ObamaCare and What It Means To You

[IceHogsFan]

There are many parts of this bill that the general public are unaware of. For example, one of the reasons for the bill was to get 36 million uninsured to have coverage. This was accomplished by significantly raising the eligibility for Medicaid. Many who are not insured currently are now going to qualify under Medicaid. Medicare while funded with federal tax dollars is different then Medicaid which is federal AND state taxpayer dollars. Illinois can not meet its financial obligations currently and Obamacare is forcing the state to pay even more. This is a good article recapping this area of the bill and the debt Illinois alreay has with Medicaid and their inability to meet current obligations.





SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Pat Quinn has a dilemma. The state constitution requires him to balance his budget. The governor figures he can find $2.7 billion in savings through cuts to the state’s Medicaid program. The costs of failure are huge, and few think the governor will succeed.



Even those cuts would simply hold Medicaid spending flat and wouldn’t begin to address the $2 billion the state owes in overdue Medicaid bills.



Once upon a time, Wilson told the Senate, states saved cash quickly by simply raising eligibility requirements to kick people off Medicaid. That would work in Illinois, where the number of people receiving Medicaid has nearly doubled in a decade, from 1.5 million people in 2003 to 2.9 million.



There’s at least one problem with that solution: The national health care act prohibits states from making any changes to eligibility until 2014, except in limited cases approved by the feds.



“There’s a lot of restrictions being put on by the feds in terms of the flexibility states have, so there’s only certain things we can look at, and that makes it more challenging.”



http://www.rrstar.co...ts?zc_p=0&img=2

 

[Rex]

anyone who thinks Obamacare is a good idea, tell them to look at Ontario's deficit.



Sure, it works in Alberta, but Alberta is oil rich, they can do whatever the **** they want. Shit, Alberta is paying half of everything for Quebec and Ontario!

 

[Bringmepie]

There are many parts of this bill that the general public are unaware of. For example, one of the reasons for the bill was to get 36 million uninsured to have coverage. This was accomplished by significantly raising the eligibility for Medicaid. Many who are not insured currently are now going to qualify under Medicaid. Medicare while funded with federal tax dollars is different then Medicaid which is federal AND state taxpayer dollars. Illinois can not meet its financial obligations currently and Obamacare is forcing the state to pay even more. This is a good article recapping this area of the bill and the debt Illinois alreay has with Medicaid and their inability to meet current obligations. SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Pat Quinn has a dilemma. The state constitution requires him to balance his budget. The governor figures he can find $2.7 billion in savings through cuts to the state’s Medicaid program. The costs of failure are huge, and few think the governor will succeed. Even those cuts would simply hold Medicaid spending flat and wouldn’t begin to address the $2 billion the state owes in overdue Medicaid bills. Once upon a time, Wilson told the Senate, states saved cash quickly by simply raising eligibility requirements to kick people off Medicaid. That would work in Illinois, where the number of people receiving Medicaid has nearly doubled in a decade, from 1.5 million people in 2003 to 2.9 million. There’s at least one problem with that solution: The national health care act prohibits states from making any changes to eligibility until 2014, except in limited cases approved by the feds. “There’s a lot of restrictions being put on by the feds in terms of the flexibility states have, so there’s only certain things we can look at, and that makes it more challenging.” http://www.rrstar.co...ts?zc_p=0&img=2

So what does this mean to you, besides giving you maybe one less reason to hold Quinn accountable for the state's budget mess?

 

[IceHogsFan]

So what does this mean to you, besides giving you maybe one less reason to hold Quinn accountable for the state's budget mess?

It means more taxes in Illinois and on a federal level as well. The bill is a devastating disaster to both budgets. The reason why I post it and reference our state is because very few realize the financial implosion this will cause our state in addition to the mess we are already in.



If you read the article the expansion of those covered by Medicaid and the insurance exchanges are being run by HHS on a federal level but with mandates to the states. Which is another whole discussion of itself.

 

[Tater]

It means more taxes in Illinois and on a federal level as well. The bill is a devastating disaster to both budgets. The reason why I post it and reference our state is because very few realize the financial implosion this will cause our state in addition to the mess we are already in.



If you read the article the expansion of those covered by Medicaid and the insurance exchanges are being run by HHS on a federal level but with mandates to the states. Which is another whole discussion of itself.

This is why they haven't passed a budget in around 1060 days. Anything to cover up the mess.

 

[IceHogsFan]

Today the SC begins hearing arguments on the PPACA.



While recent CBO estimates have come in that the cost is nearly double what the initial estimates where. Going from $900 Billion to $1.7 Trillion.

