Waiting For Obamacare

(Image above is from the blog cosmos enigmatic mirage.)

While the Republicans in Congress frantically try to repeal (or defund) Obamacare, many people tend to forget that millions of Americans are eagerly waiting for the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) to fully take effect -- because for the first time they will be able to get affordable health insurance, which will allow them to get the health care they can't afford right now. It is a national shame that so many Americans must do without health insurance (and therefore without health care), and while Obamacare won't completely fix that problem, it will allow millions more to get coverage (either through Medicaid or the new state insurance exchanges).

One of the best posts I have read recently on this was written by Joanne Boyer at the blog called Winning Progressive. Here is some of what she had to say:

Excuse me, but we are talking about people’s lives—including mine. That’s what I want to tell every local, state, or federal legislator out and about screaming “Repeal Obamacare.” For those of us who are unable to acquire or afford health insurance, we have been counting down the days to January 1, 2014. For us, it has seemed like forever since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed and full implementation begins. The ACA, although not the single-payer system this country so desperately needs, takes the first step to allow millions of people the chance to seek medical care when needed. It’s as simple as that. The opportunity for people to access health care (in some cases live-saving care) is not the place for political gamesmanship, rhetoric, distortion, or playing to a base of voters.

I am so tired of and angry at legislators and others who continue to propel falsehoods about the new healthcare law. Is it a perfect bill? Of course not. Is there room for improvement? Youbetcha. But, what cannot be denied is the fact that the ACA offers those of us who are currently unable to participate in this country’s for-profit health care delivery system, a chance to see a doctor. The ACA boils down to that one fact for so many of us—we have a fighting chance to finally seek the health care we need. Other more detailed facts of the legislation can be found at the official ACA site here. Other ACA benefits include allowing children to stay on their parents’ health plan until age 26, an 80/20 rule that says health insurance providers must put 80 cents of every premium dollar they take from consumers into providing actual health care, and elimination of life-time benefit maximums.

I live in Minnesota, a state fully embracing the ACA and on September 6, MNSure, the state’s health exchange, will post the benefit plan designs available and the cost. I cannot wait. And I’m not even sure that I will find “cheaper” coverage, but I know that thanks to the ACA, I will find “better” coverage. I have four more months of paying for the “bankruptcy insurance” I now carry that masquerades for health care coverage. My $329.21 a month for a $10,000 deducible policy prevents me from seeking the health care I need today. Who stands between me and my doctor and the health care I need? That’s simple for me to answer: it’s our country’s for-profit health care delivery system. We still remain the only country in the industrialized world to embrace such a system. . .

There is much more, and it is well worth reading. The congressional Republicans (who have their own govern-provided health insurance) don't seem to care whether other Americans are able  to have health insurance (and health care) or not. They don't see it as their problem. Their problem is making sure corporations and rich people don't have to pay taxes -- and if thousands of people die each year because they don't have health insurance (and therefore can't afford health care), well that's just tough.

But while those Republicans don't care about their fellow Americans, we must always keep in mind that millions are waiting and counting on Obamacare. Obamacare is far from perfect, but it is a big improvement on what we have now -- and repealing it is downright immoral (because it is the same as sentencing innocent hard-working people to death).