If You Can Stop Circling the Wagons Around the ACA, There is Someone I Would Like You To Meet

[McCamy Taylor]

I have known Opal for five years. In that time, her health has gone from not too good to pretty bad, but she is hanging in there. Or rather, she was hanging in there. I am a family physician at a county clinic for the uninsured in Texas, one of the 24 states that refused the Medicaid expansion. Our governor did everything he could to make the ACA rollout a failure. But nevertheless, Opal’s husband works, and he makes just enough to qualify for care under the Affordable Care Act. Great, right? Having some insurance is always better than having no insurance, right?

Like many urban areas, my county funds a public clinic for the uninsured. We pay for necessary medications, surgeries. We do screening colonoscopies. We do mammograms and immunizations. If you have a heart attack, you can get your coronary artery stented. If you get cancer, you can get your chemo. No deductible, no caps, no pre-existing conditions exclusions and while there are some medication copayments, you can get them waived. We don’t want to see anyone die for lack of $5.

The Medicaid expansion would have taken over the cost of running the clinic. Since Rick Perry thinks he has a shot at becoming Vice President, he said “No” to billions of dollars. Therefore, taxpayers in our states urban areas will continue to face double taxation---once to pay for health care for our own poor, once to pay for health care for the poor in the lucky 26 states that took the expansion. Tax payers in rural areas will continue to see their hospitals close and their doctors flee----but this is not about them. This is about Opal.

The county was told that the ACA’s so called “bronze plan” would allow its members to keep seeing their county doctors and getting the care they are used to receiving through the county. Opal and her husband were told the same thing. They were relieved. The bronze plan only cost them pennies a month out of pocket. The next cheapest plan would have cost them $100 a month---and people who live with chronic illness don’t have that much cash lying around. Once they signed on the dotted line. Opal and her husband---and the county—learned the truth. Opal now had insurance that had an enormous deductible. Her insurance would cover care only if it was prescribed by a tiny handful of providers---anyone who believes that HMO provider directories are accurate has obviously never dealt with an HMO. Anyone who believes that the people who sign you up for an HMO tell the truth has never encountered an HMO rep.

Opal needed her medication. Her medication cost $500. Opal did not have $500. Opal had not met her deductible. Her $5000 deductible. Opal had a heart attack. Opal went back to the county hospital. She is getting care again with her county doctors. Too bad it was that last little bit of her heart that she could not afford to lose. I wish you could hear the fluid in Opal’s lungs when she breathes. I wish you could see the fear in her eyes as she faces her mortality.

You can make some things right, after they get messed up, but you can’t put back dead myocardium or restore a dead kidney or replace infarcted brain. Yes, I love my party. Yes, I want to see it do well in the elections this fall and in 2016. But I am not going to keep my mouth shut and watch Opal and people like her get sick and die, because the ACA has as many holes in it as the god damned Titanic, and the GOP and the SCOTUS and the Tea Party is exploiting every last one of them.

So, if you want to go back to circling the wagons around the ACA, insisting that everything is just fine, go right ahead. You can even accuse me of not being a Family Physician and of not working with the chronically ill and uninsured. But if you try to accuse me of being a Bad Democrat, of not supporting the President, because I won’t keep my mouth shut, I have to ask:

What kind of Democrat would ask another Democrat to keep quiet about the suffering of the chronically ill? No Democrat, that’s who. The only folks who hate the chronically ill are the bean counters of the private health insurance industry. And they will do whatever it takes to make sure that those who make the mistake of signing up for their “bronze” plans get the hell back off---assuming that they don’t die first.
And that is no exaggeration. Though Opal’s name has been changed, for reasons of patient confidentiality. The fluid filled lungs, her fear, my anger---they are all real.

[KittyWampus]

1. Who is preventing the holes in the ACA from being fixed? Republicans or Democrats?

[MADem]

5. It's OBAMA's FAULT....that RICK PERRY is an ASSHOLE.

See?

Wasn't that simple?



I am just so TIRED of this bullshit framing--over, and over, and over again.

Opal--and the Friends of Opal-- need to put the blame where it belongs--on that shitbird Governor who can't even remember three things, and who would rather spite his state and KILL Opal than acknowledge that Obama Was Right.

[stevenleser]

54. Exactly, if OP wants to draw the line on issues with Democratic thinking, blaming Democrats for GOP

actions is where they should start.

[pansypoo53219]

111. it IS obama's fault he is black. or is parents fault. presidenting while black.

never has a president had more roadblocks +DISRESPECT. at least FDR had AMERICA on his side.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

140. AMEN!!!!

[MADem]

129. This kind of stuff really ticks me off.

That woman's misfortune has to do with her STATE leadership, not the national leadership. If she lived in MA or VT or CA she'd be sitting pretty. Yet the OP is framed with a Waaah-Waaah = Blame Obama construct.

Nowhere in that entire diatribe is the shit heaped on Perry, which is right where it belongs.

And that, well, stinks. On ice.

[H2O Man]

138. The author

is the individual who in 2008 assured people that I was actually Patrick Buchanan.

[tridim]

126. It's not "framing", it's trolling. Over and over again.

And for some reason, not against DU rules.

[MADem]

128. When I see it now, I call bullshit on it.

I used to just hit "Hide Thread" and move on.

No more.

I'm tired of the "attack from the left" game. I'm not putting up with it anymore. It's just so hackneyed, and on this issue, it borders on obvious in many cases.

[WhiteTara]

2. This needless death isn't from the ACA; it's because

Republicans hate all life and worship only money and power. I'm sorry that most people of Texas don't care about anyone but themselves. This must be very hard for you as a care giver.

[Egnever]

3. I don't think anyone thinks the ACA is perfect

For every Opal though there are hundreds being helped.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. I share your anger, and her fear.

I am sickened by the terrible things being done in Texas, and elsewhere.

I wish I could recommend your post 1000 times.

I wish there were a way to save her life.

[4lbs]

6. I benefit from the ACA. I also don't think that it is the end all and be all of healthcare.

It however is a good start. Not as good as a public option or single payer would have been, but as good as what we could have gotten in 2009.


Remember Social Security? That thing that passed during FDR's Presidency? With an extremely liberal President and much more progressive and liberal Congress than the crapticians of 2009?

When it first passed, Social Security was a piece of crap compared to what it is today. Only WHITE MALES were eligible. If you were female, you didn't qualify. If you were a minority, you didn't qualify.

It took 20 years... **** 20 YEARS **** for Social Security to be updated to include women and minorities. That was with Presidents and Congresspeople much more willing to compromise and work together than the crud Congress we have blocking the President at nearly every junction.

So, the ACA is not the best, but it's not the worst either.

It will be improved over time. Just like Social Security was.

[Art_from_Ark]

38. The first person to receive a monthly Social Security check was a woman

Back in 1940. Her name was Ida May Fuller.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ida_May_Fuller

[SheilaT]

60. Social Security was never for white men only.

But back then a large percentage of women did not work, and I'm not entirely certain if a man's SS continued for his widow after he died. There was also a very long time when a married couple could only collect one SS check, even though both qualified for one. I recall reading during the 1960's that a lot of retired couples were "living in sin" because they couldn't afford to lose one of the checks. There was also no COLA until the Nixon administration, I think. And for a very long time if you worked while receiving SS, you were going to have to make it to age 70 until there was a cap on your earnings, after which you'd lose SS.

Right now the "Full Retirement Age" meaning the age at which you can work and earn with no limit and no loss of SS. That is being raised gradually and the Republicans would like that to get to an even older age.

