By Jay Floyd
Since there’s not a ‘none of the above’ choice on the ballot this year, there’s nobody for me to vote for. I don’t know exactly how I’m going to choose to express this on election day, and probably won’t until I’m in the booth. Please, dear God, let it not involve a large, inflammatory sign or costume. For fifteen minutes last week, though, I saw for the first time ever a way that I could vote for Obama. Here’s what happened.
I recently applied for health insurance through Kaiser here in Los Angeles — not a ‘fancy’ outfit, but a serviceable one that will at least reattach anything you may have chopped off without sending you to the poor house. My application was denied because I told the truth. I was informed by friends later that I was supposed to lie about my pre-existing conditions like mild hypertension, a history of smoking and having spent many years as a devout Democrat.
I’ve bristled at ‘Obamacare’ since its inception because of its obvious ties to the insurance industry and, because I’m an idealist, I wanted socialized medicine for everybody. So I didn’t like Obamacare one little bit, even though I’d never read it. I’ve seen how massive the legislation is and the idea of reading the whole thing makes me alternately homi and sui cidal. But I have ingested chunks of it, and there are certainly chunks of it that I like. A lot. I like that I’ll be able to get decent insurance no matter what. (To reiterate, I said ‘decent’ insurance. Sham insurance is unacceptable to me — I’d rather remain a cash patient.) I like that people’s kids can stay on their family policies longer. I like that caps on care will be adjusted. There’s a lot to like. I don’t want the whole thing chucked since I think it’s better than what we have now.
Romney’s promise to overturn Obamacare ‘on his first day in office’ bothers me. And, being in the market for something, ANYTHING to hang my hat on in this election, I thought, “I may vote for Obama.”
Oh, how ashamed I felt. My ego went into overdrive. After all the fighting I’ve done about what a scandalously corrupt President Obama has been, how could I handle voting for him? There’s hypocrisy… and then there’s schizophrenia. Am I really a ‘one issue’ voter? No, I’m not. Or at least, I didn’t think I was. But everything is upside down for this extremely hesitant independent. I don’t know my way around this place. I’m used to having a team and I liked having a team, but it fortified a kind of political blindness that, once uncovered, can’t really be returned to. So I did the only thing I could think to do. I called a friend. I confessed.
The concept had its moment, but left me. I’m back to not knowing what I’m going to do while trying to be okay with my own ambivalence — which is only better than the alternative because I can explain it.
It may not actually be better at all.
It is tempting to acquiesce to the obamanation if one is in need of an inguinal hernia repair or any other pre-existing devastation. Yes, there are aspects of obamacare that may alleviate some of the anxiety and limited options that many of us pre-Medicare, post-decent jobanites may have. It is an incomplete yet amazingly complex piece of legislation that is producing temporary job security for many well-meaning administrative bureaucrats. The medical loss ratio, which determines the proportion of actual services vs. overhead, could have been even more patient friendly without the immense complexity of obamacare, ironically. There could have, should have been better options. We were ripe for them. Obama didn’t give a crap. Now we are between a rock and a hard place. I don’t think it is necessary to vote for obama to keep these minimal inroads to medical access. I think the genie is out of the bottle. Not to mention that obamacare favors the Fortune 500 by subsidizing the top tier. It isn’t going to disappear.
About those caps…..
ObamaCare’s Hidden Medicare Advantage Cuts
http://oversight.house.gov/obamacare_hidden_medicare_advantage_cuts/
I’ve been doing an awful lot of advocacy for seniors and PWA (all on Medicare). The cuts are shameful: Life sustaining medications denied payment because they cost too much, as well as lab work, etc for the same reason. All within the confines of the (this) law.
Romney said he’d reform Obamacare. Its easier and more expedient to do that as a sitting President than it is to repeal it and start from scratch.
As someone who read each and every of the 2400 plus pages, I urge you to please read it again. I think your opinion might change once you do.
My hairdresser is losing her health insurance November 1st. She has handicapped twin teenagers. She has worked in the salon of a large retailer for 14 years. Even though she has the largest client list, has worked an average of 45 hours a week for over a decade, her schedule will be cut to 24 hours per week starting in November. She started working at this salon as a newly divorced 19 year old and never went on any kind of public assistance. The entire staff, not just the salon staff, of this large store were in an uproar. She was in tears, the staff were fuming, and the manager was acting helpless. She and her children are too expensive to insure so on the public dime they go. This is what Obama Care does.
