Metro

‘Canceled’ NJ retiree says her health plan isn’t junk

One person’s junk is another person’s gold.

Before backtracking, the White House defended the cancellation of millions of insurance policies, saying they were substandard and didn’t meet ObamaCare’s minimum requirements.

But Darlene Billia, 65, a former senior partner at advertising agency Draft SCB, said her “junk” policy worked just fine after she retired and was waiting to transition to Medicare.

She paid $450 a month for a Blue Cross/Blue Shield policy before it was canceled; she was offered comparable coverage, but at nearly twice the price, $800 per month.

“Yes, there were limits on testing and preventative care, but it paid for a lot,” she told The Post.

“It suited my needs; it covered most of my prescription medicines. I resent the fact that people keep saying these are crap plans.”

Billia, of Long Branch, NJ, has a thyroid condition, so she needed routine blood tests — but they were covered. Also covered was an epidural procedure when she hurt her back.

She put off a $3,000 colonoscopy that was only partly covered until she was eligible for Medicare.

Last month, Billia angrily notified friends through Facebook that her plan had been yanked.

“I just received a notice that because of the “AFFORDABLE” Care Act (ACA) my insurance is canceled for next year. I can choose a new ‘comparable’ plan. But guess what — it will cost 2x as much.”

Billia is thanking her lucky stars that she just turned 65.

“I just became eligible for Medicare, so [Obama] is off the hook,” she joked.