Obamacare Starts today in new Jersey

[sgreger1]

A part of Obamacare is beginning today in New Jersey. A program to insure those who were previousely denied due to pre-existing conditions was launched this morning.

Now for some trivia:

"Guess how many people in New Jersey signed up for Obamacare coverage that starts today? A) 1 million B) 500K C) 100K or D) 2"


The answer is D. Only 2 people have signed up so far. As we all know, the healthcare reform bill will force everyone, including those with pre-existing conditions, to purchase healthcare. New Jersey begins offering them coverage today.

Two policies are available, with premiums ranging from $212 to $768 monthly (per person), depending on age.

So you can see why some seniors aren't rushing in droves to sign up for $700 a month medical coverage.




People are going to be pissed when 2014 rolls around and instead of free healthc are they are just forced to pay a bill for several hundred dollars each month.

[Ragnar]

This is partially related.

Anthem Blue Cross in California has been approved by a California regulatory committee to make 20% rate increase.
Source: http://www.latimes.com/health/la-fi-...wed+Stories%29

Insurance companies will be forced to raise rates soon. Not just in California, but everywhere. This is a basic supply and demand issue that has been getting worse for years -- and ObamaCare is accelerating the problem. If insurance companies are required to insure people with "pre-existing conditions" it means the healthy middle-class (who fund the frequently ill) have to pay more to be insured (to pay the medical bills of those with pre-existing conditions). On top of that, the prospect of requiring everyone to get insurance is just a financial black-hole. In order to "fix" some problems with health insurance, we've created many more, and those of us who employ/insure people will be pulling the weight.

I had a lot more to say and more specifics, but it's really pissing me off.

[sgreger1]

This is partially related.

Anthem Blue Cross in California has been approved by a California regulatory committee to make 20% rate increase.
Source: http://www.latimes.com/health/la-fi-...wed+Stories%29

Insurance companies will be forced to raise rates soon. Not just in California, but everywhere. This is a basic supply and demand issue that has been getting worse for years -- and ObamaCare is accelerating the problem. If insurance companies are required to insure people with "pre-existing conditions" it means the healthy middle-class (who fund the frequently ill) have to pay more to be insured (to pay the medical bills of those with pre-existing conditions). On top of that, the prospect of requiring everyone to get insurance is just a financial black-hole. In order to "fix" some problems with health insurance, we've created many more, and those of us who employ/insure people will be pulling the weight.

I had a lot more to say and more specifics, but it's really pissing me off.

Yes I read this this morning as I have blue shield. They actually just increased the rate about 2-3 month ago as well. And now another 30%. Your assesment is correct,t his healthcare reform is a step in the wrong direction and is going to make everything more expensive, there is no possible way it can play out any differently. Insuring people that cost more will result in the price for us healthy people to go up, bottom line. This isn't all bad, because I think everyone should have insurance, but I think the way they are going about it isn't going to work out to be this legendary reform they were expecting.

[MGX]

The BS about it saving money was a parlimentary procedure so it could be more easily passed. Political procedures can be very complex; no wonder law is a master's degree.
Now that the November elections are soon every politician opposed Obamacare, the bailouts and the stimulus. They're all throwing Obama under the bus.

No honor among thieves and all that.

[GoVegan]

Somehow I have a feeling that it was the Republicans who screwed up Obamacare even though they bitch about it the most. They whined every time single payer or public option was mentioned and we basically handed over everything to the insurance companies as a result. Anything dealing with insurance companies is going to be astronomically expensive. It's too bad Obama didn't have the balls to insist on creating a good healthcare system that gives the insurance companies some competition. Conservatives usually believe that business' tends to run more efficiently but then complain about unfair competition when the government sets something up to compete with them.

[lxskllr]

Outlaw medical lawsuits, outlaw medical insurance, and see healthcare costs plummet.

[dreed2]

All I know is that something needs to be done about the prices the insurance companies are charging us. It's insane. Even though my employer pays 60% of my health insurance, for which I'm very, very grateful, I still have to pay over $200 each paycheck and, on top of that, pay a $4,000 deductible before my insurance pays for anything. It doesn't even cover prescriptions unless I pay over $4,000 in that year, which never happens. I basically don't have any insurance unless I wind up in the hospital and it costs over $4,000. I'm paying all that money for nothing. It's insane and the system was broken long before the Health Care Bill was passed, so I find it hard to blame it on that.

[MGX]

Somehow I have a feeling that it was the Republicans who screwed up Obamacare even though they bitch about it the most. They whined every time single payer or public option was mentioned and we basically handed over everything to the insurance companies as a result. Anything dealing with insurance companies is going to be astronomically expensive. It's too bad Obama didn't have the balls to insist on creating a good healthcare system that gives the insurance companies some competition. Conservatives usually believe that business' tends to run more efficiently but then complain about unfair competition when the government sets something up to compete with them.

Makes sense, many of the representatives are very good friends with lobby groups. Obama did try to make a public option compete with existing insurance companies however when your competition has near infinite resources and owns the printing presses money is minted on going toe to toe is foolish.

[dreed2]

It's a shame we didn't get a public option... That would have been real change, but something is better than nothing. At least people who couldn't get insurance before can get it now, if they can afford it, which is doubtful... Sigh...

[texastorm]

I dont believe we should all be insured (for anything). Call me calloused but some of us should die... even if it happens to be me. Health care is something someone can provide as a service, in that regard it is no different than a haircut or a massage. (cept those cant save your life I spose) So if I cannot afford a haircut, I either dont get one or I do it myself with a bowl and a pair of scissors. If I cannot afford heath care I should probably do the right thing and die. I will walk off into the hills with my peacepipe (if I am able) and die like a man.

