It did not cost the employer because they transferred the costs to the employees. Our rates have more than doubled, our family deductible increase by 400% and we’ve added the a health saving account to cover the outrageous deductible. Our prayer is that we don’t have a major illness where only 80% is paid by our new and wonderful insurance plan.
I checked and we are not alone. This is similar scenarios for employees of other companies that did not receive the one of the 1,200 exemption approved by the king.
Way to go BO. This still stinks no matter how pretty the picture is painted by your servants in the media and at Kaiser!!
Not all employers simply transferred the costs to the employees as PM says…. and even if they did, as the article states, the average price increase was not as high as it has been in years prior to passing of Affordable Care Act.
PM, I am sorry to hear your family has increased costs… but that seems to be more your employers fault that Obamas.
Producer are you nuts? The premiums today are $1,800 lower than where they would have been without the ACA. So basically a savings of $450 annually. No if you do the math, the out of pocket costs to consumers via increased deductibles and co-pays has probably increased more than that each year.
The law, which promised to lower health care costs, has done nothing to that affect. It’s simply shifting the cost. From premiums paid up front for great benefits. To defered costs such as deductibles.
the coverage offered by obama are more expensive and provide much higher out of pocket expense to the employee. I know because i have experienced it. I can assure you once ebola sets in here in the US premiums will soar.
You can’t say that for sure. With the systemic incompetence and bumbling by Obama’s appointee at the CDC and the massively high global population it could very well become a bigger problem than they are trying to downplay.
Well, I choose to think the U.S. can handle this virus better than a third-world country. But, since you have so little faith in our nation, go ahead and panic.
October 17, 2014 at 9:14 am
Libby says:
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“This is similar scenarios for employees of other companies that did not receive the one of the 1,200 exemption approved by the king.”
?? The employer mandate has not even gone into effect yet.
Employers have been increasing employee premiums and raising deductibles for years now. The pre 2000 health care plans are a thing of the past. You are lucky to have an 80/20 split. We no longer have that option and have been moved to a high deductible plan. However, if it makes you feel better to blame it on Obama, have a good bashing and screaming match. But it won’t change a thing.
What a head ach on our end. No CE Credits for Certifying or Recertifying. Yesterday, I get an E Mail From BCBS that I have to re-contract. Spending more time on the Admi end of this then its worth…
Of course worst case wasn’t gong to play out. Maybe its because we have moved to a part time job force? On my road trip through Southern IL yesterday, I seen more vacant & abandoned properties making an ugly picture. At least we still have oil to drill.
Hi FFA. Tell me, how does increasing deductibles and co-pays benefit the covered employees. Cost shifting only benefits the employer. If you went from a $1,500 deductible and $5,000 out of pocket to a $6,000 deductible and $10,000 out of pocket, you might be reluctant to go to the doctor who would want some money up front to treat. People just aren’t going to go to the doctor unless they get something real serious and have no choice. They would have to have a pay plan just for the doctor charges before insurance kicks in. By the way, we don’t have the costs coming in for Ebola yet. Once those costs hits the fan, I would guess premiums will skyrocket again. Most hospitals do not have the protective equipment, hazmat suits or isolation wards to handle this. Maybe they should petition Obama for a loan to get their facilities up to standard.
Yes, Agent, I’m sure those TWO Ebola cases are really going to affect our premiums. LOL! Maybe in Texas, where you allowed the virus to be transferred. That didn’t happen with the other 5 patients that were treated in the U.S. What’s wrong with Texas? Your treatment was as bad as that in Africa.
Holy crap!!! That would be awesome! I love J. Geils and I’ve seen Bob Seager 4 or 5 times. What a great show. I’m going to see if they’re coming anywhere near me. Thanks for the heads up! Are you going?
October 17, 2014 at 10:53 am
Libby says:
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Just checked. They’re coming to Pittsburgh in January. I am so there! Thanks so much for the info!
October 17, 2014 at 10:58 am
FFA says:
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I’ld pay that money for J Geils… Had a chance to see them on Freeze Frame Tour but got called into work. I think we are seeing the Chicago stop, but have not secured the tickets yet. Seen Seger twice. Loved the show both times.
It would appear that my local venue is targeting J Geils.
October 17, 2014 at 11:06 am
Libby says:
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Pittsburgh haven’t gone on sale yet. I put it in my calendar to check later this month so I don’t end up empty handed.
October 17, 2014 at 12:01 pm
FFA says:
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J Geils is not with him on all stops. Check the J Geils web Site.
Raising the deductible while rates went up (even if only 3%) is obfiscating the fact that more cost was shifted to the consumer and therefore is quite an increase.
