Obamacare Future Uncertain
Health care not so ‘affordable’ for some
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WHEELING -- Even if Affordable Care Act marketplace enrollees can afford their health insurance premiums and co-pays, annual deductibles of up to $7,500 can cause hardships for many working-class families also struggling to pay for housing, transportation and other basic needs.
And that is before premiums spike as much as 75 percent next month.
"The Affordable Care Act is not affordable. Many can afford the premiums and co-pays, but can't meet the deductibles," said Kathie Brown, who serves as executive director of Wheeling Health Right, a free clinic located on 29th Street. "What good is it to say someone has health insurance if they can't use it?"
President-elect Donald Trump often vowed to "repeal and replace Obamacare" during the campaign, but Brown admits no one is really sure what that means -- or if it will be better or worse for the patients her clinic serves.
"It's been a total roller-coaster ride these last few years, and I think we can expect that to continue," she said. "Free and charitable clinics are going to be more needed than ever."
In Brown's opinion, the benefits of the Affordable Care Act include expanded Medicaid coverage, the elimination of "pre-existing condition" clauses that allowed insurance companies to avoid covering many ailments, plan portability and increased coverage for preventive services, such as cancer screenings and blood tests.
"If they find a problem, that's when you're in trouble. Some people just get up and leave the doctor's office because they can't afford treatment," Brown said.
Nevertheless, Brown acknowledges even high-deductible insurance available through the marketplace proves worthwhile in the event of a "catastrophic" situation, such as a cancer diagnosis.
This week, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell said 7,876 West Virginia residents enrolled in health insurance through the marketplace for 2017. She said 63 percent of West Virginia enrollees can find plans with a premium for less than $75 per month.
The final day to apply for coverage is Dec. 15.
"With plans available for less than $75 per month in premiums, 2.1 million Americans, including 7,876 in West Virginia, have already selected coverage through healthcare.gov," Burwell said. "I hear from people across the country just how much coverage matters to them, so I continue to encourage all West Virginians who need health insurance for 2017 to visit healthcare.gov and check out their options."
Brown said this is fine, but continued to emphasized the problems of deductibles being too high.
According to donaldjtrump.com, the president-elect plans to "completely repeal Obamacare." In its place, Trump would like to:
– allow the sale of health insurance across state lines;
– allow individuals to fully deduct health insurance premium payments from their tax returns under the current tax system;
– allow individuals to use Health Savings Accounts; and
– require price transparency from all healthcare providers.
Brown said the majority of patients her clinic serves will likely struggle as long as insurance companies and pharmaceutical firms continue wielding such political power.
"So many of these people are falling through the cracks," she said. "I hope he (Trump) lives up to his promises of trying to help the working poor."