My mother has mentioned, as well as my brother, that the deadline for enrollment is tomorrow. I have remained indifferent to health insurance, and just wanted some feedback as to how Catholics feel towards having Obamacare/Insurance.

My wife is getting private short-term insurance, which covers her for six months at a time. When that period ends, you just pick another short-term plan; there are hundreds available. The premium is around $70 per month, but the policy provides the coverage she needs. The cheapest CommieCare-compliant policy we've found is $208 per month. The short-term plan doesn't meet the "minimum criteria" of CommieCare, so we'll pay the penalty, but the money we'll save on premiums will be much more than we owe at the end of the year. The only way to collapse CommieCare is by noncompliance, i.e., by not joining the exchanges.

My state voted out of the exchange however people can receive subsides to help with preniums. My husband and I do not qualify for help with premiums.

I will share our story.

We are business owners and real estate owners. So according to our "tax return" we make too much for help even though it's not in cash flow. I'm sure most of you understand what I'm saying.... Anyway we had private insurance BCBS of alabama for over 17 years. Part of those years were with a group plan privately that included our employees. Long story short, we don't own any businesses with employees so group plan was given up and back to individual plan.

Our plan was 530.00 a month, co pays, etc. good plan.  It was cancelled and replaced with an ACA law mandated policy at the price of 1013.00 per month. We can't cash flow that, so we went with the ACA Bronze plan.   It's 700.00 a month with a 12,700.00 family deductible before it ever starts paying.

Absolutely no one in our life gives a crap. I've told them this info and because it doesn't effect them... So what. Well, I hear that in 2015 all policies... Yes even employee group plans are going to be under the law. And everyone will be effected then.  Maybe they'll wake up.  

Not many are awake as to the reality of this law upon our country very soon, economically... When people can't belly up to a bar and watch a football game... Maybe they'll wake up then.when they can't afford their direct tv because they have premiums and deductibles, maybe they'll wake up.

We actually fall into the coverage gap. We do not make enough money to qualify for a subsidy.

But, for about 8 years now we have been members of a "Christian" cost sharing group for $150 per person per month. It is not perfect for everyone, but it is great for us and they have made some improvements over the years without increasing the cost thanks to increasing membership.

chministries.org

Plus, it is Obamacare approved, so we won't have to pay the penalties.

Quote from: MaterDominici

We actually fall into the coverage gap. We do not make enough money to qualify for a subsidy.

But, for about 8 years now we have been members of a "Christian" cost sharing group for $150 per person per month. It is not perfect for everyone, but it is great for us and they have made some improvements over the years without increasing the cost thanks to increasing membership.

chministries.org

Plus, it is Obamacare approved, so we won't have to pay the penalties.

Is this insurance national wide?

Yes.

They are not insurance, but rather a non-profit ministry.

Quote from: MaterDominici

We actually fall into the coverage gap. We do not make enough money to qualify for a subsidy.

But, for about 8 years now we have been members of a "Christian" cost sharing group for $150 per person per month. It is not perfect for everyone, but it is great for us and they have made some improvements over the years without increasing the cost thanks to increasing membership.

chministries.org

Plus, it is Obamacare approved, so we won't have to pay the penalties.

How does this work? I looked at their site, and it looks as though you send your monthly "premium," which is then deposited to an escrow account, funds from which are used to pay medical bills as they arrive. Is that close to how it works?

Yes.
There are three such programs approved by Obamacare and I believe with one of the others you send your monthly "share" directly to the person you are assigned to that  month. But, in CHM, they collect the funds each month and redistribute.
(Easier for me as I can set up automatic payments. :smile:)

That's good to know, because now we're looking at this instead of the short-term plan that I mentioned earlier in the thread. My wife only needs a "catastrophic" type of plan, as she is in excellent health. The co-op (as I call it) would meet our needs. Thanks for sharing it!

That's good to know, because now we're looking at this instead of the short-term plan that I mentioned earlier in the thread. My wife only needs a "catastrophic" type of plan, as she is in excellent health. The co-op (as I call it) would meet our needs. Thanks for sharing it!

If you are up for some serious reading, here are the other two. I haven't looked at them in 8 years, so my comments may be out of date.

Samaritan Ministries - money goes directly to other members
This one might be the most popular (not sure why) and I did some thorough comparisons before going with CHM.

Medi-Share - this was a much smaller group and I believe the religios requirement involved declaring yourself as "saved" or "born again". It was a distant third place for me.

If when all is said and done, you want to join CHM, make sure and send me a PM so you can tell them I sent you. : )