But women and minorities were never systematically excluded. I think possibly it didn't cover all jobs in the early years, but I'm not certain on that.

In a related matter, I do recall quite distinctly that Unemployment Compensation didn't cover most jobs for a very long time, and over the years pretty much all of them have been covered.

[grasswire]

7. Thank you for giving a damn about Opal...

...and all the others. Thank you for being their voice, as well as their doctor.

[MADem]

8. Why don't you write to your governor and tell him to fix it? He CAN, you know.

He won't, because he's an asshole.

But you put the blame right where it belongs, now--on your shitty governor.

What kind of Republican would let a citizen of their state die when they had the power to prevent it....hmmmm?

You need to tell this tale to the REPUBLICAN who is killing Opal, frankly.

[Rex]

73. Evidently it was a hit and run piece at kos as well.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/04/13/1291854/-If-You-Can-Stop-Circling-the-Wagons-Around-the-ACA-There-is-Someone-I-Want-You-to-Meet#

I am always skeptical of hit and run OPs.

[MADem]

75. Ahhhhhh! One of those!!! I'll bet "Opal" lives next door to "Harry and Louise!"

I'm with you, I gotta say cough-horseshit-cough when I see manure like that spread around.

[sheshe2]

9. I grieve for Opal.

However for once, just once lay the blame at the feet of the people responsible.

Blame your frigging Gov. Rick Perry.

Gov. Rick Perry stands firm on no federal money into Texas

http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_22706751/perry-stands-firm-no-federal-money-into-texas

Perry ‘proudly’ refuses health care to 1.2 million low-income Texans

In a statement published Monday morning, Texas Governor Rick Perry (R) “proudly” declared that he will decline to implement key tenets of the Affordable Care Act — a move that will see his state forgo an estimated $164 billion dollars in federal aid and leave over 1.2 million low-income Texans, who would have finally been eligible for health care, helpless and uninsured.

“This is a fiscally stupid decision on the part of Rick Perry,” Texas Democratic Party spokesperson Rebecca Acuña told Raw Story. “Texas would be one of the states that gets the most money from the federal government and the Medicaid expansion would have provided health care to more than a million Texans. It’s… It’s very sad that Rick Perry is willing to play politics with the health of Texans, and that’s exactly what this decision is.”

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/07/09/perry-proudly-refuses-health-care-to-1-2-million-low-income-texans/

I am sick and tired of those that blame Obama for everything. You and Opal need to go after your sick perverted Governor!

[Lady Freedom Returns]

10. +1 n/t

[SunSeeker]

11. Well said, thank you.

[sheshe2]

13. Hello SunSeeker.

Thanks, it ticks me off that all of this is thrown at Obama's feet. Every damn time.

I wish they would wake up, clear their vision and see the facts that are so clearly before their eyes!

[JDPriestly]

18. Obama should have allowed the single payer advocates to participate in the meetings

he held in the White House. He should have insisted that their voices be heard in the public discussion before the bill was written.

He did not have the courage to do that.

Had he done that, he would have had a whip in his back pocket with which to bring the insurance companies in line and to the table willing to give a lot more than they were. He would also have scared the Republican governors into supporting the bill that was passed.

Obama is a fine man, but he is a lousy negotiator. We know that and have known that since the ACA was first under discussion. He is said to have been a lawyer. He sure never did any litigation. Because if he had, he would have learned how to intimidate his way to a good deal for his clients or, as president, his constituency.

It's a shame for America. It's a shame for President Obama who has a very kind heart and who wants to do right.

[SunSeeker]

19. That ain't why we didn't get single payer. And it ain't why "Opal" is hurting.

The only shame here is directing your anger at Obama instead of the murderous Republican governors. If Opal was in California, she would be fine.

[JDPriestly]

66. I wasn't arguing that we could have gotten single-payer.

I'm arguing that Obama threw away his most useful card much too soon in the negotiating game by not allowing single payer advocates to be heard in the public discussion.

People do not understand how you negotiate.

I think Obama is a better negotiator when it comes to foreign policy, but who knows.

In negotiating, you keep things on the table that you know the opposition really, really does not want, until you get what you want. It isn't that you threaten your opposition. It is that you just don't silence or get rid of the obvious threat to the opposition if the negotiation does not go your way. You let the natural course of things threaten your opposition.

For example, if a drunk driver hit your car, you don't rush to the driver at the scene of the accident and reassure him/her that you are all right. First, you don't know yet whether you are all right, and second you are giving up an issue that could persuade the opposition to be more generous to you in the final round of negotiations.

If you are negotiating with someone to paint your house, you don't just rush in and say, $3,000 -- OK and how much more to paint the fence. You say, OK. That's a lot. I wouldn't normally pay that, but if you paint the fence that surrounds my property while you are at it, we have a deal. It's just the art of haggling. Based on the ACA negotiations, I would say that Obama is not good at it.

[Dragonfli]

67. Would her Deductible have been less under the bronze plan magically in California?

It seems that bronze insurance is/was unusable for anyone without 5 grand in their pocket. Most people these days that work for a living can barely afford the premium and don't just have an extra five grand lying around if they want to actually use that insurance.

The three tired health system by intentional design provides the least coverage to the poorest and the best for the rich. The poor get the highest deductibles and have the least to spend on deductibles, it appears to be more a way to kill off the poor for profit if you ask me. It is the vampires in the insurance industry that caused her harm, not Obama of course (unless he understood the vampires would use high deductibles to keep the premiums and not end up having to pay for treatment for the poor that don't have 5 grand, I prefer to think that he simply does not understand this insurance scam so I can chalk it up to ignorant innocence).

Giving the keys to our health to been counters that will kill you for a dime will end up killing as many as the Psychopaths that are Red state Governors, even though the also will kill many.

This outcome is inevitable unless the poor get to pay the cheapest deductibles and the rich the most, it is plain as day and clear as distilled water.



Also "Ain't" isn't a word.

[SunSeeker]

87. Opal would be covered by medicaid in CA.

We have medicaid expandion in CA, and then some. People Opal who can't afford deductibles were not meant to be trying to purchase insurance from the exchanges. That was Perry's doing.

And yes, ain't IS a word. It's Southern slang. I felt it appropriate in light of the fact we were talking about Texas. Is slang not allowed on DU?

[Dragonfli]

88. No, slang is certainly allowed, I just find it is often a sign of a complete lack of education

resulting in an unfortunate ignorance making it hard to discuss anything but pop culture with them. But I see now yuse guys is be smart.

So, the bronze plan just sucks and you better be poor enough for medicaid eh? You are likely too well off to understand this but the people just above the medicaid line are also too poor to have 5000 bucks in their pocket, but I imagine since you can afford deductibles fuck them right? you got yours.

[SunSeeker]

89. No, the bronze plan does not suck compared to being uninsured.

If you can't afford the deductible, you should not be on that plan.

And no, I am not saying "fuck them, I got mine." That is what Rick Perry is saying.

I think what Perry is doing to the poor in his state is murder. You may prefer to insult me, but I prefer to go after the person responsible for Opal's predicament: Rick Perry.

[Dragonfli]

100. It does suck if it can't be used

Which it can't if people don't have the deductible money. No real difference in actual care over no insurance if you still can't use the policy. Well the insurance Cos get to keep the premiums without having to pay anything out so I assume you mean it is better for profit than no insurance

People that have disposable income don't care about that because it doesn't apply to them.

[SunSeeker]

102. The bronze plan absolutely can be used by people it was designed for.

People who can't pay the bronze plans co-pays and deductibles were not meant to use it. They were supposed to be covered by the medicaid expansion.

