News Count Me As Grateful For The Changes Coming In Us Health Care

[The Albatross]

Lastly most likely as busy the rest of the day, on the topic which Bloom claims healthcare is a "right". There is good summation though a little snarky as it is a contributors diary and not an "article per se" of my view here:
The Cancerous Lie of Unbounded Positive Rights
You Don’t Have An Unending Right To Have A Good Or Service Provided By Somebody Else

 

[The Albatross]

@The Albatross. Your passion for politics reminds me of my grandmother and uncle.... It just made me smile thinking about them.

Yeah, the last couple of days, I had some good memories as I dug into the current events, articles and watched events on the Senate floor the past couple of days as well. In my home, whenever some land mark situation was occurring, my mom and dad both tuned in, debated (one was a Republican, one was a Democrat), and combed the newspapers trying to stay abreast of what was happening. It was actually one of the few areas in our household that didn't result in screaming matches or physical violence. My parents were capable of civil discourse on current events and matters of national importance. Go figure.

Thanks by the way.

 

[heidi]

At least in my state it's a huge improvement. People with serious conditions can't be denied coverage.

 

[Barberian]

Politics... I'd rather chew off my.. well never mind.

 

[The Albatross]

Ah, but there's the rub. It is not "politics". It is the fundamental transformation of America (as promised) from a free market system to government dependency in many aspects of it's citizens lives. You can't get something from Uncle Sam without giving something up. Intrusion into healthcare decreases freedom.

 

[BloomInWinter]

Here is some info about who will not have to pay a penalty for not enrolling in the Affordable Care Act. It's great they've taken into account some cases of abuse and trauma.

"Exemptions from the payment
Under certain circumstances, you won’t have to make the individual responsibility payment. This is called an “exemption.”

You may qualify for an exemption if:

• You’re uninsured for less than 3 months of the year
• The lowest-priced coverage available to you would cost more than 8% of your household income
• You don’t have to file a tax return because your income is too low (Learn about the filing limit.)
• You’re a member of a federally recognized tribe or eligible for services through an Indian Health Services provider
• You’re a member of a recognized health care sharing ministry
• You’re a member of a recognized religious sect with religious objections to insurance, including Social Security and Medicare
• You’re incarcerated, and not awaiting the disposition of charges against you
• You’re not [DLMURL="https://www.healthcare.gov/immigration-status-and-the-marketplace"]lawfully present[/DLMURL] in the U.S.

Hardship exemptions
If you have any of the circumstances below that affect your ability to purchase health insurance coverage, you may qualify for a “hardship” exemption:

1. You were homeless.
2. You were evicted in the past 6 months or were facing eviction or foreclosure.
3. You received a shut-off notice from a utility company.
4. You recently experienced domestic violence.
5. You recently experienced the death of a close family member.
6. You experienced a fire, flood, or other natural or human-caused disaster that caused substantial damage to your property.
7. You filed for bankruptcy in the last 6 months.
8. You had medical expenses you couldn’t pay in the last 24 months.
9. You experienced unexpected increases in necessary expenses due to caring for an ill, disabled, or aging family member.
10. You expect to claim a child as a tax dependent who’s been denied coverage in Medicaid and CHIP, and another person is required by court order to give medical support to the child. In this case, you do not have the pay the penalty for the child.
11. As a result of an eligibility appeals decision, you’re eligible for enrollment in a qualified health plan (QHP) through the Marketplace, lower costs on your monthly premiums, or cost-sharing reductions for a time period when you weren’t enrolled in a QHP through the Marketplace.
12. You were determined ineligible for Medicaid because your state didn’t expand eligibility for Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act."
    
    Source: [DLMURL]https://www.healthcare.gov/exemptions/[/DLMURL]

 

[heidi]

Ah, but there's the rub. It is not "politics". It is the fundamental transformation of America (as promised) from a free market system to government dependency in many aspects of it's citizens lives. You can't get something from Uncle Sam without giving something up. Intrusion into healthcare decreases freedom.

*oh one of those*
government paranoids.
I think it's very hard to argue that free market was working in the case of health care.

Also I just heard this program about people being laid off or having their hours reduced as a result of the 30 hour a week/mandated healthcare rule. It made me say what?