How does cutting full time jobs benefit everyone? Anyone? College Grad on the high honor role sitting at home wondering how he is going to pay his student loans a benefit?
FFA, you did notice the title of this article was that Obamacare has mitigated cost for “Big Employers”. There is a problem here in that there are hundreds of thousands of “Small Employers” in this country who employ 10 to 50 employees. They are not being treated so kindly in the brave new world of Obamacare. They have had to lay off workers, cut hours, make sure they stay under 50 lives etc and yes, many have had rate increases and will get more down the road.
OBamacare is NOT benefitting everyone. It’s negatively affected about 95% of the population to pay for a few hundred thousand people who are debatably undeserving in the first place.
Celtica, the sky didn’t fall, the floor just dropped out from under everyone including you. Read PM’s full comment to find out why the affordable care act benefits the insurance companies and business. You are the one who will have a cow when you find out what your med care costs.
My wife is so happy for Obama. Job cut to part time and she can’t work more than 20 hours per week, all because of the employer mandate. She doesn’t need insurance from her employer, but that doesn’t matter. They still restrict her hours.
Larger employers are not being affected as most self insure which limits the mandates of the law. Small group employers are beginning now to see true cost of law as last year most renewed early to avoid premium increases. All of our small group employers including our own group have seen 15% to 40% increases in premium and rewriting to compliant forms.
I think the folks at Bloomberg should get an actual source instead of making things up. Walmart’s plan was to eliminate health insurance availability to part times working under 29 hours a week and increase the cost to the rest of the part timers. In the same release they said their health insurance cost last year was 330 million dollars and will be 500 million this year.
Clearly somebody doesn’t know what 3% of 330 million is. As far as hours, full time employees at Walmart have had their hours cut and part timers working more than 30 hours have had their hours and days cut, so that benefits don’t have to be offered to dependents, (there are qualifiers before a part time employee is eligible for health insurance coverage that include average hours worked over the prior year and years of service. The calculations are done in August).
In addition, the cost of their top HRA plan for a family is going from $169.60 per pay period to $207 per pay period. Again, much more than 3%! The second tier HRA and the HSA plan had larger increases. Walmart put wage caps in place several years ago to control payroll expenses because of the large percentage of their workforce that is long-term, so these folks don’t get raises anymore either.
So you have a situation where healthcare coverage went up 20%, the wage to pay it went down because of a 5 – 10% reduction in hours (as well as a significant rate of inflation that goes unreported).
Yes FFA, we have been in the news for this Liberian dude who lied to his country about being sick and then lied to the Dallas hospital about being exposed to Ebola and then dying because CDC didn’t give the hospital a heads up on proper protocol on protective equipment, clothing or treatment. This could have happened in any part of the country with any hospital in any state including Libby’s. She should trot down to her local hospital and ask them about their bio containment unit, hazmat suits and the treatment they would offer if an Ebola patient shows up in their Emergency Room. It is funny, I don’t remember them sending either of the two nurses to Pennsylvania for further treatment. The CDC guy said last week that any hospital in the country could treat Ebola patients. What an incompetent fool he is.
On a lighter note, the Cowboys seem to finally have it together going to the defending Superbowl Champions house and kicking butt for 60 minutes. Except for a blocked punt and muffed punt return, that game wasn’t even close. How are your Bears doing? I haven’t seen them play much this year.
Bears been up and down. No Defense. All 4 top LB were out last week and we win. VS Carolina two weeks back the usual reliable Forte fumbles the ball away that allows Carolina to come back and win. VS Green Bay, toss the record books out the window.
October 16, 2014 at 4:28 pm
Libby says:
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Agent – get your facts straight. He told them he had been to Liberia. He didn’t tell him he had been exposed to Ebola. And quit blaming this on the CDC when it was the Dallas hospital that 1) sent him home after hearing that he had been in Liberia and 2) didn’t provide proper protective gear or training to their staff. That’s not the CDC’s responsibility. Quit pointing the finger at everyone else and take personal responsibility for a change. Isn’t that the republican mantra?
October 16, 2014 at 4:28 pm
Libby says:
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On the other hand, my Broncos are kicking a**!!
October 16, 2014 at 4:43 pm
Agent says:
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As usual, your research and understanding of what happened is faulty Libby. No wonder since you don’t watch the news and get your info from Huffington Post or Media Matters. The man did lie to Liberia on his exit form and when he showed up at the Dallas hospital, he did not tell them he had been exposed to Ebola when he definitely did. Yes, the CDC does have the responsibility for disease control in this country and informing hospitals about threats, treatment, protective equipment etc. Had you watched the hearings today with that dufus Freidan stammering and stuttering and making excuses, you would see what I mean, but I know you really love to run down Texas at the first opportunity. It is too bad the guy didn’t land in Philadelphia or Scranton to have the same scenario.
