"Obamacare's Disproportionate Impact On Successful Freelancers"
From a tweet:
@DouthatNYT
Obamacare's disproportionate impact on successful freelancers is a small but notable factor in the WH's PR mess: http://bit.ly/1daehUh
Here's the piece in the New York Observer by Bruce Barcott. The headline:
My Obamacare Cancellation: "Seething at a President I helped elect."
Barcott writes:
We received the letter in the mail a couple months ago. The good people at Regence Bluecross Blueshield were pleased to inform us that due to Obamacare our current low-monthly premium, comically-high deductible medical policy would no longer exist come January 1, 2014. Pleased, because a new and better plan would be offered in its place. Old monthly premium: $578 for a family of four (non-smoking, helmet-wearing, and paternally snipped). New premium: $1,123. A 94% increase.Once the sound of boiling blood dissipated, in my head I heard my Republican friends chuckling at the sight of a liberal Democrat hoisted ten stories high on his own petard. How's the view up there, Obamacare Ollie?
For the past 15 years my wife and I have made our living as freelance writers. (To young readers, I say: Do not do this. Your bliss is marvelous, but its following will need to be supported by a banker, plumber, union machinist or tenured faculty member.) As such, our health insurance is our own concern. Over the years we've held on to our coverage by letting our co-pay and deductible rise and our covered procedures fall. You may be aware that the three-tiered state exchange policies are labeled Gold, Silver, and Bronze, reflecting their price and level of coverage. If our policy still existed it would fall into the column of Wood.
But Wood we had--and Wood we liked.
No more. O.K., into the state exchange we go. I voted for it. Fair enough.
It is our good fortune to live in Washington State, where our Democratic governor embraced the Affordable Care Act and set up a state exchange that is, according to those who've studied such things, the best in the nation. The website allowed me to find a plan that looked reasonable. Premera Blue Cross had a Preferred Bronze 5500 for $889 a month. Okay. Not so bad. Downside: $3,600 more in annual premiums. Upside: Free eyeglasses for the boy!
He sneers at the obvious wild BS that the policy change Obama announced -- that insurers will be allowed to keep offering the plans they cancelled will result in any insurance company offering those policies again.
Two perceptive comments on the site:
Bonnie Droege Ramthun, Erie, Colorado
If our health care system was designed by capitalists, it would be cheap, competitive, easy to use and as full of features as our smart phones. If our smart phones were designed by socialists...
LeRoy Moore Jr., Super expert at High Tech Stuff
If our smart phones were designed by socialists they would be called C.B. radios. Good comment.
He has Republican friends? I'm actually surprised.
Oh, and those eyeglasses aren't "free." He's paying for them with that 97% rate increase.
Lamont Cranston at November 19, 2013 6:48 AM
Kinda funny because I think freelancers were big drivers of the government health insurance push. They could be more vocal about it, and reporters always know freelancers who would be willing to serve as Exhibit A for "we need cheap health insurance!" If only the government would take care of this problem, so they can be free to follow their dreams.
Present company excepted, of course. I greatly respect Amy for taking care of this issue on her own.
carol at November 19, 2013 8:02 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2013/11/19/obamacares_disp.html#comment-4063369">comment from carolThanks, carol.
I'm still amazed that this massive plan didn't untie healthcare from the workplace -- but who knows, maybe that's some plan to get people more dependent on government. Either that or just pure stupidity.
Amy Alkon at November 19, 2013 8:25 AM
Hateful government loathers who obsess over things like budget deficits and other numerical minutiae will protest that prices are going up due to the law. This, while factually true, is what the modern journalistic trade would call "accurate but fake", since prices are going up due to evil profiteering insurance companies.
Stinky the Clown at November 19, 2013 9:08 AM
"disproportionate impact on successful . . "
This seems to always be true of any government program; they are often designed to take from the haves and gives to the have-nots. Why did he think he wasn't a have?
Charles at November 19, 2013 9:24 AM
Stinky, at first I thought you were being sarcastic. But now I think it was unintentional self-parody.
Prices are going up because the new regulations required insurance companies to offer more comprehensive plans that covered things they weren't interested in, and cost more money. If those regulations hadn't gone into effect, prices would be the same, as would the insurance industry's relatively small profits (3%).
Case closed. Clear now?
Willy at November 19, 2013 9:54 AM
So these insurance companies weren't "evil" and "profiteering" until now?
