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Questions about Obamacare? Chat with someone who can help!
From www.healthcare.gov
The bolding of certain text, and the words in blue, are my additions to the transcript.
[12:28:00 pm]: Thanks for contacting Health Insurance Marketplace Live Chat. Please wait while we connect you to someone who can help.
[12:28:05 pm]: Please be patient while we're helping other people.
[12:28:39 pm]: Please be patient while we're helping other people.
[12:28:46 pm]: Welcome! You're now connected to Health Insurance Marketplace Live Chat.
Thanks for contacting us. My name is Diana. To protect your privacy, please don't provide any personal information, like Social Security Number, or any other sensitive medical or personal information.
[12:28:58 pm]: Diana
How may I help you?
[12:29:59 pm]: CALLER
It says to not provide any personal information to protect my privacy. Why? Can I not trust you?
[12:30:36 pm]: Diana
thats just how it is. How may I help you?
"thats just how it is."
Indeed. If we cannot trust our government to protect our privacy, then who can we trust?
[12:31:32 pm]: CALLER
I am trying to get a quote for my family. Will the quote be an estimate, or an actual quote?
[12:32:07 pm]: Diana
estimate
[12:33:07 pm]: CALLER
Do I have to buy the insurance to know what it actually costs?
[12:33:51 pm]: Diana
no you will have to do an application then it will let you know the prices.
[12:34:26 pm]: CALLER
How long does that take?
[12:35:26 pm]: Diana
if you do an application today over the phone they will be able to let you know the results the same time.
[12:35:54 pm]: CALLER
Can I do an application today online?
[12:36:10 pm]: Diana
yes
[12:36:15 pm]: Diana
Is there anything else that I may help you with?
[12:36:37 pm]: CALLER
How long if I do it online?
[12:36:51 pm]: Diana
the same
[12:37:05 pm]: Diana
Do you have any other questions that I can help you with?
[12:38:22 pm]: CALLER
If I wait until someone in my family gets sick, will I still be able to apply?
[12:38:46 pm]: Diana
You can enroll in a Health Insurance Marketplace plan from October 1, 2013, until the end of open enrollment. Open enrollment closes on March 31, 2014. During open enrollment, you can begin your Marketplace application and start shopping for health insurance plans. Your coverage will not begin until you make your first payment. If you enroll in a Marketplace plan and pay your first premium by December 23, 2013, your coverage will begin January 1, 2014.
[12:39:51 pm]: CALLER
Thanks, but that does not answer my question.
[12:40:23 pm]: Diana
Do you have any other questions that I can help you with?
[12:42:03 pm]: CALLER
Yes. The Blue Advantage Bronze HMO 006 Plan shows a $6,000 per person per year deductible. What is the co-insurance rate?
[12:42:33 pm]: Diana
i cant pull up that information im sorry
[12:43:59 pm]: CALLER
There is no pre-existing condition exclusions anymore, correct?
[12:44:28 pm]: Diana
yes correct
[12:44:36 pm]: Diana
Do you have any other questions that I can help you with?
[12:45:13 pm]: CALLER
So, I should just wait until someone gets sick, then apply, correct? And I cannot be turned down, correct?
[12:45:34 pm]: Diana
no
[12:45:43 pm]: Diana
thats not what i said
[12:46:16 pm]: Diana
there is a deadline to apply if you dont apply by that time there will be a fee. The fee in 2014 is 1% of your yearly income or $95 per person for the year, whichever is higher. The fee for uninsured children is $47.50 per child. The most a family would have to pay is $285. Amounts go up after 2014. In 2015, the fee per person rises to $325 per person or $975 per family, or 2% of income, whichever is higher. For 2016, the fee per person will increase to $695 per person or $2,085 per family, or 2.5% of your household's income, whichever is higher. The fee for children will be half that amount, and there will be an overall cap for family payments. From 2017 on, the fee will rise each year with inflation. You will also have to pay the entire cost of all your medical care if you do not get health insurance.
[12:46:24 pm]: Diana
Is there anything else that I may help you with?
[12:47:34 pm]: CALLER
So, if I pay the fee, then I can wait until someone gets sick to apply, and I cannot be turned down?
[12:52:24 pm]: CALLER
Are you still there?
[12:53:16 pm]: Diana
yes you can do that if you would like but when you decide to enroll there will be a waiting period to apply
[12:53:35 pm]: CALLER
How long is the waiting period?
