New Website Offers Health Care Horror Stories; Subjects Available to Media

Oct. 22, 2013
MEDIA ALERT
CONTACT: Jim Tynen (919) 834-2099   Jim.Tynen@nccivitas.org

RALEIGH – The Civitas Institute has launched a new website titled Icouldntkeepmyplan.com highlighting North Carolinians’ stories about how the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) is throwing them out of the health plans they liked, while threatening their finances and ability to control their own lives. For instance, in their own words people told us:

• Our plan was discontinued and we have been rolled into another plan. Plan information has been scant. They make no mention of our former HSA. We cannot pay double the premium for less coverage in our budget. This is our grocery money.

• My wife and I have had continuous coverage with NC BC/BS since 1-1-2004 and believed that we would be able to continue our coverage based on Obama’s 3-2010 statements that anyone who was already covered would not lose their coverage or doctors. It was a lie. We have been “mapped” from the B tier of Blue Advantage to the Silver 2800 plan. Our deductibles have increased as well as our copays …
• We first received a booklet from Blue Cross/Blue Shield, that said “You cannot stay with your current plan, so you have to be switched to a new 2014 plan….” Then the next week we received our renewal letter. It said “Due to ACA regulations, your current BCBSNC medical plan will no longer be offered for 2014…….we will transition you to the Blue Advantage Silver 3500 plan.” Our rate went from $684.00 to $l,ll7.42. This is for a 70/30, $7000 deductible plan.

Many more true stories about real people confronting this new law are available at Icouldntkeepmyplan.com

Journalists are invited to read these stories to find out more about how the law is impacting real people across North Carolina.

Moreover, the Civitas Institute can put you in touch with some of these families and individuals who are willing to share their stories with the media. Our experts can also address key aspects of this issue.

The Civitas Institute is a policy institute in Raleigh, N.C. More information is available at www.nccivitas.org, or contact Jim Tynen at (919) 834-2099 or james.tynen@nccivitas.org.