Healthcare Plans for Every Lifestyle
In October of 2012, my mother retired from the workforce. I was 21 years old and a sophomore in college. Obama had already been in office for about five years, and the term Obamacare was steadily gaining buzz. I was clueless about all of this, though, since prior to my mother's retirement, I had solid health insurance coverage from her job. And like many other 21-year-olds, my main focus was on how to stay wasted all weekend and still manage to get an 'A' on an exam the following week. Yet despite my liquor-loving hubris, I went to the doctor frequently; at one point I was even a bit of a hypochondriac. Good insurance and wild imagination will sometimes do that to you. Now, I'm 25 and not covered anymore—not by my college, since I've graduated, nor by a parent—which means I have to do some soul-searching to decide which Obamacare plan to enroll in.
While details on Donald Trump's dismantling of the Affordable Care Act have yet to be disclosed, those who aren't insured (ahem, me) should brace for change. We all should, really. In the meantime, open enrollment started on November 1, and will end January 31, 2017. Whatever I enroll in now should take me through the year regardless of what Trump decides to do. The plans are categorized by "metals," which signify their level of price and percentage of coverage: bronze being the lowest in coverage and platinum being the most expensive, but best in coverage. In an attempt to make the tedious process feel more like the self-care that everyone keeps pushing on me post-election, I've decided to choose one based on my personal preferences and lifestyle choices.
As a charming, socially conscious nut job who is tethered to my computer, I tend to veer toward plans designed for creative basket cases with a cause. A comprehensive silver plan—if I can afford it—works best for me considering the fact that I'm a freelance writer, and at certain points need Valium and/or a dedicated therapist to get me through all of my artistically induced emotions. In an effort to make enrollment for you easier, I've compiled a list of potential insurance plans (a sampling from across the country) that cater to your lifestyle, whatever you're into.