Heeeeeeere's Obamacare!

[Peephole]

And how exactly does Singapore do it? Can you provide a link?

— Singapore has "multiple tiers of protection to ensure that no Singaporean is denied access to basic healthcare because of affordability issues."

— "The first tier of protection is provided by heavy Government subsidies of up to 80% of the total bill in acute public hospital wards, which all Singaporeans can access."

— "The second tier of protection is provided by Medisave, a compulsory individual medical savings account scheme ... Singaporeans and their employers contribute a part of the monthly wages into the account to save up for their future medical needs."

— As best I can tell, these Medisave accounts are deposited into the Central Provident Fund, a government-run investment pool, rather than constituting private savings as we would understand them.

— "The third level of protection is provided by MediShield, a low cost catastrophic medical insurance scheme" supplemented if like by private insurance called Integrated Shield plans and "Singaporeans must subscribe to the basic MediShield product before they can purchase the add-on private Integrated Shield Plans."

— "Finally, Medifund is a medical endowment fund set up by the Government to act as the ultimate safety net for needy Singaporean patients who cannot afford to pay their medical bills despite heavy subsidies, Medisave and MediShield."

None of this sounds to me like anything American conservatives favor. As in, there is no legislation that's been championed by major Republican leaders that would do any of these things and, in general, none of these measures comports with conservative aversion to government spending and regulation. And, yes, providers are regulated by a couple of entities. Now I sometimes hear U.S. conservatives analogize health savings accounts to Sinagpore's Medisave. But HSAs are a tax exemption for savings that are set aside for health care purchases; that's totally different from a mandatory contribution to a sovereign wealth fund. What's more, U.S. conservatives support tax cuts in general and tax cuts for investment income in particular. So conservative affection for HSAs seems to me to stand completely apart from whatever virtues it may have as health care policy. Note that in addition to the above financing mechanisms, the public hospital system also serves as a set of de facto price controls.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox...care_what_do_conservatives_like_about_it.html

 

[Fast Eddie B]

The story I referenced was talking about the latest calculations by the Congressional Budget Office, which is about as neutral as you can get in DC.

I was referring to premium hikes (or lack thereof) going forward.

 

[Neally]

A couple more lying racists:


"Iorio has not been able to find a urologist for her son or an ob-gyn who is both covered by her insurance and practicing in a hospital that is covered. She's called over a dozen doctors who are covered by her insurance, and each has told her that if she or her son needs an operation in the hospitals the doctor contracts with, it won't be covered.

"My insurance is pretty useless. And I'm not fussy about what doctor I see," Iorio said. "I don't know what to do. I may just drop it for myself and keep my son on it. It's really depressing."

"Before joining Covered California, Iorio had an individual Blue Shield plan that was cheaper than what she now pays and that gave her wider access to doctors and hospitals."
------------------------
Unable to match a hospital and a surgeon that were both covered, Friedlander started haggling between doctors for a cash price for the surgery. She chose a surgeon who wasn't covered by her insurance but who operated in a hospital that was covered. She expects her insurance to pay the hospital bill, but she had to pay for her surgeon's bill herself. In the end, she had to take out two credit cards so she could pay $16,000 out of pocket. "

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/10/obamacare-patients-without-doctors_n_5044270.html

Thanks, Obama!

 

[plague311]

A couple more lying racists:


"Iorio has not been able to find a urologist for her son or an ob-gyn who is both covered by her insurance and practicing in a hospital that is covered. She's called over a dozen doctors who are covered by her insurance, and each has told her that if she or her son needs an operation in the hospitals the doctor contracts with, it won't be covered.

"My insurance is pretty useless. And I'm not fussy about what doctor I see," Iorio said. "I don't know what to do. I may just drop it for myself and keep my son on it. It's really depressing."