Sorry, but your explanation doesn't wash. The change didn't happen because companies suddenly became evil. It happened because of what did change - the introduction of Obamacare. Greed is real and has always existed. The old system took that into consideration, and since consumers had choices, excess prices were passed up, and companies could offer low-cost policies because that was what people would buy. Thanks to Obamacare, the main element that kept prices down - the ability of consumers to just say no to high prices - has been declared illegal. If everybody is now required to buy insurance, and now required to buy more insurance than they had ever wanted, that's what economists call an increase in demand - and a increase in price always follows.
FuzzyFace at November 19, 2013 9:55 AM
I wonder if the premiums he's quoting were before, or after the best-in-nation Washington State exchange figured out it was giving way-too-low estimates, and sent out letters to tell everyone who enrolled what their real premiums are going to be...
Alan at November 19, 2013 9:57 AM
Seriously - how can anyone afford those premiums? If I make $75,000 a year and have the traditional mortgage of around a third of my salary - that leaves $50,000 less taxes, or $35,000. Divide that by 12 and that's around $3,000 a month income. I'm supposed to pay a third of that as a premium with a massive deductible?
Raytus at November 19, 2013 10:02 AM
All those newly insured are being paid for SOLELY by the 5 million unsubsidized freelancers being forced into the exchange markets.
People on Medicare, Medicaid, group insurance and government employees are all untouched.
That the 10 million or so with preexisting conditions are getting averaged in with the dragooned freelancers might have something to do with that those rate increases and network decreases.
Casey M at November 19, 2013 10:20 AM
When it's least expected, you're selected,
you're the chump today!
Smile! You're on Obama's Camera!
fiftyville at November 19, 2013 10:30 AM
If the ACA were what it is claimed to be it would not be necessary to use violence and coercion to get people to participate. In other words, once you have the government run it then it has lost any legitimacy it would have otherwise had and you acknowledge that people are being forced to act against their best interests.
If Bruce voted for that sort of thing then he deserves what he gets. But he shows he hasn't learned his lessons because he is squealing about the subsidy... as if garden gnomes are going to fund it rather than people he has chosen to injure by force. He would be fine with forcing others to pay for this boondoggle. He just doesn't want to have to do so out of his own pocket. But he is cool with violence being used on his behalf.
This is leftism in a nutshell. It is the ability to feel morally superior to your victims even while you are injuring them.
Thatch at November 19, 2013 10:37 AM
You guys need to go back to the entire sales pitch and not just the part about keeping your plan. Obamacare is supposed to reduce premiums by up to $1200 per family, its supposed to lower the deficit, its supposed to create jobs, etc. None of that is true.
1. Do you think this law would have really passed if the truth was told from the start? (Of course not. See Hillarycare)
2. Do you think the President would have been reelected if this all came out before the election? (Possibly not. The polls of registered voters are now in favor of Romney.)
3. Do you understand that the contempt for the GOP and the Tea Party is birthed from the lies told to get Obamacare passed?
Rich at November 19, 2013 10:48 AM
You guys need to go back to the entire sales pitch and not just the part about keeping your plan. Obamacare is supposed to reduce premiums by up to $1200 per family, its supposed to lower the deficit, its supposed to create jobs, etc. None of that is true.
1. Do you think this law would have really passed if the truth was told from the start? (Of course not. See Hillarycare)
2. Do you think the President would have been reelected if this all came out before the election? (Possibly not. The polls of registered voters are now in favor of Romney.)
3. Do you understand that the contempt for the GOP and the Tea Party is birthed from the lies told to get Obamacare passed?
Rich at November 19, 2013 10:50 AM
Charles,
Whenever one closes a argument with "case closed", it means YOU have lost the argument because you have no logic, ethic, or fact to back up your untenable position.
Obummercare was/is/will be a horrific train wreck, causing untold human physical/emotional suffering; to people not knocking down the billion dollar compensation of insurance company CEO's or their paid shills/political whores.
The insurance company lobbyist wrote/promoted/lied about the insurance laws for the last 4 decades and have screwed the folks of this country 1 more time with the same immoral behavior on Obummercare.
Either you are a paid troll/shill or woefully misinformed. All the information is on the www; at this time; if you want to research it.
This case will close when it's utility is agreed to by a majority of the folks or not.
Greg at November 19, 2013 10:58 AM
Comrades!
Great news from the White Fortess!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2509715/Obama-flubs-health-care-conference-community-organizers-More-100-million-Americans-successfully-enrolled.html
Stinky the Clown at November 19, 2013 12:26 PM
Bah this idiot can go to hell along with his family. So many people are just in denial of reality or so brainwashed they will still call me a racist for daring to oppose the sainted Obama's great plans of a utopia wonderland.