October 17, 2014 at 8:33 am
Libby says:
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I don’t have all day to watch T.V., Agent. I work for a living.
October 17, 2014 at 12:47 pm
FFA says:
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Yes Libby, I know… Peyton Kicking everyone but on Fantasy….
October 17, 2014 at 4:54 pm
Stan says:
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Agent, why do you need the CDC? Its just another govt beauracracy! Surely Texas is self reliant enough to not need some liberal commie govt agency telling them how to run their hospitals!
October 16, 2014 at 4:12 pm
Kay says:
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Walmarts “Healthcare coverage” did not go up 20%; they are self insured. If their employee count went up or covered services were added, that increases their cost directly since they only buy excess cover.
Read what I wrote, you don’t get to change the words I wrote to suit your agenda. The cost of coverage for the employee went up 20%, I was very clear on that fact. Perhaps a reading comprehension class would help you.
Wayne, you sound like a “good Ron” on your statement about reading comprehension. One thing to keep in mind is that Liberals almost never change their mind from the agenda they believe in and will insult us Conservatives ever chance they get.
Like that’s only a trait of the Democrats! LOL! You crack me up you old curmudgeon you.
October 17, 2014 at 5:26 pm
Agent says:
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Allow me to crack you up one last time for the week Libby. Did you know they were going to rename AF1? Yes, it will know be known as the Ebola Gay.
October 20, 2014 at 8:55 am
Libby says:
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Not funny.
October 17, 2014 at 9:55 am
Agent says:
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You are right Libby. You stay misinformed by not watching the news and only get your info from the left wing internet. You could use the DVR to record important events and see actual hearings with real people. Frieden was a real joke as are most government bureaucrats. I caught it on my lunch hour. Does your boss permit a lunch break? I know that would get in the way of your blogging time.
I don’t take a lunch break, Agent. So if I blog an hour throughout the day, my employer and I are even. And I’m very aware of what goes on without having to resort to the mainstream media, which you denegrate every chance you get. The fact that I DON’T get my information from the “left-wing media,” as you routinely call it should make me MORE credible, not less.
You know what was playing on the broadcast networks yesterday Libby? The Chew on ABC, soap operas on the other two. Gee, that is really showing concern for the crisis we are having now. They just don’t cover anything and are doing a disservice to their viewing audience. No wonder Liberals are so uninformed about current events.
October 17, 2014 at 11:19 am
Libby says:
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Destro – you know nothing about my politics. You only have your f’d up impression of what my politics are. I’m nothing like you think I am. I’m fiscally conservative and socially liberal. You are just narrow minded and can’t see anything other than black or white.
Agent – it’s interesting that you know what is on daytime television during the week. It begs the question “How?” Not everyone wants to be bombarded daily with politics and bad news. Some people actually watch television for entertainment and a distraction from all that is wrong with the world. That’s why there is CNN, FoxNews, and other news-only channels. For people that have nothing better to do than follow the latest “scandal” or “crises.” Have fun with that.
October 20, 2014 at 8:58 am
KY jw says:
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Seriously, a wage cap? Sounds to me like Walmart is a crappy employer. Not that it surprises me. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything positive they’ve done for their employees.
Paycheck that are not made of rubber is a good thing.
October 16, 2014 at 4:06 pm
FFA says:
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BTW, what is the status of the pending court case? Is the supreme Ct hearing it? Last I heard OfnBama wanted the Full Appeals Court to rule on it. Ive been out of the loop. So I have lost touch.
Where did AIDS come from FFA? Africa, which doesn’t exactly have standards for hygiene, waste disposal and has water and food contamination etc. I know missionaries who have gone over there to those backward countries and they said they were amazed that people over there still live in mud huts and haven’t ever advanced for hundreds of years. It doesn’t surprise me that virulent viruses and diseases are originating on that continent.
Celtica, I am alive and well. Not my question where it came to the US from, What “Invented” this disease? I don’t need your sarcasm, I need knowledge. There is a rumored case much closer to my home. Don’t know if its BS as it has not hit the news. It could just be someone shooting their mouth off.
October 16, 2014 at 5:09 pm
Celtica says:
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FFA: Therein lies the mass hysteria that surrounded Obamacare in the first place. It sure did not originate on my side of the house and senate.
