to.  We have always believed that we’ll do what’s needed to survive.  We’ve survived economic turmoil, money mismanagement by an unscrupulous financial advisor, a frivolous lawsuit from a disgruntled employee who was fired for stealing, and we’ve pulled ourselves up and kept going.  We were recovering, considering buying our first new car in ten years, and…   But, we don’t think it’s fiscally responsible now, with the big increase in insurance costs.  I mean, we shouldn’t take on too much debt, should we??  Do you think?  Oh wait a minute.

I’m frustrated, I’m sad, I’m hurt and I’m mad.  I’d like to hear why this is good for my family and good for my country.  Please enlighten me on that.  I’d like a response.

Thank you.