[12:54:18 pm]: Diana
I don't know yet you will have to wait until they say that open enrollment then you will be able to apply.
yes you can do that if you would like but when you decide to enroll there will be a waiting period to apply
For an illness, I can afford to wait.
What if I have an accident? No Insurance? No money? No identification?
No problem...
In 1986, Congress enacted the Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act (EMTALA) to ensure public access to emergency services regardless of ability to pay. Section 1867 of the Social Security Act imposes specific obligations on Medicare-participating hospitals that offer emergency services to provide a medical screening examination (MSE) when a request is made for examination or treatment for an emergency medical condition (EMC), including active labor, regardless of an individual's ability to pay. Hospitals are then required to provide stabilizing treatment for patients with EMCs. If a hospital is unable to stabilize a patient within its capability, or if the patient requests, an appropriate transfer should be implemented.
http://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/EMTALA/index.htm...
So, if every uninsured person in America is entitled to receive emergency treatment at any major hospital, and can sign up for Obamacare for major illness after the onset of the major illness (like cancer), then it seems obvious that paying the one-time annual penalty, and not the monthly premium, will be the best economic option (especially considering the high deductibles like $6,000) for many young and healthy people in America (notice I did not say Americans or citizens) that are unlikely to get sick or injured, because even if they do, Uncle Sam is going to take care of them!
[12:54:51 pm]: Diana
Do you have any other questions that I can help you with?
[12:56:29 pm]: CALLER
We are a very healthy family. We don't get sick, and are in good condition, medically and physically. Are we entitled to a discount?
[12:57:48 pm]: Diana
you will have to do an application to find out
[12:57:55 pm]: Diana
Do you have any other questions that I can help you with?
[12:59:01 pm]: CALLER
So, the premiums are based on our health?* That is good news!
*True. Fat people and smokers pay more...
Overweight and obese employees may now face staggering financial penalties of up to 30% of the cost of their health plan, and up to 50% of the cost of their health plan if they smoke.
http://ebn.benefitnews.com/blog/ebviews/do-obamacare-wellness-incentives...
[12:59:21 pm]: Diana
Do you have any other questions that I can help you with?
[1:00:18 pm]: CALLER
How much can the premium go up next year? IS it limited?
[1:01:12 pm]: Diana
I don't know you will have to wait and see.
[1:02:09 pm]: CALLER
If I like this insurance, will I be able to keep this insurance?
[1:03:05 pm]: Diana
it depends what offered next year.
[1:03:48 pm]: Diana
Do you have any other questions that I can help you with?
[1:04:50 pm]: CALLER
I don't understand. What if I like my current insurance plan. Can I keep it?
[1:05:41 pm]: Diana
it all depends if its still offered next year.
[1:05:45 pm]: Diana
Do you have any other questions that I can help you with?
[1:06:42 pm]: CALLER
No, my current plan I have had for several years. Can I keep it, or do I need to change to an ACA plan?
[1:07:20 pm]: Diana
you will need to see if they still offered it for next year.
[1:07:26 pm]: Diana
Do you have any other questions that I can help you with?
[1:08:20 pm]: CALLER
Just a moment. You are very helpful, and this is confusing stuff.
[1:10:19 pm]: CALLER
Is there a medical savings account option, so if we don't use the coverage, then some of the money we pay rolls into next year?
[1:11:00 pm]: Diana
you will need to contact the insurance directly to see if they offer that.
[1:11:49 pm]: Diana
Do you have any other questions that I can help you with?
[1:12:14 pm]: CALLER
Is it true that I will have to pay a fine to the IRS if I don't sign up for 2014, but the big businesses will not?
[1:13:38 pm]: Diana
i sent you the fees sir if you dont sign up.
[1:13:46 pm]: Diana
Do you have any other questions that I can help you with?
[1:15:02 pm]: CALLER
That does not answer my question, but I think that is the case. That is all for now. Merry Christmas!
[1:15:22 pm]: Diana
Thank you for contacting Health Insurance Marketplace Live Chat. We are here to help you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
[1:15:23 pm]: 'Diana' has left the chat session.
[1:15:25 pm]: Your chat session is over. Thanks for contacting us, and we hope we've answered your questions. Have a great day.
[1:15:25 pm]: 12/17/2013
"i sent you the fees sir if you dont sign up."
We must pay a fee to not sign up; they don't even have the balls to call it what it is, a tax.
Finally, 'Diana' refers to CALLER as, "sir." It is a chat session, not a phone call. How does she know the sex of CALLER?
