HealthCare Notes

10/1/13

Obama Shares Successes Of Obamacare

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Obamacare Exchanges Open Across The Country

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Obamacare so in demand that sites are overwhelmed

www.dailykos.com/story/2013/10/01/1242979/-Obamacare-so-popular-sites-are-nbsp-overwhelmed
"New York has had more than 2 million visitors this morning, which is causing some trouble for people trying to sign up. To put that in perspective, New York has 2.5 million uninsured residents. [...]
Kentucky's new marketplace, the Kynect, had processed over 1,000 applications for insurance by 9:30 a.m. this morning. The Web site has had more than 24,000 visits from people browsing the insurance rates."

Obamacare Enrollment Is Beating Expectations

Obamacare Enrollment Is Beating Expectations: On the first morning that Obamacare's new exchanges have been open to the public, some state officials are being met with a flood of people who want to enroll.

Republicans’ health care delusion could kill Americans

Republicans’ health care delusion could kill Americans
"Today, hundreds of millions of Americans already have more affordable and more reliable, quality health care thanks to Obamacare. And that was even before the main part of the law, the state-based health insurance exchange markets, took effect. Soon, millions more Americans — yes, myself included — will take advantage of an expanded, competitive private insurance market that offers more affordability and choice in coverage. The cost of insurance for all Americans will continue to go down while access to insurance and health care goes up."

9/30/13

The Health Insurance Marketplace Is Open!

www.healthcare.gov/
The new Health Insurance Marketplace helps uninsured people find health coverage.

PERRspectives: Better Dead and Red: How the GOP Blocked Health Care for Red State Americans

PERRspectives: Better Dead and Red: How the GOP Blocked Health Care for Red State Americans
"Study after study has long shown that health care is worst in precisely those states where Republicans poll best. But in their zeal to discredit a president they loathe, GOP leaders across the nation passed up an historic opportunity to bring health insurance, greater financial security and higher standards of living to millions of their own constituents. When they didn't outright deny coverage to red state residents, Republicans did their damnedest to prevent their voters from even learning about their options under the ACA. And what "information" about Obamacare the GOP's best and brightest regurgitated simply wasn't true."

9/29/13

Ted Cruz Lie Exposed By Student He Used To Vilify Obamacare (VIDEO)

www.addictinginfo.org/2013/09/29/ted-cruz-lie-exposed-by-student-he-used-to-vilify-obamacare-video/
"It is no surprise that Ted Cruz got caught in yet another lie. What is surprising is how sloppy and irresponsible it was."

Dear Congress – Stop This Manufactured Crisis | Common Dreams

Dear Congress – Stop This Manufactured Crisis | Common Dreams
"Protect Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security

We urge you to oppose any cuts in Social Security, Medicaid, or Medicare benefits, including the shifting of health care costs to beneficiaries. We should be improving Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare by expanding benefits, not cutting them, because working people need more economic security, not less."

The National Memo » Republicans Are Terrified That Obamacare Will Succeed

The National Memo » Republicans Are Terrified That Obamacare Will Succeed
"the Koch brothers, like most conservatives, want Obamacare to fail. They are not concerned that the new health care law, which would extend insurance to the vast majority for the first time in history, is a “government takeover” of medicine or a “jobs-killer” or a ruinous new entitlement. None of that is true. (See factcheck.org or PolitiFact.com for actual facts about Obamacare.) Nope, the real concern of most conservatives is that Obamacare will work, proving popular over the long run."

9/27/13

Correcting Five Myths About Medicaid — Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Correcting Five Myths About Medicaid — Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
"Some claim that Medicaid is an inefficient program whose costs are growing out of control.  That’s a myth.  Medicaid’s per-beneficiary costs are lower than for private insurance, and its costs have been growing more slowly than employer coverage."

Missouri GOP Senator Breaks From His Party, Encourages People To Sign Up For Obamacare Next Week

Missouri GOP Senator Breaks From His Party, Encourages People To Sign Up For Obamacare Next Week: Unlike the the rest of the Republicans in his state, Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) is telling his constituents to enroll in the law's new plans.

9/26/13

GOP Fears American Appreciation Of Obamacare

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President Obama Defends Obamacare

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Pinheads And White House Correspondents

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Obama Calls Out GOP Healthcare Lies

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How Obamacare Has Already Saved Lives


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Why You're a Lot Better Off with Obamacare Than You Might Think | Alternet

Why You're a Lot Better Off with Obamacare Than You Might Think | Alternet
"Consider the following two examples from the Health Insurance Marketplace Premiums for 2014 issue brief released Wednesday by the White House and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In 36 mostly red states, HHS will be enrolling people via online applications at healthcare.gov because local Republicans have refused to set up state-run exchanges. For these states and their largest cities, HHS listed premiums and subsidies called a tax credit. The credits go directly to insurers monthly; they are not refunded in a lump sum after filing one’s yearly taxes."

9/25/13

Clearing Out The Message On Obamacare

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The Official Health Plan Marketplace For New York State

www.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/
NY State of Health is an organized marketplace designed to help people shop for and enroll in health insurance coverage. Individuals, families and small businesses will be able to use the Marketplace to help them compare insurance options, calculate costs and select coverage online, in-person, over the phone or by mail. The Marketplace will help people to check their eligibility for health care programs like Medicaid and sign up for these programs if they are eligible. The Marketplace will also be able to tell what type of financial assistance is available to applicants to help them afford health insurance purchased through the Marketplace. Insurance coverage can be purchased through NY State of Health beginning in October 1, 2013 and can be effective starting January 1, 2014.

