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I know I am late in the whole Obamacare fiasco since we have Tricare and haven't been too worried about our healthcare (that may change too) but my parents' situation has them and now me very upset.

They are both in their 80s. Medicare covers 80 % and BlueCross/Shield through their pension plan has the rest. Since they were coming to visit me here in Germany for a few months, they went ahead and researched their options by a 4 hour phone call. This is the best they could get starting in January: $389/month plus $25 copay for prescriptions . My Dad's pension is $520/month. The Electric Company he worked for is now paying $0.

Are we missing something? Is this really what the new healthcare program is all about?

melleon wrote:I know I am late in the whole Obamacare fiasco since we have Tricare and haven't been too worried about our healthcare (that may change too) but my parents' situation has them and now me very upset.

They are both in their 80s. Medicare covers 80 % and BlueCross/Shield through their pension plan has the rest. Since they were coming to visit me here in Germany for a few months, they went ahead and researched their options by a 4 hour phone call. This is the best they could get starting in January: $389/month plus $25 copay for prescriptions . My Dad's pension is $520/month. The Electric Company he worked for is now paying $0.

Are we missing something? Is this really what the new healthcare program is all about?

Am I missing something? You said his Medicare covers 80% and BCBS has the rest. Why does he need to sign up under the ACA? Any U.S. insurance would be problematical in Germany.

Sorry I didn't explain this better: Their BCBS is cancelled as of January by their pension plan. They had to sign up for something else or risk only being covered by Medicare. There are thousands of retirees from this company (Atlantic City Electric) who have had their health insurance paid, now nothing. So where is all that extra money that the ACE once paid to BCBS going now?

BTW, my dad was hospitalized here in Germany for 10 days a few years back. His total bill for a private room, all medication, specialists, etc. was just around 2000 Euros. BCBS paid 80% of it.

What town is your family from. Margate where I spent most of my life is serviced by AC Electric.

Zach, We were practically neighbors! Grew up in Absecon. Went to Holy Spirit so I had many pals from Margate and Ventnor. I haven't lived in that area since '82 but love to return almost every year for the good pizza and subs. and to visit Lucy.

melleon wrote:Sorry I didn't explain this better: Their BCBS is cancelled as of January by their pension plan. They had to sign up for something else or risk only being covered by Medicare. There are thousands of retirees from this company (Atlantic City Electric) who have had their health insurance paid, now nothing. So where is all that extra money that the ACE once paid to BCBS going now?

BTW, my dad was hospitalized here in Germany for 10 days a few years back. His total bill for a private room, all medication, specialists, etc. was just around 2000 Euros. BCBS paid 80% of it.

Well first of all don't blame the ACA, blame ACE. Is there no contractual obligation that they pay for supplemental Medicare insurance?

I have no idea how (or if) the ACA affects supplemental Medicare insurance, but that seems awfully high. Perhaps you should do some Googling.

Bob Juch wrote:Well first of all don't blame the ACA, blame ACE. Is there no contractual obligation that they pay for supplemental Medicare insurance?

I have no idea how (or if) the ACA affects supplemental Medicare insurance, but that seems awfully high. Perhaps you should do some Googling.

Bob, if you admittedly have no idea, why are you immediatly placing blame on ACE?

I thought it was really high too. My math may be way off but here is what it looks like to me:


If approximately $400/ month is 20%, than Medicare covers about $1600 or 80%. so 100% is $2000. for a year for 2 people is $24000? I know the Medicare number is imaginary but the supplement is not. My mom has never been hospitalized since she had me in '60 and my dad has been in 3 times since then.

I did a bit of Googling for you:

http://www.medicare.gov/about-us/afford ... e-act.html

http://www.kionrightnow.com/story/23711 ... e-care-act

So the ACA has nothing at all to do with Atlantic City Electric stopping paying for the insurance nor the cost of buying it personally.

I thought it was really high too. My math may be way off but here is what it looks like to me:


If approximately $400/ month is 20%, than Medicare covers about $1600 or 80%. so 100% is $2000. for a year for 2 people is $24000? I know the Medicare number is imaginary but the supplement is not. My mom has never been hospitalized since she had me in '60 and my dad has been in 3 times since then.

melleon wrote: My mom has never been hospitalized since she had me in '60 and my dad has been in 3 times since then.

My first reaction was that's really old to have a baby.

I wish she had had me at 60! Then I would only be 21 and I would still know everything.