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WOW she sounds SO helpful!
Bend over and say "Ahhhhh."
Have you guys ever seen "The Ballad of Cable Houge"? I cannot believe that I just watched that movie it for the first time.
Wow, usually I feel like most of what I write is crap. Most of what I write IS crap. Sometimes I am serious though and Boating Accident IS my site after all. Lot's of folks are hitting my post regarding Obamacare and I see that it is turning up on other web pages. Really? That is a tremendous compliment to me because I just don't think I come up with the best stuff all of the time.
Thank you. Make sure to add to it please.
Voices speaking loud and clear are our only hope. Keep it up and stay strong. There are great and increasing pressures to stay silent.
I know this boils the blood of responsible individuals, but why should anyone, ANYONE, buy into this insurance?
You're a damn fool if you do, and I'm tired of playing the fool.
They bailed out Wall Street, Corporations, Insurers, Automakers.
My turn.
There is an option that few know about or understand.
A loophole.
Any US citizen who is employed by any overseas corporation in any capacity and is covered by any form of health cover from that overseas employer is exmpt from the ACA.
Our compoany will hire any any US citizen on a zero hours contract and include them in the goup policy with no deductibles, worldwide coverage covering existing conditions and covered through a major British Insurance company and Lloyds of London .
For more information please send email to solutions@ukasiagroup .biz
So THAT'S why congress is exempt.
I don't understand. Justice Roberts said the only reason the ACA has Constitutional bonafides is because it really is 'a tax' so if they continue to call it a fee is the law now invalid?
Or words still don't have meanings?
As long as they continue to call it 'a fee' the law should be renedered immediately void, according to Roberts himself. Unless we'd like to embrace anarchy and just make shit up as we go along for the rest of Obama's term in office, I'm fine with that too, just making up words and definitions since it can go both ways on that front.
It goes like this, they make up meaningless shit, we make up meaningless shit.
They say meaningless phrases, we make up meaningless phrases right back at 'em.
We do this ... forever, until they finally give in. Just, all of us, wait at counters and babble bullshit to them until they literally just go fucking insane.
Gosh why are we FREE people putting up with this?
You're not free. You never were.
Stop lying to yourself.
Very nice HH. Thank You. Probably you more so than most others are aware of what the ACA will do to small rural hospitals. i.e Shut them down. I have talked to a few folks in the medical fields, some of whom are my family. What you hear is not encouraging so I thought I had better say something. No MSM really seems to talk about this aspect of the ACA. It's really not too hard to back up the financials.
http://www.boatingaccidentnews.com/obamacare-effects/
If I marry my iguana, is she also eligible for Obamacare? What about Iguanacare?
You'd have to buy the policy to find out what's in it, sir.
Do you have any other questions I can help you with?
Use the system. Obtain Medicaid policy, by using a very pessimist opinion of your next year's income. For minor problems, pay for doctor's visits out of pocket to be treated well and timely.(Same cost you would pay with a deductible.)(There are and will be long waits for Medicaid doctor visits.) If a serious problem arises and emergency treatment is required, you must be treated and Medicaid billed at Medicaid rates. At worst, you can reimburse Medicaid for their expenditures if you really weren't eligible, because your income unexpectedly continued in 2014. (Any Medicaid expenditures will be at 70 or 80% of Medicare rates.) Then apply for regular insurance for your continuing treatment, if required. If you stay well, you saved a bundle and if you didn't you have minimized costs.
Also, the Medicaid deductibles, if and when required based on reported income, are pennies (or even fractions of a penny) on the dollar compared to the Obamacare deductibles.
Yes your correct just incomplete. Those Medicaid Deductibles that are +-80% Medicare Deductibles are also 100% of Large Company Deductible Plans.
My question, and point, is why the Hell should Large Cos and their employees be the ONLY Subsidized Healthcare receivers in this Country? Self Employeed Entreptrenuers like myself have paid as much, if not more, taxes into this corrupt system than those same Welfare Queens???
That says nothing of the fact that the cost I am charged by Physicians and Facilities are 400% to 500% greater for same procedure than those Large Company plans. This is clear fraud but for the special exemptions from Sherman and Clayton Antitrust Laws the HealthCare Cabal receives!
If you have pre existing conditions-you can keep them............