MNsure Home Page

www.mn.gov/hix/
A new central health insurance marketplace for Minnesotans.

Vermont Health Connect

www.healthconnect.vermont.gov/
A new way for Vermonters to find health coverage that fits their needs and budget. Vermont Health Connect is a marketplace where individuals, families and small businesses can make side-by-side comparisons of private health plans and find financial help to pay for care. Vermont Health Connect is also for individuals and families in Vermont to find out about and enroll in public health coverage.

Maryland Health Connection

www.marylandhealthconnection.gov/
Maryland Health Connection is Maryland’s new health insurance marketplace opening October 2013.

Hawaiʻi Health Connector

www.hawaiihealthconnector.com/
The Hawaiʻi Health Connector (the Connector) is an online health insurance marketplace, created to help individuals and small businesses take advantage of the health insurance choices available to them.

Nevada Health Link - Connecting you to health insurance

www.info.nevadahealthlink.com/
Nevada Health Link was created by the State of Nevada to help individuals and small businesses easily shop for, compare and buy health insurance. In October 2013, this website will become an online marketplace where you can enroll in an income-based health insurance plan. You'll be able to make side-by-side comparisons of plans from different insurance companies, so you can pick the plan that's right for your needs. If you have questions, the Nevada Health Link team is here to help, by phone, online and in-person.

HealthSource RI

www.healthsourceri.com/
As of October 1, 2013, you can use HealthSource RI to compare plans and buy affordable health insurance. Sign up now to receive a notification.

DC Health Benefit Exchange Authority

www.hbx.dc.gov/
The health care exchange program will enable individuals and small employers to find affordable and easier-to-understand health insurance and assist small employers in purchasing qualified health benefit plans for their employees. The exchange will facilitate the purchase of qualified health plans and assist individuals and groups to access programs, premium assistance tax credits and cost-sharing reductions.

Ball On Conservatives Opposing Obamacare

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Final Word On Obamacare Coverage: Cheaper Than Expected

www.talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/final-word-on-obamacare-coverage-cheaper-than-expected
"On average, people will have a choice of 56 different insurance plans -- depending on which state you live in, though, that figure could range from seven (in Alabama) to 106 (in Arizona). The average number of insurers in a state is eight, though that again ranges from one to 13 in different states.

As for premiums, before tax credits kick in, they will average 16 percent below the Congressional Budget Office's original estimates for a silver-level plan (which covers 70 percent of costs). The number of insurers in a state is directly tied to how low premiums will be, Lambrew noted. Arizona, with an average of 106 plans to choose from, had the second-lowest average premiums for a 27-year-old adult: $166 a month. Wyoming, with an average of 16 plans, had the highest average premium at $342 a month.
But then the tax credits take effect. Those knock the premium for that 27-year-old, projected to earn $25,000, down to $145 in most states. For a family of four making $50,000, the credits take the premium price down from more than $1,000 in some states to $282."

New Report: For 95% Of Americans, Obamacare Will Cost Much Less Than Expected

New Report: For 95% Of Americans, Obamacare Will Cost Much Less Than Expected: When uninsured Americans begin enrolling in Obamacare's new health care exchanges on Oct. 1, the overwhelming majority -- 95 percent -- will face health care premiums that are 16 percent lower, on average, than the government had previously projected

DC Republicans in Full Panic Mode: Obamacare Will Be Hugely Popular and There's Little the GOP Can Do to Stop It | Alternet

DC Republicans in Full Panic Mode: Obamacare Will Be Hugely Popular and There's Little the GOP Can Do to Stop It | Alternet
"Thus, their posturing, such as Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s latest bill for complete defunding and his Tuesday filibuster, needs to be seen as the old cliché it is: a desperate measure for their desperate time.
What’s scaring Republicans is that the president’s most significant domestic initiative is about to hit prime time. Starting October 1, it is poised to start delivering on its central promise, which is giving millions of Americans more and cheaper choices to buy health insurance."

9/24/13

New Health Care Exchange: Covered Oregon

www.coveroregon.com/
An innovative marketplace is coming for Oregonians to compare and enroll in health insurance. With Cover Oregon™, you’ll have more choices, more control and more access to health coverage than ever before. It includes coverage from both public medical programs and private insurers. Enrollment begins this October with coverage starting in January 2014.

Health Care Reform: A Guide to Health Insurance & Affordable Care Act

www.webmd.com/health-insurance/default.htm
GOP-led misinformation campaigns have left millions of Americans confused about health reform. The largest health website in the country wants to help change that.

Affordable Health Insurance: Covered California

www.coveredca.com/
"Millions of Californians will be able to choose affordable, high-quality health insurance coverage offered through Covered California™ that will take effect January 2014. Covered California is a new, easy-to-use marketplace where you and your family may get financial assistance to make coverage more affordable and where you will be able to compare and choose health coverage that best fits your needs and budget. By law, your coverage can't be dropped or denied even if you have a pre-existing medical condition or get sick."