Great video! I'm one of those who benefited from the ACA after I was forced to leave my 10+ year job in DC (where I had almost congressional level health insurance and great benefits) and move back to NJ where my parents lived after my brother suddenly passed away in 2015. I had to take over their care because my mother began to fall and was diagnosed with something similar to ALS - she was 80 and dad was 90 at the time. Once my COBRA coverage ran out, I was covered under the ACA and then the New Jersey extension took over and gave me fairly good coverage. I wasn't working fulltime - I was caregiving two elderly and sick parents who were on Medicare -- but I was freelancing and also owned a house. So I did not qualify for Medicaid (I didn't even try to do so). As such, I was paying a fair amount of premium and deductible, but had good coverage during the next six years, which included the COVID era. In 2021, we moved to Virginia to be near some family, and again the ACA took over my health coverage. At some point, the Virginia Marketplace took over and I've been very happy with my coverage. I don't know what I'm going to do in 2026, but for 2025, I am going to make sure to stay covered under the Virginia Marketplace plan. However, Virginia's governor is a Trumper, so who knows what will happen. IMO, the best thing about the ACA is the fact that you don't have to have a job to get healthcare AND you don't need to go for Medicaid if you're earning more than it allows and if you have assets. If you freelance (which I did in between taking care of parents) and thus earn something, you can get tiered coverage via the Marketplace and the state marketplaces, which is what I have now. My dad passed away in 2022 and my mom is now a paraplegic and approved for Medicaid and in a nursing home near me. I work on contracts and hoping I can get a full time work, but it's hard bc of the gap I had. Either way, the ACA gives peace of mind and that I believe is its best quality, other than the pre-existing clause. I know some people have had bad experiences with it, but I think it's been largely helpful for the people who needed it badly. I do worry about my mom's social security as she gets it via dad's survivor benefits and the nursing home takes all of it and that pays for her nursing home costs.
I suspect there will be some sort of subsidized health insurance under Trump. However, I don't believe the coverage will be the same, most likely reduced. If they reduce coverage benefits, that will reduce the premiums and Trump will say he lowered the health insurance rates. In addition to reduced benefits, I'm inclined to believe there will be additional restrictions, especially on women's health care services.
@@KevinKnauss yes, that makes sense -- Trump needs to make sure people don't blame him for what he is going to do. He needs to come out smelling like roses. This is the same thing he tried to do when he held up the first stimulus check the congress cut during COVID until they let him sign the checks. Because of that, even now, some people think that money came from HIS pocket. The funny thing is how some people don't even know Joe Biden had his congress send stimulus checks as well. Anyway, I am more worried about mom's social security and her medicare/medicaid coverage being cut. I can still look after myself no matter what comes down the pike, but I can't pay $8000/month that the nursing home will charge me if her SS is cut. I'm trying not to lose too much sleep, but it's very worrisome. Subscribed to your channel. I like your no-nonsense, clear cut takes on what's coming down the pike. Thank you!
My plan is simple. I am moving to a new country with Universal Healthcare ASAP. Sick of getting a severe migraine everytime I need to go to the doctor to be robbed and mugged. Now if ACA is eliminated I will be robbed, mugged and beat up with every visit. Enough is enough I am leaving and never moving back to this country until full universal healthcare is enacted, if ever.
For better or worse, I don't think we will see universal health care any time soon in the U.S. for anyone under 65. My big fear is the elimination of expanded Medicaid where millions of people of low income are able to get no cost health care with no health plan premiums. The expanded Medicaid has worked similar to a universal health care model, albeit with a smaller network of providers in HMO plans.
I sense your frustration Kevin. Myself and millions of other people feel the frustration as well. Millions more that voted for this will feel it to when this all goes down. I tried my best to convince the red voters otherwise, but they just could not see what we had the vision to see. To them, everything is phony unless the president-elect says it's true. So sad and very depressing to say the least.....
Why would anyone with serious medical issues even stay in this country under Trump's plan? Even Mexico would care for you better. Thank you, Kevin for this information
Funny you mention moving. I've been getting emails from insurance companies about expat health insurance. Maybe, even the insurance companies, know that people are considering leaving the U.S.
@@johnmalloy101 I'm always told that other countries have better health care than the U.S., at least for many routine health challenges. When it comes to something big like cancer, heart, or brain, the U.S. has better care, but it is expensive.
@@KevinKnaussdon't leave. We need people to vote in 4 years and reverse Trump's crap. I'll never leave Florida either. IDC if its red I'll keep voting blue.