Jay, I feel ya. Ever since Obama made that ridiculous “the future must not belong to those who slander the prophet*” statement and I realized I would probably have to vote for Romney instead of Stein, I’ve been in a funk. This election is quite the devil’s bargain.
As for Obamacare, my husband’s health care FSA has been slashed in half. (I can’t even begin to understand why since it’s our own money.) And my daughter just found out that her health insurance has been trashed. Her employer now only offers one high-deductible health insurance which she has to purchase or else be “taxed” for not buying it. She will, for all intents, have to stop going to the doctor.
I haven’t read the legislation, but the general mood seems to be that 1) a lot of people are losing health care access and 2) doctors hate it. Our internist told my husband to get the tests he ordered done now, while he still can.
*Perhaps Obama said profit, not prophet. That would certainly make more sense.
“Perhaps Obama said profit, not prophet. ”
LMAO.
1) We know obama is Chicago mafioso and a corporate whore, who ever does the bidding of the plutocracy;
2) We know the insurance industry are a gang of soulless, greedy fucks, with no compunction about getting rich while letting ordinary people suffer and die;
3) obama and the insurance lobby were left alone in a room for several days. When they came out; they’d written obamacare.
Y’all form your own conclusions.
Medicare is now paying hcp’s $3.00 per patient for each office visit. The dr.’s can’t even pay their phone bill with that kind of income..Maybe taking billions from Medicare to fund O care wasn’t such a hot idea after all.
Jay, call your county and state health depts.’ and see what they may have to offer, providing you can stop being so damn truthful.
Another thought, are you a member of any guild or professional group? If not, can you establish yourself as a small business owner, and join your local Chamber of Commerce ? This can be as simple as printing off some business cards and applying for a business license from your local gov’t. Various chambers are offering group insurance for members. Check it out first, before bothering with the license.
If all else fails, and you feel really sick, go to the E.R., pretend you don’t speak English, take no I.D. with you, and a nice social worker may sign you up for Medicaid on the spot.{only partially snarky}
That could work if you go to a state or county (public) hospital. Just make certain whatever hospital has no connection to Michelle Obama.
Many people still don’t understand all the hidden horrors in Obamacare because they haven’t really hit us yet, but I can assure you that it is atrocious and people are going to die.
Seniors on medicare are just now starting to suffer, as Anthony posted above. People are also not allowed to go to a hospital to be treated for the same problem in the same month. Hospitals are all trying to implement this rule in various ways, but basically it demands that you cure or fix a person so they don’t come back for the same problem, or you will not get paid. The thing is, somebody who is elderly and has a history of diabetes, strokes, is not curable or fixable and might require another visit. But if you’ve already seen them for that problem, you will not be paid to see them a second time. Hospitals are now required to completely serve bureaucracy and Obamacare rules, not patients. It’s only a matter of time before somebody having another stroke is turned away because they’ve already received care for a stroke. People who are chronically ill and on medicaid in my state are also trapped in this rule.
Not only seniors, but PWA (people with AIDS) specifically, and any other people who have a chronic illness (diabetes, cancer, to name a couple more) that requires regularly scheduled lab work or medication.
Another area that has been cut is physical therapy. Hospitals used to be able to provide it as long as your physician thought it necessary. Now, it is being capped about half way through. A specific example is someone I’ve been advocating for who had broken their leg. They live in a duplex townhouse with 14 steps from one level to the next. Their physical therapy was capped after they were able to go up to four steps. If they wished to recover completely, they were advised that under the already implemented cuts, they had to pay 100% out of pocket.
I know Jay is not a stupid man. I’m sure of it. But Obamacare is so convoluted that even intelligent people can be fooled into thinking its something wonderful.
As Nancy (“I’m NOT dead – its just the lighting”) Pelosi said “You’ll know what’s in it once its passed”. Well, its been passed and now we’re finding out whats in it. It stinks.
