[Wondergirl]

And you haven't answered mine, is that all you got out of my response?

So I'm guessing no, your premiums have not gone up.

If they do, it's because your governor opted out of Medicaid expansion. Blame him, not President Obama.

[tomder55]

The only reason my rates haven't gone up is because NY State was already gouging us;and have been for 20 years (guaranteed issue and community rating ) . What NY has is now coming to the rest of the country.

[speechlesstx]

So I'm guessing no, your premiums have not gone up.

If they do, it's because your governor opted out of Medicaid expansion. Blame him, not President Obama.

Have I been stuttering today? No, I've been very clear.

I still don't know what this year will bring, but if it's like last year our deductibles will again double and the premiums will increase. We've already been feeling the effects of Obamacare for quite some time now

It's already increased and gotten worse, I've already seen the sticker shock and expect more.

[speechlesstx]

Hello again, Steve:
Maybe it doesn't mean YOU.. Maybe it means the people who COULDN'T afford it before.

excon

No.

"This law will cut costs and make coverage more affordable for families and small businesses. It’s reform that brings -- that begins to bring down our government’s long-term structural deficit. It’s reform that finally extends the opportunity to purchase coverage to the millions who currently don’t have it -- and includes tough new consumer protections to guarantee greater stability, security and control for the millions who do have health insurance."

President Barack Obama
Remarks by the President on the Affordable Care Act and the New Patients' Bill of Rights
The White House, Office of the Press Secretary
June 22, 2010

And just for good measure...

"So let me begin by saying this to you and to the American people: I know that there are millions of Americans who are content with their health care coverage -- they like their plan and, most importantly, they value their relationship with their doctor. They trust you. And that means that no matter how we reform health care, we will keep this promise to the American people: If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor, period. ... If you like your health care plan, you'll be able to keep your health care plan, period. ... No one will take it away, no matter what. My view is that health care reform should be guided by a simple principle: Fix what's broken and build on what works. And that's what we intend to do."

President Barack Obama
Remarks By The President At The Annual Conference Of The American Medical Association
The White House, Office of the Press Secretary
June 15, 2009

But go ahead, call me a liar.

[Wondergirl]

I still don't know what this year will bring, but if it's like last year our deductibles will again double and the premiums will increase. We've already been feeling the effects of Obamacare for quite some time now

It isn't because of Obamacare. It's because of greed, pure and simple, i.e, "the cost of doing business" (which tracks back to exorbitant hospital and pharma costs). Now if all their insureds would get disgusted and drop gouging companies, things would start to change.

[excon]

Hello again, Steve:

You're not a liar. I WISH he hadn't left the insurance companies in charge. Let's change THAT.

excon

[tomder55]

So I'm guessing no, your premiums have not gone up.

If they do, it's because your governor opted out of Medicaid expansion. Blame him, not President Obama.

How is Medicaid expansion going to drive costs down? You are adding more non-paying people into the pool and into a system where resources are already straining .
The only hope this plan has to work is with the individual mandates... and thems aint the ones signing up so far. AND There's no way the exchanges will be signing up their goal of 7 million uninsured healthy people who can contribute into the revenue pool. At best the IRS will collect the fines...

In the meantime there will be a huge gap in expenditures out vs revenue in. That's why the emperor was so insistant this week to maintain the foolish medical device tax that no one likes.

[excon]

Hello again, tom:

How is Medicaid expansion going to drive costs down? You are adding more non-paying people into the pool and into a system where resources are already straining .

They're already IN the system, if you haven't noticed. They're just not PAYING. I think it's YOUR side who tells us that, in our wonderful system, if anybody needs care, all they have to do is go to the ER.

Ok, they DO, and YOU pay for it.. IF Medicaid were expanded, MANY if not ALL of those people would get relatively inexpensive health care, and YOU don't pay for it. Then your premiums would come down.

excon

[Wondergirl]

How is Medicaid expansion going to drive costs down? You are adding more non-paying people into the pool and into a system where resources are already straining .

Those formerly non-paying people will no longer be non-paying. They will also be covered by insurance that they will have to pay into. Thus, Medicaid won't cover them 100% as in the past; they will bear responsibility for some of their health care.

The only hope this plan has to work is with the individual mandates... and thems aint the ones signing up so far. AND There's no way the exchanges will be signing up their goal of 7 million uninsured healthy people who can contribute into the revenue pool.

That's because 20+ governors have opted out of Medicaid expansion to help out poor people who are willing to buy insurance. Without Medicaid assistance to pay part of the bill, they can't afford to buy insurance on their own, so they are back to the ER and 100% Medicaid coverage that you provide through your tax dollars.

