We got a new Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollment report from the feds this week, and it marks a new milestone. Between the health insurance marketplaces, Medicaid, and CHIP, 14 million Americans signed up to get covered between October 1 and the end of April.
Compared to the sign-up stats from before October 1, Medicaid/CHIP enrollment has increased by 6 million people since open enrollment began on October 1, including 1.1 million in April alone. In states that expanded Medicaid, enrollment increased by more than 15 percent, and sign-ups still increased by 3.3 percent in non-expansion states.
It’s important to remember that even though open enrollment ended for the health insurance marketplaces on March 31, people can still sign up for Medicaid and CHIP at any time. So that 6 million figure will go up as the year goes on.
Now if only the twenty or so states that are NOT expanding medicaid will get with the program we might see those numbers go up even more dramatically.
After all isn't it time for the Republicans to admit defeat on this issue?
(H/T to the Obama Diary.)
Update: You know it might be worth mentioning here that many insurance companies that were once hesitant to sign on with Obamacare have had a change of heart.
Republicans never admit anything, let alone defeat. They've been bleating non-stop for the last several years about how the PP&ACA was going to destroy the economy, cost jobs, kill women, children, old people, mom and apple pie.
ReplyDeleteI wish the American electorate, which sadly has a notoriously short memory, would try to remember what the Republicans have said about the health law, at least for the next ten years or so. If they're THAT wrong about health reform, maybe, just maybe, they're THAT wrong about everything else, too.
We, as voters, have the responsibility to talk to our friends and family members about these matters. I do it every chance I get....especially with the Republicans being so damned wrong about Obamacare being a failure!
DeleteEverything they are anti turns out to be wonderful - everyone they support loses races (remember Karl Rover and President Obama!) - and, they never can admit their defeats!
The Republican party is a huge mess and their candidates need to lose in the upcoming election cycle. Vote existing ones out of their held offices every chance you get. Check their voting records because they say one thing publically and vote exactly the opposite!
(Lisa Murkowski of Alaska is known for doing that!)
Loved seeing it announced that Hillary Clinton's husband, Bill, was recently voted the most favored POTUS in America! That assuredly will be a help to her in being elected to the position should she run!
GO HILLARY CLINTON!
Destroy THIS mom? No way! Sounds like a good day to bake apple pie...
DeleteThat figure isn't necessarily people that weren't covered before. It is this large because of two things-they lost their original insurance, and it is mandated that you have it, regardless if you can afford it! I applied for medicaid in January..I had lostmy job. I am STILL waiting to hear if I qualify!
ReplyDeleteI am fearful that once the kinks are worked out, we will all Gert treated a the veterans have--government run healthcare is NOT the best option.
"and it is mandated that you have it, regardless if you can afford it!"
Delete--------------------------------------
Bullshit.
Aside from the computer systems that don't talk to each other– VA and military – one of the biggest problems the VA has are too few doctors and other providers. Guess who doesn't want to fund that? It's not the Democrats!
DeleteAs has been acknowledged, those who can get access to VA care say it's the best care in the world!
Kochs are running a disgusting ad in NC that Kay Hagan cut Medicare by voting for Obamacare. WHAT? Pat McCrory cut Medicare by not taking the Medicare expansion.
ReplyDeleteThe only real question here is "did the R's dumb down the voters enough to sell this message all the way to the ballot box?"
We might be in a world of hurt, just read on Huffington Post, the Supreme Court may allow false information in Political Ads
DeleteIt pains me to see Alaska remaining so backward on this (and on many other things).
ReplyDelete6:20 It is asinine that the majority of Alaskans do not see, or do not care, as to what is going on in their state!
DeleteParnell needs to lose in his upcoming reelection bid - as does their majority Republican Legislature!
Way past time that the State of Alaska returns to being blue!
6:20 It is sad to see the State of Alaska listed in the top ten as to being one of the most corrupt across the nation (it is #8!).
DeletePlus, the city of Anchorage is #1 in the nation as to having the highest crime rates! And, Alaska has the highest rape rate in the nation.
Great state folks! Time to get Republicans voted out of office up there! Begin w/your Governor Parnell who is up for reelection and a Republican!
Their current Mayor Sullivan - also a Republican - is running for the second seat in Alaska's government! Don't vote for him. He has not been a good mayor as has been indicated in the recent published statistics.
Alaska also has a majority Republican Legislature which needs to be turned back to being 'blue' - very badly!
