Nearly two in three uninsured Americans say they will get insurance by Jan. 1, 2014, rather than pay a fine as mandated by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), while one in four say they will pay the fine. Less than half of the uninsured say they plan on getting health insurance specifically through a federal or state health insurance exchange.
And that theory is supported by the data that Gallup gathered in their poll:
Overall, 83% of Americans are aware that most Americans will be required to have health insurance or pay a fine beginning January 2014. This awareness drops to 68% among those who are uninsured, and is at 69% among the vital group of 18- to 29-year-olds who are the most likely of any age group to be uninsured.
Kind of frustrating that the very people who need this program the most seem to know the least about it. Gee almost as if some nefarious group had tried to confuse them and discourage them from learning more.
By the way you can count me among the uninsured who will soon be taking advantage of Obamacare.
I live in Alaska, where our Governor has completely refused to cooperate with the program, so I imagine I will run into obstacles, however I will do it and report back to all of you as to how it goes and what I learn.
So, are the uninsured willing to risk certain bankruptcy if their car is in a collision, or they develop a chronic disease, or any other catastrophic situation? The young think they're immortal and invincible, until they're not.
ReplyDeleteGryphen, how do you do it? If you need to go to the emergency room, do you pay the full freight? Doctor's visits? Prescriptions? Or are you just one helluva healthy, lucky guy?
The last one.
DeleteI have been a gym rat and healthy eater most of my life.
However now I am fifty and my luck is surely running out.
I'm not Gryphen, but I'm in the same boat so I'll offer another answer.
DeleteI just try really hard to not get sick. When I do, it's the ER or bust, because the ER doesn't require money up front and will allow you to work out a payment plan.
About a month ago, I came down with a "mystery stomache virus." Was throwing up constantly and did nothing but puke and sleep. I ended up at a walk-in clinic. 100 dollars just to get seen...That meant bouncing a bill.
And the doctor, because she knew I don't have insurance, was kind enough to limit the tests she did. We never actually figured out what was wrong with me...She just prescribed me anti-nausea meds and I rode it out.
I've been wondering the same thing.
DeleteHere's an example that happened to me that could happen to anybody: I have a history of infrequent migraines that usually are stopped before they become problematic with only 4 Ibuprofen tablets.
But a couple of years ago one night I came down with a headache that made my entire head feel like it was being squeezed in a vise. The top of my head felt like it was about to erupt like a volcano. The pain became so unbearable that it made me weep.
So I got in the car and drove myself the 4 miles to our local 30 bed hospital emergency room, where the very first thing they did was x-ray my head, then send me to the CT scanning machine to look at blood vessels in my brain.
Luckily they found nothing (ha, ha), and I spent the next 5-6 hours on morphine until the pain dissipated and I could sleep off the drug. Of course they wouldn't let me leave until I was hydrated, awake, and not under the influence.
The difference between uninsured migraine sufferers and me of course is that I've qualified for Medicare for some time, so I didn't hesitate for a moment in going to the ER. I'll bet that ER visit cost at least $5,000, and my Medicare deducation (now $101.00/month) and my supplemental ($166/month) no doubt paid for it.
I can't imagine why someone would rather pay a penalty and get no insurance, rather than shop for a decent health insurance policy just-in-case, and have at an earlier age what I am fortunate enough to have at my age.
Thank goodness for ACA, but single payer and universal would have eliminated the grifting insurance industrial complex. It made me sick to have to bail out AIG and the insurance companies in ’08.
DeleteOur son says the same thing. He has an outrageous insurance policy with a $15,000. co-pay but he claims that he's healthy and doesn't get sick. Well, sooner or later, he will and we are hoping and praying that we can persuade him to take advantage of what the ACA offers. Paying a little more in premium but actually getting some coverage would be definitely worth his while. Gryphen, you should get medical insurance because one day you will surely get sick and need help. It isn't likely that a bolt of lightening will kill you or a falling tree. Life unfortunately enjoys messing with us. Go to one of the websites and find out what you can do in Alaska. The ACA is federal law and your governor cannot completely ignore it even though he wants to.