@@KevinKnaussalot of meds here that cost hundreds, are sold in other countries for dollars. Insulin for example, is not that difficult to produce. One brand has been out for 50 years but until recently, people weren't able to buy a cheaper alternative, because its impossible to produce bio equivalent generics. The FDA has finally approved bioSIMILARS which has so far helped reduce the cost. It's still a lot of money, but now Sanofi, Eli Lily, and Novo Nordisk (former 3 insulin monopolies) are being forced to price competitively. The issue of course is not ACA, it's Medicare contract companies like Aetna and BCBS waging pricing wars against pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceuticals forcing Medicare to exclusively approve only certain meds that are more expensive than necessary. And also hospitals abusing the Buy & Bill system.
The next four years are definitely going to be interesting to say the least. I appreciate your candor and realism on this topic. Gives early retirees a lot more to think about for 2026 and beyond…
Thank you for mentioning early retirees. I've been encouraging people - no employer sponsored health plan, not old enough for Medicare - to plan accordingly. Maybe take advantage of the ACA while it still exists with decent coverage health insurance.
I found such flexibility within our National Healthcare Plan beneficial when I needed individual coverage. the challenge might be using the digital platform, or in selecting the right plan. The National Healthcare Plan was a great help to me. Was it the media that attached "Obama" to it? I always thought it a mistake, completely wrong to identify it by a person or Administration - as it would obviously lead to something like this - Donald Trump's name however is currently or was formerly on so much real estate, golf courses, casinos, streets, roads, government buildings etc. through ownership or licensing.
Obamacare was initially a derisive term. But as people realized the many benefits of the ACA plans, Obamacare became synonymous with the good individual and family health insurance.
@@Pearlio I read they had record enrollment in Florida from people with income slightly over the federal poverty level. Such large enrollments may soften some of the proposed restrictions and changes.
Of course they will. That's the same reason why Trump ultimately left the ACA alone in his first presidency. Though now that there's no pressure for him to do better, he might just kill it to spite the liberals.
I think it's true that the more people sign up, benefit from, and depend on these plans, the louder the chorus against restrictive changes will be. We've been waiting on Trump's "concept" of a healthcare plan for 9 years... 🙄😑🤬
Great video! I'm one of those who benefited from the ACA after I was forced to leave my 10+ year job in DC (where I had almost congressional level health insurance and great benefits) and move back to NJ where my parents lived after my brother suddenly passed away in 2015. I had to take over their care because my mother began to fall and was diagnosed with something similar to ALS - she was 80 and dad was 90 at the time. Once my COBRA coverage ran out, I was covered under the ACA and then the New Jersey extension took over and gave me fairly good coverage. I wasn't working fulltime - I was caregiving two elderly and sick parents who were on Medicare -- but I was freelancing and also owned a house. So I did not qualify for Medicaid (I didn't even try to do so). As such, I was paying a fair amount of premium and deductible, but had good coverage during the next six years, which included the COVID era. In 2021, we moved to Virginia to be near some family, and again the ACA took over my health coverage. At some point, the Virginia Marketplace took over and I've been very happy with my coverage. I don't know what I'm going to do in 2026, but for 2025, I am going to make sure to stay covered under the Virginia Marketplace plan. However, Virginia's governor is a Trumper, so who knows what will happen. IMO, the best thing about the ACA is the fact that you don't have to have a job to get healthcare AND you don't need to go for Medicaid if you're earning more than it allows and if you have assets. If you freelance (which I did in between taking care of parents) and thus earn something, you can get tiered coverage via the Marketplace and the state marketplaces, which is what I have now. My dad passed away in 2022 and my mom is now a paraplegic and approved for Medicaid and in a nursing home near me. I work on contracts and hoping I can get a full time work, but it's hard bc of the gap I had. Either way, the ACA gives peace of mind and that I believe is its best quality, other than the pre-existing clause. I know some people have had bad experiences with it, but I think it's been largely helpful for the people who needed it badly. I do worry about my mom's social security as she gets it via dad's survivor benefits and the nursing home takes all of it and that pays for her nursing home costs.
I suspect there will be some sort of subsidized health insurance under Trump. However, I don't believe the coverage will be the same, most likely reduced. If they reduce coverage benefits, that will reduce the premiums and Trump will say he lowered the health insurance rates. In addition to reduced benefits, I'm inclined to believe there will be additional restrictions, especially on women's health care services.
@@KevinKnauss yes, that makes sense -- Trump needs to make sure people don't blame him for what he is going to do. He needs to come out smelling like roses. This is the same thing he tried to do when he held up the first stimulus check the congress cut during COVID until they let him sign the checks. Because of that, even now, some people think that money came from HIS pocket. The funny thing is how some people don't even know Joe Biden had his congress send stimulus checks as well. Anyway, I am more worried about mom's social security and her medicare/medicaid coverage being cut. I can still look after myself no matter what comes down the pike, but I can't pay $8000/month that the nursing home will charge me if her SS is cut. I'm trying not to lose too much sleep, but it's very worrisome. Subscribed to your channel. I like your no-nonsense, clear cut takes on what's coming down the pike. Thank you!
