Hell no, I ain't paying another $300 a month (ACA)

[luv2dive]

THE CULT OF THE SELFISH
When did America lose sight of the common good?
BY LEO GERARD, UNITED STEELWORKERS PRESIDENT


Thanks SLAD. I've said often that the biggest problem in growing a more egalitarian and "fair" society for the people is the attitude I see too often of

"I've got mine, get your fucking own".

Maybe it is somewhat akin to people who can't be happy for someone else's happiness or good fortune, but instead try to run it down.

The crazy idea that we should not give a darn about anyone but ourselves, that there is no social responsibility, and that it is OK to feel that way.

That attitude, that somehow actually wanting the betterment of society through healthcare and better health, and education for "the people" is NOT a good thing is just baffling to me. The dividing of people into deserving and non-deserving people is so (dare I say it ...) Un-Christian. Now, I am not a church going person, but was nominally raised in that faith tradition - you know, do unto others, etc. etc. But the attitude of some people towards those less fortunate is really appalling.

I think there is a place for government. I also believe that my taxes should be used to enrich the "general welfare" of the people who pay the taxes, not to build a warmonger nation.

Unfortunately, the GOP is all about intensifying this perception that EVERYONE can't be a winner - only the deserving people.

As to the ACA, it's a start. Flawed in my eyes, as I believe in Single Payer. But it will enable some people who previously could not get it.

So let's see what happens.

[Iamwhomiam]

The sad thing is that if you're poor, too poor to be accepted into the pool for the poor, they will upon an attempt to enroll as required, be automatically assigned into medicaid where they must remain, period.

[justdrew]

The sad thing is that if you're poor, too poor to be accepted into the pool for the poor, they will upon an attempt to enroll as required, be automatically assigned into medicaid where they must remain, period.

only in states expanding their medicaid coverage. In the "republican states" the poor can just go die in the streets. Not sure what's so "sad" about being enrolled in medicaid anyway. Beats the hell out of Nothing which is currently the other option.

[Carol Newquist]

justdrew, the potential long-term problem I see with Medicaid expansion and the ACA is that what if the economy doesn't rebound and instead heads into a permanent decline as many are predicting? If so, many more people will be pushed into poverty and onto Medicaid (many are on the margins as we speak), if the state has opted for Medicaid expansion. State Budgets will be strained because less taxes will be collected because people are poorer, and yet demand for Medicaid services will rise. This seems like a way for the Federal Government to push that potential future onus and burden to the states, and the Federal government is in a better position to handle this burden...a burden that could have been significantly mitigated by implementing Single Payer. I agree with you that it's disgusting that states are opting out of Medicaid expansion, but it's not surprising. We know they're heartless scumbags and consider the poor less human. Medicaid expansion seems a bit like blackmail, but still, people's lives are at stake, so the states should take it on the chin and address this in another way. I don't see how any of this ends well....even if all states comply, but I wouldn't mind being pleasantly surprised. I won't hold my breath, though. I'll just observe and abide as a sage person once told me.

[Iamwhomiam]

Yes, thank you for adding what I inadvertently omitted, Drew. The point is that once enrolled in medicaid's coverage, from what I understand one can never find other coverage if their circumstances change from the time of enrollment. Too bad if you want to find better coverage because it will be unavailable, once one's been covered by medicaid.

Let me add, the first time I attempted to use my Medicare I was told my coverage had expired three days earlier, which as unbelievable as it sounds is true. It cost me $200 for the clinic visit and another $78 for the antibiotics. All I needed was a script to buy antibiotics to treat a strep throat.

It's a bit involved, but I had been recouped of everything I had received about 10 months after first being approved for SS Disability. I lost my cash benefits for nearly 10 years and when I tried to reestablish my Medicare coverage a few years ago, they told me I would be penalized 10% per year I lacked coverage. Had they lengthened the recoupment time, I never would have lost my coverage. Fuck SS.

Find a lawyer and they take half of whatever you're awarded.

Fuck lawyers who suck from the poor.

Fuck doctors, too; one cost me my pension.
I've remained without coverage since and that was 10 years ago. A few years ago I tried to straighten this out and regain my Medicare coverage.

[justdrew]

well, it could have once been the case that no insurer would cover someone who had been on medicaid, but that just doesn't sound right even in the old days, but now, if the money is available I don't see anything to prevent a person from buying a different plan on the exchange.

State Medicaid plans vary totally, 50 different rule sets. Where Medicare fits in, I don't get it, don't know, what I think is this:
past a certain age, you get to be on medicare, and can get early access in some circumstances. (I thought disability was one of the ways one got early access?)

failing that, each state has it's medicaid program (partially funded with federal dollars). Most states medicaid is severely underfunded, only some things are covered, there are waiting lists, and they 'recoup' costs by taking basically ALL assets. Homes have to be sold, retirements cashed out, etc.