DeleteBeaglemom
But their grift has been limited severely. 20% overhead. that's almost an NPO. o more outrageous CEO salaries or huge dividends.
DeleteI'm a little worried how I'm going to navigate the ACA. I did fill out a form on-line to see what I might qualify for and what I might have to pay. If my results are correct, I just might be able to swing it. Also, my church is sponsoring a seminar this upcoming Sunday on the ACA. Wish me luck.
ReplyDeletecare to share that site? Please.
Deletehttps://www.healthcare.gov/
DeleteCalifornia is really on top of it. Check out their website.
Deletehttp://www.coveredca.com/
Here in Alaska, we have- Enroll Alaska -
http://www.enrollingalaska.com
Here is the ADN website- I love that the higher ups at Northrim Benefits are Republicans.
http://www.adn.com/2013/09/28/3100400/alaska-broker-makes-big-move-under.html
I will be one of the agents for Enroll Alaska, once I finish getting my insurance license. I am looking forward to helping people, and learning more about the Patient Protection Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).
I heard it said, that President Obama, joked that once the Republicans decide to like ACA, they will quit calling it Obamacare.
I honestly am so confused by this. Everyone gets insurance to drive a car for goodness sake! How anyone could avoid buying health insurance in the ACA is beyond me. It makes health insurance possible for everyone, there is no way about it. Unlike car insurance if you get in an accident, speed or otherwise have an issue one cannot be refused and premiums don’t go up in the case of calamity. And, in the present situation if you are without insurance and need medical care you either go broke or the taxpayer pays for your care. It makes me wonder if people simply want to avoid responsibility. There are fewer than 1% of us who can pay for cancer treatment out of pocket, so where is the beef? My only regret is the insurance companies are still in the game. If people had really been engaged in the creation of the ACA the insurance companies would have been sidelined, but most people are straight-up irresponsible and just want someone to make decisions for them.
ReplyDeleteNo, it doesn't, unfortunately. since my red state (fuck you, Mike Pence) has refused the Medicaid expansion, it is likely going to be a major struggle when my spouse loses his university teaching job (fuck you, Mitch daniels) come January and my unemployment runs out, or I am just starting a no bennies freelance gig. Anyone care to tell my how I pay for insurance for in $15K per year? .
DeleteI believe that your insurance would likely be free to you with subsidies paid by the government due to your income. It is definitely worth checking out!
Deletein my job i work with a very poor population, most of whom have not qualified for medicaid. i've been telling all of them to apply and to tell everyone they know to apply starting tomorrow. i am absolutely amazed at how many of them know nothing about this. they have heard about "obamacare" but had no idea it had been passed or that they could use it. all of us middle to upper class people are totally aware of it and the people who need it remain have not been reached. i hope that i am able to single-handedly get hundreds of people signed up!
ReplyDeleteExcept Congress passed Obamacare, the president signed it, the Supreme Court upheld it, Obama campaigned on it a second time and was reelected. So in what manner was the will of the people disregarded?
ReplyDeleteRead more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/the-frauds-on-the-hill-target-obama-97537.html#ixzz2gQle5g3g
I have a relative that's on hemodyalisis (sp?), and has had trouble for years with health insurance, the social workers at the center she goes to has recommended getting a plan with ACA. They have hispanic and russian translators and have recruited volunteers with computers to match people with the best insurance they can afford in their zip codes.
ReplyDeleteMy own doctor already completed proving his full compliance and he said he'll be giving people information on the ACA. Once people see for themselves that there's real benefits to buying into the program, I think the positive numbers will way outnumber those who are yapping the loudest to defund it now.
What, exactly, does the GOP offer as a viable alternative?
Not a darn thing, Anita, nit a darn thing.