And its Republicans, and Perry in particular, who don't care about those people. Dems do care about poor people. We fought for medicaid expansion. It was the Republican SCOTUS majority that struck down the mandatory aspect of it, leaving it subject to the murderous whims of Republican governors.

[Cha]

121. Oh, and "ain't" can certainly be used when the mood strikes us.. no matter what

snooty word net nannies have to say about it.

[SunSeeker]

135. Yes, and "ain't" passes the DU "Check Spelling" button! LOL

[MADem]

107. Ain't is a word...it's in the dictionary, too.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ain't

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/ain't

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/british/ain-t

[Dragonfli]

113. I was taught differently in school, but then again they also did not teach creationism here

Last edited Tue Apr 15, 2014, 09:19 PM - Edit history (1)

what exactly is it a contraction of? Ah is not or something?

It was put in the dictionaries because the ignorant would not stop using it. It is only a real word in the pop sense.

I guess education in some states had poor English teachers the last few decades. At least Y'all is a contraction of real words and although born of laziness (too much work to say you all I guess) I get how that pop word was added.

http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/is-%E2%80%9Caint%E2%80%9D-a-word

[MADem]

116. They don't teach creationism in UK, either--and at least one of those dictionaries is British.

You know, that's the little island nation where the English language comes from....?

This isn't about "education."

You said it wasn't a word. I'm just telling you it is.

For whatever it's worth, the horse left the barn on "ain't" many, many decades ago. If you really want to go back into history, it was commonly used in Victorian England.

To rage against it now, or call it a "pop" reference, as a device to denigrate a debate opponent or deflect a point in an argument doesn't serve you well at all.

[MADem]

106. Yes, because their presence would have "magically" overcome GOP objections.

Not.

And by "not," I mean, no, nay, never...NOT in your wildest dreams. It would have given the GOP an excuse to paint the entire exercise as wild and unworkable.

The ACA is a waystation on the ultimate road to single payer...but we're not going to get there without spending some time at this waystation.

Like it or not, it's an incremental process. What the "shame" is, is that people who are otherwise very bright refuse to see what is plainly, obviously brutal political reality, or remember how horribly Hillary Clinton was savaged when she tried to change the health care landscape back when she was First Lady.

If you don't remember your history you will be condemned to repeat it.

[JDPriestly]

114. Of course, their presence would not have magically overcome GOP objections.

But it would have reminded the naysayers and the big pharma and big health insurance industries that they should play ball seriously and forget dirty tricks because if they didn't they could face a much worse (for them) alternative than simply Obamacare and maybe eventually a public option.

Obama should have allowed the single payer advocates to sit at the table and help negotiate. That is how you negotiate. You don't give up cards until you have to. You have to appear strong enough and you do not appear strong when you cave on important points those with whom you are negotiating don't like before you even get started.

[MADem]

115. Had he done as you suggest, those naysayers would have picked

up those single payer advocates by their ankles and used them to club the ACA to death.

This is a long journey. ACA is simply one step on the road.

[JDPriestly]

117. I agree that ACA is simply one step on the road.

As to Obama's negotiating techniques, I'm a skeptic. I don't think he knows what he is doing when it comes to difficult negotiations. He shows himself to weak too soon. Too unwilling to make his opponents at the negotating table worry just a bit about where he might go. We will just have to agree to disagree on that point.

Negotiating is not about everybody walking away happy. Negotiating is about everybody or at least everybody opposing you in the negotiation walking away unhappy but glad they got as much as they did. I don't think Obama is really good at pushing so as to achieve that result. He finally did it this year on the budget and debt ceiling. The Cruz filibuster was a real loser. But it isn't his usual practice.

[MADem]

118. All you have to do is look to history. Obama did, and that's why he took the path he took.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinton_health_care_plan_of_1993

....Bill Clinton had campaigned heavily on health care in the 1992 U.S. presidential election. The task force was created in January 1993, but its own processes were somewhat controversial and drew litigation. Its goal was to come up with a comprehensive plan to provide universal health care for all Americans, which was to be a cornerstone of the administration's first-term agenda. A major health care speech was delivered by President Clinton to the U.S. Congress in September 1993. The core element of the proposed plan was an enforced mandate for employers to provide health insurance coverage to all of their employees.

Opposition to the plan was heavy from conservatives, libertarians, and the health insurance industry. The industry produced a highly effective television ad, "Harry and Louise", in an effort to rally public support against the plan. Instead of uniting behind the President's original proposal, Democrats offered a number of competing plans of their own. Hillary Clinton was drafted by the Clinton Administration to head a new Task Force and sell the plan to the American people, a plan which ultimately backfired amid the barrage of fire from the pharmaceutical and health insurance industries and considerably diminished her own popularity. By September 1994, the final compromise Democratic bill was declared dead by Senate Majority Leader George J. Mitchell.

[treestar]

137. Then what did you bring up Obama's negotiating skills for?

Weren't you blaming them for the lack of a single payer bill that would go through both that House and Senate?

I doubt you are in much of a position to judge the negotiating skills of anyone. It's not like haggling at a bazaar when one is trying to put a bill together that will pass Congress. the negotiating skills of everyone involved were far and beyond what you could even begin to understand.

[Cha]

123. Oh bullshit on your.. "Obama did not have the courage to do".. you have no idea the kind of courage

President Obama has.. no fucking clue.

[Number23]

85. SheShe I am finally beginning to understand why a certain cadre here absolutely despises the BOG

You guys are cutting through the shit that's constantly flung here like a buzz saw through butter. Nicely done.

[sheshe2]

130. ...

[zeemike]

12. The problem with denial is

that once reality makes it's appearance it makes those in denial look foolish.

And this is not Obama's fault or even Perry...the fault lies in a for profit insurance industry which will extract every last dime out of people they can...and in our "free market" health care system no politician can control it.

So the more people find out that the ACA is not the cat's pajamas like some people say it is the more foolish the Democrats will look....and you can bet the insurance industry will make that happen.

[SunSeeker]

27. It IS Perry's fault.

If he had accepted ACA medicaid expansion, Opal would not be in this predicament.

[zeemike]

43. No it is the doctors fault

For not treating her for free
No it is the drug companies fault for not giving her free drugs.
No it is Opel's fault for getting sick.
It is everyones fault except the system that does it all for profit and can't get enough of the profit, and cares not one thing about Opel or any one like her.

Just look out to the rest of the world and see that they have single payer and they DON'T have those problems...and they don't have to blame it on someone because the system is fucked up.

[1StrongBlackMan]

79. Funny you talk about "Denial" and "Reality" ...

Then go on to talk about the doctor not treating her for free and the drug companies not providing her free drugs.

[zeemike]

86. Does everything requirer a sarcasm tag?

[MADem]

109. To say nothing of "the Democrats" like they're a foreign entity.... nt

[SunSeeker]

90. Saying it's "the system" lets Perry off the hook.

The system here, namely the ACA, provided for people like Opal via medicaid expansion. But SCOTUS struck down the mandatory aspect of medicaid expansion, and allowed Republican governors to refuse billions of dollars in medicaid money, at the cost of the lives of the people living in those governor's states.

Opal's predicament is the direct result of Perry's actions.

[zeemike]

97. No it does not let Perry off the hook.

Perry is responsible for what Perry does...which is not expand medicare...and the insurance companies are responsible for what they do, which is skim off money from health care and fatten their wallets by denying people health care.

And my point is that blaming Perry is a distraction from a broken and corrupt system...that is NOT the envy of the world.
And again, all of this could have been solved by the public option.

