An Obamacare "Loser" Speaks Out ... About Not Being an Entitled Douche

[ProSense]

An Obamacare "Loser" Speaks Out ... About Not Being an Entitled Douche

Josh Marshall

Now we hear from ACA "loser" TPM Reader BW ...

Since it’s been estimated that about 3% of the US population will end up “losers” under Obamacare, I thought I’d write in and give you my perspective as a 3-percenter. However, I suspect that I belong to a smaller subset of the 3%, that being people who find it appallingly self-indulgent and shamefully self-pitying to think of ourselves as losers.

Having insurance, even crappy insurance, in the individual market means we are almost by definition, healthy and relatively young. If we were not, we wouldn’t be able to get coverage of any kind in the non-group market. If our ACA-compliant replacement policy costs us more, it’s likely because we’re too affluent to qualify for subsidies.

It takes a remarkable degree of self-absorption and sense of self-entitlement to be healthy, young(ish) and affluent—and yet consider oneself a “loser.” It’s a label I reject out of shame (no matter how much the lazy, superficial MSM want to fixate on me and my “plight”) NOT because there’s anything shameful about being a loser; the shame is in thinking oneself a loser when one is actually fortunate.

I live in Louisiana where 400,000 working poor people will continue to go without health care because one man, Gov. Bobby Jindal, decided letting them have Medicaid wouldn’t be good for his future ambitions. Those 400,000 are the losers. And while my healthcare.gov application has been stuck for a month now at the “View Eligibility Results” stage, where instead of my results I see a blank screen when I click the button, I know I will get better health insurance than the bare-bones individual policy I have now, even if I end up having to pick up the phone, or heaven forbid, send in paper. I will pay significantly more, but after years of being one serious illness from financial ruin, I will finally have security. And not only that; every time I pay my new premium, I am paying into a system that makes it possible for my fellow Americans who have not been as lucky as me—people who really have been losers pre-ACA—to finally get affordable health care.

I was fortunate before Obamacare, and now I am an Obamacare winner. Now if the media would just help more of the public understand how lucky us 3-percenters actually are, perhaps the public would start to recoil at the absurdity of the outrage being whipped up on our behalf, and we could start focusing on how to help the real losers: the working poor in refusenik states.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/an-obamacare-loser-speaks-out

Parnell: Alaska won't expand Medicaid
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024039618

[freshwest]

1. Excellent piece. Honesty and decency all in one.

[stopwastingmymoney]

2. K&R

I'm one of those too. I was declined by Blue shield before buying a Kaiser plan that costs me plenty when I get sick. My new plan will be more expensive, but you won't see me crying about it.

[passiveporcupine]

3. K&R

Awesome post! Thank you.

[Merlot]

4. My new plan will be more expensive, but will be much better coverage

My old plan was probably offered AFTER the ACA became law but before it was implemented, and is to scary to use. With the new plan I know EXACTLY what is covered, how much my co=pays are, and it has a lower deductible. Even the comparison shopping was SO much easier on coveredca.com. With the old plan, I had to depend on a broker to answer my questions.

For years I couldn't even get insurance before I got the bare-bones plan. Now I have real coverage. This 3%-er isn't complaining.

[ReRe]

5. K&R

Thanks ProSense!

[ProSense]

6. Kick! n/t

[lumberjack_jeff]

7. Like the article...

... but it's worth noting that he doesn't know what his premiums are yet.

[ProSense]

8. Here's a

"... but it's worth noting that he doesn't know what his premiums are yet."

...perfect example:

Ratigan Tweets displeasure at ACA premium increase; doesn't appear to know what he is talking about

<...>

Now, based on some readily available info about Ratigan, it looks like he can do better -- a lot better. He just needs to go to the "Covered California" site and do his homework. He can get a Bronze level plan for $222 a month from Anthem Blue Cross, or, at the other end of the spectrum, he can get a Platinum plan (the very best plan possible) for $420 a month from Anthem Blue Cross. That's what I found when I searched for available plans for Ratigan as a single male, age 41, in Dana Point, California 92629 (information about Ratigan I found after 3 minutes of Googling). Now, it's very possible that Ratigan's insurance company is pushing an expensive plan on him and counting on the fact that he won't check it out himself (like I did on his behalf, in about 5 minutes). This scam has been well covered by Kossack Vyan and others, so let me continue with Ratigan.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/11/08/1254200/-Ratigan-Tweets-displeasure-at-ACA-premium-increase-doesn-t-appear-to-know-what-he-is-talking-about

People who take their insurance company's quote and fail to shop the exchange for a better plan likely have no idea they're being screwed or misled.

If Ratigan shopped the exchange, he could also find castastrophic coverage (that meets the ACA standards) at a lower cost than the bronze plan.

A catastrophic plan generally requires you to pay all of your medical costs up to a certain amount, usually several thousand dollars. Costs for essential health benefits over that are generally paid by the insurance company.

These policies usually have lower premiums than a comprehensive plan, but cover you only if you need a lot of care. They basically protect you from worst-case scenarios.

Marketplace catastrophic plans cover prevention

In the Marketplace, catastrophic policies cover 3 primary care visits per year at no cost. They also cover free preventive benefits.

If you buy a catastrophic plan in the Marketplace, you can’t get lower costs on your monthly premiums or out-of-pocket costs based on your income. Regardless of your income, you pay the standard price for the catastrophic plan.

- more -

https://www.healthcare.gov/can-i-buy-a-catastrophic-plan/

In fact, he was directed to the exchanges by people on Twitter, and he found a plan to his liking.

Dylan RatiganVerified account‏@DylanRatigan
“@RockDots: Was $600/mo from same ins co that canceled your policy? Did you shop the exchange?” It was. I am now. Looks like $300-$400.

https://twitter.com/DylanRatigan/status/398940933363740672

That's the cost of a platinum plan on Covered California exchange. So he opted for the best plan instead of going with a castastrophic plan that meets the ACA standards that would have only cost $20 more than he was paying.

http://www.dailykos.com/comments/1254200/51838939#c16

This is what the insurance companies fear (people shopping for a better plan on the exchange), and this is why the insurance industry is pissed about the President's proposal.

300,000 Floridians' health policy cancellations undone
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024042968

[Control-Z]

10. He doesn't seem to have a problem

with the idea that he will be paying more.

"I know I will get better health insurance than the bare-bones individual policy I have now, even if I end up having to pick up the phone, or heaven forbid, send in paper. I will pay significantly more, but after years of being one serious illness from financial ruin, I will finally have security."

[Control-Z]

9. Wow! This is one hell of a loser!!

K&R