Caller is basically asking if he/she can game the system in a certain way. It looks like he can, once. It sounds like Diana was trying to warn him that he will incur further expenses beyond the ER billling until his new ACA policy is processed and kicks in, but the specifics aren't known yet. Caller wants this information because he wants the game to work out for him. He doen't see that it can't work out for him until he's already been billed into poverty, that even the ER visits will have to be paid for. There goes his kids college fund. Nice going.
Y'know, a lot of people thought being forced to pay into a minimal retirement and old age health care fund was socialistic so it was bad. The mainstream now appreciates Social Security and Medicare. Love or hate obligatory responsibility for your and your children's health, one thing is for sure. You and your kids are statistically likely to love or hate it for a couple of years longer than you would have before, until you are 80 instead of 78.
the "system" is gaming YOU, it's up to you to know what they actually can do and intend to do.
Given all the lack of clarity, lack of honesty to date, you need to ask probing questions to hold people accountable for giving wrong information & you won't know it's wrong till months or years later - but it probably is wrong.
Is this Diana the Godess of Love? Cause I am heading towards a pretty good hangover, but I need your help with my swollen parts RIGHT NOW. Are you really willing to help?
OOPS! Wrong Godess. Are you the Diana - Godess of the Hunt, Of WILD ANIMALS. Same question.
Allegedly a zh member for two years, rhs, and this is your only comment?
lol
You must be a .gov shill.
Incorrect. Under EMTALA, a Federal Law, the hospital must treat you, even if you refuse to give a name, have no identification, or even if you give a fake name and they know it is fake. The ER visits can only be billed to the name and address given by the patient. They haven't micro-chipped our asses...yet.
This isn't a new way to game the system. Illegal aliens have been getting free (to them) healthcare with this exact strategy for decades.
Diana, I hope your kid gets a drum set for Christmas.
holy shit that's sheer genius.
Bad kids get coal for Christmas.
Bad parents kids with drum kits & tambourines!
Join the FSA OR run for congress. Definitely easier to get into congress this year.
Man what an ordeal. Dianna didn't sound like a hindu call center so that is a small consolation.
No way in hell I will ever sign up on that fucking website. And I say that as someone who is very reluctantly paying sky high Cobra @ 1500/mo (well it USED to appear sky high - now, not so much.) From what I can determine, cobra may well turn out to be a kick ass deal before it is all over with. At least until the cobra period runs dry and I am back to scratching in the dirt for band-aid money.
I guess it's time for them to roll out the "personal identity cards", you know, the one's they have been talking about for two decades now. The card will have all of your medical information and social security info encoded on the magnetic strip. I read that in the future without said card you would be left to die on the sidewalk from a heart attack or accident if it was not on your person. This card will automatically act as the billing device for your medical treatment and go straight to the government for payment-(single payor).
no need.
Thanks to Netbio which makes rapid DNA scanners for DHS, your serial number is your DNA & you can't ever remove it.
If you're not registered you get nothing. In the future not even a job.
It's called a microfluidic chip but the common name is "lab on a chip"
Single-payer is a way to cut costs 1000x and to cut out all insurance companies.
In America that's impossible: they see how in Canada we do it & the insurance companies have NO power as in America & won't ever get it. Ever.
These people are EMPERORS in America. Single payer is 10000000000% forbidden in America. Forever.
I'm in Canada, my healthcare is single-payer, my tax portion going to health care is probably not even $100 PER YEAR, and of course I can never be denied anything for pre-existing conditions (that's what I need the health care for, after all).
Now, back to Dancing With the Stars...
Only the suicidal purchase weapons to kill themselves with.
Thanks for the report Sir HH.
Simple answer. DO NOT SIGN UP FOR COMMIE-CARE!!!
Now, please excuse the channel change.
For fun and entertainment purposes.
Global Currency Reset:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytP2wzwhR_Y
Lindsey Williams? Really? His "elite friend" has been on his death bed since 2007, baring his soul, to Chaplain Williams, alone. What's that I smell?
holy shit I better get out my pencils and papers!
That 'source' could croak ANY second!!
Did you watch that guy all the way through? Devil . . . . come out!!!
"Finally, 'Diana' refers to CALLER as, "sir." It is a chat session, not a phone call. How does she know the sex of CALLER?"
---because they already tracked you down and tomorrow your bank account will be light 800$!!!
Got Marxism?
Hedgeless... tell us again how much you like your little homestead.
As much as I hate O'care, it is very risky not to have insurance, IF YOU HAVE SAVINGS/ASSETS TO PROTECT.
