An FYI...

...to the folks who recently told me that they "know someone who said that their health insurance is more expensive and not as good now" with the Affordable Care Act in place.

In 2010, at the company I’d been working for since the mid 80s, my weekly health insurance deduction had risen to $250—totaling, my end, $1,000 each month. The company, as one of my benefits, paid half—another $1000 on top for a 2G total. That was for a family plan.

At the next company, my health insurance deduction was close to $70 per week/$280-ish per month. This was an individual plan (employers, again, paid half for a $560 total). The Amazing Bob had hit 65 and was on Medicare which def helped lower our monthly bills.

Big prob though—this new plan was a dramatically shitty one. At the end of the coverage year, I was holding the bag for over two large (on top of co-pays and weekly payroll deduction) for uncovered or barely covered, necessary tests and services. That and the greedheaded, heartless bastards wouldn’t cover my asthma meds at all. Not being a Rockefeller, I needed to go without them. Hard, hard damned year.

Now, with Obamacare?  As a part-time freelancer with a big-ass preexisting condition, not only was I able to get insurance, it’s actually, ya know, affordable! Pre-ACA the very idea of this would’ve been bleakly laughable.

My current payment? $138 a month total for an individual plan. Yes, there are doc visit co-pays and I owed a small amount for one of my MRIs BUT all my meds are covered. So, for a significantly better insurance plan, I’m now paying half as much. And that's not including the fact that my employers were kicking in.

Mind, I had help navigating the confusing, overwhelming at times health insurance waters. The fabulous Ken Moore at my local community health care clinic, helped sign me up for the plan that’d work best for me.

Are you confused and find yourself with an unaffordable expensive plan? Find your local health center and see if they can assist. Quincy, Massachusetts can’t be the only town in America with tremendous clinic worker bees.

Pre-Existing Conditions
Under the Affordable Care Act, health insurance companies can’t refuse to cover you or charge you more just because you have a “pre-existing condition” — that is, a health problem you had before the date that new health coverage starts. They also can’t charge women more than men.
Lifetime Limits
Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, lifetime limits on most benefits are prohibited in any health plan or insurance policy. Previously, many plans set a lifetime limit — a dollar limit on what they would spend for your covered benefits during the entire time you were enrolled in that plan. You were required to pay the cost of all care exceeding those limits.
Annual Limits
The Affordable Care Act bans annual dollar limits that all job-related plans and individual health insurance plans can put on most covered health benefits. Before the health care law, many health plans set an annual limit — a dollar limit on their yearly spending for your covered benefits. You were required to pay the cost of all care exceeding those limits.

Yeah, I’m BIG TIME fond of the ACA. It could be better, OF COURSE it could, but it’s a great, fab start. Not convinced? Go read the responses to Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers' request for Obamacare horror stories. Hint—no horror/much praise and relief.
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BUT WAIT there's more! From my friend Ken:

I had a couple of preexisting conditions (NF2 and diabetes). I lost my insurance and nobody would touch me. While I still had insurance I was paying over $1100/month. After the ACA, I got back on the same plan I had before and now pay a little over $700/month. Nobody can tell me it's a bad law.
 
My buddy Julie:

This is the reason we could move back to the states! When I was w/o employment, and my only option was COBRA (time limited), we moved to Costa Rica and bought into their medical system. We knew that one major emergency or a chronic health problem would put us in the poor house. Now, we no longer have that fear.
They moved out of the US because they couldn't afford health care. Native born American citizens and they could NOT afford to stay in the US due to the cost and other BS of health insurance. How utterly fucked up is that?!

And pal Brenda:

I also now enjoy the best coverage at the best (sliding fee) price that i have had in 10 years. The affordable care act has changed lives. Mine.

YES!!!