General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsLost in the Shutdown Frenzy in one important point...
The most important element of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act went into effect today. The exchanges are opening, and people who have never been able to afford insurance are finding out that they can protect themselves and their families. Parents no longer have to worry about losing their home or their life savings because their child was born with a costly medical condition.
People can sleep nights.
And we're not going back.
To quote the Prophet Biden, "This is a big fucking deal"
Happy Obamacare Day!
leftstreet
(36,117 posts)Jeff In Milwaukee
(13,992 posts)Far easier than paying 100% of the cost out of their own pocket.
leftstreet
(36,117 posts)Jeff In Milwaukee
(13,992 posts)And it doesn't take higher math skills to determine that a 20% co-payment is less than a 100% out-of-pocket cost.
Hint: The number is somewhere around 80%
leftstreet
(36,117 posts)Jeff In Milwaukee
(13,992 posts)Come on. I know you can do it all on your own.
HappyMe
(20,277 posts)Take a look at it.
leftstreet
(36,117 posts)Instead of just directing people to 'check it out' somewhere 'out there'
HappyMe
(20,277 posts)By all means then, lead the way......
grantcart
(53,061 posts)Jeff In Milwaukee
(13,992 posts)That's a lot of words and numbers.
grantcart
(53,061 posts)People who want Obamacare don't need it.
Jeff In Milwaukee
(13,992 posts)IronLionZion
(45,563 posts)thanks for sharing
kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)maybe $2750. And premiums of under $40/mo.
I'm sure you'll find that upsetting since it doesn't jive with your claim that no one will be able to afford medical care under the ACA.. Too bad.
leftstreet
(36,117 posts)But if you've found an insurer not going along with that - that's terrific
bunnies
(15,859 posts)I worry that those who arent helped will be forgotten about. It surely is a great day for millions of Americans. But not *all* people will be sleeping sound tonight. I will still be fighting for them (and me).
Cheers.
Demo_Chris
(6,234 posts)bunnies
(15,859 posts)Especially when Washington did nothing after the SC let the states bail on Medicaid expansion. They knew millions living below the federal poverty line would still be screwed and did nothing about it. *sigh*
kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)that no one slips through the cracks.
If you just get "yours" and then stop caring about the less fortunate, you need to change that D behind your name to an R.
bunnies
(15,859 posts)I hope youre right.
Jeff In Milwaukee
(13,992 posts)All you have to do is get your healthcare care from the Province, but 3-4% of their residents don't do it. So 100% coverage is going to be a tall order, and then there are specific groups (such as undocumented workers) who are excluded. They're still going to need our concern and our passion.
But today, we should be proud of what we've accomplished.
bunnies
(15,859 posts)Its definitely an accomplishment. And a start.
wandy
(3,539 posts)No wonder that GOP co. stakeholders have thrown so much money at propaganda and feathered the beds of so many "elected officials".
This first step may well hurt the bottom lines of many GOP owners.
No question, they know its the first step.
bunnies
(15,859 posts)If this gets us there, I will be THRILLED.
RC
(25,592 posts)The ACA is still just health insurance, written mostly the health insurance industry. Health insurance is in itself the major problem. More people are covered, that part is good. But we need to wait for a year or two or so, to see how all this actually shakes out. I'm thinking we will have more of the same, costs going up, co-pays increasing, with fancy cover this time. The insurance bean counters need time to rework the numbers to the new rules, to keep the profits up.
Also we need to remember this is insurance, not health care. Just because you have health insurance, does not mean you can afford the health care.
jeff47
(26,549 posts)People in states where the Republicans fought against the ACA will see results in other states. And it will become a political issue.
IronLionZion
(45,563 posts)every bit helps. Whenever you think about stuff like that, just read the starfish story and keep on keeping on.
http://www.ordinarypeoplechangetheworld.com/articles/the-starfish-story.aspx
bunnies
(15,859 posts)Thanks.
Whisp
(24,096 posts)That this is a huge big fucking deal that will affect millions positively, but the media and the baggers staged their little distraction to mellow it down.
Just for that one thing: imagine being a parent with a child that has a terrible disease/accident and has run out of insurance... there is no cap now. Just for that the balloons and the party hats should be on everyone right now, but the grumpies and the baggers and the eternally Eeyored will find something to bust those balloons and to rip those party hats off happy heads.
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)Nah. Our elected representatives would never, ever stoop that low.
Jeff In Milwaukee
(13,992 posts)We're seeing imagines of elderly veterans knocking over barricades on the National Mall rather than interviews with people who are getting insurance for the first time.
Brigid
(17,621 posts)Elderly veterans knocking over barricades makes for better TV.
Jeff In Milwaukee
(13,992 posts)that several Republican members of Congress were on hand for the photo op.
The most dangerous place in Washington? Between Steve King and a television camera.
jeff47
(26,549 posts)Rolling out something this large always has glitches. This stunt means we aren't getting stories of websites with slow load times as proof the ACA has failed! Failed I tell you!!!
Jeff In Milwaukee
(13,992 posts)And I'm told that some of the servers were running pretty slow today.
gopiscrap
(23,765 posts)Brigid
(17,621 posts)SomethingFishy
(4,876 posts)I also have pre-existing conditions in my home and I am damn glad that we will at least be able to get something.
Also it looks like it's going to be less expensive than I thought. No wonder the Republicans have their panties all in a wad, once this is rolling people are going to start demanding Single Payer