These folks don't realize they are being bankrupted by corrupt leaders and made into slaves. The GOP is too scared and/or in on the scam and the Dems are just hoping to pass the buck when they know they are liars. The country is so deep in the hole debt wise and honor wise there is no saving it.
But then hey, I'm just a new cancer survivor watching the bills pile up, lucky that I can afford it. Despite the government long letting insurance companies and health care providers fleece me because I can pay. Why is it I can pay cash for a hearing test and it costs less than insurance hmm? Why does it cost $10 per aspirin at a hospital hmm? Why can a company offer $499 MRI scans yet the hospital 20 miles away will charge me $2000? (Thats with insurance). Cut out the monopolies and gov mandates/stealing and watch the system fix itself.
And then whiny cry babies like this tard monkey freelancer (fleecelancer more like it) hits reality on his own wallet and still will call me a racist/bigot/hostage taker/economic terrorist for daring to tell them the truth and daring to not let the government take away my rights (I'm keepin my guns, come and take them as they're about all I have left to defend myself).
Oh wait, Bloomberg says we're just uncaring JERKS!
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-19/obamacare-shows-how-americans-are-becoming-jerks.html
Yeah, kiss my grits Bloomberg freelancer stooges.
Sio at November 19, 2013 12:41 PM
I'm one freelancer who did not agitate in favor of the ACA. Quite the opposite-- I tried to persuade others that it would be a disaster. And I lost friends over it and was told I was a "shut-in" and "unhinged."
Barcott seems to think that eyeglasses for a child cost upwards of $3,600 (and that he'll have to buy them annually).
About three years ago, I decided that it had been too long since I had my eyes examined and that maybe I should get some new specs. I went to an eye doctor at the Walmart about a mile from my house. I think he charged me $75 for the examination... maybe $100. Don't recall exactly. I do know that I was pleasantly surprised that the figure was reasonable. I purchased my glasses (with groovy designer frames) through a company on the internet. I think the cost (for TWO PAIR) was about $120.
Idiots like Barcott would probably say that the eye doc was "substandard" (and probably throw in a dig at Walmart). The truth is, he's reputable and competent. And the eyeglasses are awesome-- coated lenses, perfect grinding of my prescriptions and excellent customer service. In fact, when I screwed up and gave them the wrong prescription info on the first go-round, I was able to mail them back-- free of charge-- and get corrected glasses back within days.
Of course, super-smart freelancers like Barcott operate on partial information and odd mythology, to convince themselves and others that they aren't getting hosed.
Brian McKim at November 19, 2013 12:43 PM
Ooops, Fortress.
This is today's Current Truth. Oceania has always been our ally.
Stinky the Clown at November 19, 2013 12:49 PM
Government will save us all! Or not...
Medical Scams:
http://market-ticker.org/akcs-www?post=226110
Sio at November 19, 2013 12:51 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2013/11/19/obamacares_disp.html#comment-4063803">comment from Brian McKimI think it cost me $25 for an eye exam at my HMO. I buy frames myself and have my prescription lenses put in at EyeglassDirect for $35. When things were especially tough, I got glasses at Zuni Optical for $19.99, with prescription. They let you "try on" the glasses by uploading a photo of yourself.
Gregg got his glasses at Lenscrafters. He dropped them when we were on the plane to go to the National Book Awards for Elmore. He didn't know it -- until I said "What's that?" after I crunched on something. Oops. We had a packed night of events and he needed to be able to read. No problem. I found a Lenscrafter four blocks from our hotel and they called the LA store, got his prescription and put them in the same frames for $165 total and had them ready within an hour. And they were super nice! (Lenscrafter on Third Ave in the 50s, I believe, near the lipstick building.)
Amy Alkon at November 19, 2013 12:55 PM
Interesting link
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2497637/Three-20-year-old-programmers-build-working-Obamacare-website-just-days-government-do.html
KLC at November 19, 2013 2:05 PM
Greg; please read WHO wrote which comment!
hint: commenter's name appears BELOW the comment.
Charles at November 19, 2013 2:26 PM
They always say that a conservative is a liberal who has been mugged.
But isn't the REAL question to be answered, the single most important question... Is Sandra Fluke FINALLY getting the free birth control pills she deserves?
As the Re-Elect Obama website said; "Vote like your lady parts depend on it". And apparently women did.
Should've gone for using their brains instead.
I blame George Bush and Fox News.
RS at November 19, 2013 3:15 PM
"Obummercare was/is/will be a horrific train wreck . . . "
Well, to people who needed help with insurance, or to people who buy and use insurance, maybe it will be a wreck.
