My Nightmare with the ACA and How I Got My Pony [View all]
Okay...I started trying to get coverage from day 1. Got through on day 3. Have been fighting through it since. 3 weeks ago, I started over...YAY!!! Successssssssss...oh...wait.
None of the plans offered had providers in my County. That is COUNTY. Not city. It's a big county. Maricopa is a two hour drive, through the mountains. I can't do that. I tried and tried, live chat, emails, etc. Today, I took time off and called. She was not helpful. Tried live chat, again. This woman (Carly) was determined to figure it out. It was INSANE that there was no coverage in my county!
She gave me some helpful tips (45 minutes worth) and then I emailed my county Health Dept. HOLY CRAP! They emailed me back in 15 freakin' minutes with answers! No, most of the companies offering plans through the exchange DO NOT cover our county, BUT, two of them do, they just don't have accurate listings. PLUS, many more providers will be added to these two plans in the next few months. FREAKIN' WOOT!!!!
I was honestly in tears earlier. I haven't had insurance in 13 years. I wanted, no...needed this. Long story miniscule, they wanted $1200 for just me plus a rider that nothing would be covered. The $1200 was just for the pleasure of carrying a card in my wallet. Today, I FINALLY signed up for $75. Not the Caddy Plan I had back in Chicago, but I won't have to die a slow and agonizing death at home because I'm uninsured.
So, thank you, Mr. President, good people of the US, County Health Dept., Carly from Live Chat, and finally...HealthNet...for my new Insurance Pony. 
Big, big word of advice, verify your providers! 
P.S. This isn't a hit and run post, but I'm freakin' starving and am taking the rest of the afternoon off to eat and lay my weary head down (flu recovery).
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