Millions of Americans are looking at the new insurance options they have under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Most people are familiar with the bronze, silver, gold, and platinum tiers that are available. But until now, it's been hard to know exactly what Obamacare bronze plans would look like in real life.
In the following video, Dan Caplinger, The Motley Fool's director of investment planning, takes a look at Obamacare bronze plans and what kind of coverage you can expect from them. Dan notes that the idea behind the bronze tier is that insurance companies pay 60% of expected costs while you pay 40%, but that doesn't mean all your expenses are split 60/40. In looking at various plans from WellPoint (ELV 3.19%), UnitedHealth Group (UNH 2.96%), and Aetna (AET), Dan observes that from state to state and even from plan to plan within given states, policies can vary widely. For instance, the three policies he looks at have deductibles ranging from $3,000 to $5,500, doctor-visit fees from $60 to half of the actual cost, and coinsurance amounts of between 10% and 50% for other services. Dan concludes that it's essential to look closely at the plans available in your state to find the right combination of traits to fit your health and financial condition.