Delete" those who are yapping the loudest to defund it now. "
DeleteI agree. What I'd be REALLY interested to know is how much each of the yappers has invested in health insurance. I'm guessing it's a high number of them and with a high investment per person. I've worked in the health field all my life and know for sure about some of them (my own gov guys) as I've checked, but it doesn't even seem to come up as a matter of interest in general discussion. As the kinks (and graft) get worked out of the system, these jerks stand to lose money, plain and simple; that's why they object. It's (twisted) capitalism at work, sad to say. About the rest of us they don't care.
The GOP alternative is that we die soon and quickly and leave no money for our children to inherit. Only the 1% should be able to leave anything for their children and grandchildren, the rest of us are so expendable that we should exit as soon as possible.
DeleteBeaglemom
As person with chronic illness who has been denied insurance for years, I am now just counting down the hours until I can sign up. To hell with Cruz, Palin, Issa, Bachmann and all their kind! May trouble follow you all the rest of your days for doing everything you can to keep millions uninsured and there must be a special place in hell for Charles and David Koch and Jim DeMint!
ReplyDeleteYeah!!!!
DeleteSo, if a person is uninsured and pays the penalty and then gets very sick or injured to point of hospitalization, expensive tests, an expensive medication/treatment, who is going to pay for his or her medical care? Those of us who are smart enough to buy insurance, that's who.
ReplyDeleteThe same people who pay for it if we all have insurance.
DeleteThink about it. Insurance is a way to get everybody to pay for an individual's misfortune.
I live in AK and I'm paying the $95 penalty for this year until I see whether we have expanded options for insurers or if Medicaid is expanded. Parnell spent thousands on a Medicaid study that he won't make public and it's recently been announced that NorthRim is assisting people to access the state exchanges but are charging a commission. I think I'll say "thanks but no thanks" as it only costs me a small sum to sit out this year and see what happens.
ReplyDeleteSo, if you become really ill, does this mean you will access care in an emergency room? I live in Alaska and am tired of attending spaghetti feeds for people with IFQs who simply chose to not be responsible and buy insurance, but instead went to Hawaii after their boat made money.
Deleteand hope that you are not in an accident that requires your hospitalization
DeleteWhere were you when health care was on the table in 2009? If the insurance companies had not been involved and single payer or universal had been on the table perhaps you would see this differently.
DeleteNO, YOU do not pay a commission by going to Enroll Alaska! The insurance companies (insurers) are so overloaded with the prospect of many people signing up that they are paying the agents at Enroll Alaska. You can also go to a navigator at United Way, Alaska Native Hospital, or AARP to assist. Either way, the price will be the same (you don't pay anything), but the insurance agent may be more knowledgeable.
DeleteGryph, THANK YOU for this blog for all of us to have a voice and I wish you continued good health. You've just barely started at 50! This is just how stupid 4pees are:
ReplyDeleteAlameda Republican
• an hour ago
I love what's going on right now. SHUT IT DOWN!! Remember, this is Obummer's government. It will be better when it's shut down. Let's show them that we are going to fight as much as we can to avoid providing healthcare to all Americans.
Those are Sarah, the idiots words. Only a traitor would call the President such a name, even if he/she disagreed. Sarah is a treasonous bitch.
DeleteNotice that Cruz nor Lee have thanked her or acknowledged her. And they won't publically.
As the President said, sooner or later this won't be called "Obamacare" -- it will just be national health care.
ReplyDeleteTake it from a Massachusetts resident who is a grateful beneficiary of the health care system set up by Mitt Romney in 2006 -- it's not perfect, but it is a workable solution. To be able to sleep at night, knowing that a medical problem won't send my entire family into a financial catastrophe.
Peace of mind -- there's nothing like it, and the Republicans are raving made because they know that once people discover this benefit of the ACA -- the release from constant worry about the availability of medical care -- there is no turning back.
And now it's October 1, and it has begun.
Don't you wonder why Republicans are so opposed to that "peace of mind" when it comes to financial medical worries? It simply makes no sense at all that GOP members of the House would rather shut down the federal government than allow more people to have access to decent health care.