[SunSeeker]

98. Rightfully blaming Perry is not a "distraction"...unless you're Perry. nt

[zeemike]

99. Unless you want to blame Perry for the shortcomings of the ACA.

[SunSeeker]

101. Perry denied her care, not "shortcomings of the ACA." nt

[sheshe2]

125. Perry is a distraction....

And my point is that blaming Perry is a distraction from a broken and corrupt system

My point is that blaming OBAMA is a distraction from a broken and corrupt system!!!! Any questions as to why your statement is just silly! You give Perry a pass and blame Obama. Got it, no ODS here. None at all. Nope none. Zippo!

15 billion is just a distraction to you? Seriously?!

Gov. Rick Perry stands firm on no federal money into Texas

AUSTIN -- Gov. Rick Perry is not budging despite mounting pressure to accept billions of federal dollars by expanding the pool of Texans eligible for Medicaid.

Perry has so far turned down $100 billion of additional federal money over the next decade by resisting the push to expand Medicaid under the federal government's Affordable Care Act. The state's costs to get the federal money during that period would be about $15 billion.

The drumbeat for Texas to arrive at a compromise that would expand Medicaid benefits to more poor adults seems to be growing louder as Florida's Rick Scott and New Jersey's Chris Christie become the latest Republican governors to reach agreements with the federal government on Medicaid expansion.

snip

Texas has more than 6 million residents who are uninsured, including about 250,000 in El Paso. Under the expanded coverage, adults who earn less than 133 percent of the federal poverty line, or about $15,400 annually, would be eligible for coverage.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_22706751/perry-stands-firm-no-federal-money-into-texas

And again, all of this could have been solved by the public option.

Yes Yes we all know Obama flat out refused to pull out his magic wand and wave it around a few times. He denied us all the public option he Effing hates America! Damn him!He disappoints me so ~ The GOP wanted to save our souls from the death panels, alas they could not convince Obama that it was the right thing to do.

FYI, my last paragraph....

[JI7]

29. so Perry being a supporter of private free markets with no regulation is not a problem ?

[Dragonfli]

68. It appears nobody gets how low income workers can't afford to use the insurance

they are mandated to pay for in our new three tired system where the poorest are expected to pay the most before getting care and the rich the least.

We now have bronze valued people silver valued people and gold valued people. You appear to be the exception that understands the insurance companies will kill even more poor people that the sociopathic Governors.

[zeemike]

74. I get it because I know poor people

And understand how it is to struggle to pay the rent...now they have to pay this bill too, when wages are down and food and gas is up.
Don't count on them cheering for this.

[Samantha]

14. This is just too sad

Some companies offer to supply medicines for low prices or free for people in hardship. Could she have her husband contact the company that manufactures the medicine? I understand that she has suffered the damage from not having it, but might she be able to live if she could receive it again or is it too late?

Sam

[Junkdrawer]

15. I think most of the replies miss the point...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but because Rick Perry refused to expand Medicare (and thus pay for the clinic Opal used) Opal was forced to use the exchanges of the ACA act. The "insurance" thus obtained was affordable in terms of premiums, but ruinous (read deadly) in terms of copays.

Rick Perry is, indeed, an ass, but the main story is that ACA "insurance" sucks.

How's that McCamy?

[GoneFishin]

40. Not to mention that we already knew the Republicans are assholes. We expected no less

from them. But leaving the for profit insurance companies in the driver's seat under the ACA is not something I voted for. Nor is it the type of arrangement that any good negotiator would have accepted if his first priority was getting a good deal for the people.

Yeah, I know.
But the Republicans .....
and the Republicans .....
and oh yeah, the Republicans ....

[Tarheel_Dem]

69. I think you "miss the point". "Medicare" isn't even being debated here. It's Medicaid.

[Junkdrawer]

70. Honestly, I meant Medicaid.

But fixing my post at this point is bad form.

Human, all too human.

[pnwmom]

16. Thank you for your reminder, MT, that there is so much more to be done.

And thank you for your dedication to your patients. Everybody needs a doctor like you.

[JDPriestly]

17. The ACA is far from providing universal healthcare at reasonable prices.

But it is a first step in the right direction.

We need to keep working to improve the ACA and to add a truly public option.

Thanks for your post and for keeping us mindful of the fact that we have not yet run the distance.

K&R.

[BlindTiresias]

20. Here in Massachusetts

The ACA is not liked by healthcare experts, all of whom were very supportive of the ACA initially.

[SunSeeker]

23. Links? What do these "healthcare experts" suggest we do?

Last I checked, Massachusetts allowed ACA medicaid expansion.

[BlindTiresias]

24. Yeah

Its more that they think the implementation was bad, very patchwork and especially compared to our previous system. Its purely anecdotal so take it as you may, comes from a colleague who is in close contact with the healthcare system and esp as it relates to policy.

[SunSeeker]

26. Yeah.

Figured you had overstated it.

[BlindTiresias]

28. Well to be fair

Eventually there will be dissent from the expert corner, the good news is that this can help change the policy. The bad news is that it is still an open question as to how it will change. As it stands it demands revision of some kind, you must admit.

[SunSeeker]

30. Of course there need to be changes. But you are not being fair.

You make a broad statement that "healthcare experts don't like the ACA," suggesting repeal is in order. It's the kind of crap Republicans say. Then you don't give me a link.

Every major piece of legislation needs lots of fixes. Hopefully those fixes will lead us to single payer. But until we get there, the ACA is infinitely better than what we had before. We should keep fighting to improve it, not tear it down.

What can Dems do to improve the ACA now, given the Congress we have?

[BlindTiresias]

31. Don't be so defensive

I never suggested repeal, just said that healthcare experts are very iffy about ACA implementation in my state.

[SunSeeker]

92. Stop projecting. And that is not what you said.

You said healthcare experts in Mass don't like the ACA. That is a very broad statement. You admit you have no links to back this up. It appears you made that up. Now you are backtracking. As well you should. It's not me who is being defensive.

[BlindTiresias]

94. Jesus man

It was an anecdote passed to me by my professor, he works in close proximity to policy people related to healthcare and the direct administrators. I'm sure eventually it will come out in writing but public admin and policy types are often reluctant to fully disclose the displeasure they have towards aspects of policy implementation. For what its worth they aren't saying anything because they want it to stick, they merely want improvements.

[SunSeeker]

103. Don't like being called out? Don't make stuff up. nt

[Doctor_J]

49. and when

it is still an open question as to how it will change

It will decades before anything changes.

[stevenleser]

52. There was a minor change implemented in March and April. So no, it wont be decades.

I'm guessing January of 2015 will be when the more moderate to serious changes start being discussed and implemented, as soon as Republican candidates for 2014 are finished getting every possible inch out of manufacturing outrage against the law.

[BlindTiresias]

65. Why do people always think incrementalism runs in a progressive direction?

It doesn't. It is merely a theory in policy that states that government is inherently conservative and so changes are built on previous structures. If anything there are more compelling arguments that incrementalism favors political conservatism than progressive change as the incremental process itself moves towards greater consistency. In the context of American government that means it will become more right wing over time, not less.

[sheshe2]

131. Why do you think that change will happen overnight!??!

Instantaneous gratification just doesn't happen. And no we will not become more right wing over time... that is a pretty defeatist attitude. You don't sit back and give up, you fight back every single day.

[BlindTiresias]

133. Just giving the model of the theory

If people ignore these things they will be running on treadmills, not moving towards anything. In terms of progressive change evidence shows that you need decisive action, incrementalism simply doesn't run in a progressive direction if you are in a right wing ideological frame.