PAY ATTENTION ALASKANS AS TO HOW YOU VOTE!
I have several American friends and family who receive their healthcare through the VA, and are all VERY pleased with it. I live in Canada, with its universal healthcare, and I and well over 95% of my fellow Canadians wouldn't trade our healthcare for anyone else's in the world. As for government-run healthcare as you call it -- it's one hell of a lot better than insurance company-run healthcare, no question!
ReplyDeleteBut these headlines are another reminder that the existential questions that dogged Obamacare during its darkest days have all but evaporated. Now the challenging, but decidedly less sexy, work of implementing and improving is what remains.
ReplyDeletehttp://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/obamacare-good-news
The right isn't talking about it anymore, except for the occasional pointless "Obamacare is a disaster" talking point and the media isn't talking about it anymore because it isn't the newest shiny thing along with the fact that the Republicans aren't feeding them any disinformation about it. So Obamacare will be moving ahead quietly until it finally hits them on their pointy little heads as a smashing success. It makes me think of Cantor's pollsters and Karl Rove on election night bouncing around in the echo chamber. They all ignore or disdain what they don't want to hear and convince themselves and others that what they don't want to hear doesn't really exist. They all pat themselves on the back at their brilliance and foresight until reality comes crashing in on them.
ReplyDeleteYes He Could
ReplyDeleteHealth Care and Climate: President Obama’s Big Deals
www.nytimes.com/2014/06/16/opinion/paul-krugman-health-care-and-climate-president-obamas-big-deals.html
They want back in!
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/ddiamond/status/477451746831130626/photo/1
Uninsured students drop by 60% at Cal State campuses
ReplyDelete...According to a poll released Thursday, at the 15 largest CSU campuses, between 25% and 30% of students were uninsured before enrollment began, and 10% were uninsured after. The drop accounts for 60,000 students who became insured, and illustrates the late surge of young people who signed up for policies.
"These students proved that the folks we're calling young invincibles do want health insurance," said William Covino, president of Cal State Los Angeles.
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-csu-enrollment-data-20140612-story.html
Kentucky: Obamacare cut uninsured rate in half!
ReplyDeletehttp://acasignups.net/14/06/12/kentucky-obamacare-cut-uninsured-rate-half
Actors, musicians are big beneficiaries of Obamacare
ReplyDeletehttp://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-actors-insurance-20140523-story.html
Smile Of The Day: A dad twerking because he’s cancer free
http://theobamadiary.com/2014/06/16/rise-and-shine-844/
Governor Parnell - Alaska - up for reelection - vote him out - he is another anti Obamacare! Detrimental to Alaskans! Plus, he is in the oil companies back pockets - former employee of Conaco Oil - probably awaiting employment w/them again when he hopefully loses his job in Alaska!
ReplyDeleteParnell is not pro Alaskans! Check his record and that of the majority Republican Legislature up there!
The news surrounding the Affordable Care Act has been so good this week, it’s almost hard to know where to start. We could start with the fact that private insurers who skipped the exchanges now want in … or we could go with the fact, as expected, consumers are paying their premiums … … or we could talk about “Obamacare” cutting the rate of uninsured in New Jersey by 38%, Minnesota by 40%, and Kentucky by 50%.*
ReplyDeleteIn all, a little less than a third of the country supports repealing the Affordable Care Act – the position Republicans have spent years touting as smart policy and politics. Looking at all of the good ACA news last week, Simon Maloy said, “We’re only six days into June, and opponents of the ACA have already had a terrible month.” For the health care opponents on the right, June looks even worse this week.
http://theobamadiary.com/2014/06/16/obamacare-good-news-all-around/
What bothers me most about living in a state that's now listed as "debatable", is that, by refusing Medicaid Expansion since the onset has COST the state money that should have gone to better use.
ReplyDeletePennsylvania's Gov. Corbett (R) (among other things) tried to privatize the state lottery, which uses a portion to help meals on wheels, transportation, medication costs, for the elderly, free school lunches for those who need it. Well, the state's voters rebelled and the courts stopped him from his original plan, which would have made him look good by balancing the budget, not spending... and all the bullshit that republicans stand for, breaking the backs of the poor, elderly and veterans..Keep refusing it and depending on the Government to handle things, either way, it's win-win for President Obama and a zero for the GOP.
The costs are down and the quality of care is up.
We need to keep the momentum going, GOTV and educate people. Write your representatives and tell them your experience