The Truth About Obamacare

[waldo]

Apparently offering subsidies to people making up to 400% above poverty just isn't enough. The White House is now considering expanding the eligibility to include people earning even more than 400%! I wonder if the CBO has these numbers when the White House claimed it was deficit neutral. Yeah I don't it. Obamacare isn't even a month old and it's already beginning to blow holes all over budget! As predicted.

http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/health-reform-implementation/189691-report-white-house-may-widen-o-care-subsidies

I wish that posting half truths was against the rules....

Shady... half-truths? Nah, c'mon!

the 2013 U.S. Federal Poverty Level figures (% increments of, for respective household sizes):

per existing Ocare exchange subsidy guidelines, U.S. households with incomes below 400% and above 133% of the federal poverty line (FPL), are eligible for subsidy assistance... per the above chart, in 2013, the FPL for a family of 4 is $23,550. Ocare establishes a sliding scale of subsidy based on limitations on required family contributions to the cost of coverage. For example:

- at 150% of FPL in 2014, ObamaCare limits the amount that such households must contribute toward their health insurance premium to 4% of their annual income... in that regard, the family of four would contribute a maximum of $1413; federal subsidies would cover the rest of any remaining health insurance premium

- at 400% of the FPL, households must contribute 9.5% of their income toward insurance premiums... in that regard, the family of four would contribute a maximum of $8949; federal subsidies would cover the rest of any remaining health insurance premium.

[Shady]

I'll give credit to the president. He finally apologized for misleading the public regarding his false claim that "if you like your health insurance, you can keep it. Period."

[bush_cheney2004]

I'll give credit to the president. He finally apologized for misleading the public regarding his false claim that "if you like your health insurance, you can keep it. Period."

Yes...he had to. The withering criticism, even from his own party, was only increasing as the impact of Obamacare is felt across the land.

[waldo]

I'll give credit to the president. He finally apologized for misleading the public regarding his false claim that "if you like your health insurance, you can keep it. Period."

and that potential 3% of affected Americans thank you for your service!

[cybercoma]

I'll give credit to the president. He finally apologized for misleading the public regarding his false claim that "if you like your health insurance, you can keep it. Period."

I guess the president is too optimistic to expect that there would morons out there that would want to pay for completely inadequate insurance.

[Shady]

I guess the president is too optimistic to expect that there would morons out there that would want to pay for completely inadequate insurance.

The problem is, that many people had adequate and more than adequate plans that were cancelled due to the unaffordable care act. So unfortunately that talking point rings hollow. Regardless people want choice when it comes to health insurance. Under Obamacare, my Ontario health insurance coverage would be considered inadequate and would be terminated.

[Smallc]

The problem is, that many people had adequate and more than adequate plans that were cancelled due to the unaffordable care act.

Citation needed.

[Shady]

Citation needed.

I've already provided them. For instance, the stage 4 cancer survivor. She had good insurance, and good group of doctors. She can't keep either now.

[Smallc]

Did she really?

[Argus]

The problem is, that many people had adequate and more than adequate plans that were cancelled due to the unaffordable care act.

And to repeat, if the plan was largely unchanged the insurance company had no need to remove it since it could be grandfathered.

[waldo]

Anyways, on to things that acutally matter. You Also Can't Keep Your Doctor

My grievance is not political; all my energies are directed to enjoying life and staying alive, and I have no time for politics. For almost seven years I have fought and survived stage-4 gallbladder cancer, with a five-year survival rate of less than 2% after diagnosis. I am a determined fighter and extremely lucky. But this luck may have just run out: My affordable, lifesaving medical insurance policy has been canceled effective Dec. 31 http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304527504579171710423780446

Another success story as a result of Obama's great and compassionate health care reform. Heckuva job Barry. Heckuva job.

I've already provided them. For instance, the stage 4 cancer survivor. She had good insurance, and good group of doctors. She can't keep either now.

no - your half-truths can't stand up... you've had your lil' nuggets repeatedly shown to be nothing more than either persons with junk insurance or those who didn't take the time/effort to actually look into the exchanges/subsidies available or those who have some bizarre kind of personal barrier to accepting government subsidy.

this one allows us to stretch your half-truths to another level and involves an insurer making a "business decision" to remove itself from the individual market to concentrate on providing insurance for employees of large/small employers..... at least until OCare shakes out and all the really sick persons get covered by other insurers! Your stage 4 cancer survivor should know her insurer is just dropping her cause, "it's just business"!

The Real Reason That The Cancer Patient Writing In Today’s Wall Street Journal Lost Her Insurance

And then there is the company’s own justification for leaving. “The company’s plans reflect its concern that the first wave of newly insured customers under the law may be the costliest,” UHC Chief Executive Officer Stephen Helmsley told investors last October. “UnitedHealth will watch and see how the exchanges evolve and expects the first enrollees will have ‘a pent-up appetite’ for medical care. We are approaching them with some degree of caution because of that.”