[derby378]

139. Well, change happened overnight under George W. Bush...

It was crappy change yeah, but it happened overnight. If Obama had pressed harder on the public option and not allowed Rahm Emanuel to screw up a lot of the details of the ACA, maybe we could have gotten a law we could be proud of.

Frankly, all these people who say "Well, we have to pass bad stuff in order to turn it into good stuff 50 years down the line, look at Social Security, baby steps, etc." don't seem to understand that many of us don't have 50 years to wait for baby to take another step.

Either get the legislation right the first time, or don't waste our time. That should be the lesson Democrats learn from the ACA.

[MADem]

57. Well, golly gee, I was in a Mass General ICU yesterday at the bedside of a very ill relative,

and I didn't notice a single disgruntled healthcare expert as I traversed that rather large facility to get to my relative's location. In fact, quite the opposite--every one I encountered was, as always, very professional, positive and engaged in their work. When people have an attitude about their jobs, it shows. The only attitudes I saw at MGH were positive ones.

You'll need to put up some proof to back up that rather sloppy claim before anyone can reasonably entertain it.

[BlindTiresias]

95. Yeah, I was being imprecise

Policy analysis people specialized in healthcare and public administrators related to healthcare. I have no idea what doctors and nurses think of it as this info was passed on to me from a professor.

[MADem]

104. Was the professor sitting in a faculty chair endowed by the Koch Brothers?

Just because they are "professors" doesn't mean that they are unbiased.

And in recent decades, the universities have been infected with the worst type of noxious wingnuts--unthinking, brutal jerks who have a Lords v. Serfs attitude and take a paternalistic view towards women and issues like choice, who never met a war they didn't like, and who love Wall Street like they loved their first teddy bear. Boston College, for example, is UNRECOGNIZABLE in terms of their POV towards social issues from their culture as a place of higher learning a half century ago. It's palpable. It is Polished Wingnut Factory--it used to churn out thinkers, many of whom liked sports more than the average slob ... but no more.

Follow the money.

[BlindTiresias]

105. No

He likes the ACA himself

[SunSeeker]

21. Your "circling the wagons" title suggests Dems are ignoring people the GOP governors are killing.

That is simply not true. No one here at DU thinks "everything is just fine." DU has been full of posts about folks hurting because of Republican governors refusing medicaid expansion. DU and Dems know Opal's story all too well. We are trying to get the word out that Republican governors are killing their state's people by their irrational, spiteful refusal to allow ACA medicaid expansion. Post titles like yours are not helping people like "Opal."

When you suggest Dems "circling the wagons" is why Opal is hurting, you are deflecting blame from your murderous governor. If he is not hit with the full force of his constituents' rage, what chance is there of him changing his mind and doing the right thing? Or of your state electing a Dem governor?

Yes, get Opal's story out, but don't blame her pain on Dems. Place it where it belongs: Rick Perry.

[Junkdrawer]

22. Perry forced her from the clinic to the exchanges....

Hate to break the bad news: the products on the exchanges, well, suck.

[SunSeeker]

25. It depends on your state.

The cost and range of quality of the choices differ from state to state. Of course the ACA is not as good as single payer, but it is infinitely better than the way things were before the ACA.

People who can't afford deductibles shouldn't be in the exchanges. They should be covered under the ACA medicaid expansion. Opal's problems should be placed on Rick Perry's lap, not the ACA's.

[Junkdrawer]

32. Rick Perry's lap OR Chief Justice Roberts' lap?

The Supremes made the expansion optional.

What if we call it RobertsCare, agree it's unacceptable, and work to pass Medicare-for-All and call it "Obamacare"?

[jeff47]

58. Perry. Roberts will not be facing election.

And just because Roberts made Medicaid expansion optional doesn't mean Perry had to take him up on it.

[SunSeeker]

91. Roberts did not make Perry do it. It is in Perry's lap.

PERRY chose to refuse billions of dollars in medicaid coverage for the most vulnerable of his citizens. Perry chose to let them die.

But I am sure Perry appreciates your virulent attempts to deflect blame from him.

[ProSense]

39. Rick Perry is trying to kill her?

"Perry forced her from the clinic to the exchanges...."

So he blocked the Medicaid expansion and then "forced" her from the clinic to the exchanges?

Medicaid not expanded in your state? Get health/dental income based cared through HRSA.GOV!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023790963

[Junkdrawer]

42. Ahem....

....

The county was told that the ACA’s so called “bronze plan” would allow its members to keep seeing their county doctors and getting the care they are used to receiving through the county. Opal and her husband were told the same thing. They were relieved. The bronze plan only cost them pennies a month out of pocket. The next cheapest plan would have cost them $100 a month---and people who live with chronic illness don’t have that much cash lying around. Once they signed on the dotted line. Opal and her husband---and the county—learned the truth. Opal now had insurance that had an enormous deductible. Her insurance would cover care only if it was prescribed by a tiny handful of providers---anyone who believes that HMO provider directories are accurate has obviously never dealt with an HMO. Anyone who believes that the people who sign you up for an HMO tell the truth has never encountered an HMO rep.

....

I guess the question now is who told the county this.

[ProSense]

50. "I guess the question now is who told the county this."

See comment 41. There is clearly some misinformation involved.

The enhanced plans with the additional subsidies were talked about often.

[freshwest]

63. Ah, but that would mean going against the 'tough guy' GOP instead of the 'weak' Dems. I've seen how

this works.

IRL, the people willing to make government work, when they are being starved of the funds to make such work; the ones who try to get anything passed that can be labeled socialism going, are met with death threats from baggers, Glenn Beck and Infowars fans (as ALL of my Democratic elected officials and ALL generations of their families were, and eventually sent to jail - yes, they were that serious) and going to town meetings where the baggers, CTers, larourchies and libertarians let them know that they hate them so much that they will not even allow them to discuss social programs and this in a blue state; where the real plan being pushed by the right is so much worse than anyone imagines, and puts their hands over their eyes and ears and pretends it doesn't exist and hasn't already eaten the walls of the social safety net; and in Texas, where their Senator wanted the entire federal government to DEFAULT so the lady in question would not have a place to live, food to eat or any medical care, PERIOD.

Let's not look at that, since it's a scary thing to confront, so let's keep whipping the help, because it's what the tough guy GOP taught them to do to be popular. That's really going to change things for the better. Willful ignorance is the quick solution to anything, as it doesn't require any work.

Those who want to see what is going on need to take a read at what the powerful in Texas and other states that not only eviscerated their previous social safety net under Ann Richards, and are just as reluctant IRL as on online, to say anything to get progressive change are really doing. Some pretend the powerful people are not the cause of the problem, because it's convenient to find the same enemy as the GOP does always. Hey, Obama, Democrats and government, you are a slow moving target, so let's practice taking potshots.

Some useful information follows about what we're up against here, which is the brainwashing of the nation and creates a comfort zone to attack anything that the Democrats do.

But where from the mental landscape dominated by Perry, Cruz and the rest, not just Texas, are the bitter complaints against terrorizing those on Social Security, public workers, women and minority rights?

Oh, I know, those are small things and they didn't wear the Democrats out one little bit fighting. Except they did stop them, didn't they:

Rand Paul says default can be 'framed as a reasonable idea' and Tom Coburn wants to default to face a 'managed catastrophe.'

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3820816

Where are the ones calling for changes for the elderly, poor and disabled in this platform, sweeping Texas, the red states and even savaging blue ones. We can try to find link from MSM, or a popular radio show that pipes it daily to the heads of millions like Rush, FNN, Infowars, etc. Except there is no such thing.

