ACA: “Well, thank God,” Hudson said, laughing. “I believe I’m going to be a Democrat.”

[kpete]

In rural Kentucky, health-care debate takes back seat as the long-uninsured line up

...................

Soon, Ronald Hudson walked in.
“Okay,” Lively began. “What Hudsons are you kin to?”

“R.T., Uncle Lenny . . .” said Hudson, a skinny 35-year-old who worked as an assistant director at the senior center and had just been released from the hospital after a blood-sugar spike.

He’d never had insurance before and said his hospital bills were up to $23,000 at this point.

“Good night,” Lively said, tapping in his information.

Kids: five. Salary: about $14,000 before taxes.

“You’re going to qualify for a medical card,” she told Hudson.

“Well, thank God,” Hudson said, laughing. “I believe I’m going to be a Democrat.”

Lively printed out his papers.

“RONALD’s Health Care Coverage Options,” one of them read.

“Oh, man,” Hudson said.

.............

MORE:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/in-rural-kentucky-health-care-debate-takes-back-seat-as-people-sign-up-for-insurance/2013/11/23/449dc6e0-5465-11e3-9e2c-e1d01116fd98_print.html

[msanthrope]

1. I got my silver plan the other day--took about an hour, it's the first time I've had medical

insurance in a long while. Due to illness, I couldn't get covered before.

[pnwmom]

6. I'm so glad it worked out for you, msanthrope. n/t

[xmas74]

19. I need to complete mine.

I have insurance but not for much longer-employer is cancelling coverage and changing our hours to part time-on a yearly schedule. We'll each have exactly ten hours under the mandated hours needed for full time coverage.

Doesn't matter-my coverage will actually cost less than my current policy.

[rhett o rick]

20. So you will be voting Democratic I assume.

Glad you were successful. Best wishes for the holidays.

[msanthrope]

33. I am a Democratic campaign attorney, every election day. nt

[rhett o rick]

35. I hope you recognized that I was being facetious. The post referred to a guy becoming a

Democrat because he liked the ACA. I know you are a Democrat.

[msanthrope]

36. I am sorry...humor in short supply these days. I had surgery for a dettached retina a month ago,

and still ill.

[rhett o rick]

38. I certainly understand and just wanted to clear the record. I hope you get better soon. nm

[Whisp]

30. happy for you, msanthrope

That will relieve so much stress for you. Which sometimes leads to illness, that viscious circle.

[msanthrope]

32. My last surgery was for a dettached retina. Complete bed rest, followed by very uncertain health.

After the first of the year, no more bringing cash to the ER.

[Baitball Blogger]

2. Now you see the real opposition to the ACA.

People will develop loyalties to the Democratic party. It's also why they tried to cut back on the public civil servant program.

[JNelson6563]

3. Great article!

[chelsea0011]

4. Faux News to start covering the success stories?

[Curmudgeoness]

9. My Senator actually asked for Obamacare horror stories.

I got an email message from Sen. Toomey (R-PA) asking for experiences with problems or cancelled insurance. I emailed him back asking why he isn't interested in hearing from anyone who had positive experiences, and all I got was an answer saying that he is sorry that we do not agree on the benefits of the ACA.

And this is why all we hear is the bad news. All the people who are publicizing stories are digging up the bad stories.

Don't hold your breath that Faux will report even one success.

[cynzke]

41. On Atlanta noontime news

It was reported that some state GOP congressmen held a public forum advocating repeal and asking for public testimony. No speakers in favor of ACA were invited as was pointed out by the local reporter.

[Curmudgeoness]

43. So that explains it.

He was just taking orders.

What pissed me off is that I never did get an answer about why they were not interested in good news stories.

Oh, what am I talking about. His whole email pissed me off.

[maxrandb]

26. In 10 years

Repukes are going to be claiming that the ACA was their idea all along

[OKNancy]

5. well worth clicking the link and reading it all n/t

[Cha]

17. I'll say, OKNancy!

"Places such as Breathitt County, in the Appalachian foothills of eastern Kentucky, are driving the state’s relatively high enrollment figures, which are helping to drive national enrollment figures as the federal health exchange has floundered. In a state where 15 percent of the population, about 640,000 people, are uninsured, 56,422 have signed up for new health-care coverage, with 45,622 of them enrolled in Medicaid and the rest in private health plans, according to figures released by the governor’s office Friday."

[okaawhatever]

7. Kentucky has more registered Democrats than Republicans. Many of the Democrats are a

result of the effect the New Deal had on the poor in rural Kentucky. To the older generations the Democratic party brought them electricity. We might see a swing in that state sooner rather than later. I hope Alison Lunkergran-Grimes defeats McConnell in the next election. She has what it takes to ditch Mitch, let's do what we can to help her.

