If we don't apply for insurance, take the penalty, and have a major event, can we get back-dated coverage for that event?

What you need to do is a hybrid solution. We ran into the same issue. We liked our doctors AND we wanted to keep them. But they stopped taking ANY insurance altogether!

So what we did is opt for an high deductible, no copay (we pay 100%), no drug coverage, POS open network plan. We made sure it was accepted by the better hospitals nearby, just in case. It was still a rip-off expensive, and here's what's really annoying: we don't even use it!

Instead, continue to go to all your favorite doctors and specialists, but we go as an all-cash out-of-network patient. Some will even give you price breaks for paying with cash. And before you freak out, realize that you actually save money that way (versus the new options).

Let's say you can find an ACA crappy exchange plan @ $500 a month. Based on your quote (and I'm assuming you shopped good quality, non-HMO plans to come up with that "cheapest", not just your current provider), that leaves you $528 extra that's already in your pocket (vs. what you said you will have to pay now).

So whenever you or your family need to see a doctor, go to whomever you want, as an out-of-network patient.

You probably won't go every month, you said everyone is healthy, but even if you have to pay $200 for a single visit per month, you're already way ahead, AND you're still getting the premium care you expect.

The ACA exchange providers are told to spend no more than 5 minutes per patient on average. But an out-of-network non-insurance doctor will tend to spend a lot more time with you. (Ours spends 20 minutes with us per visit, really taking the time to diagnose and find solutions. He even gives us all kinds of free samples as "starters" for meds, that usually cover our needs!)

By doing it this way you're sort of doing "concierge" medicine (which is a little different but a similar premium care arrangement). You'll get the much better care for regular and specialist visits, but in an emergency you still have the crappy ACA plan as a "catastrophic" backup.

BTW, you are probably thinking about pre-existing conditions being covered. You can't get insurance after the fact if something happens. But lets say you have a mild heart attack. You'll have to pay out of pocket for that visit and care, but then you can get insurance and they HAVE to cover you, they can't deny you because of that. So that's probably what you are thinking of.

And based on what's happening with the VA, I have a feeling all of this is going to moot pretty soon anyway. The whole goal of ACA was always single payer, and you don't get any more single payer than the VA. People are not going to put up with this for much longer, and I have a feeling the day of reckoning is coming in November. Fingers crossed.

no, insurance does not cover events that happened before you got the insurance.

You can get coverage within 15 days of application (under ideal circumstances). Any charges that were incurred prior to coverage will not be back-dated, but you'll be covered going forward. You can't be denied for preexisting conditions or current health conditions.

Be warned, the insurers will still try to deny you. You'll probably have to wade through some red tape before you get coverage, but that's the point. The insurers know that the sooner they cover you, the more expense they incur, so they'll put it off as long as possible.

You might see this as unfair or dishonest, but so is your approach. The insurer is simply doing the same thing as you - trying to game the system.

Those who forego coverage until they get sick or injured are getting a free ride on the backs of hardworking Americans who have made the responsible decision to insure themselves against the illness and injury we ALL must face at some point in our lives.

Also, I don't know your particular situation prior to Obamacare but you said you were paying $525 per month. Was any portion of that covered by your employer? If so, and if your employer quit paying a portion of your coverage, did they refund the difference to you or keep it for themselves?

Many companies quit paying the employer portion of the coverage and instead gave the money directly to employees in the form of a raise. In the end the employees actually save money since the total price of plans under Obamacare is actually cheaper than the total price of plans pre-Obamacare. That's where the $2,500 savings comes from.

You can only buy insurance during an enrollment period. Most commonly, the open enrollment period which will start November 15 for a January 1 effective date.

To get coverage earlier you need a life changing event. Getting married, divorced, having a baby, adopting a child, moving to a new state are all life changing events. You'd have to apply 30 days (60 days for some events) after the life changing event and the policy would be effective the first day of the following month if you apply by the 15th of the month or the first day of the second following month if you apply by the 31st of the month.

In no instance will they cover any expenses you occur prior to the effective date. However, in no instance will they decline to accept you nor will you have to wade through any red tape. Your agent will make sure of that.

If your policy was effective prior to 3/23/10 the insurance company does not have to comply with the ACA regulations (although some will just to keep the number of different policies down). However, if it was effective between 3/23/10 and 12/31/14 it does need to comply with the regulations when it renews, and the insurance company doesn't have a choice in the matter.

Any savings is a pipe dream in most of the real world. In a few states that had guaranteed issue mandates or certain benefit mandates, such as New York State, has seen a significant drop in certain counties. Most states have seen an increase. In my state most have seen a large increase since they now have to cover maternity. Any savings people see is because of the subsidy, not the fact that insurance premiums have been reduced.

Sigh. You should stop parroting right wing talking points and bother to read the healthcare law.

The fact is that your private insurance company is no longer providing the earlier policy. This is their choice, and has nothing to do with the ACA. However, it is YOUR choice to shop around....privately or on your state exchange.....for a better plan instead of just assuming that this higher cost plan is the only plan available to you.

If you choose not to do so, and choose to go without insurance, then you won't be covered for major medical problems. Yes, it's true that you can obtain insurance after the fact, but only during open enrollment....just like it's always been. Thus, you would be responsible out of pocket for all of your costs and fees up to the time you obtained insurance.

NO you cannot get back dated..HELLO! I hate to say but that really is a stupid question...If you do not apply you will have to wait until next year for the open enrollment. Do not complain if u have a major event, do not complain if you are not covered. DAHHHH

Insurance companies didn't end up with net worths in the multiple billions of dollars by being stupid.

You are being selfish and your rant shows exactly how.

Yep you don't need the insurance, except maybe you do, that's why it's insurance. In Case something happens to you, you're covered. If you don't want to be covered, and you end up sick and can't pay the bills, guess who gets to cover the expenses for you? That's right, the rest of us, which is why there is a penalty for not getting insurance. So go ahead and be selfish and when you do get sick and you lose everything, at least some of that will be paid off with your fines.

So... if the plan available from your current provider is too expensive, why are you not taking ADVANTAGE of what the ACA had done to the insurance marketplace and shopping around for a plan from another provider that is more affordable? The ACA gives you the ability to do that, and the ACA-mandated state exchanges make it easy to compare pricing. What's with this bizarre mindset that you're stuck with your current provider?

In any case, no... insurance, ANY insurance, is not going to cover events that have already occurred. They will only cover you going forward. But on the plus side, under the ACA, they can no longer deny you coverage outright based on a pre-existing condition.

You keep saying "I don't need insurance right now, but I might later if something happens". That's kind of the whole point of insurance. I pay for state-required car insurance, even though I've never been in an accident (hell, I've never even gotten a ticket)... but I'd rather HAVE that insurance than not have it, in case the unexpected happens. And that's my CAR. I can't even imagine not having insurance on my health.