A normal phone call with your average ISP cartel

I really wish we lived in a country with robust ISP competition. Instead I have to appeal to the self preservation interest of my ISP cartel whenever they screw me over. I had such a conversation today. It went something like this.

ME: I'm recording this conversation. You changed my rates to from $59 to $72 a month without explanation or warning.
TWC: you had an introductory promotional rate that expired
ME: I don't want this rate, give me back my old rate or I'm leaving
TWC: what service provider do you plan on using? [a trick question if there ever was one]
ME:  none [knowing there isn't another answer that will further the conversation]
TWC: I can see if you qualify for another promotional rate. You'll need to answer some questions first.
ME: I want the 20 MPS speed that I have at the same rate
TWC: That offer no longer exists, I'll need to ask you some questions before I can see what rate you qualify for
ME: how much does 20 MPS cost per month?
TWC: we have over 300 packages. I need to know more info before I can quote you a rate. What do you use the internet for?
ME: I just want 20 MPS a month.
TWC: Sir, I know. But I can't determine what you qualify for unless you answer my questions. What do you use the internet for?
ME: Fine. I use it to check email.
TWC: Do you have a TV provider?
ME: No.
TWC: How do you watch movies?
ME: [unwilling to start the you need more bandwidth conversation) DVDs
TWC: how do you stay in touch with family?
ME: I write letters and send them in the mail
TWC: you qualify for a new rate! We can give you your current rate at $59 a month!
ME: you're totally awesome and we love you so much

How I'm being forced to buy Medicare

Two years after I went out on leave due to visual impairment, I got a letter in the mail welcoming me to Medicare. A lot of people are, understandably, very happy when this day comes. Me? Not so much.

I didn't request to participate in Medicare. The government just automatically signed me up for Medicare Plan A and Plan B. Plan A is free to me and covers hospital stays. Plan B will cost me $104 a month, increases yearly, and is a major medical plan. To get a truly functional health plan I'd need to pay for Plan C; a Medicare Advantage plan offered by an HMO/PPO.

Thing is, I don't need Medicare. I have insurance already through my employer. And since my plan provides for my family, I'm not making any changes. So clearly I'm not going to pay for Plan C - I don't need two complete health policies for one person. And Plan B looks redundant and not worth the expense. I'll keep Plan A because it literally isn't possible to cancel.

So here's the rub, the government has built in an incentive to try and force me to sign-up for Plan B. If I don't sign up when Plan B is first made available and I want to sign-up at a later date, there will be a penalty. Plan B will go up 10% in cost for every year that I'm eligible but didn't participate.
So If ten years from now I lose my employer based insurance and want to get Plan B, it will double in cost to $208 (in 2014 dollars) a month, every month! If I wait 15 years, it will cost $260. Remember this is just for a major medical plan, not an actual health plan. I'd still have to pay for Medicare Advantage separately.

I talked to the Social Security administration and they confirmed that there is no cap to the 10% yearly penalty. They said it would reset when I hit 65, over two decades from now. In theory I could end up having to pay more than 240% in penalties on a monthly basis if I lose my employer based insurance.

But isn't that why we have the affordable care act? If I lose my insurance I can just jump on healthcare.gov and buy a plan from the exchanges. But I can't. Since the government signed me up for Medicare, I lost the ability to buy insurance on the open market. Providers are only allowed to sell me Medicare Advantage plans, which I have to purchase Plan B to qualify for.

Normally, Medicare doesn't impose the Plan B penalty on people who have employer based insurance. But for some un-explained reason, people in my situation do not qualify for the penalty exemption based upon how the IRS taxes my income.

So I'm left with a choice. If I waive Plan B the government will start adding the fees onto to my hypothetical premiums. Which wouldn't matter as long as I keep my employer based insurance. But we live in uncertain times. Will I really be able to participate in my employer's plan until age 65?  Since I will not be allowed to purchase insurance on the open market it's hard to see how I do anything but pay the Plan B $1,250 yearly fee.

I might be able to make back a small percentage of the Plan B premiums if Plan B covers my employee based insurance policy co-pays. But the vast majority of my Plan B premiums are going to be wasted on a product I'm already purchasing. I'm essentially buying Plan B as a hedge against my actually insurance plan going away. Plan B is functioning as very expensive liability insurance. On my insurance.

Oh, well. My family didn't need that money anyway.