Tag: Obamacare

On Buying Health Insurance

There are more choices than there are distinctions. It’s impossible to see what’s different between various policies without being a statistician and actuary. I’m pretty math savvy and my head is swimming!

In the past we depended on insurance to help beginning with dollar one. Now, I’m wondering how important ‘dollar one’ really is.

obamacareSince I left FoxCT I have been insured through COBRA, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. All that means is no employer subsidy. I’m paying 100%.

Insurance is expensive. You probably already knew that.

Eighteen months have passed. I’m forced to get coverage on my own. This is among the most confusing things I’ve ever done!

First the good news. Under the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare, I can buy insurance! How that would have worked out before, considering my back surgery two summers ago and my age? All I know is, I’m insurable.

My beef with Obamacare is it doesn’t go far enough. Why do we bother with private insurance? Why must we confuse everyone? The rest of the world seems to prefer a single payer system. Seniors seem happy with Medicare.

There are too many choices.

Let me refine that. There are more choices than there are distinctions. It’s impossible to see what’s different between various policies without being a statistician or actuary. I’m pretty math savvy and my head is swimming!

In the past we depended on insurance to help beginning with dollar one. Now, I’m wondering how important ‘dollar one’ really is. Are we better off ‘self insuring’ for common medical problems and letting insurance kick in at big dollar amounts? How much out-of-pocket can I take?

Within the next day or two we will reach a decision. I wish it was a more educated decision.

Let The Spin Begin

The first “Obamacare” numbers are out. They’re numbers, right? What could be easier than that?

Let the spin begin!

HootSuite

HootSuite2

HootSuite

So we’re totally clear now, right?

Can You See My Frustration?

I can’t believe it’s come to this. The government is really shut down. This is crazy. How do rational adults fight like they’re seven year olds?

Oh–hold on. I answered my own question.

“Obamacare” is decided law? The Affordable Care Act was passed by Congress, then signed by the president. It was litigated in the Supreme Court and survived the challenge.

Then, in last year’s presidential election, Governor Romney and President Obama based much of their campaigns on their diametrically opposed views on it. Obama won.

Meanwhile, all I see on TV is intransigence, posturing and half truths.

The cable networks are having a field day. This is their Super Bowl. They’ve got a compelling story with developing details.

Are they milking our angst? Probably.

My blood is boiling. Pre-existing condition?

Our health care system stinks. It’s prohibitively expensive with results that trail much of the rest of the world. The ACA is a step forward.

How can the Republicans in Congress think “Obamacare” is so evil it’s worth shutting down America? Maybe they’re scared it will succeed?

Here’s To The Supremes

I’m not sure most people understand, this court operates differently from all others. Cases aren’t tried in the conventional sense. By the time the Supreme Court weighs in that’s been done.

There are a lot of people looking toward the Supreme Court this week. The Supremes are reviewing the Affordable Health Care Act, aka-Obamacare. There’s a lot on the line and both sides would probably admit the outcome isn’t a slam dunk.

I love the Supreme Court. Seriously.

No, I don’t want to date Ruth Bader Ginsburg or Sonia Sotomayor. It’s not that kind of love. I love the Supreme Court for how it operates and the (mainly) wise jurists who sit on its bench.

I’m not sure most people understand, this court operates differently from all others. Cases aren’t tried in the conventional sense. By the time the Supreme Court weighs in that’s been done. Instead oral arguments are presented and the justices question the attorneys representing the parties.

The Supreme Court doesn’t decide guilt or innocence as such, but looks at the constitutionality of the underlying laws. There are a few other jurisdictions for the court, but constitutionality is the meat of the job.

There are no cameras in the court. That’s a damn shame. I’ve listened to audio recordings. Very impressive. I’d still like to see body language and physical nuance.

I knew next to nothing about the court until I watched Justices Stephen Breyer and Antonin Scalia have a discussion a few years ago.

Justices Antonin Scalia & Stephen Breyer spoke at the University of Arizona Law School in Tucson and justices traded their views on the interpretation of the Constitution in a changing society, covering topics such as the right to privacy, cruel and unusual punishment, and segregation in schools.

It was tough not to feel proud to be an American and proud of our system. No matter how much I disagree with Scalia his brilliance and the brilliance of Justice Breyer cut through. Breathtaking.

In recent years there has been more-and-more talk of the court becoming politicized. It’s tough to look back at Bush v Gore (and the potential result on this case) and not agree. Yet I am willing to depend on this court to do right by us.

I am not confident this decision will go the way I want. My love for the court will survive.