But the bill wasn't written for any of them.
Look at what OB-C has the potential to accomplish:
1. By the time BO opens our data (SSN matched w/ addresses matched w/ birthdates) to access by the insurers, there will be hundreds of little scripts written and spread all over the internets that will make all of that information completely open and public. This is by design; Once BO has that much cover, he can start handing out all of that info to whomever he chooses, for purposes unknown, and maintain plausible deniability. ("Nope, wasn't me, wouldn't do that, didn't even know about it until I heard about it on Oprah . . .")
And I'll bet he "chooses" ACORN, et al.
2. Once our ID's are no longer private, we will loose a great deal of our ability to function via credit cards, bank transfers, and the like. ID will no longer ever be a completely verifiable thing; ID theft and misuse will be so common, you will always wonder who you're really dealing with. I bet BO finds some way for his buds to capitalize on that loss.
3. Plus, with that small stroke, we no longer have much of an ability to keep voter fraud from running the table. We'll hear how it's better to let one non-citizen vote than it is to stop one citizen from voting, and the general populace, not having actually ever heard the word "math", will buy it, and repeat it endlessly (not understanding that doing so is much like stapling a card to your forehead showing your failing results from an IQ test so everyone can see.)
4. By the time we can do any repeal work, OB-C will have already dealt a fatal blow to enough of our present system of insurance for health care, as well as to health care itself, so that we won't be able to easily switch back. The loss of the resources used up in switching to OB-C, and then switching away, will leave the system fairly well drained of cash and credit, and so, while we will get everything back in shape eventually, the human cost (in loss of healthcare jobs, loss of health when many many people go without insurance) will be high.
And BO's entire political philosophy holds that he needs to wreck our present system in order to rebuild it - that we'll always tend to stick with what we have because it's easier to stay the same than it is to change, and so the fastest way to a drastic reconfiguration is to simply eliminate what's already there, and then no one has a status quo to defend.
And that's the day we start Single Payer. Which is what he's always aimed for.
5. He spent enough money on these websites to fund several small armies. He spent a billion dollars of federal tax money so far, not counting fixes. Did you see many stories about who he spent it on? Who it was that received those huge paychecks for programming time? Think of it as just another huge stimulus for Friends of Barrack. By the time he gets done handing out our money, he'll have reconfigured the country's social structure simply through all of these dollars going to his network.
bobby b at November 19, 2013 4:48 PM
Isn't Washington State the one where the Insurance Commissioner (or similar position) has said he would refuse to allow the old sub-standard policies to be issued?
And I think it was Oregon I heard who had managed to sign up 0 people online up through some point. Just Googled...looks like that is through like a day ago. Though they have managed to signup people via other means.
The Former Banker at November 19, 2013 6:31 PM
"Seething at a President I helped elect."
Really?
"Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard." H. L. Mencken (1880 – 1956)
Robert Arvanitis at November 19, 2013 6:50 PM
In the Live Free or Die state they have had 269 sign up for Obamacare.
Meanwhile in New Hampshire there are 275 moose hunting tags available. The applications for moose hunting have exceeded the number of available licenses as I understand it.
So I trust the [un]ACA why?
Jim P. at November 19, 2013 10:02 PM
Oregon still has no one signed up, but have created 19-page paper applications someone has to hand process now (several thousand have been filled out). They did manage to enroll 70,000 new Medicaid patients by sending applications out to food stamp recipients though. Wow, what success.
BunnyGirl at November 20, 2013 12:27 AM
They would not be CB radios. They would be FM radios. Crank operated and receiving one station - the Obama Press conference.
They do not want to hear what we have to say.
MarkD at November 20, 2013 3:56 AM
Charles: "Why did he [Barcott] think he wasn't a have?"
Because he still wants.
Ken R at November 20, 2013 5:04 AM
Barcott: "...the entire premise of the Affordable Care Act – which is that by balancing the halt (allowing pre-existing conditions) and the hale (forcing robust young adults to get in the pool), the exchanges will over time produce a system that offers quality health care at a price my family can afford." (Emphasis added)
Greedy moocher. He has no qualm about forcing others ("robust young adults") to pay his way. What kind of income would he have to have for his family to not qualify for a subsidy? In the $90K range?
Obamacare supporters:
- They claimed they were supporting affordable health care for the poor.
- They thought they would get cheap health care for themselves that someone else would be forced to pay for.
- What they got is screwed, right along with everyone else.
Who the hell did they think was going to pay for it? The Koch brothers?
Ken R at November 20, 2013 5:36 AM
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