I can't tell you how many jobs I had way back into the 90s where I was scheduled for 38 hours so as not to require healthcare. If I worked overtime it was off the books. This was for a major corporation in 90s. The fact that they are now cutting workers to 28 or 29 hours is nothing new. It's even worse to not get coverage when working for all intent and purposes full time (at 38-39 hrs per week). Now at least people who work full-time can't be denied employee health care. It's only fair. It's a travesty that wealthy corporations would keep that from their employees. It's real lives. It can be life or death. It's important.

Then that same person who is being denied employee health care could probably not afford an individual health insurance policy. Even if they did if you don't have group coverage you can be excluded for preexisting conditions which cover a wide, wide scope. Now at least people who aren't able to qualify for employee health care have the option to get an individual health care plan.

And for people who are concerned about the free market now freelancers and entrepreneurs have options for individual health care plans.

 

[The Albatross]

*oh one of those*
government paranoids.

Ad hominem comments do not make the arguement false, nor negate the facts.

 

[BloomInWinter]

We lose a lot if the wealthy, corporates-over-people GOP steals Obamacare.

"Over $100 Billion in Higher Deficits: Repealing the Affordable Care Act would increase the deficit by $100 billion over ten years. It would also shorten the life of the Medicare Trust Fund by ten years."

"25 Million Americans Will Not Gain Health Insurance: Repealing the Affordable Care Act would mean that marketplaces where Americans can compare private insurance policies would not open in 2014. States would not be able to receive Federal funding to close Medicaid’s coverage gaps. "

"Source: http://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/facts/factsheets/2012/07/repeal07102012a.html

 

[intothelight]

I am still waiting until October 1st to see what the real numbers are. I did run a test to see what coverage would cost for my husband and our children that are in college. Right now we have an individual policy that covers the three of them. It is comprehensive healthcare with a $5,000 per person deductible with a $10,000 family deductible and it includes dental. The annual premium is $6,465.

The estimated premium for similar coverage and deductibles, but without the dental, through the exchange is $12,149. My first question is "why is the premium double?". Sure our family will pay less out of pocket because it is estimated that based on our income the premium share we are responsible for is around $5,000 and the subsidy $7,000. But where is that $7,000 coming from? Also, why is the premium that high? Honestly, I was shocked and really expected a premium similar to what is being paid now since there wasn't a real difference in coverage or deductible.

There are still many things to be checked out and explored. It was the premium numbers that gave me pause and honestly, if it is still available and their isn't a better alternative, it will be best for my family to stay with the present company unless they hike rates to fall in line with the government subsidized competition.

 

[The Albatross]

Two of the retailers I went to this week cut their store employees back to 25 hour weeks, the reason? Obamacare. "I can't feed my family on 25 hours a week" the cashier told me yesterday. I gave her a referral to my agency when she said she needed a second job. My spouses employer is expecting health care changes and will be notified the first week of October about changing benefits and rates. We are hoping they do not drop spousal coverage. The reason? Obamacare.

Tongue in cheek via Reason TV for the Obamacare song contest which will award a prize under the HHS program:

More on Obamacare and abortions:
Link Removed

"Americans morally opposed to funding abortion may unwittingly sign up for one that does due to Obamacare's "secrecy clause," the letter warns:

"Under the secrecy clause, plans that cover abortion are only allowed to disclose the abortion surcharge 'as a part of the summary of benefits and coverage explanation, at the time of enrollment.' Many families may choose a plan that covers abortion without realizing it or because the plan is the only one that covers the critical care that their family needs."

An abortion "slush fund" bankrolled by a separate "abortion fee" charged to enrollees should also be struck from Obamacare, the letter says:

"Anyone who enrolls in a federally-subsidized health care plan that covers elective abortions will pay a separate 'abortion fee' of at least $1 per month into an abortion slush fund to pay for abortion on demand."

Link Removed has been signed by 72 Congressmen and women.

 

[The Albatross]

I think it's very hard to argue that free market was working in the case of health care.

No harder than it is to argue that socialized medicine works. It doesn't. My husbands cousin is still waiting for a doctor to be assigned to her. All she did was move from New Brunswick to Nova Scotia. Three years is the "average wait". In the meantime she was told to go to the emergency room.

Is that working in the case of health care? A 3 year wait to be given a physician?