TOPICS:
JUN 29, 2012 09:56 AM
JUN 29, 2012 10:36 AM
JUN 29, 2012 10:57 AM
Also, this happened.
JUN 29, 2012 02:21 PM
JUN 29, 2012 02:29 PM
JUN 29, 2012 05:55 PM
JUN 30, 2012 05:14 AM
JUN 30, 2012 05:17 AM
Okay, I admit it. I'm really interested in the subject, but I haven't been all that serious about trying to understand the details of Obamacare. So, here's my main question. Referencing the helpful Explain It Like I'm Five cartoon a few posts up, Mary is now required to buy health insurance, but she doesn't have any money. So Obama says she still has to buy it, but he'll pay 95% of the cost. I get how that's one of the main points of health care reform. A lot of people in this country can't afford to buy health insurance, and that's a huge problem, which Obamacare will hopefully more or less fix. But, how will Mary get 95% of her health insurance paid for, exactly? What's the mechanism for paying her premiums? Will she now be covered by her state's Medicaid program, or what? And, will she need to go out and find a health insurance company, and sign up for one of their plans, or will she somehow automatically have coverage? Also, this might work differently for different people, right? Like, some people can't afford to buy health insurance because the only job they can find is working part time at Wal-Mart, or working full time as a landscaping laborer, but other people can't afford to buy health insurance because they don't have a job at all. So, what's the deal?
Okay, that's kind of a long, multi-part question, so here's the short version: For people with little or no money, how will their health insurance premiums get paid?
JUN 30, 2012 07:13 AM
SilverSurfer said:
Okay, I admit it. I'm really interested in the subject, but I haven't been all that serious about trying to understand the details of Obamacare. So, here's my main question. Referencing the helpful Explain It Like I'm Five cartoon a few posts up, Mary is now required to buy health insurance, but she doesn't have any money. So Obama says she still has to buy it, but he'll pay 95% of the cost. I get how that's one of the main points of health care reform. A lot of people in this country can't afford to buy health insurance, and that's a huge problem, which Obamacare will hopefully more or less fix. But, how will Mary get 95% of her health insurance paid for, exactly? What's the mechanism for paying her premiums? Will she now be covered by her state's Medicaid program, or what? And, will she need to go out and find a health insurance company, and sign up for one of their plans, or will she somehow automatically have coverage? Also, this might work differently for different people, right? Like, some people can't afford to buy health insurance because the only job they can find is working part time at Wal-Mart, or working full time as a landscaping laborer, but other people can't afford to buy health insurance because they don't have a job at all. So, what's the deal?
Okay, that's kind of a long, multi-part question, so here's the short version: For people with little or no money, how will their health insurance premiums get paid?
This is from the Kaiser Health page mentioned in the article I linked to at the top:
Q: I want health insurance, but I can't afford it. What do I do?
A: Depending on your income, you might be eligible for Medicaid, the state-federal program for the poor and disabled, which will be expanded sharply beginning in 2014. Low-income adults, including those without children, will be eligible, as long as their incomes didn't exceed 133 percent of the federal poverty level, or $14,404 for individuals and $29,326 for a family of four, according to current poverty guidelines.
Q: What if I make too much for Medicaid but still can't afford coverage?
A: You might be eligible for government subsidies to help you pay for private insurance that would be sold in the new state-based insurance marketplaces, called exchanges, slated to begin operation in 2014.
Premium subsidies will be available for individuals and families with incomes between 133 percent and 400 percent of the poverty level, or $14,404 to $43,320 for individuals and $29,326 to $88,200 for a family of four.
The subsidies will be on a sliding scale. For example, a family of four earning 150 percent of the poverty level, or $33,075 a year, will have to pay 4 percent of its income, or $1,323, on premiums. A family with income of 400 percent of the poverty level will have to pay 9.5 percent, or $8,379.
In addition, if your income is below 400 percent of the poverty level, your out-of-pocket health expenses will be limited.
Yeah, sometime last year the administration started promoting it as Obamacare.
JUN 30, 2012 07:36 AM
SilverSurfer said:
Okay, I admit it. I'm really interested in the subject, but I haven't been all that serious about trying to understand the details of Obamacare. So, here's my main question. Referencing the helpful Explain It Like I'm Five cartoon a few posts up, Mary is now required to buy health insurance, but she doesn't have any money. So Obama says she still has to buy it, but he'll pay 95% of the cost. I get how that's one of the main points of health care reform. A lot of people in this country can't afford to buy health insurance, and that's a huge problem, which Obamacare will hopefully more or less fix. But, how will Mary get 95% of her health insurance paid for, exactly? What's the mechanism for paying her premiums? Will she now be covered by her state's Medicaid program, or what? And, will she need to go out and find a health insurance company, and sign up for one of their plans, or will she somehow automatically have coverage? Also, this might work differently for different people, right? Like, some people can't afford to buy health insurance because the only job they can find is working part time at Wal-Mart, or working full time as a landscaping laborer, but other people can't afford to buy health insurance because they don't have a job at all. So, what's the deal?
