I'm not going to go into this law. For me to do so would take 3000 words + on the beliefs of the libertarian party combine with some of my own beliefs. I don't fully agree with any aspect of this law aside from the children get health care thing. On an individual basis, I feel it's good for a lot of people, but realize it hurts the upper middle class and has the potential to bring a lot of families down. As a whole, there are so many flaws I don't know where to begin.
But aside from all of this.
I'm wondering who if anyone else currently uses an HSA. It's significantly cheaper and basically consists of just accident/catastrophic insurance. Then you get to have a savings account which can only be used towards medical expenses (unless you pay the penalties on it) that remains tax free up to around 5k (not sure on exact number, but it basically covers any out of pocket costs). The only thing it doesn't cover is routine checkups or seeing a specialist. But in the last year I've learned a few things. If you walk into a doctors office with cash, they generally give you a solid discount. I went in with strep throat and requested a generic prescription. $58 later I had seen a doctor and was better with in a day and a half. I've been able to arrange appointments with an ophthalmologist as well. In which I was initially going to be paying around $200 for the visit, but after speaking with the private practice doctor it was reduced down to $90 since I was paying upfront.
In the winters I often move to full coverage for the sole purpose of my eyes and teeth (but thats an entirely different story).
But for anyone in Normal health with out serious vision/dental issues, an HSA + accident insurance is wonderful. I realize that most of the people in here are under 26, but it's still something to keep in mind if your parents are asking you to pay your portion of the insurance premium. A lot of catastrophic plans are closer to $50 if you're young leaving you to put the rest you would typically spend into your HSA in which you then have bargaining power when you go to the clinic cause you can pay up front and use your HSA tax free.
Not sure how the changes are going to affect HSA's yet, I suppose I need to do some research on that, but I'll stay hopeful that the premiums on catastrophe insurance don't sky rocket to make full insurance the better option, cause for me, I'm able to save a fare amount of money in the summer.
Sorry for the not entirely relevant post, I just think it could be helpful information to a few people on here... at least for now.