Keep in mind that is the first decade which includes the first four years of the bill being enacted where only taxes are collected with a majority of changes not beginning until 2014.

 

[supraman]

Ah who cares, we're all fucked. The species is going to kill itself over the 100th season American Idol winner





http://www.npr.org/2012/03/26/149379355/easter-egg-hunt-canceled-due-to-aggressive-parents?ps=cprs

 

[Bringmepie]

Okay, for me personally, because I am in relatively good health, Obamacare has meant higher medical costs for me in the form of increased taxes and an increased employee share of my medical coverage although I really don't know the exact dollar break down. It also means that certain cousins of mine in Texas are able to post Facebook updates on the progress that their children are making do in part to Obamacare because they wouldn't otherwise be able to afford treatment (when they aren't otherwise bashing Obama for everything else under the sun).



My cousin's youngest, Hunter, was born with cerebral palsy and a host of other medical problems after they were forced into a c-section at about five months of pregnancy when my cousin developed toxemia (abortion was an option, just not for my cousin and her husband). If you squint he's the little feller being held up in the photo's below.



My other cousin's daughter Elizabeth was adopted. Her birth mother was a junkie, I'm not sure whether the birth mother's addiction caused her birth problems but that's kind of a side issue anyway.

Hi, question here. You said that Hunter now has health care coverage under Obamacare. Is that working well for you? I'm asking because someone on a hockey message board wanted to know what Obama means for people personally and you're the family I know that's been most affected.​

Today​

​

For us, our family was uninsurable because of Hunter with his pre-existing conditions. We couldn't insure Murray with a private health care provider because he is a smoker and the rates were too high. So we went without insurance for four years. Now Murray's company has health care and both Murray and Hunter did not disqualify us. Also Erick can be insured as a college student until he is 26 years old. That is good because he wants to get his Masters right after his 4 year degree.



Therefore, we benefited from Obamacare.​

​

Does Murray's employer's health care cover them both regardless of Obamacare?​

​

They would have put uninsurable dates on Hunter for sure and a shorter date on Murray (Not sure about Murray) As for Erick I think the age was 22 or 24 before. With Hunter's high bills (one hour of therapy is $500 and he gets 6 hour per week) Plus his pituitary gland issues ($30,000 a year in meds) and the list goes on... No one wants to take on his needed medical expenses let alone the ones that are unexpected. I am just thankful Hunter is healthy. Randy and Robin's daughter, Elizabeth is much sicker than Hunter even though she has less therapeutic needs.​

Chat Conversation End

 

[BigPete]

That is the single biggest victory to come out of "Obamacare", that insurance companies can no longer deny someone because of pre-existing conditions.

 

[IceHogsFan]

Bringmepie, first off I think the world of people like your family who sacrifice so much in order to make another's life worthwhile and meaningful. Please thank them for that and I mean that sincerely.



Now, I am going to point out some false opinions in those statements. First off, the waiver of pre-existing conditions for individual health insurance does not kick in under the PPACA until 2014 except for children. Second, they received benefits under a group health plan (husbands employer) without being denied because that is what happens under group health insurance and it has nothing to do with the PPACA. Applying for group coverage versus individually are vastly different.



The last item mentioned is the only item that has anything to do with the bill and that is being able to cover your children up to the age of 26. Previous to the bill you could only keep your children on the plan up to the age of 21 unless they were in college full time.

 

[Bringmepie]

That is the single biggest victory to come out of "Obamacare", that insurance companies can no longer deny someone because of pre-existing conditions.

Yeah, it's easy to complain about the cost, if you're in an otherwise healthy group. Because if you are, your costs go up but, if you're in an unhealthy, needy group it goes down. That's the shared costs of group insurance. Uninsured in a healthy group, easy not to pay, and if the government has a required mandate that's bad.. unless you get sick, M.S., cancer, etc. while you're uninsured, then it's good, or you go to an E.R. for treatment because that's the only way to get a doctor to look at you, which is bad because E.R. treatment is by nature more expensive than getting up front preventative care.



Ah, the good old days when if a child born with defects got sick you just didn't try to hard to save them.

 

[Bringmepie]

Bringmepie, first off I think the world of people like your family who sacrifice so much in order to make another's life worthwhile and meaningful. Please thank them for that and I mean that sincerely.



Now, I am going to point out some false opinions in those statements. First off, the waiver of pre-existing conditions for individual health insurance does not kick in under the PPACA until 2014 except for children. Second, they received benefits under a group health plan (husbands employer) without being denied because that is what happens under group health insurance and it has nothing to do with the PPACA. Applying for group coverage versus individually are vastly different.