For those with twitter or facebook here's her page to like or follow and send to friends:

www.AlisonforKentucky.org

[CTyankee]

13. I like her a lot! I think I'll send her some money.

[hue]

8. This demonstrates the heart & soul of the ACA!!

[Curmudgeoness]

10. Why would this man not have qualified for Medicaid

prior to the ACA? Five kids, $14,000 income?

[glowing]

14. Probably didn't try for it? Or the Medicaid qualifications are very severe.

In a poor state like that, they can't afford for everyone to be on it.

[Curmudgeoness]

15. I was wondering if it was just that they never tried.

That, in itself, is a great benefit to the ACA and all the media coverage.

But if it is that you had to be worse off than this to qualify for Medicaid, that is completely unacceptable. How are people supposed to survive and life on so little, with no option to see a doctor?

[glowing]

18. It's been this way for so many people for such a long time.

And the states who don't opt in are screwing their "in-between" bracket of poor people. The expansion would cover many more people here in FL, but the current Medicaid standards for enrollment are below that of the ACA. At the same time, these "in-between" people don't qualify for the private subsidized insurance because they are in the threshold rung below.

If Dems had a majority in both houses, they could have fixed the ACA law to create a "public option" for those who would have qualified for the Medicaid expansion provisions, but lived in a state who refused to opt into the ACA program. The insurance co's couldn't survive if they were trying to insure those who would qualify for the Medicaid expansion program.... It's why they don't even want these people at subsidized rates from the federal govt...

And let's face it, those who are living in rural communities such as highlighted in the article, are going to have some of the more costlier medical issues to deal with. They are the ones who have lived most of their lives without insurance and impoverished for most of their lives. As Alan Grayson explained, the Teapublican plan is to die quickly if they become sick.

I will also add, that dental care is an item that should be considered a health issue. Separating out eyes and dental from "regular health care" is ridiculous because the entire body is connected and ones eyes and teeth can seriously affect one's health.

I think it's amazing they can get their teeth pulled as part of the plan, but dentures are a "novelty/ cosmetic" feature? Anyone try eating with no teeth? OR try to become employed with a few teeth missing or teeth that look black in the front?

And if you need glasses and cannot afford the exam or the glasses recommended by the eye Dr, how do you see to drive, write, type, see a classroom chaulk/ dry erase board? How many people would be better off getting their cataracts taken care of or getting LASIK surgery one time; so that they wouldn't have to continue buying prescription glasses the rest of their lives. And then how many of these people who are basically blind without glasses are operating a motor vehicle? This is now a public safety issue to the general public!

It doesn't make sense to keep these health related items seperated into 3 different categories! We now know with medical advancement and mor sophisticated treatments, how the body works and is connected together. An infected tooth could quite literally kill someone. An older person with cataracts still having to drive around in the rural areas because alternative transportation is unavailable, could possibly overlook brake lights and hit the car in front of them. Or the young mom who needs glasses to see 2 ft in front of her, just had her glasses broken by her 2 ur old sitting on them, and cannot afford a new pair, yet has to get to her job or what not, doesn't see the red light and crashes and intersection or cannot see the icy road conditions and slides off the side of a hill?

It is just absolutely ridiculous that we are only just now getting the ACA. It's 50 yrs too late and not the model that is drastically needed to take care of American lives (especially in the "greatest and richest nation" of the world).

[Curmudgeoness]

23. I was also shocked that dentures are not covered.

I cannot imagine that dentures would be considered cosmetic. That is like saying that correcting a cleft palate is cosmetic.

I agree with you that dental and eye care is a health care issue. For my whole life, I have never understood why they were not. But I would suspect that it started with the rise of the health insurance industry, and the companies were able to decide what they would and would not cover.....and no one ever questioned it after so long.

[Historic NY]

31. There are some charities around the country..

that take care of that usually with no charge hopefully someone gets him hooked up....a dental school would be a good choice to start.

[Curmudgeoness]

37. I don't know about all dental schools,

but I know that Pitt Dental School charges, and it is not cheap. It is about 3/4 as much as a dentist, so it isn't as expensive, but it is not affordable either.

