Thread Drift

[Catrin]

I don't think you are bad mothing the ACA, Smiling Cat. You are self employed, so it makes it all more difficult. This is kind of what I am talking about; if we funded the national health care plan (through taxes and other appropriations), self-employed people would be able to have the same kind of medical care I have. It should not be employer dependent. But, I am seriously doubting that will happen in my lifetime.

I agree with you on all counts! Personally, I would LOVE to "only" have $50 co-pays, but we have what we have and I'm thankful to have it. Many local employers are moving/have moved strictly toward the CDHP insurance plans as a way of managing cost. As expensive as it is, and while it makes it difficult (or perhaps not possible) to take care of emergency medical costs, I can't complain about the level of preventative care my employer makes available to us at no cost - well - to those who have gone the CDHP direction rather than the HMO. Remember what I said about how they made it so attractive to make the move? I recognize they are doing the very best they can in our current broken system. Hopefully there will come a time when it won't be employer dependant but, like you, I don't see it happening in my working life.

Smiling Cat, you aren't bad-mouthing at all - it is a difficult situation. As frustrated as I get with the current system I know there are those who are worse off than I am. So I focus on trying to stay as mobile as possible, and I think carefully about when it is appropriate to see my doctor...or not. I try to use alternative methods as much as I reasonably can. Thankfully with the rise of non-hospital based imaging centers I was able to schedule my MRI next week at a price 1/3 of what a hospital would charge. Still expensive, but it won't cover 1/2 or more of my 2016 deductible...

[emily_in_nc]

DH and I are in the group of Americans who have really benefitted from the ACA. Since we are early retired and too young for Medicare, AND since we have a low income, we qualify for a subsidy and can thus get a very good ACA plan for low cost. We do have co-pays for our doctor visits other than preventive care. So far we have only used it for preventive care and dermatologist visits, plus my asthma inhaler Rx. If we took more out of our retirement funds, increasing our income, we'd pay more for our coverage; potentially a lot more if we didn't qualify for any subsidy. We are legal residents of Florida, which did not establish its own exchange, so we are enrolled through the Federal Exchange and have a Florida Blue PPO "silver" plan. Since we're travelers, we can't chose an HMO plan or we'd be limited to receiving services in Florida.

So, overall, we love the ACA, but we do have to plan our retirement withdrawals carefully to keep our income within the level to receive a subsidy. The monthly costs would be outrageous without this help (~$1100/mo for a typical plan at our ages in Florida). It's actually a form of enforced savings for us since we don't want to withdraw and spend too much of our retirement funds and bump ourselves out of a subsidy. So we can save those funds for later years.

[Crankin]

I feel bored... and it makes me realize how much time I usually spend riding or x country skiing/snow shoeing. There isn't any snow for skiing, at least locally, and it's rainy/freezing rain here. I've been going to the gym, doing spin, tabatta, and circuit training, and doing an occasional trail run, but those things don't take up too much time. I am exhausted the 3 days I work, but since i don't have as much take home work, like I did teaching, I find myself doing some exercise on the days I don't work, and then a lot of errands, and a little socializing. It's not like we are not going out with friends on Fri., Sat. or Sunday nights, but it seems like I have way too much free time on weekends. DH is spending lots of time at the condo, remodeling, but within reason. If there was snow, I'd be out there. Any day that's been OK for road riding, I've been at work.Plus, there's been a bit too much ice on the sides of the road for me to be on a road bike. I know this is a first world problem... it will resolve as soon as the weather is more season appropriate, or warmer, and we move.

[Catrin]

I hear you Crankin, and I've been feeling a bit the same since I've had to pull back a bit on my kettlebells until we learn the results of my neck MRI from yesterday. I seem to be really prone to tweaking neck, shoulder, and knee right now so am dialing back a bit until we learn more and to allow my body a chance to heal. Tomorrow will head to the gym for some time on the ArcTrainer - it doesn't hurt me and allows a chance for SOME movement. Hiking is working better for me, but it's too wet to do much of that right now, and an arctic blast is coming this week. From 50 degrees today, and on Tuesday we are supposed to have a low of something like 2 degrees. It must come, but it would be nice to have it come in increments Oh well, at least I will get to finally wear the new snow boots to work that I got from Costco - not for the snow but for the cold (my feet and hands get very cold).

[OakLeaf]

Mmmmmkay, I'm back, much as it might annoy some people. Kind of fell off an emotional cliff this fall. Then I've spent about the last two or three weeks thinking I should get back to TE but not sure how to make my re-entry. So here I am. Off to catch up on some other threads.

[Catrin]

Mmmmmkay, I'm back, much as it might annoy some people. Kind of fell off an emotional cliff this fall. Then I've spent about the last two or three weeks thinking I should get back to TE but not sure how to make my re-entry. So here I am. Off to catch up on some other threads.

Good to see you back Oak, I've missed seeing you!

[ny biker]

Mmmmmkay, I'm back, much as it might annoy some people. Kind of fell off an emotional cliff this fall. Then I've spent about the last two or three weeks thinking I should get back to TE but not sure how to make my re-entry. So here I am. Off to catch up on some other threads.

Oh yes I was wondering where you had gone, worried that something was wrong. I hope things are looking up.

No need to plan a re-entry, just dive on in!

[Pax]

Hey Oak! MIssed you around here, it'll be great to finally meet you in real life.