How did Obamacare affect North Texans in 2013? It depends on whom you ask.
As part of 四虎影院鈥檚 series, we鈥檝e been brought you the health insurance stories of everyday folks across Dallas-Fort Worth. Here鈥檚 three from 2013 that stood out:
1. An Allen family gets out of the costly state-run insurance pool
which had to dive into the state-run insurance pool due to pre-existing health conditions, had been spending $3,000 a month for coverage. Under Obamacare, the family鈥檚 policy . Bob Flood was able to sign up online right away.
A decade ago, right after he retired, Flood learned he had cancer and a kidney would have to be removed. Just one month after he lost his kidney, he lost his health insurance. He鈥檚 been in the Texas Health Insurance Pool ever since 鈥� but he鈥檒l be able to drop his costly policy now that Obamacare is here.
Don鈥檛 even talk with Flood about repealing Obamacare.
鈥淲hat do you want to repeal?鈥� he said. 鈥淒o you want to repeal the pre-existing clause? That would mean cancer survivors like me couldn鈥檛 get insurance.鈥�
2. A Garland woman says 鈥榥o鈥� to Obamacare
is young, healthy and uninsured. But she thinks the health care overhaul is a failure. 鈥淚 feel like I鈥檓 being penalized for being healthy and for taking care of myself,鈥� Sawicky says.
She鈥檚 been uninsured for years. She鈥檚 so sick of the for-profit health care industry that she鈥檇 decided to pay the $95 fine rather than sign up for health care. She says that health care isn鈥檛 affordable when you add in deductibles and co-pays.
鈥淵ou know what, I love Texas,鈥� Sawicky said. 鈥淎nd when people say you don鈥檛 like it, get out. You know what? I鈥檓 a real conservative because I believe in saving the planet and saving each other.鈥�
3. Obamacare means cheaper, easier healthcare access for Choctaw Nation family
had wanted to get health insurance for his family 鈥� his wife and their three kids, including an infant. But he couldn鈥檛 afford the premiums. Since Jeff and his kids are Choctaw Nation members, they have access to health care, but the nearest Indian Health Service hospital is in Oklahoma.
In North Texas, Native Americans have even than the general population. And although they鈥檙e if they choose not to sign up, Riley and his wife, Maxine, began checking healthcare.gov since it went up on Oct. 1. In Dec. Jeff Riley finally completed the application.
鈥淢y policy is nuts,鈥� Riley said. 鈥淲ith the subsidy my premium is $1.80 a month. Then there are no other cost(s). At all. I really couldn鈥檛 believe it.鈥�
Riley鈥檚 wife has a policy that is a bit more expensive, a premium of $23.00 a month, and a deductible between $500 and $1000.
鈥淚t is leaps and bounds over what was available before the ACA,鈥� Riley said.