This is a national plan, and some don't want to fight. As far as the lady in question. how will she fare under the coming system, promoted by the cool, hip crowd:

Here are just a few excerpts of the Libertarian Party platform that David Koch ran on in 1980:

“We urge the repeal of federal campaign finance laws, and the immediate abolition of the despotic Federal Election Commission.”
“We favor the abolition of Medicare and Medicaid programs.”
“We oppose any compulsory insurance or tax-supported plan to provide health services, including those which finance abortion services.”
“We also favor the deregulation of the medical insurance industry.”
“We favor the repeal of the fraudulent, virtually bankrupt, and increasingly oppressive Social Security system. Pending that repeal, participation in Social Security should be made voluntary.”
“We propose the abolition of the governmental Postal Service. The present system, in addition to being inefficient, encourages governmental surveillance of private correspondence. Pending abolition, we call for an end to the monopoly system and for allowing free competition in all aspects of postal service.”
“We oppose all personal and corporate income taxation, including capital gains taxes.”
“We support the eventual repeal of all taxation.”
“As an interim measure, all criminal and civil sanctions against tax evasion should be terminated immediately.”
“We support repeal of all law which impede the ability of any person to find employment, such as minimum wage laws.”
“We advocate the complete separation of education and State. Government schools lead to the indoctrination of children and interfere with the free choice of individuals. Government ownership, operation, regulation, and subsidy of schools and colleges should be ended.”
“We condemn compulsory education laws … and we call for the immediate repeal of such laws.”
“We support the repeal of all taxes on the income or property of private schools, whether profit or non-profit.”
“We support the abolition of the Environmental Protection Agency.”
“We support abolition of the Department of Energy.”
“We call for the dissolution of all government agencies concerned with transportation, including the Department of Transportation.”
“We demand the return of America's railroad system to private ownership. We call for the privatization of the public roads and national highway system.”
“We specifically oppose laws requiring an individual to buy or use so-called "self-protection" equipment such as safety belts, air bags, or crash helmets.”
“We advocate the abolition of the Federal Aviation Administration.”
“We advocate the abolition of the Food and Drug Administration.”
“We support an end to all subsidies for child-bearing built into our present laws, including all welfare plans and the provision of tax-supported services for children.”
“We oppose all government welfare, relief projects, and ‘aid to the poor’ programs. All these government programs are privacy-invading, paternalistic, demeaning, and inefficient. The proper source of help for such persons is the voluntary efforts of private groups and individuals.”
“We call for the privatization of the inland waterways, and of the distribution system that brings water to industry, agriculture and households.”
“We call for the repeal of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.”
“We call for the abolition of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.”
“We support the repeal of all state usury laws.”


In other words, the agenda of the Koch brothers is not only to defund Obamacare. The agenda of the Koch brothers is to repeal every major piece of legislation that has been signed into law over the past 80 years that has protected the middle class, the elderly, the children, the sick, and the most vulnerable in this country.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024806298

Note, the lady in question will be left out in the cold and the Governor doesn't care, but somehow this draconian platform does not generate much outrage from those who focus on Obama and perceived failures in this milieau, caused by not electing more Democrats who believe in providing health care.

Having lived in Texas a good deal of my life, I saw it go to hell under the Shrub's watch, and knew what was being stolen upclose as Dittoheads and complainers did nothing but repeat the memes and complain. Meh.

Thanks for your words, I'm not that succinct, but I want people to see information, Sunseeker.

[Cha]

122. Thank you, Sunseeker.

[dionysus]

33. i support the ACA because its the best thing that sad congress could approve. we should have

the same universal health care every other industrialized nation has... but our whole congress is to blame for that.

other than the pukes we had blue dogs and leiberman who were happy to filibuster a friggin public option, not even single payer was getting in the door.it was bad all around.

[IronLionZion]

34. First time insured are the constituency who will eventually get us single payer

along with employers.

People with chronic expensive conditions who are starting to get insurance and treatment for the first time, but its still not enough, are going to become a louder and more influential force to demand better coverage and affordable treatments. This has been the case with other types of programs. Because of the politics in this country, it won't come overnight.

[Tarheel_Dem]

35. Morning Plum: "Obamacare ‘horror stories’ fall apart under scrutiny."

Sad that we have only your word for this scenario. Not saying it isn't true, but most of these stories fall apart when held up to the light of day.

After Getting Pummelled By Fact Checkers Koch Brothers Dump Obamacare Horror Story Ads
By: Jason Easley
Tuesday, March, 18th, 2014, 2:08 pm



The Koch brothers spent millions of dollars on ads that focused on bogus ACA horror stories, but after being eviscerated by fact checkers, the Koch boys have changed their course.

The infamous cancer Obamacare victim ad that Sarah Jones described as, “An ad so misleading that even conservatives won’t back its Obamacare claims. In the Americans for Prosperity ad aimed at destroying Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Rep. Gary Peters, Julie Boonstra inaccurately claims that Obamacare is threatening her cancer treatment and that it “jeopardized my health.”

Because of the negative backlash, it appears that the Koch brothers are trying a new approach. Instead of claiming that the ACA will literally kill you, Koch money is now being spent on ads that argue that the law doesn’t work.

http://www.politicususa.com/2014/03/18/pummelled-fact-checkers-koch-brothers-dump-obamacare-horror-story-ads.html

[Ms. Toad]

36. The information about the bronze plan has been available from the day plans were available.

"The county was told that the ACA’s so called “bronze plan” would allow its members to keep seeing their county doctors and getting the care they are used to receiving through the county. Opal and her husband were told the same thing. They were relieved. The bronze plan only cost them pennies a month out of pocket. The next cheapest plan would have cost them $100 a month---and people who live with chronic illness don’t have that much cash lying around."

They did not have to sign on the dotted line to find out basic information about the deductible. As for your clinic, anyone who has ever dealt with insurance - and I would hope at least a few individuals at a medical clinic have - should know that being an eligible provider is not the same thing as having 100% of the care paid for.

And - although it was not as well publicized - people who are eligible for subsidies (as this family was) are also eligible for cost sharing which means that her out of pocket expenses would also have been cut and capped. That additional subsidy is only available under the silver plan.

By all means, be angry - point out what still needs to be fixed. Just direct your anger at the Republican state administration which rejected Medicaid expansion.

[ProSense]

37. Maine's GOP Governor Vetoes Medicaid Expansion For Third Time

Maine's GOP Governor Vetoes Medicaid Expansion For Third Time

Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) pulled out his veto pen Wednesday and rejected Obamacare's Medicaid expansion for the third time after it passed through the state legislature.

Though the expansion bill cleared the legislature, it did not pass with enough votes to override LePage's veto, the Portland Press Herald reported, which is also what killed its predecessors.

Medicaid expansion "would have a disastrous impact on Maine’s budget, as well as those truly needy individuals, our disabled and elderly, who rely today on the scarce resources in our program,” LePage said in his veto message. “Maine has been down this road before, and we must learn from previous experience.”

More than 24,000 Mainers have been left without health coverage under Obamacare because the state hasn't expanded Medicaid.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/lepage-third-medicaid-expansion-veto

Last year:

Texas Medicaid Director: 91 Percent Of Texans Will Have Insurance If State Implements Obamacare
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002360864

It's Rick Perry's fault. It's time to stop trying to shift the blame from these asshole Governors/Republicans.