Get that? The company packed its bags and dumped its beneficiaries because it wants its competitors to swallow the first wave of sicker enrollees only to re-enter the market later and profit from the healthy people who still haven’t signed up for coverage.

Sundby is losing her coverage and her doctors because of a business decision her insurer made within the competitive dynamics of California’s health care market. She’ll now have to enroll in a new plan that offers tighter networks of providers as a way to control health care costs and offer lower premiums. Eleven insurers are participating in Covered California and for the first time they won’t be able to deny coverage to Sundby or any other cancer patients.

[cybercoma]

.

Edited November 10, 2013 by cybercoma

[TimG]

And to repeat, if the plan was largely unchanged the insurance company had no need to remove it since it could be grandfathered.

Not true. Only plans that meet the ACA requirements can be grandfathered:

https://www.healthcare.gov/what-if-i-have-a-grandfathered-health-plan/

including:

End lifetime limits on coverage

End arbitrary cancellations of health coverage

Cover adult children up to age 26

So if you existing plan had lifetime limits or did not include kids up 26 it could not be grandfathered.

[Shady]

Not true. Only plans that meet the ACA requirements can be grandfathered:https://www.healthcare.gov/what-if-i-have-a-grandfathered-health-plan/including:End lifetime limits on coverageEnd arbitrary cancellations of health coverageCover adult children up to age 26So if you existing plan had lifetime limits or did not include kids up 26 it could not be grandfathered.

Exactly. As usual, Argus has no idea what he's talking about. If an insurance plan changed, by even just $5 dollars. It can no longer be grandfathered in. It's part of a very restrictive regulation written into the law in 2010.

Anyways, heckuva job Barry! One million people in California have their insurance cancelled due to the unaffordable care act.

http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2013/11/12/calif-insurance-commissioner-more-than-1m-californians-having-insurance-cancelled-due-to-obamacare/

[bush_cheney2004]

Anyways, heckuva job Barry! One million people in California have their insurance cancelled due to the unaffordable care act.

This is turning into a spectacular political fiasco, so much so, democrats are now throwing President Obama under the bus. More people have now lost insurance than any hope for new enrollments by the deadline. I expect executive orders to the rescue any day now.

[bush_cheney2004]

Here is one of the best Canadian gazing USA pieces about the ACA fiasco, from our old CBC friend Neil Macdonald:

Actually, there is lots about Obamacare that's bad, from the badly written policy to the software and the politics.

Understandably, Democrats from swing states are already beginning to run from Obamacare. Several have suggested changes to the law. This week, Bill Clinton said Barack Obama should keep his promise and let people stick with the plans they have.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/the-obamacare-debacle-how-the-democrats-lost-their-way-1.2424406

[Spiderfish]

"If you like your plan, you can...well, er....oh what the hell you can keep it...for 1 year."

[Shady]

"If you like your plan, you can...well, er....oh what the hell you can keep it...for 1 year."

I'm sure that's gonna go over real well with voters.

[GostHacked]

I'm sure that's gonna go over real well with voters.

Voters don't care. It will be proven by the next idiot that is voted into office.

[Shady]

Voters don't care. It will be proven by the next idiot that is voted into office.

No voters do care. It's why confessional democrats are in panic right now. Because they know what's coming in 2014. A replay of 2010.

[Shady]

Obamacare is apparently now debiting people's bank accounts without their knowledge, and for incorrect amounts and multiple charges.

Happy Holidays from Barry Obama!

http://www.kgw.com/news/Enrollees-report-erroneous-debits-by-WA-Healthplanfinder-235244701.html

[dre]

No voters do care. It's why confessional democrats are in panic right now. Because they know what's coming in 2014. A replay of 2010.

Are confessional democrats the ones that admit all the bad stuff theyve done?

[dre]

Voters don't care. It will be proven by the next idiot that is voted into office.

Voters care but theres only two choices, and both parties only have idiots to run.

[bush_cheney2004]

Voters have lots of choices, including those who don't care (not voting at all).

[bush_cheney2004]

As the new year approaches, millions of Americans now find themselves without health insurance they previously had and won't have because there was no payment module for the Obamacare insurance exchanges. No problem says the Obama team...just force the insurance companies to provide coverage without getting paid any premiums:

On Wednesday afternoon, health policy reporters found in their inboxes a friendly e-mail from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, announcing “steps to ensure Americans signing up through the Marketplace have coverage and access to the care they need on January 1.” Basically, the “steps” involve muscling insurers to provide free or discounted care to those who have become uninsured because of the problems with healthcare.gov.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2013/12/14/government-takeover-white-house-forces-obamacare-insurers-to-cover-unpaid-patients-at-a-loss/?partner=yahootix