General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: My experience with Universal health Care [View all]enlightenment
(8,830 posts)You made a sweeping statement about Obamacare - apply it to all the states and all the plans. Your single state analysis is irrelevant in that regard.
Since you insist on equating cost to quality, however, let's take a look at what you posted and turn it into actual dollars instead of slap-happy percentages.
AFTER the individual has paid their monthly premium, they get to figure out what their health "care" is going to cost them.
Let's go with best case scenario:
A single adult, age 38, making $19000 a year ($1583 per month before taxes or around $1200 after). According to the CT exchange webpage they will pay $74 per month for their premium (subsidized at 80%)
In network cost is best scenario, so everything until they reach $1000 dollars is on their head, and their co-pays don't apply toward the deductible. Out of pocket maximum is $3000.
So, it's September, 2014. That single adult under 40 trips down some steps, twists an ankle and hits their head. This is their first claim because they're pretty healthy.
Minimal costs, based on the chart (not calculating other "charges" the hospital will apply):
Ambulance? WooT! It's free! (or is it? Hard to tell from that form)
They are seen in the ER - that's $150 co-pay (so nothing off the deductible) = $150
They require an MRI - that's $75 co-pay (nothing off the deductible) = $75
They are diagnosed with some damage to the ankle and a suspicion of concussion: admitted for two days at $500 co-pay per day (nothing off the deductible) = $1000
They are sent home with two prescriptions, some durable equipment (crutches) and instructions to go to three weeks of physical therapy - twice a week:
That's $10 co-pay for the generic drugs (which doesn't apply to the Prescription drug deductible) = $20
Crutches? 30% of the co-insurance. You can get a cheap pair at Walgreens for $45, so let's guess = $12
PT? Six visits at $20 co-pay (do I need to repeat the part where co-pays don't apply to deductibles?) = $120
Fairly uncomplicated injury accident that will cost this single adult who is being heavily subsidized but has still paid (by September 2014) $666 for their premium . . . $1377.
------------------------
Is that cheaper than having no coverage? Probably - but as far as the single adult under 40 is concerned, what it amounts to is a month's salary, which may or may not feel like an improvement. They also know that they could still pay an additional $1633 dollars before their "insurance" really starts to cover them. And they STILL haven't covered their deductibles.
And that isn't even addressing quality of care, which is not something that you can determine from a chart.