The Kansas City Star put us on warning yesterday: Obamacare is just around the corner.
It’s the biggest unknown domestic program that the government has sent our way in decades.
So, how are you feeling? Anxious, fearful, disgusted, hopeful, excited? However you feel, it’s time to start preparing. Personally, I am hopeful and excited. Here’s why. For the last three years, our 25-year-old daughter Brooks has suffered from anorexia nervosa.
She has been in and out of treatment facilities and transitional living places. Blue Cross Blue Shield of KC has covered perhaps $200,000 in medical bills, and Patty and I have shelled out perhaps $50,000 for uncovered bills and housing. (There was one bill alone for $17,250, which I appealed to the state insurance division but lost.)
Brooks and our 23-year-old son Charlie, who’s healthy as a horse, are on my individual plan — which is a supplement to my Medicare coverage.
The problem is, as most of you probably know, after Brooks turns 26 next St. Patrick’s Day, she can no longer be on my plan; she will be on her own.
Naturally, that is worrisome. As things stand now, without the Affordable Care Act, Brooks undoubtedly would have great difficulty getting medical insurance because of her costly “pre-existing condition.” If she did find an insurer that would take her, I’m sure it would be very, very expensive.
A Huffington Post article in March said that because the Affordable Care Act outlaws discriminating against anyone with a pre-existing or chronic condition, as of January 1 next year, “no one can be turned away by plans in the marketplace or charged more because they’re in poorer health…And every health insurance plan in the Marketplace will cover a standard set of essential health benefits that includes, among other benefits, hospital stays, prescription drug coverage, preventive services, oral and vision care for kids.”
So, just as Brooks is about to fall off of my plan, it appears that Obama and the ACA are riding in to the rescue…At least, that’s the way I hope, and foresee, it coming about.
The Star’s story, by medical writer Alan Bavley and business writer Diane Stafford, noted that yesterday, June 23, was the 100-day mark (Oct. 1) “when uninsured people can begin applying for health insurance and premium subsidies through the law’s new state and federal marketplaces.”
The story said that the goal was to reach the estimated 30 million Americans who qualify for enrollment through the marketplaces. If all goes according to plan, people like Brooks should be able to go online, compare plans and prices (hopefully there will be at least two plans in any given jurisdiction) and sign up. Coverage starts Jan. 1, but enrollment will continue through March 31.
Meanwhile the government is mobilizing to educate U.S. residents about the program. Much of the heavy lifting must be done by the Department of Health and Human Services. Among other things, the department is set to announce a redesign of its HealthCare.gov website, and in August it is supposed to announce which insurance plans will be offered in each state and the various rates.
One reason I think this is going to go better than many people believe is that I have a lot of confidence in Health and Human Service Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.
Yes, she probably should not have approached health industry officials, asking for financial contributions to help with the effort to implement the ACA, but that seems to have blown over. And, besides, she did so only after Congress repeatedly rejected the Obama administration’s requests for start-up funds.
To me, Sebelius has always been a serious-minded, effective public servant. She’s energetic, authentic and not looking ahead, in my opinion, to her next professional or political position. I think she’s committed to getting Obamacare off to a good start, and I think she will handle the inevitable glitches professionally and even-handedly.
…Call me a cock-eyed optimist, but I am counting on relatively smooth implementation of the Affordable Care Act, until and unless I see it not happening.
And that, unfortunately, is what a lot of Obama haters want — a big disaster — so they can say, “I told you so.”
If the program succeeds, as I expect it to, it’s going to further marginalize politicians like Senator Mitch McConnell and representatives John Boehner and Paul Ryan.
It’s not the Democrats who need to be worrying now; it’s the Republicans.
JimmyCsays: At the juncture of journalism and daily life in KC 
Very fine piece, Jim. You were brave and thoughtful to write about Brooks and your personal family challenges. It will help many others.
I hope and pray that Brooks, your beautiful daughter, will overcome her challenges and enjoy complete, good health soon as possible.
Thinking of you and Patty, Brooks and Charlie,
Laura
Thanks, Laura…Brooks is in the early stages of recovery now, having been close to rock bottom earlier this year. She’s at a transitional living facility in Fairway and doing pretty well, emotionally as well as physically. Thank you for your positive thoughts and encouragement. I hope you’re doing well…Good to hear from you.
Horse Hockey Pucks! ACA benefits the AMA, Big Pharma and the whole Allopathic Medical Complex, that wanna shove synthetic drugs down our throats. Treat the symptoms not the underlying cause.
Click on the link below and OPEN YOUR EYES!
http://www.newswithviews.com/Dean/carolyn29.htm
Obamacare will be our version of The Holocaust. Planned Parenthood killing us on the front end and ACA on the back end…..or perhaps in the rear end.
Kathleen Sebelius is an IDIOT when it comes to health care. I wouldn’t trust her to change the oil in my car. Institutional Bureaucrat at best.
You’re not a cock-eyed optimist. You are insane! Hail Holy Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Fitz…..you are way too smart to buy into this charade of delusional public policy.
Fitz, I say this with all due respect knowing that you love your daughter. if you haven’t taken her to a ND, Naturopatic Doctor, or a dual degreed NMD, do so. Our bodies want to be in a perfect state of health. Perfect health is the internal and external alignment of mind, body and soul achieved through diet, exercise and some form of spiritual guidance. God put everything on this planet that we need to achieve that…not BCBS, Merck, Pfizer, Sanofi Aventis, the FDA, AMA and certainly not ACA. Trust me on this. I am The Smartman
Jim,
Of course Prays to your daughter and entire family.
I am not belong to a political party.
Politicians, in general, are thieves.
I hope this health care plan is a wonderful change for the country.