Okay, that's kind of a long, multi-part question, so here's the short version: For people with little or no money, how will their health insurance premiums get paid?
First off, head over to that second link that Bean has posted, it's the Reddit "EXPLAINLIKEIMFIVE" article that inspired that cartoon (note that it has a lot more words, but it's in plain English).
But here's the bit you're concerned with:
Question: What determines whether or not I can afford the mandate? Will I be forced to pay for insurance I can't afford?
Answer: There are all kinds of checks in place to keep you from getting screwed. Kaiser actually has a webpage with a pretty good rundown on it, if you're worried about it. You can see it here.
That should about do it. Also, it's Obamney care, get it right! (Oops! - Thanks Bobby). 
JUN 30, 2012 07:37 AM
JUN 30, 2012 08:21 AM
JUN 30, 2012 09:48 AM
JUN 30, 2012 10:28 AM
It looks like the bill actually makes sense. I kinda really like the tax on tanning booths.
edited to add that I find the whole part directed at the different states ''if you can think of anything better and it is actually better for everyone then you can try to get it' part.
I hope I read that right 
honestly I like the idea that some places might just think 'well, lets give health care to everyone and forget about insurance' I also really like that it has to be better than what is in place- because you know as well as I do (in fact more as I am a wee English girl and not at all from America) that folk will want what is best for only a small majority of people and forget the people who are perhaps struggling.
I find this part the most interesting.
JUN 30, 2012 11:00 AM
JUN 30, 2012 02:23 PM
JUN 30, 2012 02:24 PM
sminks said:
It looks like the bill actually makes sense. I kinda really like the tax on tanning booths.
edited to add that I find the whole part directed at the different states ''if you can think of anything better and it is actually better for everyone then you can try to get it' part.
I hope I read that right honestly I like the idea that some places might just think 'well, lets give health care to everyone and forget about insurance' I also really like that it has to be better than what is in place- because you know as well as I do (in fact more as I am a wee English girl and not at all from America) that folk will want what is best for only a small majority of people and forget the people who are perhaps struggling.
I find this part the most interesting.
You did read it correctly. Vermont is working on expanding health care to every Vermonter with something similar to Canadia.
JUN 30, 2012 03:28 PM
It's always good to model yourself off the best 
JUN 30, 2012 03:29 PM
Canadian_Coat said:
It's always good to model yourself off the best
Sweden?
JUN 30, 2012 03:53 PM
JUN 30, 2012 06:25 PM
Coyotemike said:
sminks said:
It looks like the bill actually makes sense. I kinda really like the tax on tanning booths.
edited to add that I find the whole part directed at the different states ''if you can think of anything better and it is actually better for everyone then you can try to get it' part.
I hope I read that right honestly I like the idea that some places might just think 'well, lets give health care to everyone and forget about insurance' I also really like that it has to be better than what is in place- because you know as well as I do (in fact more as I am a wee English girl and not at all from America) that folk will want what is best for only a small majority of people and forget the people who are perhaps struggling.
I find this part the most interesting.
You did read it correctly. Vermont is working on expanding health care to every Vermonter with something similar to Canadia.
I do like that bit. This provides a federal bare minimum, and if a state wants to do better, they can do so. I'm rather excited to see if MN will continue to be one of the leaders in taking care of their state's health as they have with MN Care. It's not the best, but it's far better state health care than you find in most states.
I think the idea of docs getting pay adjustments based on performance is a good idea in theory, but in practice I'm pretty skeptical about whether it would actually encourage better care, or just number-farming.
JUN 30, 2012 06:29 PM
Otoki said:
Coyotemike said:
sminks said:
It looks like the bill actually makes sense. I kinda really like the tax on tanning booths.
edited to add that I find the whole part directed at the different states ''if you can think of anything better and it is actually better for everyone then you can try to get it' part.
I hope I read that right honestly I like the idea that some places might just think 'well, lets give health care to everyone and forget about insurance' I also really like that it has to be better than what is in place- because you know as well as I do (in fact more as I am a wee English girl and not at all from America) that folk will want what is best for only a small majority of people and forget the people who are perhaps struggling.
I find this part the most interesting.
You did read it correctly. Vermont is working on expanding health care to every Vermonter with something similar to Canadia.
I do like that bit. This provides a federal bare minimum, and if a state wants to do better, they can do so. I'm rather excited to see if MN will continue to be one of the leaders in taking care of their state's health as they have with MN Care. It's not the best, but it's far better state health care than you find in most states.
I think the idea of docs getting pay adjustments based on performance is a good idea in theory, but in practice I'm pretty skeptical about whether it would actually encourage better care, or just number-farming.
It is tricky, but something has to be done to end this cattle-chute style of medicine. Really, and just going by doctors I know, docs don't like how little time they have per patient.
JUN 30, 2012 10:03 PM
This thread is great - it really explains a lot.
The cartoon helped, too
JUL 01, 2012 12:31 AM
bean
STAFF
Los Angeles, CA
JUN 29, 2012 09:28 AM