I supported the ACA (though would’ve preferred a public option), but the one time I actually needed to use it, was for my Dad when his private insurance from his job kicked him off after retirement, the rates and coverage seemed bad, like it was just such a hassle with no great benefits. It’s only when I realized my Dad could still get Tricare that I switched over to that and that was a million times better (even more reason for govt-funded healthcare). I have no idea why my Dad hadn’t been using it the whole time either, he probably wasted tens of thousands of dollars getting private insurance. I still think ACA is a step in the right direction, BUT public option still needs to happen, Fuck Joe Lieberman for blocking that.
It’s only when I realized my Dad could still get Tricare that I switched over to that and that was a million times better (even more reason for govt-funded healthcare).
One of the biggest flaws of the ACA is how it’s engineered to be worse than employee sponsored care. Can’t actually just open up Medicare For All or you’ll make the private insurance system sad.
The ACA is good when you actually reach out to a patient care “assister” for support. You can get rates WAY lower than advertised if you work with someone who can help navigate it. I think the program is actually tremendous, but it’s been made intentionally cumbersome and difficult to use by the folks trying to kill it. I’ve used it twice while out of work back in 2016 and again over the pandemic and had completely free plans that covered my “tier 3” prescriptions and specialist (rheumatology) appointments.