"Before joining Covered California, Iorio had an individual Blue Shield plan that was cheaper than what she now pays and that gave her wider access to doctors and hospitals."
------------------------
Unable to match a hospital and a surgeon that were both covered, Friedlander started haggling between doctors for a cash price for the surgery. She chose a surgeon who wasn't covered by her insurance but who operated in a hospital that was covered. She expects her insurance to pay the hospital bill, but she had to pay for her surgeon's bill herself. In the end, she had to take out two credit cards so she could pay $16,000 out of pocket. "

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/10/obamacare-patients-without-doctors_n_5044270.html

Another Obamacare horror story. Although, it's not like it's the doctor's fault, or the hospitals fault for not signing the contracts. It's all Obama, because, OBAMA!

 

[daredelvis]

Another Obamacare horror story. Although, it's not like it's the doctor's fault, or the hospitals fault for not signing the contracts. It's all Obama, because, OBAMA!

And this kind of stuff NEVER happened before the ACA. Thanks OBAMA!!

Daredelvis

 

[Emily's Cat]

A couple more lying racists:

Why are they lying racists?

 

[Biscuit]

Haven't been in this thread for awhile, some 30 odd pages, but I wanted to share my results.

Back story: Small business owner without insurance for 5 plus years because I am healthy but for 2 back surgeries I had when I was younger. No policy at any price would cover me for what will happen - my back will go out. So I went without and got away with it.

The ACA results: I now have a gold level plan with $0 deductible and annual max $6,000 out of pocket. All my fees for doctors, lab work, xrays, mental health, prescriptions ect are all flat fees ranging from $20 to $250 (ER visit). I get one free eye exam a year and some other bits and pieces. Most importantly they can't deny me coverage for back issues.

I also went ahead and added a dental plan that covers 2 cleanings a year and has a 100 deductible with a 20% copay after that.

I was eligible for a $25.00 a month tax credit and choose to apply the full amount to my health insurance bill. Total monthly cost after credit $170.34

Needless to say I am quite happy and look forward to seeing a dentist and getting my first regular check up in god knows how many years. There were over 110 plans to choose from and once the website was ironed out it took about a full hour to figure everything out. Thanks Obama.

 

[plague311]

Why are they lying racists?

He's being coy. He's implying that democrats think every horror story is some lying racist making stuff up, despite that being no where near the truth.

 

[johnny karate]

Why are they lying racists?

Because when your devastating blow to Obamacare is just two anecdotal claims, you've got to crank up the snarky hyperbole as much as possible to distract from the weakness of your argument.

 

[Neally]

Why are they lying racists?

Because the only criticism of Obamacare comes from lying racists.

Because when your devastating blow to Obamacare is just two anecdotal claims, you've got to crank up the snarky hyperbole as much as possible to distract from the weakness of your argument. .

Because there can only be good outcomes for everyone. Anything else is just lying, racist, anecdotes. Sadly, even HuffPo is giving them a platform now to spew their vile lies.

 

[Fast Eddie B]

Biscuit,

That is a fabulous success story. Let's hope for many more.

It is hard for me to see how a for-profit company could make the numbers work on a plan like this. Maybe there are economies of scale that make it possible. But it would take a mountain of $170 premiums to pay for a single outlay for a back surgery, let's say.

But, again, glad it worked out for you.

 

[Morrigan]

What's interesting is that we've had "Obamacare" in place in Massachusetts for almost a decade. If all of these problems were endemic to the system, then Romneycare would have entered a death spiral by now, and people would be clamoring for its repeal. Oddly enough, even Republicans in MA don't want it repealed. Shouldn't that be a clue that Obamacare is heading in the same direction? If not, why are the conservatives so intent on lying about the provisions of the law?

Because Obama.

 

[Emily's Cat]

Because the only criticism of Obamacare comes from lying racists.

I have some criticisms of ACA; I am neither a liar nor a racist.

 

[Emily's Cat]

It is hard for me to see how a for-profit company could make the numbers work on a plan like this. Maybe there are economies of scale that make it possible. But it would take a mountain of $170 premiums to pay for a single outlay for a back surgery, let's say.

