So you thought that Obamacare was a good thing?  Obamacare is the answer? Here is what was just announced at a major Pharmacy Retailer to its employees:

"With the implementation of health care reform, some employers will discontinue providing health care coverage to their employees in 2014 so their employees will instead purchase coverage through newly formed health insurance exchanges. " 

"Our new Health Savings Plan will have lower premiums and higher deductibles than a traditional health plan. This type of plan protects you from the full financial impact of a serious medical issue. It also features a higher deductible and higher out-of-pocket maximum than you may be used to.  Preventive medications and preventive doctor visits will still be covered, but all others will go to the higher deductible and higher payments."

Sounds great, until you read the fine print or the FAQ pages. 

Prescriptions, which had coverage previously, will now only be covered if they are for preventive care and if there has been no major medical issues in "X" number of years (to be determined at a later date).   Well, let see:
      My husband has hereditary heart and artery disease.  His blood pressure and cholesterol are within normal limits. Five years ago, he had a heart attack.  He is now on blood thinners, cholesterol meds, and all the extras to go with these to make extra sure he does not have another heart attack.  According to this Pharmacy Retailer, heart and artery disease is preventable by diet, not smoking, and exercise.  Depending on how far back medical history is reviewed, my husband's meds may no longer be covered.  This results in that we will have to pay full price for my husband's meds.  These does not even cover his COPD.  Does my husband smoke?  Yes, for over 55 years.  I have been with him for 23 years.  He has tried medication, gum, patch, and hypnosis to quit, nothing works.  He is down to 3 cigarettes a day; has been for 4 years.  For those of us who do not smoke, we cannot understand why he just doesn't quit.  Well, try doing something for 55 years and see if you can quit......

Also, medications like antibiotics are no longer covered either, as these are not preventive medications.
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My son was born pre-mature.  As a result, we have always battled certain medical problems.  My son gets lung issues easily; bronchitis, pneumonia, etc.  There is no "preventive" medication for these.  We do what we can at home with air purifiers and other preventives, but the Texas weather plays havoc (80's one day, 40's the next).   When he does get sick though, you can bet we have to go to the doctor for treatment and medication.  As these are no longer "preventive" doctor visits, copays no longer apply and we pay full price, doctor visits and meds.

Add all of this to "due to the economy, we cannot give raises this year" and, so eloquently put, my family is scre#!%.  We work very hard to prevent "serious medical issues" and these preventives are no longer covered.  As it stands, I have to make the choice between me getting a root canal and my son having gall bladder surgery (due to another wonderful side effect of being born premature); guess which one wins?
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Also, where is the government going to get the funding to pay for "newly formed health insurance exchanges?"
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Sigh, my rant is done.  Thanks Obama, I like you too.  What is next on your radar?  Guns, immigration?  You have done such a good job to help 99% of your nation, stay in jobs, keep food on their table, not have to choose between medication and house bills.  I am so looking forward to the next 4 years.

I smoked for 30 years and quit.

Part of my family were immigrants at one time. Wait, most peoples families were immigrants at one time.

Sorry to say this but my insurance went down 132 a month.

I lost a good paying job because of the great Bush-session. Now I am working for half what I was, Thanks Mr Bush, killing 100,000s in Iraq was way more important than taking care of the home land.

My rant is much shorter, I could go on but hate typing.

I am not saying Bush was any better.  He brought many other issue.  I just don't think Obama had the solution to get us out of what we are in.  

Wait, home prices are up, home sales up, stock market up, unemployment down. I think no matter who got the job after the second Bush-session they were going to be in a  world of hurt.

Our insurance just went up again.  Our prescription plan changed dramatically.  Our son takes daily meds for his ulcerative colitis and the cost just sky rocketed because of Obamacare.  

Unemployement numbers are based on how many applications for unemployment are submitted.  A person has to apply for their benefits on a regular bases.  Benefits are finite and based on how much the person's previous employer put in.  For example, my employer only puts in $10'00 per person.  When that money runs out, I can no longer apply for benefits.  Therefore the unemployment numbers went down.  This does not mean I have a job.  Talk to new college grads and see how many have been able to find a job in their field of study.  Talk to people in the last 3 years who were layer off and see how many have been able to find a job like their previous one.  Ask how many people have done with either pay cuts or no raises in the last 3 years.  The unemployment figures are misleading.  -------------- House prices re up?  Did yours actually go up or are you only looking at what is reported?  Is there anyone that you personally know who's house value cut actually went up.    ------- Stock market?  Since when did that actually reflect reality for the average American?      ---------  again, not saying Obma was the cause, just saying he is not helping.

GG: The cost didn't skyrocket because of Obamacare. The cost had already skyrocketed because some prescriptions drugs are outrageously priced. Your cost skyrocketed because that is likely to be a lifelong issue and the insurance companies realize that. 

Some insurance companies will actually attempt to help you mitigate with conditions that have a lifelong potential that affects and becomes a quality of life issue.

Fawn... retail sales prices are reported in your local area.... check with your realtors... these statistics are there for the taking... A correctly priced home in any market will sell, that is usually the key to moving inventory. New housing starts are a better indicator or a forward, optomistic economy, IMHO

Hell, it is all Obamas fault, lol. He can't help, remember we need to cut cut cut. So, how could Obama help? Insurance companies are raising costs for no reason but profits. People I know might actually be able to get medical help now. Some haven't been to the Dr. in years.

Rising Health Costs, Not Obamacare, Are Increasing Insurance Rates In Connecticut

By Tara Culp-Ressler on Aug 28, 2012 at 4:15 pm

As Republicans remain hostile to Obamacare — GOP lawmakers have already wasted $50 million on dozens of failed attempts to repeal the law, and House Republicans have even threatened to shut down the government in order to block health care reform’s implementation — they often complain that Obamacare will translate into soaring costs for the health care industry. It’s true that health insurance rates are rising, but data from Connecticut suggests it has nothing to do with Obamacare.

Filings from Connecticut’s two largest health insurers, which both applied for double-digit rate increases this year, show that the insurance companies are not driving up their prices because Obamacare is leading them to do so. Rather, the rate increases are due to increasingly expensive health costs that are unaffected by the implementation of the health care law:

But the overwhelming reason for the rate increase requests is rising medical costs, the filings by Anthem, Aetna and ConnectiCare say. The companies say this is mainly because providers are raising their prices and patients are getting more care.

“People are accessing more services and hospitals, doctors and labs are charging us more,” Aetna spokeswoman Susan Millerick said.

The costs associated with the Affordable Care Act account for only a tiny fraction of the requested increases — less than 1 percent. These amounts cover the costs of the preventative women’s care benefits and the changes in cost sharing, said Paul Lombardo, the actuary for the state Insurance Department who reviews the rate increase requests.

While health care spending did rise at double the rate of inflation in 2010, a report by the Health Care Cost Institute confirms Connecticut’s findings and concludes the rising prices are due to the health costs that crept up during the recession. In fact, Obamacare will help address this very issue. The health care reform law represents part of the solution — not the problem, as Republicans claim — as it seeks to help make health insurance more affordable by reforming payment models, reducing payments to hospitals, and prioritizing quality of care.