Krugman: I give you California.

[RandySF]

What would happen if we unveiled a program that looked like Obamacare, in a place that looked like America, but with competent project management that produced a working website?

Well, your wish is granted. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you California.

Now, California isn’t the only place where Obamacare is looking pretty good. A number of states that are running their own online health exchanges instead of relying on HealthCare.gov are doing well. Kentucky’s Kynect is a huge success; so is Access Health CT in Connecticut. New York is doing O.K. And we shouldn’t forget that Massachusetts has had an Obamacare-like program since 2006, put into effect by a guy named Mitt Romney.

California is, however, an especially useful test case. First of all, it’s huge: if a system can work for 38 million people, it can work for America as a whole. Also, it’s hard to argue that California has had any special advantages other than that of having a government that actually wants to help the uninsured. When Massachusetts put Romneycare into effect, it already had a relatively low number of uninsured residents. California, however, came into health reform with 22 percent of its nonelderly population uninsured, compared with a national average of 18 percent.

Finally, the California authorities have been especially forthcoming with data tracking the progress of enrollment. And the numbers are increasingly encouraging.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/25/opinion/krugman-california-here-we-come.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20131125&_r=1&

[Jack_Dawson]

1. Once again, California leads the way (smokeless bars, dignity, respect, Obamacare)

Although on Obamacare Kentucky is a close second.

[Blue_Roses]

4. Kentucky gives those of us who live in places

like, Texas, hope. First, we need to boot Rick Perry.

[arcane1]

8. Some consolation: Rand Paul can not run for prez pledging to eliminate the ACA in Kentucky.

Neither can Ted Cruz.

[NYC_SKP]

2. I wish the website would tell you to enroll by phone. That's what I did. Osama got me set up!

The website alone allows you to shop, then leave your contact information, and that's it.

Frustrated, I considered calling an agent or visiting a walk in service center, the website provides listings for both, but I decided to try by phone.

They opened a third call center in Fresno so I tried it, I called with ear buds as I left for my daily two mile walk.

It was about 30 minutes of terrible hold music, but finally Osama picked up my call!

I had already picked a plan so knew what to say and do, but we did have to make a three way call with my primary care provide to make sure he takes this particular plan, and he does.

So we were all set and THEN Osama looked at the silver plan and suggested that it was a better value for me than the gold that I had selected, at about $100/less per month with the same max out of pocket.

Within an hour, including getting my two mile walk done, I was all set up for insurance beginning January 1 at about a $888/month savings over my current COBRA plan.

Woot!

[tularetom]

3. Sounds like a real success story but don't you mean "Obama"?

[NYC_SKP]

5. My ACA over-the-phone assistant was named "Osama"!

Not a trace of an accent, must have spent most if not his entire life here. I guess he lives in or near Fresno.

Osama!

I thought it was just perfect!

[xfundy]

7. You had me worried for a minute.

If he'd said, "You have nothing, and everything, to concern yourself with, Infidel," I'd be a-skeered.

Nice to know he didn't feel a need to change his nom de phone, though.

[tularetom]

9. Wow - what are the odds?

Don't let foxnews get wind of that or they'll be accusing Obama of faking the
whole Seal Team Six thingie.

[NYC_SKP]

10. I should call Fox, send them my email confirmation:

Subject
Enrollment

Response By Email (Osama) (11/22/2013 10:23 AM)

Household Enrollment Summary

This page tells you the health plans you chose for your household. Each plan will mail you more information.
As a reminder, your policy is not active until the initial payment (binder payment) has been made. Your health or dental plan will be contacting you directly to outline your payment options. Meanwhile, you can also access their website by clicking on the link under the 'Issuer Website Address' section.
Persons

Program

Health Plan

Covered California Plan

Plan: Anthem - Silver 70 PPO, an MSP
Effective: 01/01/2014
Net Premium: $544.41 per month
Initial Payment Due Date: 12/26/2013

[cui bono]

13. Funny!

[stopbush]

11. I've had an excellent experience with Covered CA so far.

I'm out of work, so we only have my wife's part-time income coming in these days. So when I signed up at Covered CA, i got bumped over to MediCal. Apparently with the expansion of Medicaid that happens on Jan 1, MediCal will no longer have an "asset test" to determine eligibility for MediCal. In the past, a family of 4 was disqualified from MediCal if they had over $3300 in assets. Well, we have WAY over that. But after having discussion with FOUR different people on the CC line - all of who knew what they were talking about - it looks like we'll be getting MediCal, at least as a stop gap measure until I can find a job.

I filled out the paperwork disclosing our finances today and sent it in. I think we're on target to start with MediCal on 1/1/14.

BTW - we were paying $400+ a month for our lousy family COBRA plan until it expired in September. It actually took me from January to August to get my portion of our dental plan straightened out with our carrier. Our dentist had to hold all of our bills for all that time before being able to submit them. Ridiculous.

[NYC_SKP]

12. Glad to hear. COBRA can be expensive.

For just me, $1,439/month.

ACA will be about $880 less.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

6. Proud to be 5th Rec. off to the greatest page

And hopefully others will get to cheer this good news.

[dimbear]

14. Well, we do have Silicon Valley here, for starters. And San Francisco isn't just famous for

Fisherman's wharf. We have the high tech.