Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Health-insurance dictates aren’t free


My medical insurance premiums have skyrocketed because of Obamacare.

I have an individual insurance policy with Blue Shield of Idaho. My premiums have gone up from $280 a month to $450 a month in the last two years. That's a 62 percent increase. I have a $7,500 deductible. So rather than paying $3,360 a year for $7,500 worth of insurance, I'll have to pay $5,400 a year for $7,500 worth of insurance.

Why the increase? It's the American "Affordable" Health Care Choice Act. What a crock! This morphing bureaucracy forces me to pay even more for other people's health care. Who knows how many charges are in the pipeline! Things like mandating insurance companies to provide policies that pay for birth control is a direct example of taking money out of my pocket to pay for other people's medical costs. It's not free.

I don't work outside the home and have been personally responsible, nearly all of my adult life, by purchasing catastrophic health insurance. I assessed the risk and chose my option. I can't afford the type of policy that is being mandated by AAHCA.

A catastrophic policy is affordable to me because I'm covered if something expensive happens. I have co-pays for six visits to see my doctors per year, plus drug co-pays for some drugs. The visits, drug expenses and annual exams are covered but are not part of the deductible. That means my premiums cover the cost of those exams and expenses.

Every time President Obama mandates some kind of coverage, a clear sop to buy votes, my premiums go up. Things like birth control should be paid for by the person taking the birth control, not me. These mandates explode the cost of medical insurance premiums that everyone pays. What's next, "free" vitamins or "free" health club memberships?

I'm responsible for purchasing my health insurance. I should have the option to purchase insurance that fits within my budget.

Julie Lynn

Ketchum




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