 Re: ACA healthcare what do you guys do?
Without getting political, I think it is VERY IMPORTANT to make sure that you have insurance. One of the myths in this country is that anyone who needs healthcare can simply go to the ER if they don't have money to pay for the care.
That is PARTLY true, in the sense that federal law mandates that anyone who goes into an ER must be seen and evaluated by a doctor. They also have to stabilize your condition in an emergency. So that will work if you have the misfortune to get into an accident and need care.
However, if you develop an ONGOING issue, not having health insurance can kill you! Let's say your chest is bothering you, your breathing is abnormal, and you fear it may be a heart attack. So, you go to the ER and they do an EKG and find that your heart is fine. Then, they do an X-Ray to see what else may be causing the symptoms.
The doctor notices something on the X-Ray and it turns out that it MAY be cancer. That is NOT something they deal with in the emergency room, so they give you a phone number to call for a referral to an oncologist or tell you to go and see your primary care doctor.
Chemotherapy, radiation treatment, cancer drugs, etc. may be necessary along with several doctors visits. But there is NO LAW that says they have to treat you, since it is not an immediate emergency. What do you do then? All of these things are EXTREMELY expensive.
And it is not just cancer that could be a problem. Heart disease, kidney problems, liver problems and hundreds of other things can go wrong with you, especially as you get older. You might be able to get medicaid if you first liquidate your assets and spend every penny you have. But by then, it may be too late, or at least not provide for an optimal outcome.
People DIE because they have no access to medical care, except through the emergency room. The ER is NOT a realistic plan to deal with illness.
Please note that I AM NOT taking any position on the current controversy over "Obamacare". I am just trying to point out that health insurance is something that EVERYONE should have, if at all possible. Go to the link above that Aspkin posted, sign up for Obamacare, see what programs might be available in your state, or try to find a group to join, like the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) that has insurance available. Do what you need to do. Not having health insurance is DANGEROUS.
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