Luckily, there are mountains of $170 premiums . And back surgeries are very rare.

 

[Biscuit]

Biscuit,

That is a fabulous success story. Let's hope for many more.

It is hard for me to see how a for-profit company could make the numbers work on a plan like this. Maybe there are economies of scale that make it possible. But it would take a mountain of $170 premiums to pay for a single outlay for a back surgery, let's say.

But, again, glad it worked out for you.

Luckily, there are mountains of $170 premiums . And back surgeries are very rare.

Not to nit pick but it's actually 195.00 a month, I get a credit. Even at that price it's a really reasonable plan. For the first time in my life I am not angry about the coverage I am getting.

The market place is really genius in that every plan is laid out the same, side by side, for easy comparison.

I hope to never have another back surgery but before the ACA I wouldn't have even been covered for meds or physical therapy. Thanks Obama.

 

[Marcus]

Haven't been in this thread for awhile, some 30 odd pages, but I wanted to share my results.

Back story: Small business owner without insurance for 5 plus years because I am healthy but for 2 back surgeries I had when I was younger. No policy at any price would cover me for what will happen - my back will go out. So I went without and got away with it.

The ACA results: I now have a gold level plan with $0 deductible and annual max $6,000 out of pocket. All my fees for doctors, lab work, xrays, mental health, prescriptions ect are all flat fees ranging from $20 to $250 (ER visit). I get one free eye exam a year and some other bits and pieces. Most importantly they can't deny me coverage for back issues.

I also went ahead and added a dental plan that covers 2 cleanings a year and has a 100 deductible with a 20% copay after that.

I was eligible for a $25.00 a month tax credit and choose to apply the full amount to my health insurance bill. Total monthly cost after credit $170.34

Needless to say I am quite happy and look forward to seeing a dentist and getting my first regular check up in god knows how many years. There were over 110 plans to choose from and once the website was ironed out it took about a full hour to figure everything out. Thanks Obama.

I'm not unhappy with my ACA results, but my silver plan is a lot more expensive than your gold plan, $565 a month, and it doesn't cover dental. They don't even ask about pre-existing conditions, of course. I know geography is considered, as well as age (are you younger than 58?). Perhaps there are other variables I'm not considering. Or could the $25 subsidy be a typo, and you meant $250?

 

[Kestrel]

What's interesting is that we've had "Obamacare" in place in Massachusetts for almost a decade. If all of these problems were endemic to the system, then Romneycare would have entered a death spiral by now, and people would be clamoring for its repeal. Oddly enough, even Republicans in MA don't want it repealed. Shouldn't that be a clue that Obamacare is heading in the same direction? If not, why are the conservatives so intent on lying about the provisions of the law?

The standard talking point seems to be that the success in a small state like Massachusetts can't possibly be scaled up to a nation as large and diverse as the US.

 

[Fast Eddie B]

As a reminder, the rates my wife and I would have faced in the state of GA were it not for the fact that I qualify for Medicare in August.

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3693/13906562054_a4ce859281.jpg

Aetna is pulling out of GA, so they will not renew Karen as an individual at that point.

I guess we'll have to see what the landscape is then.

 

[Neally]

I have some criticisms of ACA; I am neither a liar nor a racist.

Not possible. Harry Reid says so,
"Despite all that good news, there's plenty of horror stories being told. All of them are untrue, but they're being told all over America."


http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/harry-reid-denies-all-obamacare-horror-stories-all-are-untrue_783449.html

Again, all the people worse off are lying. Or racist. Or both.

 

[Unabogie]

I just found out that there's a test for a genetic mutation that can be passed down in the family. My grandfather actually had breast cancer in his fifties, my aunt had breast cancer, and my father died of colon cancer. I think this puts me at a pretty high risk.

The test is called BRCA, and guess what?

It's free under Obamacare.

Seriously, and this isn't snark. Thanks, Obama!