I read your link tom418 (which is to a blog, BTW), and I stand by what I said. There are many HDHPs available in Mass, but they do have to meet minimum standards. That by no means makes them "deluxe" policies, to use your term. For example, in order not to trigger the tax (or fine, if you prefer), a MASS HDHP: must not limit benefit payments because an individual develops Alzheimer's, mental illness, alcoholism or other chemical dependency after the policy is issued; it can't have a pre-existing condition limitation that lasts for more than six months after the policy's effective date; it must be guaranteed renewable or non-cancelable, etc, etc. Standards like these are a long, long way from demanding that people can only buy "delux" plans, which is what your post claims. What will happen and who will pay their health care costs if one or both of the Williams eventually develops Alzheimer's and their policy doesn't cover it and they, themselves, run out of money? Why should the rest of the taxpayers of Mass pay for them just because they opted for the cheapest type of insurance they thought they could get away with? Apparently, the plan the Williams couple has doesn't meet the minimum standards, but there's just no way to tell why from your link because no further info is provided. So given that you don't have the foggiest idea what their plan covers and doesn't cover, your question "In what way would a high -deductable plan (like the MA couple I mentioned had) be useless?" can be answered, "Don't know exactly, but maybe in a lot of ways."

Dedtired...I too had to pay the same the year before Medicare. When on Cobra it is required that the HI take you and cannot deny due to pre-existing conditions. Was with mine for 5 years, but they just kept kicking up the premiums to the last year at 759 a mo. At 65 I found a supplement plan for $90 a month, they pay 100% of what is left after Medicare regardless of the need. Signed for 3 years option to keep the monthly cost. Every year after the 3 it goes up now about 20%, but the coverage remains the same. This year could be the last to afford them. No other insurance will cover me if I lose this. So I'll be in the same situation as many of you. A broker told me that with specific medications and/or condition, a company adds about $50 per item to the monthly cost...if they will even accept you. Health Insurance is for the wealthy or healthy. I'm with all of you, what to do without insurance and am floored by the many posting here without. I know what my medical costs will be for a year and weigh that in to the insurance cost to me...for now. Have mentioned more than once to others that if my IQ was even 1 level down, would never figure any of this out. And the older we get the worse it is to know what to do. Medicare changes are two thick books and one had best know what is and isn't. They have taken away 2/3 of the approved medications. When I asked the pharmacy about one of mine, he said it was due to too many falls from the elderly using it. Jeesh, I use it to keep from falling. We are all in trouble health wise, growing older with all the new research to resolve so many conditions isn't going to do any of us any good. Health insurance will be too costly to utilize great advances. Admission I do not understand what is being created for health coverage by the gov. It eludes me with crazy details. OT. Our state now has a law that if you are stopped for anything when driving or get in an accident and taking a medication that cautions driving while using it, they can charge you with a DUI. I'm waiting for a DUI law because of my age.

If she has a minimal income (which albeit has to be significantly minumal for a single person) she should be able to get medicaid. I would tell her though that that is not a pleasant process. My experiance (when I first had my daughter and needed it) was not a pleasant one. The people are mean and well downright awful and their first response is NO. I went in knowing exactly what I qualified for and didn't except no for an answer. I already knew what forms to fill out so when they told me I had to do certain things (which basically just make you life more difficult and are not a requirement) I told them flat out No, I don't have to do that I only need to fill out this this and this. Visit your state resource to find out the income requirements and such in your specific state. They are different for each. Also - I happen to find this as well In the US, there are a few alternatives that you may want to investigate. The first is Medicaid, if you financially qualify. If your income level is over the Medicaid limit, you may still qualify for Medicaid by using a spend down equation (usually the amount of income you receive over and above their income guidelines). To become eligible for Medicaid your allowable medical expenses must be more than your spend down amount. Expenses for medical care that may be considered in this equation include care from hospitals, doctors, clinics, dentists, drugs, medical supplies and equipment, health insurance premiums, transportation to get medical care, personal assistance services, and adult home help services that are related to your medical care. Read more on this here: --> Medicaid Eligibility http://www.rare-cancer.org/health-insurance.html

I've been paying roughly $1000-$1200/month for myself since my husband's retirement over ten years ago. That does not include kids. We covered them on student health plans, which turned out to be cheaper in sum. I can give you a couple of tips: Don't bother with the Federal Health Exchange site unless you will qualify for a supplement of some kind. It's not a terrible site, but you'll have to do everything yourself. You are better off contacting a local insurance broker (I found mine on NextDoor). It may end being a very simple decision because in many markets there is only one company that sells to non-group members. So I can buy a gold, silver or bronze plan, but only from Community Health Choice (Houston suburb). My plan offers a 10% discount for completing an annual survey. I'd had the same plan the year before but never knew about that discount until the agent told me -so ask about that. Try not to panic when you read the crazy deductibles. I think mine is $5000 (whereas ten years ago, it was probably $500), but so much preventative care is now covered pre-deductible, thanks to Obama care, that I think I'm spending less out-of-pocket than I did before. But I'm a pretty healthy person who doesn't use a lot of medical services except preventative, so your mileage may vary... When I first began to buy my own insurance plans (after DH's retirement), I made the mistake of picking the plan first, rather than the doctor. The last few years (when I had a choice of at least 2 companies to choose from), I compiled a list of at least a dozen primary physicians I could abide, and then called their offices to see if they were accepting new patients, when I would be able to get an appointment, and whether they had any plans to cancel coverage with insurance company X the next year, etc. I had learned the hard way (in January), that I may have had a great plan, but I couldn't find a dr. on that plan who would see me as a new patient before August. I kid you not.....So that year, I was paying $1200/month and actually didn't have a dr. I could see until August.....