But it is close 2,100-pages in length and Senators (from Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana) were bribed for their votes. I would imagine others were bribed, but the eleventh-hour Senate bribes were more difficult to keep private.
Senator Nelson decided against running for his seat after his constituents and others were notified.
When you mix the physicians, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies and medical equipment makers, it is unlikely for a “budget-neutral” ACA plan to arrive. I believe the cost today is listed at $5.6 billion.
As we begin to cover the estimated 32 million Americans, (I do not know if illegal immigrants are included), by 2020, another 33 million Americans will join the type of medical consumers who will need the ACA.
I list these points, except politicians being thieves, not knowing whose lobbying group served as the source. So I also admit there are too many questions and still not enough fact.
Nobody can, in detail, predict what the ACA will bring to this country.
And the Secretary of Health and Human Services, if he or she, wants to keep their job, would pretend to love this plan or move on. Or actually support it.
I want to be an optimistic. I am optimistic by nature. But also for those like Brook, and all of the Fitzpatrick family. All American families.
But the way this was pushed though in President Obama first 14 months culminating in the December D.C. Saturday evening snowstorm vote, has made me more skeptical than usual with huge government program involving sweeping change with our health.
My personal-care physician of 26 years is firmly against the ACA. he explained his reasons. I do not remember, I asked him soon after it was passed. But he is part of the plan, he feels he should not have to give his talents and trade for free.
He owns the medical practice. Another doctor told me many will sell their practices and settle for wealth and retirement sooner than originally planned.
I want it to work as much as anyone, but I have many questions. These questions will not be answered completely (as many with this Administration) by October.
I am curious on how one attain the title “The Smartman.” I am not denying The Smartman deserves the title, but is he Ken Jennings – the Jeopardy winner or what?
No Larry, I’m not Ken Jennings. I am a self centered, egotistical, know it all. I admire myself in the mirror for hours each day. I even had brain surgery once and had the surgeon film it so I could actually see what my genius brain looks like. It was a very powerful moment.
If you follow my punditry or opining you know by now that I am NEVER right about anything. I’m wrong often enough that by that measure alone I’m qualified to be POTUS.
I’m just another long winded gas bag wasting people’s time with stupid ideas. To be honest Seargent Shultz from Hogan’s Heroes was my grandpa. Like him, I know NOTHING. But thank God for those syndication checks.
Excuse me while I light my pre embargo Cuban……… with a rapidly……..deflating………..$100.00………..bill.
Ahhhhh. The pleasure of an illegal Cuban. Funny, you can hire one to cut your grass with no problemo, but get caught smoking one and BOOM! Off to jail.
Thanks for challenging my handle. I really need to live a more humble servants life and just STFU.
Larry…He used to be just Smartman but then realized that meant he might be just one of many smart men. So, wisely, he changed it to The Smartman, which meant that I had to re-approve him as a commenter…Naturally, I want as many smart men (or women) as possible, in addition to The Smartman. You get what I mean?
…Now, about that Cuban cigar business. I know a thing or two about cigars, and there are very, very few floating around in the U.S. When somebody tells you out of the corner of their mouth that they’ve got a Cuban and they’d like to give it to you (but don’t tell anybody), you should brace yourself for a bad smoke. A good friend passed one off on me a week or so ago, saying his sister had been to Costa Rica or some such place and came back with some Cubans. I was rightly skeptical, but I lit it up on the golf course — to celebrate a bogey. After about two minutes, the damn thing started unraveling in my hand and within 10 minutes it had come completely apart and was nourishing the zoysia fairway. He’s still a good friend, though.
Jim and The Smartman,
I was not challenging the title. As I typed earlier, the word I used was “curious.”
Any friend of Jim’s is a friend of mine.
I smoked Cubans, real ones, up until two years ago. I miss them, especially playing golf…but I have over playing Pebble and not smoking.
The Smartman, I read your comments, on this ACA topic. I have no problems with others’ opines.
C’mon Larry! We’re all just trying to add some levity to the fact that we’ve screwed up the beautiful world God gave us.
Fitz, If you’ve never smoked a real Cuban let me know. I’ll get one deposited in your account at Fidel’s.
I have an imaginary friend that does quite a bit of work with an alleged government located south of the US. He visits their capital city monthly and always seems to have some of the highest quality stogies. I ask no questions. He tells no lies. Honor, again, lies among thieves.
My favorite thing to do, a day before I plan to smoke one, is lightly coat the wrapper with a nice single malt scotch. It’s like having the Cherubim and Seraphin dancing on your taste buds when you draw.
Thanks, Jim. Glad to know Brooks is near her family. That is great. And wonderful to know she has made such good progress.
All best to you and your family,
Laura
The Smartman,
We are cool. We have screwed this planet Earth. But our time here is a blink of an eye compared to the Eternal Life I have awaiting me. From the Graces of God and my Savior, Jesus Christ – The King of Kings.
Hello Laura, it’s been a long time. I hope you are well.
Be Well,
The Smartman and Fitz
Agreed, Larry. Currently reading Proof of Heaven by Eben Alexander. Incredible book. We all have so much to look forward to when we move on to the next life.
Sebeius is a first-class stumblebum, Jim…I’m glad your daughter didn’t need special dispensation for a lung transplant, because “Death Panel Sebelius” would have given her the Roman thumbs down a couple weeks ago, and you’d be planning a funeral. Get real, man.
Welcome to the Comments Dept., Rex….I’m not worried about my family’s health care; it’s great. It’s the spiraling costs and the shell game of fees and bills that drives me crazy — and concerns me about what lies ahead for my daughter and son.
Wishing your family the best Jim.
Smarty’s concerns over the Government take over of such a HUGE percentage of an American industry are well founded.
I have zero answers or advice, but I do expect the worst.