Nancy Pelosi seems to be that terrible combination of clueless and ruthless. Harry Reid is just plain ruthless. How can any good fruit come from such a poisoned tree ?
Have personal experience with cancer treatment. Under obamacare, physicians must follow ‘the protocol’ even when said treatment isn’t working / effective. New treatment options aren’t discussed or offered although there are doctors (you have to find them) who are quite knowledgable and will prescribe said treatment.
Another wonderfulness from the new health ‘care’ law is the DNR (do not resuscitate) order which hospital social workers and doctors nurses are pressing hard for patients to sign.
Also, “End of Life Counseling” is offered as an alternative to those whose meds/services have been deemed ‘no longer compensable under the terms of your current policy’
Tell you what, if I ever hear that Obamacare is making a bulk purchase of any kind of ovens, I’m jumping ship. New Zealand, here I come!
Citation, please, Anthony.
Tamerlane, this is what the people I’m advocating for have heard from their physicians. I’m sure you can find it buried somewhere in the ACA, so if you have the time you can read it.
I’m sorry to learn that so many of your friends are nearing the end of terminal diseases. If that phrasing, which you provide here in single quotes, is to be produced in print, it would be devastating, and surely bolster your advocacy of these people.
They’re not so much friends as people who have applied for advocacy at a place I volunteer for. Its heartbreaking.
Unfortunately, there is no (or little) case to be made. This is not a compliance issue. The insurance companies are acting 100% within the parameters of the healthcare law, and there’s really no legal ground to stand on. Meds and services are not being refused; payment is. The medications and services are available if you can afford to pay for them.
These are people who have either worked all their lives or have been deemed permanently disabled because of a catastrophic illness. They’ve been receiving care for years in some cases, and nothing has changed except the law. I’ve also been trying my best to find charitable organizations willing to offer them (temporary) help with meds, etc. until they can get this sorted out, but with some drug cocktails costing upwards of $15K per month, it looks pretty bleak.
To make matters worse, there are more cuts scheduled for – guess? – Nov. 7th (the day after the fraud might be re-elected)
http://oversight.house.gov/release/video-obamacares-hidden-medicare-advantage-cuts/
It’s what is left unsaid. Though Obamacare says you can not be denied coverage for a pre-existing condition, I did not see anywhere that the coverage offered to you has a cost cap. Sure, here’s a policy covering your pre-existing condition and it will only cost you $4500 a month. See , the Insurance company offered you coverage, it’s your fault if you can not afford it.
That’s the sleazy loophole that allows them to get away with it. There is a panel of 15 people who have nothing to do with medicine (and everything to do with finance) who set the guidelines for the insurance companies.
See: “The Independent Payment Advisory Board”
http://www.kff.org/medicare/upload/8150.pdf
If you don’t like that link, then search the title and see what else you can find. All of them say pretty much the same thing.
Obamacare should have been called “No Insurance Company Left Behind”
One of the big problems with ROmneycare is that many people can’t afford the plans. SO they pay the penalty and still don’t have insurance.
tamerlane, Romneycare was passed in MA and is a state program that was implemented through a bi-partisan effort.
I seriously doubt that Romney is unaware of the differences between a Federal v State program. He said that he would reform Obamacare, not scrap it and implement Romneycare
Both programs compel people to purchase insurance from private entities. While the Romneycare law states that affordable policies must be provided for each bracket, that is not the case in reality.
So long as profit is the motive for providing healthcare, the healthcare industry will provide profit, not health.
Jay it appears you should be relieved, the election is over and a winner announced….At least in AZ and OH. No need to worry about who your are voting for.
http://dailycaller.com/2012/10/21/cbs-news-affiliate-calls-2012-presidential-race-for-barack-obama-weeks-ahead-of-election/#ixzz29zidtm00
That is sooooo weird DE. Has the TV station offered any explanation?
NES, they’ve not returned calls.