My plan is simple. I am moving to a new country with Universal Healthcare ASAP. Sick of getting a severe migraine everytime I need to go to the doctor to be robbed and mugged. Now if ACA is eliminated I will be robbed, mugged and beat up with every visit. Enough is enough I am leaving and never moving back to this country until full universal healthcare is enacted, if ever.
For better or worse, I don't think we will see universal health care any time soon in the U.S. for anyone under 65. My big fear is the elimination of expanded Medicaid where millions of people of low income are able to get no cost health care with no health plan premiums. The expanded Medicaid has worked similar to a universal health care model, albeit with a smaller network of providers in HMO plans.
I sense your frustration Kevin. Myself and millions of other people feel the frustration as well. Millions more that voted for this will feel it to when this all goes down. I tried my best to convince the red voters otherwise, but they just could not see what we had the vision to see. To them, everything is phony unless the president-elect says it's true. So sad and very depressing to say the least.....
Elections have consequences. We will feel those consequences over the next several years.
Thanks Kevin. Great video as always.
Why would anyone with serious medical issues even stay in this country under Trump's plan? Even Mexico would care for you better. Thank you, Kevin for this information
Funny you mention moving. I've been getting emails from insurance companies about expat health insurance. Maybe, even the insurance companies, know that people are considering leaving the U.S.
@KevinKnauss sad, but I think people need to really look at their options.
@@johnmalloy101 I'm always told that other countries have better health care than the U.S., at least for many routine health challenges. When it comes to something big like cancer, heart, or brain, the U.S. has better care, but it is expensive.
@@KevinKnaussdon't leave. We need people to vote in 4 years and reverse Trump's crap. I'll never leave Florida either. IDC if its red I'll keep voting blue.
@@KevinKnaussalot of meds here that cost hundreds, are sold in other countries for dollars. Insulin for example, is not that difficult to produce. One brand has been out for 50 years but until recently, people weren't able to buy a cheaper alternative, because its impossible to produce bio equivalent generics. The FDA has finally approved bioSIMILARS which has so far helped reduce the cost. It's still a lot of money, but now Sanofi, Eli Lily, and Novo Nordisk (former 3 insulin monopolies) are being forced to price competitively.
The issue of course is not ACA, it's Medicare contract companies like Aetna and BCBS waging pricing wars against pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceuticals forcing Medicare to exclusively approve only certain meds that are more expensive than necessary. And also hospitals abusing the Buy & Bill system.
The next four years are definitely going to be interesting to say the least. I appreciate your candor and realism on this topic. Gives early retirees a lot more to think about for 2026 and beyond…
Thank you for mentioning early retirees. I've been encouraging people - no employer sponsored health plan, not old enough for Medicare - to plan accordingly. Maybe take advantage of the ACA while it still exists with decent coverage health insurance.
@@KevinKnauss What will they do?
@@indranidasgupta8982 My comment above.
@@KevinKnauss Got it, thanks.
I found such flexibility within our National Healthcare Plan beneficial when I needed individual coverage. the challenge might be using the digital platform, or in selecting the right plan. The National Healthcare Plan was a great help to me. Was it the media that attached "Obama" to it? I always thought it a mistake, completely wrong to identify it by a person or Administration - as it would obviously lead to something like this - Donald Trump's name however is currently or was formerly on so much real estate, golf courses, casinos, streets, roads, government buildings etc. through ownership or licensing.
Obamacare was initially a derisive term. But as people realized the many benefits of the ACA plans, Obamacare became synonymous with the good individual and family health insurance.
When it comes down to be voted, there might still be some republicans defending ACA. Who knows.
I believe there are many Republicans that have no problem with the ACA. Those voices may moderate any changes, or as you say, vote against its repeal.
ACA enrollments in red southern states are way up. It’s easy to say something and hard to actually do of course.
@@Pearlio I read they had record enrollment in Florida from people with income slightly over the federal poverty level. Such large enrollments may soften some of the proposed restrictions and changes.
Of course they will. That's the same reason why Trump ultimately left the ACA alone in his first presidency. Though now that there's no pressure for him to do better, he might just kill it to spite the liberals.
I think it's true that the more people sign up, benefit from, and depend on these plans, the louder the chorus against restrictive changes will be. We've been waiting on Trump's "concept" of a healthcare plan for 9 years... 🙄😑🤬
FAFO. How did you vote? Well, here you are.
What does FAFO mean?