[questionseverything]

39. he was already receiving food stamps

so I would think Medicaid would be applied for at same time, so maybe very severe restrictions before aca

here in Illinois before aca expansion only the disabled and families with kids (under 5 or with special needs) qualified for Medicaid

which really ticked me off considering we are suppose to be a blue state

my household will not benefit from the aca because of the high costs for older, middle income people but I would not deny this man and his family the benefits they will receive but the article does inadvertently point out the math problem we face....only about 1 in 6 families are paying anything, over the long haul I don't see how that is sustainable

[Curmudgeoness]

40. I noticed that ratio as well.

But then I remembered that they were in one of the poorest counties in KY, so it is not surprising that so many would be eligible in that county. I am hoping that other areas are not showing the same ratio, or you are correct....it is unsustainable.

[questionseverything]

44. this article says 2 out of 9 paying

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/11/26/1258423/-ACA-Enrollments-Pass-228K-New-Features-Added#

better than 1 out of 6 but still sustainable

[xmas74]

22. He wouldn't qualify in some states.

In Missouri, for example, he wouldn't qualify. A family of three, making more than 300 a month doesn't qualify for adult Medicaid.

[Curmudgeoness]

25. WTF

I guess that I have just been ignorant, but I had no idea that the levels were so low. A family of three making a little more than $300 are beyond destitute. I think that they qualify for the kind of living that we see in sub-Saharan Africa. (Or maybe I am again more ignorant.) All I know is that it would be completely impossible for someone in that situation to see a doctor or get a prescription filled.

[xmas74]

29. 300 a month is around what a family of 3 would receive on TANF

The difference is that TANF doesn't count as income, while anything else (including child support) does.

Here's a link for Missouri and the income levels.

http://dss.mo.gov/fsd/maf.htm

[glowing]

11. No way this law gets repealed!

The R's biggest fear that people would like health care!

[CTyankee]

12. This sounds like something that was written during the Depression!

It almost has a Steinbeck quality to it.

Unbelievable how these poor people live! Mitch McConnell ought to be ashamed of himself for standing in the way of people he is supposed to be serving! God almighty!!!

[Vietnameravet]

28. McConnell ashamed?? No my friend the

real problem is the rich dont have enough money and corporations dont have enough power..(Ya! Sure!)

[Cha]

16. I love it.. as mitch mcconnell is out there lying his

Last edited Sun Nov 24, 2013, 05:54 PM - Edit history (1)

ass off about ACA and "the website!" Rural Kentuckians are signing up for Obamacare!! Kentucky Blue?!

[glowing]

21. You know word of mouth from your mom, sister, and auntie has

more weight than a lying, rich, good for nothing, SOB of a politician! I'm glad Kentuky opted in. Because of this rural, poor state in the south having adopted the ACA with open arms and invested in taking care of the people; it's only a matter of time before relatives in neighboring states start demanding answers for why Cousin Earl in KY got to go see the Dr for $1.00 and they can't get that same deal!

The eventual successes over the next few years will far outweigh a tiny issue of a website that had issues for a month or so on the roll out launch. The history books won't even bother mentioning it; they wil however, not forget that the Republicand shut down the Govt in the fall of 2013 because they wanted one of the most successful programs (ie ObamaCare) repealed. Subsequently, leading to a costly $25 billion dollar hissyfit because they didn't get their way.

As it is now, people under the age of 35, look favorably upon the word socialism. They want Govt to work for the people, efficiently, and in a common sense way. We are even focusing now on creating bully-free classrooms. Eventually, these kids will grow up and be in charge of things. I hope that the current bullying techniques in offices and work places all over this country are effectively destroyed. That there is a place for democracy at work (rather than the vile dictatorship models we currently see - just look at Walmart and McDonald's). And I don't see too many people my age or younger who care or are invested at all in big banks or Wall St. We can recognize the racket they are... And that they don't do much for the common good (otherwise, why haven't we moved off of oil and coal and nuclear like we were racing to the moon back in JFK times?)

[Cha]

24. Great post, glowing! Of course, the successes of our

friends and families are much more taken to heart than the politicians and naysayers on the tv. And, you've described it so vividly and eloquently.

Thank you!

[CTyankee]

34. who knew the ACA could be an inspiration for the YOUNG people of this country!

Yet, maybe, magically, it CAN!

[Vietnameravet]

27. Everyone must read the original story...

Great...

[Scurrilous]

42. K & R

[DeSwiss]

45. The ONE reason the Republican-controlled Congress......

...have tried so many, many times to repeal Obamacare:

“Well, thank God,” Hudson said, laughing. “I believe I’m going to be a Democrat.”

- Those sweet, sweet loyalty votes can't be beat. Just as the Social Security Program turned almost the whole country into Democrats, Obamacare will do it again. And they know this.....

K&R