More than 7,100 deaths likely from states' rejection of Medicaid expansion: Health Affairs Blog

Harvard and CUNY researchers say death toll from 25-state ‘opt-out’ may be as high as 17,100 annually; hundreds of thousands more will be harmed by depression, untreated diabetes, and skipping mammograms and pap smears

The decision by 25 states to reject the expansion of Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act will result in between 7,115 and 17,104 more deaths than had all states opted in, according to researchers at Harvard Medical School and the City University of New York.

The study, the first detailed estimate of the health impact of the states’ decision to reject the Medicaid expansion (with state-by-state data as well), is being published today at the Health Affairs Blog.

The researchers found that because of the states’ “opting out” of the Medicaid expansion, 7.78 million people who would have gained coverage will remain uninsured. In addition to the thousands of excess deaths associated with that lack of coverage, the rejection of the Medicaid expansion will have the following likely impacts:

* 712,037 more persons diagnosed with depression
* 240,700 more persons suffering catastrophic medical expenses
* 422,533 fewer diabetics receiving medication
* 195,492 fewer women receiving mammograms and
* 443,677 fewer women receiving pap smears

<...>

For example, in Texas, the largest state opting out of the Medicaid expansion, approximately 2 million people who would otherwise have been insured will remain uninsured as a result of the state’s action.

"Texas' refusal to accept federal money to expand Medicaid will result in 184,192 more people experiencing depression, 62,610 more people suffering catastrophic medical expenses, and as many as 3,035 avoidable deaths,” said Dr. Steffie Woolhandler, a professor of public health at the City University of New York who is also on the faculty at Harvard Medical School.

- more -

http://www.pnhp.org/news/2014/january/more-than-7100-deaths-likely-from-states-rejection-of-medicaid-expansion-%C2%A0health-a

You can talk about strengthening ACA, but doing so with the intent of absolving these assholes from simply making the right decision is ridiculous.

Republicans have no logical reason for refusing to expand Medicaid.

Look at Florida, where Medicaid is expanding because of the woodwork effect.

Medicaid enrollment rises 8 percent in Florida

By KELLI KENNEDY

MIAMI -- Florida's Republican lawmakers remain staunchly opposed to expanding Medicaid — a system they've repeatedly said is too expensive and doesn't improve health outcomes. Yet Florida's Medicaid rolls are expanding under the Affordable Care Act.

That's because people trying to sign up for health insurance under Obama's new health law are finding out — to their surprise — that they qualify for Medicaid, the federal health insurance program for the poor.

Some 245,000 Floridians were added to the Medicaid rolls between October and the end of February. That's a more than 8 percent increase. The Sunshine State is one of ten states that accounted for more than 80 percent of the 3 million new Medicaid enrollees under the Affordable Care Act, according to Avalere Health, a market research and consulting firm. But Florida was the only state of the ten, which include California, Oregon and Washington, that didn't expand Medicaid.

Florida's newest enrollees include more than 51,000 children, according to health advocacy group Florida CHAIN.

- more -

http://www.governing.com/columns/potomac-chronicle/col-new-states-rights-movement.html

[ProSense]

41. This is posted at Daily Kos:

Sorry to hear about Opal's plight and it is a terrible shame that Texas did not expand Medicaid and that the SCOTUS threw out the part of the law that would've made it mandatory.

But I have a question: it appears that based on the facts you've given, Opal and her husband have a very low income. I gathered that from your suggestion that Opal might've qualified for Medicaid if Texas had expanded it, and the statement that Opal's husband made just enough to get help under the ACA, which would indicate he makes just above 133% of FPL ($15,521).

Yet if those facts are correct, Opal and her husband actually would've qualified for an enhanced silver plan that has a $500 deductible per individual that drugs aren't subject to, has no copay at all for generic medications, and a $50 copay for brand names. Also, the two lowest premiums could range from $6 to $28.

Again, assuming I have the facts right, Opal and her husband must've opted for the bronze plan with its $5000 deductible when they could've gotten a much better enhanced silver plan (which as I've detailed above has a $500 deductible with no drug deductible) for as low as $6 a month. Either they somehow didn't know about it or whoever signed them up screwed up in not advising them of this.

In helping folks sign up for Covered California, I've always made sure that middle-aged and/or chronically ill folks avoid the bronze plans, and if they're low income, made sure they're aware of the enhanced silver plans that are designed to have low or no deductibles, low copays, and low premiums to accommodate folks of low income. These plans are more generous in California than Texas, but Texas does still have them and, assuming I've got the facts right here, Opal was tragically not made aware of them as it might've saved her from this calamity.

Sorry again to hear about Opal. If you can, and if it applies, please advise her of the better options she may have available to her as I've tried to outline.

http://www.dailykos.com/comments/1291854/53146506#c22

[Tarheel_Dem]

71. Thanks for digging that up ProSense. Seems the o.p. vanished, and isn't taking questions. The.....

story sounds fishy, in more ways than one. Sounds like a bit of research on the part of the subscriber could have been of great benefit. That isn't to say that "Opal" wasn't given bad information by an underinformed navigator. But with the little we know about their financials, it sounds like the "enhanced silver plan" would've been a perfect fit (if the story's true).

[Number23]

84. Posted on two sites and didn't respond to comments/feedback in either. That is too weird

[ProfessorGAC]

132. Weird? Or Predictable?

Partisan grenade tossing, perhaps. But, certainly subject to quesion and scrutiny. Wonder if anybody involved actually knows Opal.

[ReverendDeuce]

44. I had similar results in Nebraska and was vociferously attacked for raising the point.

While I don't have near the problems that Opal has, my Blue Cross individual plan had a low $1500 deductible and $1500 maximum out of pocket with a 0% co-pay. Yes, you read that right. $145/mo for this plan.

Then the ACA came and forced Blue Cross to nix that plan because it did not cover maternity. The new plan was bronze and had a ridiculous $3750 deductible and $6700 (or so) out of pocket cap plus a 40% co-pay. And it cost $80 more per month!

Thankfully, enough people were pissed off that Obama extended the deadline to switch to an ACA plan by two years and Blue Cross let me keep my current plan.

We'll see what the ACA does to insurance premiums over the next two years. But overall, I am not thrilled with negative aspects of these new policies.

[Adrahil]

46. I don't think any of us are...

... thrilled with the negative aspects. But the fact is the law has helped MILLIONS. It needs to be improved and expanded, not trashed.

Also, if the only problem with the plan was it lacked maternity, who's fault is it that the price went up so hugely?

[Adrahil]

45. These kinds of articles piss me off.

I think very few of us here would argue that "everything is fine" with the ACA. Most of us would say it doensn't go far enough.

You wanna make a difference? Put this problem squarely at the feet of the people not only created, but continue to fight to preserve it" The Republicans.

What inadequacies the ACA has will not be fixed by repealing it, but, ya know, actually FIXING IT!

Who do you think is preventing that? Hint: It ain't the Democrats.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

53. It's some of them, in collusion with the Republicans.

The Medicaid expansion was gutted thanks to the Roberts court. Roberts, who was confirmed because 22 Democrats joined with Republicans in voting to confirm him.

And the ACA was passed with no Republican support. Which means that every flaw with it was voted in by Democrats. Many of which were put in supposedly to win Republicans over, and did no such thing. Further watering down and loopholes had to be put in to win DEMOCRATIC votes. Votes from Democrats like Max Baucus and Mary Landrieu and Blanche Lincoln. And that putrid excuse for a human being, Joe Lieberman, who continued to be rewarded by Democrats after he threw the party the finger when his own primary voters didn't want him, and had to get back in office thanks to Republican voters.