Yes, the hospital will "stabilize" you. But you will walk away with a bill that will knock you right back on your ass. If you have a house/stocks/bonds/etc -- kiss them good bye. Hospitals have very aggressive collections these days.
You will be charged insanely inflated prices for everything. The insurance companies control that to some extent. You can try bargaining down the insane prices, but any "discount" will be taxed as loan forgiveness.
If you have no money or property, it's not much of a risk. You default on the bill and declare bankruptcy. Either way, we are all fucked. Except for the free shit army, of course. They just got a whole lot more free shit... courtesy of the rest of us.
Single room, seven nights at the Four Seasons, the fanciest hotel in town, with room service for all meals would not cost $10,000.
Shared room in ordinary hospital, here, in which you lie in bed and are given pills a few times a day, expect the bill to exceed $80,000.
Someone's gotta pay for the other people in the ward who don't have any money.
So if you have money, it's best to hide it.
Yes, the system is broken. And everyone knows it.
But it probably won't get fixed because a few powerful people are making lots of money off of it and they want to keep it the way it is.
What if you use a fake name? I know many that have and never received a bill. Jane and John Doe are just as entitled to free treatment as Maria and Juan Hernandez.
In addition, I don't have any assets not exempt under the Texas Homestead Act.
I am not saying people should do any of this, only that they can and will.
Most, if not all medical providers, will accept 80% of Medicare's fee schedule that is available on the Novitas web site.
Hedge,
I too live in TX and your statement above about most if not all providers will accept 80% Medicare rates is simply not true.
I have personally experienced on 4 occasions over last 5 years where my family was charged, as a PREPAID ALL CASH BEFORE PROCEDURE / STAY IS INCURRED, rates from 400% to 500% GREATER THAN THOSE published MEDICARE RATES FOR SAME CPT CODE PROCEDURES!!!
It is a HUGE FALLACY that the Medical Cabal wants everyone to believe. Please see my response to you above. Not picking on you as I think your posts are well intended.
Under Federal Law, the medical provider must CHARGE everyone the same fee. This is the highest fee-which essentially nobody pays-from which all discounts are calculated. Many providers use 225% of Medicare as the CHARGE. However, they can ACCEPT any amount, known as the contracted allowable for insurance contracts, and will "adjust" the remaining balance, because medical providers cannot write-off these uncollected amounts for tax purposes. Most if not all providers will ACCEPT 80% Medicare rates, regardless of what they CHARGE.
You can make that statement all you want but if you want the truth, go research exemptions provided to the Sherman and Clayton AntiTrust Acts for the Medical Industry.
I gave you my personal experiences as well as the Acts themselves to research. Insofar as your terminology alone, i can tell you do not know what you are talking about. They can NOT accept anything they want as their inidividual contracts with the insurers specifically prohibit same. i've been told by four doctors that same story here in Dallas and followed up with a personal friend who works for Aetna who confirmed same.
Please don't discount my personal experiences with your unfounded speculation.
A contract is between a provider and an insurer, and the terms only apply to (insured) patients that are members of that insurance company's plan.
HERE JACKASS is the doctor's contact info. Call his assistant, Ms. Jeannie Verbeck, and ask her yourself since you are here in Dallas and maybe after she tells you herself you will stop acting like an ASS.......
Dr. James Moody 214-948-2076
Alernatively... Ace owns nothing. He does, however control a corporation that owns his stuff. The medical goons can't treat, or dun the corporation, and it's useless to go after Ace- he's technically broke.
In the interest of full disclosure, Ace's situation is yet to be tested, so please don't construe Ace's personal plan as advice. Or, if anyone has tested said plan, please share.
Remus would also like to know how Ace's plan turns out.
LOL. I'm an alcoholic, not a bootlegger!
Re TX Homestead - Was once shocked to learn how many of my neighbors had no clue about the Homestead Act and the legal aspects it covers, especially the tax implications. After a little community get together, we were chatting and taxes came up. I mentioned the Homestead deal and was shocked that many had no idea.
Funny how those old laws are not advertised and the only way you can take advantage is to pro-actively claim the exemption. Fuckers.
but they will solicit you to give you EBT/foodstamps.
Great, you are protected. You could have also added getting savings out of the system and into real money.
Have a great holiday and enjoy your home grown feasts.
Great idea!
http://www.zerohedge.com/contributed/2013-01-18/twelve-steps
http://www.zerohedge.com/contributed/2012-09-28/simple-tactic-gain-some-...