I'm pissed as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore

Over the last few days, I've been stewing in a silent vat of helplessness, self-loathing, and, above all, unrelenting anger.  It has been paralyzing. I've been ruminating about doctors, doctors' staffs, pharmaceutical companies, and the general rights and wrongs of the world.  A real hodgepodge.

But, no more.

This is my blog, and I can write about anything I wish.

Today, I'm choosing to rant about how employer-provided healthcare is affected by the Affordable Care Act.  And, I should probably say that while I'm not necessarily a proponent of the ACA, I do believe in and hope for universal healthcare for every American citizen.  But, really my position on this issue doesn't have any bearing on what I'm about to rant about.  Here goes:

I'm sick and tired of hearing how Obamacare is going to raise our healthcare costs.  However, I'm not naive nor do I desire to spin a political agenda that doesn't want to recognize that end user healthcare costs have risen and will no doubt continue to rise, but before you go pointing your finger at any political entity, make sure you've got your ire doled out in all the right places.

The health insurance industry decides what price to charge the employers who buy group policies to offer to their employees. It is, certainly, reasonable that as the ACA mandates new coverage requirements (like pre-existing conditions) to the insurance companies, the insurance companies must estimate the cost increases required to pay for these mandated changes and decide how to cover them.  They are the first gatekeeper in determining the cost of your employer-provided healthcare insurance, yet I've heard zero discussion of the power the insurance companies wield in determining our out-of-pocket costs.  Their bottom line is profit making through exploiting a market need, not offering affordable healthcare.

The next gatekeeper, whom I would hope carefully and compassionately determines how the ACA affects your wallet, is your employer.  But, once again, your employer is a profit making (or at least profit-protecting) machine too.  Once the insurance company passes its premium quotes on to your employer, your employer must decide what percentage of that cost they are willing and able to cover.  The remainder is what you pay every month for the privilege of health insurance.

ACA Mandates
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Insurance Companies (profit makers)
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Employers (profit makers/protectors)
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Your wallet

Is everyone in this chain acting responsibly, smartly, and without malice?

Don't worry.  My rants are far from done.  Soon...why you really might or might not be able to keep your primary care physician.

And hopefully soon, my newly diagnosed medication-induced-or-not diabetes will get under control enough for me to have my PET scan.  Estimate: in about a month. In the meantime, I'll just enjoy the many, many trips to the restroom to which my new diabetes medication is treating me. Happy Flushing!