So yeah, some of the blood is on Democratic hands as well as Republican hands and Independent Joe's hands.

The hands of 'moderate', 'pragmatic' Democrats who placed what they saw as their chances for re-election above the lives of thousands of Americans.

[Doctor_J]

47. They blew an epic opportunity in 2009-2010, and the fan club has become too emotionally committed

to the president to admit it any more. "Medicare for all" would have completely obliterated the GOP for the foreseeable future. Now we are told that anyone who opposes the ACA is racist (one poster said that the opposition to it is due to an 'influx of white supremacists at DU' - not kidding), that it's not the Heritage plan (it is), and that it's "better than nothing" (it is, for some. others, like me, got hammered).

The Republican intransigence was of course a major problem, but not intractable. And it was played very poorly politically by Obama and Reid and Pelosi. In the intervening years we've seen them favor SS cuts, fracking, KXL, TPP, and school corporatization, so I don't think their cave-in to Big Insurance and PHARMA was really due entirely to Boner's caucus.

Just another game played by the real power brokers, using working people as the shock troops.

[ProSense]

51. Really?

They blew an epic opportunity in 2009-2010, and the fan club has become too emotionally committed to the president to admit it any more. "Medicare for all" would have completely obliterated the GOP for the foreseeable future. Now we are told that anyone who opposes the ACA is racist (one poster said that the opposition to it is due to an 'influx of white supremacists at DU' - not kidding), that it's not the Heritage plan (it is), and that it's "better than nothing" (it is, for some. others, like me, got hammered).

Medicare itself needs to be expanded. The drug plans and additional coverage are currently offered by private insurance.

Decoding The High-Stakes Debate Over Medicare Advantage Cuts
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024790479

[jeff47]

61. Your fantasies do not an opportunity make.

Sanders has repeatedly said there was only about 10 votes in the Senate for "Medicare for all". Losing 10-90 doesn't "obliterate the GOP for the foreseeable future".

Massive effort by Obama and the Democratic leadership? Now we lose 35-65.

Absurdly massive effort, well beyond reality? Now you get blocked by Lieberman. Kill the filibuster? That goes down 20-80 at that time.

it's "better than nothing" (it is, for some. others, like me, got hammered).

Traditional Medicare does not have an out-of-pocket cap. As a result, plenty of people get hammered by it - 20% of insanely unaffordable is still extremely unaffordable.

The ACA is the chink in the armor that we will exploit to get single-payer. We're going to get blue states, then purple states, then return to the national battle. Also known as how Canada got the job done.

[Skinner]

48. This has nothing to do with "circling the wagons around the ACA"

It's just divisive and wrong to point the finger at ACA defenders and try to claim that they are defending this. The ACA, in the form it was passed and signed by the president, would have addressed Opal's situation by expanding Medicaid.

But Medicaid was has not been expanded in Texas. There are two groups of people responsible for this:

1) The conservative members of the US Supreme Court, who ruled that the federal government could not require states to expand Medicaid.

2) Republicans in Texas, including Rick Perry, who oppose expanding Medicaid in Texas.

Place the blame squarely where it belongs. The ACA in its original form would have addressed Opal's situation.

[stevenleser]

55. Well put, but a shame this even needs to be said.

As MADem wrote above, dealing with arguments from folks blaming Obama for Rick Perry being an asshole is something we shouldn't have to waste time with here.

[MADem]

56. Bingo. nt

[Tarheel_Dem]

64. THANK! YOU! Seems the o.p. dropped this on us, and ran for the exits? Hasn't responded once.

[MADem]

76. I don't think there's any real response to our objections to this turd of a tale.

As I said, I think "Opal" lives next door to "Harry and Louise."

[Tarheel_Dem]

81. Surely, no one would waste their time & ours, making this shit up, right?????!!!

Gotta give to the o.p., at least they went to the trouble of protecting "Opal's" identity. Of course, that means the story can be neither confirmed, nor refuted, if you catch my drift.

[MADem]

82. Indeed...

I don't think the problem is that people are "circling the wagons," I think this Harry and Louise-type effort, putting forward a tale that cannot be verified unless and until "Opal" comes forward and tells her tale, is "circling the drain" (or the "pan" as they say in UK).

It's just not believable.

[Tarheel_Dem]

83. It stretches credulity, and after I read ProSense's response, I knew this story was pure unadultered

bunk. I, frankly, think the poster should have his/her priveleges suspended for not even attempting to discuss this hit & run hot mess of an o.p.

[SunSeeker]

136. +1

[Corruption Inc]

77. How about the bigger situation which has always been health care for all?

Which would have avoided it too.

[Doctor_J]

78. Still 30 million without in 2024

so HC for all will be some time after everyone at DU is long dead.

[Cha]

124. Yeah, well President Obama didn't have a magic wand.. so sad for all of us.

[kelliekat44]

96. Thank you Skinner! SCOTUS is the source of most of opur problems today. Why 2014 elections

are so damn important!!

[Blue Diadem]

110. I think the OP was referring to people who don't believe or even want to discuss these stories.

There are some on this very thread who are saying the OP made it up. They circle the wagon around the ACA to keep any perceived negative comments out, instead of looking at it as yes, these things can and do happen and we need to fix it.

[Cha]

120. Thank you, Skinner.

[wordpix]

59. so it's the ACA's/Dems' fault? No, it's Rick Perry's and the GOP's fault

I have been deeply involved with the ACA as a cancer patient needing ACA insurance for my pre-existing condition. Without the ACA, I would have NO insurance. And luckily, the Dem gov in my state did agree to Medicaid expansion ---especially helpful to those who can't work due to medical problems.

[Walk away]

62. I don't understand why they didn't choose a Silver Plan.

If they are so financially challenged they would probably pay much less and have a much smaller deductible if any at all. Has anyone done any research on this for Opal or are they just putting out long rants about how a Bronze Plan (that is for young people with no health problems) isn't helping her.

I have a good friend here in NJ who discovered that the Silver plan she finally signed up for had negligible deductable and a $500 OOP for the year. The Bronze plan would have been much higher. Her premium is under $100 a month.

Everything isn't perfect but when you post this stuff can you please try to do a little research first and make sure what you are saying makes sense? You don't have to "keep your mouth shut" but maybe look into the matter a little more thoroughly.


If this is "circling the wagons" then I guess I am.

[Rex]

72. A hit and run post about the ACA, doesn't surprise me none.

OF COURSE you know it is Rick Perry's fault and other republican governors that withhold help to their state. So therefore it is hard to believe anything you wrote.

Sorry, but a hit and run post always leaves me skeptical.

[SunSeeker]

93. +1

[nomorenomore08]

80. The ACA is not enough. Better than doing nothing, but still insufficient.

Whatever it takes to get us closer to single payer, I'm all for.

[scheming daemons]

108. 73 people recced this thread without realizing it was a hit-and-run post

....

the OP posted it at two sites, and hasn't responded to a single reply at either site.


This is a propaganda post. An anti-Democratic propaganda post.

[SunSeeker]

112. Yup. How does that saying go? "You can fool some of the people all of the time...."

[Cha]

119. That's a drop in the bucket of the ignorance permeating around here.

[tridim]

127. I looked at the rec list, turns out I didn't have to. All the usual suspects are there.

This anti-Democratic trolling on ~~DEMOCRATIC~~ Underground is reaching a critical mass.

Something must be done IMO, but I don't own the site. DU didn't used to be this way.

[BlueCheese]

141. The OP has 13,000+ posts.

Doesn't seem like the record of someone who is anti-Democratic, unless he or she has a reputation that I'm not aware of.