1) obamacare is NOT healthcare , it’s access to private insurance;
2) Had you lied about your pre-existing conditions, the insurance companies would have found out, and gladly denied you coverage when you filed a claim. They are masters at denying coverage on the slightest technicality. Watch Frontline’s Sick in America for details;
3) At our age, practically everything is a pre-existing condition;
4) We were promised sweeping healthcare reform.. obamacare was written by the insurance lobby as a trojan horse to prevent reform;
5) Despite what those douchebags on the SC think, the mandate is unconstitutional — a violation of the Commerce Clause, and a granting of plenary police power to the federal govt.. By allowing, for the first time in our history,the govt to compel us to engage in private commerce, obamacare has paved the path to a totalitarian state;
6) If healthcare is your ‘single issue’, then vote for a candidate who proposes universal healthcare for everyone. Your options are Rocky Anderson or Jill Stein.
Well stated, Tam.
And, FTR, Romney has been clear he wants to repeal Obamacare.
Has anyone in the Democrat Party given an explanation why, after making the passage of obamacare their top priority first thing in obama’s term, they scheduled most of its provisions to kick in five years down the road?
Never forget that the primary goal for Health insurance companies is not your health or the stability of our healthcare system… No, their first priority now and will always be PROFITS.
“It’s what is left unsaid. Though Obamacare says you can not be denied coverage for a pre-existing condition, I did not see anywhere that the coverage offered to you has a cost cap. ”
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The “cap” was said to be up to 300% of base coverage, ie. unaffordable.
We should also not forget that those who can’t afford O care, will be issued ‘subsidies’ so they can pay for it.. Eventually, all our citizens are going to have to follow the protocol established by the families of Alzheimer’s patients, we are going to have to be bankrupt, at least on paper, so we can get our subsidy. Alzheimer victims’ families have been known to hire lawyers to hide and protect assets. Imo, this was always about getting free healthcare to O’s ‘base’, Moo said as much, in one of her many tedious speeches. If only we could all morph into gangbangers anchor babies, and teen moms, since that is who this was designed to cover.
“As someone who read each and every of the 2400 plus pages, I urge you to please read it again. I think your opinion might change once you do.”
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I read the bill. It is like reading a foreign language with about 1/2 the content in English. No one knows what the law means,; if for no other reason than the thousands of pages of rules and regulations are not completed.
The only people who know the intent of Obamacare are the lobbyists and revolving door staffers who wrote their respective sections and they don’t have the big picture. Without a complete knowledge of the legislative history and SS law, reading the current law is a waste of time. It’s: “In SS law 1975, section V, subsection d, line 168, change “and” to “or”. What the hell does that mean???
Surely lots of back doors and exemptions were written in by insurance lobby lawyers, so they’ll get all the new clients without actually having to pay out any benefits.
In olden times, the tribe would have thrown such conniving bastards into a bog.
“We should also not forget that those who can’t afford O care, will be issued ‘subsidies’ so they can pay for it.”
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I ran the “numbers” before premiums increased 30% or more and even with 1/2 paid by the Feds, it’s still unaffordable and that’s for the basic (Bronze?) coverage, which, IIRC, pays 60% of charges. It’s junk insurance at an unaffordable price. The consistent beneficiaries are insurance co., pharma, hospitals, etc. Losers are patients, families and doctors.
Something else to keep in mind about all the new people they’re putting on medicaid, states practice medicaid recapture, so once you’re on medicaid, the state is allowed to pay themselves back from the sale of your assets or any future earnings you might have.
The elderly have been dealing with this for a while now, if they’re on medicaid, when they pass away, go into a nursing home, or try to sell their home, the state is entitled to take
their assets to pay back your medicaid. If you’re poor and live in an apartment, this won’t impact you too much, but Obamacare expands medicaid to working class people who may own a home or other assets that they aren’t aware will now have a lien against them.
What you talkin bout, Willis?
Anonymous is correct. I have seen nothing that would preclude the expansion of medicaid to do this. Initially, PPACA had a provision for long term care insurance. That provision was one of the first to go by the wayside, as too expensive. That provision may have saved those medicaid beneficiaries from losing their ability to leave meager assets to their progeny.
I tried to wade through whatever language O care is written in, and came away with the conclusion that it is a Federal expansion of Medicaid,. Having worked in that program, I can attest it is enough of a nightmare for the states, involve the Feds and all that will change is that administrative costs will go out of control.
Thank you all for your informative comments. It is just as I thought in reading some of the provisions: a nightmare. I hope it is repealed and not reworked.