The last item mentioned is the only item that has anything to do with the bill and that is being able to cover your children up to the age of 26. Previous to the bill you could only keep your children on the plan up to the age of 21 unless they were in college full time.

Yeah, for a while my cousin was unemployed, he worked in the mortgage industry and when that job when bust along with the economic meltdown they were uninsured for a while. My cousin knows a whole lot more about the situation than she can explain in a three minute FB messaging but I could tell that was about all I was going to get.



Also, just to set the record straight, it's not just my cousins and their own family that do this on their own. Hunter has his own charity where they make crafts and sell them, other people sometimes feel much better about buying a crafts item from him that they really don't need to support his medical expenses rather than just giving a handout. My aunt made them a quilt that went for quite a lot more than it's real value at a charity auction, for example. It funded a good amount of the expense they needed for a stem cell treatment (I don't know the particulars of that either but it fit their own personal ethics as far as stem cell research and treatment was concerned) they had to go to China for since it wasn't available in the U.S.

 

[IceHogsFan]

Yeah, for a while my cousin was unemployed, he worked in the mortgage industry and when that job when bust along with the economic meltdown they were uninsured for a while. My cousin knows a whole lot more about the situation than she can explain in a three minute FB messaging but I could tell that was about all I was going to get.



Also, just to set the record straight, it's not just my cousins and their own family that do this on their own. Hunter has his own charity where they make crafts and sell them, other people sometimes feel much better about buying a crafts item from him that they really don't need to support his medical expenses rather than just giving a handout. My aunt made them a quilt that went for quite a lot more than it's real value at a charity auction, for example. It funded a good amount of the expense they needed for a stem cell treatment (I don't know the particulars of that either but it fit their own personal ethics as far as stem cell research and treatment was concerned) they had to go to China for since it wasn't available in the U.S.

I am a big believer in charity work, donation of personal time and thinking of others besides ones self. It is something I value when looking at my friends and it is probably the reason why I get offended easily in those who's misfortunes are not that dire like your family and yet feel entitled to everything. The charity work of those who are compassionate and care will always provide a better service then a government who thinks they can do it.

 

[Bringmepie]

Well, in the case of Hunter's charity, they do the work, and other people are kind enough to buy his stuff which helps pay for his therapy.



By the way, not that anyone could tell but in that tiny thumbprint photo from Facebook, that's the Yellow Sea and the city of Quingdao, China behind them where Hunter had his stem cell therapy last summer since it's too much of a political hot potato for it to be available in the U.S.

 

[winos5]

I'm paying more out of pocket.



I work for a county hospital. They recently stopped their government pension and are now offering the non-prifit version of a 401K. Other county/city (Sheriff's Department, County court House Staff, water, roads, parks ect...) employees recently lost their health insurance plans, but were given a raise to help them cover paying it out of pocket. I fear the county hospital will do the same.



I worry that if I am forced to enroll in the goverment offered plan and pay myself some of my current treatments for RA won't be covered.



I have a whole list of concerns about my profession under Obamacare.

 

[IceHogsFan]

I'm paying more out of pocket.



I work for a county hospital. They recently stopped their government pension and are no offering the non-prifit version of a 401K. Other county/city (Sheriff's Department, County court House Staff, water, roads, parks ect...employees recently lost their health insurance plans, but were given a raise to help them coverr paying it out of pocket. I fear the county hospital will do the same.



I worry that if I am forced to enroll in the goverment offered plan and pay myself some of my current treatments for RA won't be covered.



I have a whole list of concerns about my profession under Obamacare.

But you can keep your insurance, your doctors..........

 

[supraman]

That is the single biggest victory to come out of "Obamacare", that insurance companies can no longer deny someone because of pre-existing conditions.

I do want to point out pre-existing conditions do break the definition of insurance.

 

[jaxhawksfan]

Guess Cheney got his new heart out of the way because Obamacare wouldn't allow an "old man" with only a few years left to get one.

 

[mikita's helmet]

Guess Cheney got his new heart out of the way because Obamacare wouldn't allow an "old man" with only a few years left to get one.

They already had a special death panel set up for Cheney.

 

[IceHogsFan]

Guess Cheney got his new heart out of the way because Obamacare wouldn't allow an "old man" with only a few years left to get one.

Any of you been seeing CNN with their discussion of the heart transplant with tag lines on the screen reading "Is he too old?" "Other more deserving"?