***ADDED*** Forgot to add -- and there's a big push to encourage younger people (who think they are immortal) to sign up for health insurance if they don't already have it through their workplace.

[speechlesstx]

It isn't because of Obamacare. It's because of greed, pure and simple, i.e, "the cost of doing business" (which tracks back to exorbitant hospital and pharma costs). Now if all their insureds would get disgusted and drop gouging companies, things would start to change.

No, it's not that simple.

[Wondergirl]

No, it's not that simple.

Read what excon and I posted above your post.

It will take time, but yes, it's that simple.

[tomder55]

Those formerly non-paying people will no longer be non-paying. They will also be covered by insurance that they will have to pay into. Thus, Medicaid won't cover them 100% as in the past; they will bear responsibility for some of their health care.

That's because 20+ governors have opted out of Medicaid expansion to help out poor people who are willing to buy insurance. Without Medicaid assistance to pay part of the bill, they can't afford to buy insurance on their own, so they are back to the ER and 100% Medicaid coverage that you provide through your tax dollars.

***ADDED*** Forgot to add -- and there's a big push to encourage younger people (who think they are immortal) to sign up for health insurance if they don't already have it through their workplace.

You think Medicaid patients are going to pay ? You've been smoking Ex's medicine .

[Wondergirl]

You think Medicaid patients are going to pay ? You've been smoking Ex's medicine .

Yes. They will no longer be eligible for 100% Medicaid.

[speechlesstx]

Read what excon and I posted above your post.

It will take time, but yes, it's that simple.

No, it's not only not that simple, again it is asinine to implement a bad law and hope for the best.

[tomder55]

You are aware of course that SCOTUS voted 7-2 to say the Medicaid mandate of Obamacare was unconstitutional and the Guvs who weren't seduced by the temporary freebee offered by the Obots are doing a great service to their states . The Obots are stunned that their bribe attempt failed . The not so secret secret is that the exchanges are designed to duplicate the failed national Medicaid system ;and the quality of care will no doubt duplicate Medicaid's track record.

[Wondergirl]

the quality of care will no doubt duplicate Medicaid's track record.

Our library homeless guy went into the hospital via the ER several times during the 12 or so years I knew him. He received excellent care, just like any insured or self-paying patient. He even liked the food (and he did know his food!). The medical staff supposedly did not know he was a Medicaid patient -- part of HIPAA, the office said.

[cdad]

Our library homeless guy went into the hospital via the ER several times during the 12 or so years I knew him. He received excellent care, just like any insured or self-paying patient. He even liked the food (and he did know his food!). The medical staff supposedly did not know he was a Medicaid patient -- part of HIPAA, the office said.

And now you expect this same homeless guy to buy his on insurance and pay the copays that go along with it that he can't afford in the first place. So again this man / woman will wait until it is a medical emergency and go to the emergency room yet again.

How is it any better then before except he will be on the hook for thousands of dollars he doesn't have because he didn't buy a policy mandated by the government.

[Wondergirl]

And now you expect this same homeless guy to buy his on insurance and pay the copays that go along with it that he can't afford in the first place. So again this man / woman will wait until it is a medical emergency and go to the emergency room yet again.

Actually, yes, he would have been able to buy a health insurance policy, especially since he lived in Illinois and would have gotten help from Medicaid to pay part of the premiums (if he needed help). He picked up odd jobs here and there, and received what he called "donations" from passersby. He finally in his early 70s claimed his very nice SS check which he had always passed on.

Unfortunately, he died about a year ago (Oct. 10, 2012) from complications from emphysema. Someday you might want to read the stories I wrote about him -- a very cool and colorful guy.

[tomder55]

And now you expect this same homeless guy to buy his on insurance and pay the copays that go along with it that he can't afford in the first place. So again this man / woman will wait until it is a medical emergency and go to the emergency room yet again.

How is it any better then before except he will be on the hook for thousands of dollars he doesn't have because he didn't buy a policy mandated by the government.

That's the laugher in their argument . Here is NY you cannot have any income or assets to be eligible for Medicaid . Yet now we are supposed to believe that the Medicaid patients will be paying ? In a world where people can get subsidies without income verification I find it highly unlikely that Medicaid patients will be asked to fork up anything .

[Wondergirl]

That's the laugher in their argument . Here is NY you cannot have any income or assets to be eligible for Medicaid .

For New York State --

A single or couple without children in 2013 may earn $8994 a year or $750 a month and be eligible for Medicaid.

Medicaid