Greg Williams is one of the hundreds of thousands of Floridians whose health insurance policy was terminated in the wake of the Affordable Care Act.
Like many, hes not happy about it.
Worse, Williams said he isnt sure what hes going to do.
I liked my plan, but I cant keep it and I dont understand why, Williams told Florida Watchdog.
Williams, a 45-year-old Madison County farmer, has for years dutifully paid his monthly insurance bill despite rarely going to the doctor. Now, hes one of potentially millions of Americans that President Barack Obamas oft repeated if you like your plan you can keep it assurance doesnt apply to.
Were not getting fair treatment, he said.
Williams received his cancellation letter from Celtic Insurance, a company offering individual insurance policies.
With changes to the major medical insurance marketplace, your current certificate underwritten by Celtic does not completely comply with the Health Care Reform Law. This letter is Celtics formal written notice to you of termination and discontinuance of your certificate, on 12/31/2013, the letter states.
Florida Watchdog contacted Celtic, but hasnt received a response.
The notice came only days before the botched rollout of Floridas federally-run health insurance exchange, a website Williams said hes tried multiple times to use but to no avail.
He does have the option to purchase a new plan from Celtic, but at a 63 percent cost increase. He currently pays a premium of $298 a month and would have to fork over $485 per month beginning next year. Thats a lot for a single individual who made $28,000 last year.
My premiums are kind of high, but now itll be worse, he said.
Thats because Williams current plan is known as a major medical policy, or health insurance designed to pay for a catastrophic injury or illness. Unfortunately, hes had to use it in the past.
In 2008, Williams fell through his attic and broke both wrists and his ankle and cracked his skull. He underwent a long recovery, but said his insurance policy (a different catastrophic plan) covered it.
The whole thing basically cost me my $5,000 deductible, he said.
His high-deductible, low-premium plan has been characterized as substandard by administration officials and many health reform supporters. But Williams said he likes it and doesnt agree with a one-size-fits-all government standard.
Under the ACA, Americans in the individual and small group markets will soon be required to purchase minimum essential benefits. Not having the new requirements almost certainly led to Williams cancellation.
Some of the mandated, and costly, new coverage features include maternity and newborn care, mental health and substance abuse services and pediatric care.
On the bright side, Williams probably qualifies for government subsidies if he were to purchase a new plan through FloridasObamacarehealth exchange. But cost specifics are hard to come by as he hasnt been able to effectively navigate the malfunctioning website.
Even if he does qualify, Williams isnt entirely comfortable with it.
The subsidy thing is good news, but I dont agree with it, he said. Our farm doesnt get anything from the government. We are self-supporting, and its still going to cost everybody more money.
So whats he going to do?
I honestly dont know right now, Williams said.
Im looking for a solution, but the website doesnt work and Im not sure about the security of it, he said. Maybe another law will get passed soon.
Williams has until Dec. 15 to purchase insurance or his coverage will lapse beginning Jan. 1, 2014.
Contact William Patrick at wpatrick@watchdog.org.