How did a Doc cost you your pension?

[Iamwhomiam]

It wasn't like that in the old days either.

That's how the medicaid thing was explained to me, once they are your carrier you cannot opt out in place of another of your choosing. It doesn't make sense. Perhaps they will have a yearly opt-out period where you can find another insurer, but from what I understand and I really haven't cared lean about, your carrier will be your insurer for life.

I really shouldn't be posting anything on this subject, 'cause I've ignored it purposely.

NY's Medicaid used to be 50% Fed. 30% state and 20% county. I walked away from social justice activism 20 years ago or so and rarely pay attention, now being focused upon environmental justice. Sometime when and if the gov't again begins its dysfunction I'll deal with SS through my congressman.

Re: Dr."
He never told me I had broken my back so I thought I had only strained it once again. He asked me want I wanted to do and I said I wanted to work, so he sent me back to work. Three years later I learned the truth from the insurance carrier's physician. Now I'm told I'm in textbooks.

edited to add, The recoupment of monies has always been a component of social welfare programs. It just wasn't exercised all that often.

2 things more to add: The wealthy helped drive the costs social programs through the roof by shedding assets and sheltering income to become eligible for services meant to care for the poor. Large care providers, like nursing home operators and unscrupulous physicians commit 99% of all medicaid fraud. The recipients of such benefits commit less than 1% of medicaid and welfare fraud.

Hundreds of billions of dollars a month will now be added to the insurance industry's coffers. This was supposed to be a compromised alternative to universal single payer. The Repubs got what they wanted and now they're not satisfied. All because we elected a tan man.

[justdrew]

hey, you got some new price numbers yet 82_28? The real system should be online, no more little "estimator" app.

---

also, I think the 'mandate' is not so bad, or in any way unusual for our society. If you have a car, you MUST buy insurance. If you break your car, it's no one else's problem, if you break your human body, society is obligated to make a reasonable amount of effort to "fix" it. It's basically acknowledged by all, it's just republicans apparently like the current system of just dropping into an emergency room, as if that's a even semi-good solution. but the fact remains, most likely a damaged human will be brought to a hospital and real attempts will be made to fix it. Now if it's acceptable to REQUIRE people to buy car insurance, why not human body insurance?

Single payer would be good for car insurance too. In fact ALL insurance schemes would be best run by a single central source, everyone in the same risk pool, operated on a non-profit basis would lead to the most cost-effective coverage in all cases.

[82_28]

Yep. Still $277 a month even downgrading my mostly under the table pay by 10 grand.

[82_28]

I am 301% over the "poverty level". Fuck, I'm rich!

[82_28]

There's nothing I can do to "skew" the numbers in which it works for me. My rent just went up today too.

Can I hear a FUCK THIS SHIT?

[justdrew]

"they" seem to be hiking prices all across the board. I just don't get it. I've been taking a simple thyroid med that's been on the market probably 50 years, it's "generic" was $19, now $24. No changes. Just raised because they can. Thankfully I have relatively few expenses, but my rent is most assuredly Too Damn High. Seattle may be an expensive healthcare market? I take it your employer offers no heath insurance?

[Pele'sDaughter]

My employer dropped our coverage as soon as Congress began discussing it. Now he's entirely off the hook, and the only benefit to working here is keeping your job. I'll qualify for Medicare next year.

[Carol Newquist]

There's nothing I can do to "skew" the numbers in which it works for me. My rent just went up today too.

Can I hear a FUCK THIS SHIT?

Look at it on the bright side. By abiding by this legislation, as if you have a choice in abiding, you are helping all those poor Insurance Companies and their employees from starving on the margins like you. You're doing a good deed, so you might as well embrace it and be proud of your involuntary sacrifice to keep the Titanic afloat another hour so John Jacob Astor and his friends can enjoy a couple more drinks top deck and their loved ones can be safely secured on the lifeboats. It's a Win-Lose, what's not to like?

[Carol Newquist]

I am 301% over the "poverty level". Fuck, I'm rich!

I know. What they consider poverty-level is a joke. However, imagine people who really are at that level? It's a scary thought.....and before long, it could be all of us....like Egypt. At that level, the amount spent on food starts to comprise the majority of your budget...say 80%. That's a stone's toss from starvation. And to think, some at this level (depending on the state) will be made to pay a fine to the IRS because of this goofy legislation. For all those so concerned about suicide and suicide as protest, here's a good way to prevent it if you find it repulsive and unacceptable. Think how many suicides can be prevented by supporting nothing short of Single Payer.