DeleteBeaglemom
So what have they accomplished? The Affordable Care Act will still function as planned, starting tomorrow October 1st. Lots of people are anxious to sign up for healthcare, not just the currently uninsured. Some folks may find ACA insurance premiums cheaper than their current employer health plans. It will be interesting to see how the numbers shake out in another year or so.
ReplyDeleteI'm a Canadian, our healthcare system is good. My husband pays 60 dollars a month through his employer. His employer pays half for medical. They use to pay it all until the market collapsed. If my husband lost his job we would be paying 150 dollars a month for medical. My husband earns 115,000 a year. We do pay higher taxes in Canada on our income. I really believe that what your president is putting forth will benefit even better than what we have in Canada.
ReplyDeleteWe have friends in Europe who have access to excellent health care and I know that Canadians do too. The lies and misinformation given to the American people by GOP politicians about universal health care programs in other countries is horrible and very frustrating to all of us who know better. Canada is a great place!
DeleteBeaglemom
The Healthcare.gov site is VERY busy right now!
ReplyDeleteI have yet to meet friends from the UK, Canada or New Zealand who deride their medical care. And they are single payer and universal!!! We could have done better if y’all had been more involved!
ReplyDeletefor my dearest friend it is a matter of life or death. Taking our govn't hostage is an act of terrorism. "Obamacare" was passed into law and threatening to shut down our govn't to keep it from being implemented is terrorism. Pure and simple. This is the message I just received from my friend... Tomorrow I'll be spending the day getting hooked up with some kind of new insurance, but in the meantime I'm picking up my cratered morale around my healthcare situation. Not only are Republicans fu**ing with my only option, but the one I currently have, set to expire by year's end, is messing with me too. PCIP was a State entity. Then it became a federal entity so I had to pay premiums all over again. That meant that from one month to the next my critical med went from $20 to $550. Then it went down to $40. So this month, without a word of explanation, I'm expected to cough up $975. That's on top of the $370/month I've been paying this outfit.
ReplyDeleteI tell you, there are forces at work that would be quite happy to see a lot of people die in this transition, to eliminate the drag, to get rid of the unhealthy. I have no idea if I'll be able to figure all this stuff out before I get any new meds, or if my medical status will change for the worse as a result of greedy bastard politicians and the corporations that fund them. I'm sure I'm not the only one in this awful boat, but everywhere I've turned for guidance has offered a big shrug, a total absence of any help.
I hate what this country has become and what it represents.
ReplyDeleteDidn't know if you all were aware that Ohioans that were medically uninsured could sign up beginning Oct 1. Evidentally your state government is NOT advertising this......but if you know someone that is uninsured and needs coverage the cleveland plain dealer has the link: http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2013/09/state_insurance_department_web.html
I have noticed that the medicare plan I use has raised prices somewhat which I had anticipated as there is no denial of coverage for people with pre-existing conditions.........renal disease disallowed you but not anymore.
Great poster.... Remember the Day....
ReplyDeletehttp://t.co/CJI8OKgJpW
pass it on...”
A columnist writing in our local paper today urges President Obama to compromise with the House GOP "for the greater good" by delaying the implementation of the ACA until after the 2014 election. Implementation has already been delayed long enough! And why should President Obama "compromise"? In the second political column in our paper today, the columnist criticizes President Obama for having been too willing to compromise. President Obama is doing a great job; we the people know it. That's why we re-elected him!
ReplyDeleteIf only we could explain to the GOP in Congress that 1) President Obama was elected by a majority of the voters in 2008; 2) that the ACA was enacted into law in 2010 and that it has been upheld by the Supreme Court; 3) that the American people are so satisfied with the prospect of the beginning of health care reform in this country that they re-elected President Obama by a good majority in 2012; 4) that the votes of women and minority groups count just like the votes of white males; and 5) that the seditious behavior of GOP members of Congress since the outrageous Inauguration Day meeting in 2009 has been criminal.
Beaglemom