Insurance is the biggest scam ever created anyway, and seemingly everyone on the planet is duped by it. Its almost exactly like a casino, as in no one really wins but the house.... except with insurance you are betting you are going to lose! What a concept. Even the payout is just a reimbursement and rarely a gain, so your probably better of in a casino.

Why would anyone bet they are a loser.

We would all be so much better off if insurance had never been thought of.

[dreed2]

I dont believe we should all be insured (for anything). Call me calloused but some of us should die... even if it happens to be me. Health care is something someone can provide as a service, in that regard it is no different than a haircut or a massage. (cept those cant save your life I spose) So if I cannot afford a haircut, I either dont get one or I do it myself with a bowl and a pair of scissors. If I cannot afford heath care I should probably do the right thing and die. I will walk off into the hills with my peacepipe (if I am able) and die like a man.

Insurance is the biggest scam ever created anyway, and seemingly everyone on the planet is duped by it. Its almost exactly like a casino, as in no one really wins but the house.... except with insurance you are betting you are going to lose! What a concept. Even the payout is just a reimbursement and rarely a gain, so your probably better of in a casino.

Why would anyone bet they are a loser.

We would all be so much better off if insurance had never been thought of.

Yup, I agree that insurance is a scam. However, because once upon a time when I didn't have any health insurance (not because I wasn't working, but because the company I worked for didn't offer it) I had an ovarian cyst that burst and required an emergency operation for the removal of that ovary. The hospital bills nearly bankrupted my family, but if I didn't have that operation I would have died. The hospital, because I didn't have any health insurance, put me into a room with peeling paint and non-functioning plumbing. I was treated like a homeless person, even though I was working two jobs and paying taxes. When I started bleeding from the incision in my abdomen, and rang the bell for assistance, no one came. I found a towel, held it to my bleeding stomach, and wandered down the halls of the hospital, looking for someone, anyone, who could help me. This is America, and that is not the way taxpayers should be treated in this country. I nearly lost my home, but I paid off all of my medical debts with payment plans. Now that I have insurance, I'm in the same boat. Screwed.

[GoVegan]

I dont believe we should all be insured (for anything). Call me calloused but some of us should die... even if it happens to be me. Health care is something someone can provide as a service, in that regard it is no different than a haircut or a massage. (cept those cant save your life I spose) So if I cannot afford a haircut, I either dont get one or I do it myself with a bowl and a pair of scissors. If I cannot afford heath care I should probably do the right thing and die. I will walk off into the hills with my peacepipe (if I am able) and die like a man.

Insurance is the biggest scam ever created anyway, and seemingly everyone on the planet is duped by it. Its almost exactly like a casino, as in no one really wins but the house.... except with insurance you are betting you are going to lose! What a concept. Even the payout is just a reimbursement and rarely a gain, so your probably better of in a casino.

Why would anyone bet they are a loser.

We would all be so much better off if insurance had never been thought of.

WTH? If you can't afford health care you should do the right thing and die? A haircut and health care are 2 different things. A haircut costs about $15.00 and you can do it yourself if need be. You can't really say the same thing about most medical procedures. It's just money or paper and lack of it shouldn't mean you deserve to die.

[myuserid]

Somehow I have a feeling that it was the Republicans who screwed up Obamacare even though they bitch about it the most. They whined every time single payer or public option was mentioned and we basically handed over everything to the insurance companies as a result. Anything dealing with insurance companies is going to be astronomically expensive. It's too bad Obama didn't have the balls to insist on creating a good healthcare system that gives the insurance companies some competition. Conservatives usually believe that business' tends to run more efficiently but then complain about unfair competition when the government sets something up to compete with them.

Let me guess, George Bush's fault. Right?

[GoVegan]

Let me guess, George Bush's fault. Right?

No, unfortunately Bush did nothing about the health care problems we are facing today. The blame lies on the house and senate which do not always have our best interests at heart.

[sgreger1]

Somehow I have a feeling that it was the Republicans who screwed up Obamacare even though they bitch about it the most. They whined every time single payer or public option was mentioned and we basically handed over everything to the insurance companies as a result. Anything dealing with insurance companies is going to be astronomically expensive. It's too bad Obama didn't have the balls to insist on creating a good healthcare system that gives the insurance companies some competition. Conservatives usually believe that business' tends to run more efficiently but then complain about unfair competition when the government sets something up to compete with them.

Vegan, i hear you and your right for the most part, but lets place blame where blame is due. Democrats have had a majority in the house and senate since the beginning of 07 and havnt done shit. They are the boss and yet they (and their followers) want to say its the republicans fault for complaining. Thats bullshit and you know it. If they are in charge and something doesnt happen, thats on them. When republicans are in charge, they tell dems to STFU and step aside. Dems on the other hand win elections then spend their days sitting around complaining about how its someone elses fault when they dont take action.




In 06 they said they would stop the wars, start bringing bush admin officials to trial etc. Instead they got elected and did nothing but help bush, and now they want to blame someone else for the bed theyve made. Im not buying it. We elected them to lead, they failed. They didnt lead or represent their parties interests, they just acted like republicans and then blamed the republicans for all their woes. Real strong leadership skills for sure. As long as people will sit and make excuses for them, they will never have the need to grow some teeth and they will just maintain the status quo.