Parts of the new health care reform measure — especially a new insurance pool for high-risk patients — may help Prickett as early as six months from now. But the devil is in its details.
One thing is certain, Prickett said. Continuing to pay his current high premium “is like playing a slot machine and just waiting for it to suck my money dry. Anything that changes the game is going to help.”
By entering the new high-risk insurance pool, Prickett’s out-of-pocket expenses would be capped at $5,950 a year — a bargain compared to his yearly premium of $11,508.
But to qualify for the pool, Prickett would have to drop his current insurance and go without coverage for at least six months. “In the meantime, I would have to hope I didn’t have a heart attack or develop any major complications,” he said.
Long-term, the benefits of the new law are much clearer for someone like Prickett. Starting in 2014, when the new law bars insurers from denying coverage to adults who have pre-existing conditions, Prickett will be able to start shopping for health insurance again.
Pricket said he won’t be making any decisions until he talks to his accountant.
“You can’t burn bridges until you know what the premiums are on the other side,” he said.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2437 or jdebrosse@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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