October 17, 2014 at 12:40 pm
bob says:
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Ok two options here Celtica:
Either you like Obamacare, it originated from Republicans, and is thus good. So you can’t insult republicans on healthcare like you do.
Or you don’t like Obamacare, and are refusing to acknowledge your side made it.
Let me spell it out:
Obamacare. Came. From. Democrats. PERIOD.
There was a debate regarding a mandate about 30 years ago. Most republicans didn’t support it, it did not pass. This does not make it a republican idea. Massachusetts passed a state plan. A STATE plan. If you don’t know by now that a state plan being passed is better than federal, because then you can compare results (with federal you CANNOT compare because everyone is doing it) then you know nothing. One republican state wanted to try it out. And it went horribly for that state.
But moving on: The bill is huge. Having an exchange which everyone wants, and a mandate, doesn’t make it a republican plan. At all. The republicans didn’t vote for it, except for I believe it was Snow.
It is from your side of the aisle. Accept it. Move on.
October 17, 2014 at 1:08 pm
Agent says:
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Hey Bob, good to see you back again. Reading wonderful Celtica’s post, I agree that there wasn’t mass hysteria on Democrats part to pass Obamacare. That is what Progressives have wanted for a hundred years. Most of them want single payer similar to the VA and we know how that worked out for veterans. They were in absolute shock that the law rammed down the throat of the American people was so unpopular and continues to this day. There is no doubt that costs will continue to rise for the majority of Americans and they will certainly find out in the next enrollment period. That doesn’t bother the liberals in the least. They just keep on spinning and spinning and hoping someone will believe them.
October 17, 2014 at 1:18 pm
bob says:
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Agent,
There are however different types of liberals. Be careful not to lump them together.
Celtica somehow combines different types based on scenario. It’s really confusing.
She likes it. But she doesn’t like it because it isn’t single payer, and is thus willing to blame republicans for passing it. But…Why blame them for the (good) change (seeing as she argues Obamacare was a good change) if you like it? Why even argue that they thought up the mandate, if you like the mandate? The easy answer is just to try the old ad hominem style of attacks for debate. She doesn’t care if the republicans help her, (in her head, they didn’t really pass it) as long as she can pretend they are hypocrites.
So there are many types of opinions held by democrats on this one.
One type wants single payer.
One type does not, and likes the reforms made. They want it regulated more and have subsidies. There is overlap here with republicans. But most this type don’t realize it.
One type wants both single payer and private options. I’m one of the few republicans who overlap into this area. Most don’t, this is usually just a democrat “thing”.
October 17, 2014 at 3:30 pm
Libby says:
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For those of us “for” the ACA, it’s because SOMETHING needed to be done and this was something rather than the nothing which had been the status quo for decades.
The ACA is NOT the answer. Single payer with a private option is optimal. But that NEVER would have flown in the current political climate. So, because Congress can’t play nicely together (both sides) we are stuck with this turkey.
October 20, 2014 at 12:56 pm
bob says:
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Libby,
I agree. It wouldn’t happen. Which is sad.
Though as a side comment: Doing something with the health care insurance system, is probably what needed to be done, if you’re talking a private and public system. The public would cover those not insured by the private.
Messing up the insurance field just isn’t the way to get better healthcare.
October 20, 2014 at 1:00 pm
Libby says:
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I agree. It never should have been about insurance.
October 20, 2014 at 1:01 pm
bob says:
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Sorry I typoed like crazy. Doing something with the health system probably needed to be done, not the health insurance system.
There is a definitive difference.
October 16, 2014 at 4:34 pm
Libby says:
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No, FFA. Not sex.
“Most AIDS researchers believe that the “bushmeat trade” allowed the HIV-1 virus, and separately HIV-2, to enter the human bloodstream several times. Hunters who kill and butcher chimps and monkeys are regularly exposed to animal blood teeming with SIVs. If the hunters have cuts, bites, or scratches — and given the nature of their work they almost always do — they can catch the viruses from their prey. Hunters going after chimps in Cameroon could have caught the first strains of HIV-1. Sooty mangabeys, hunted and kept as pets in West Africa, could have transmitted HIV-2 to humans.”
I’ve heard the same for the Ebola virus too, Libby. Hunters are going after anything that moves. Elephants and rhinos will be extinct in our lifetime. And don’t even get me starting on those evil trophy hunters. Sorry, got of the topic there for a moment.
A very interesting read. Ebola is a zoonotic disease, meaning it’s transferred from an animal to a human (also like HIV, SARS).The exact modes of transmission, scientists have deduced a scenario like this: First, the virus lives inside a “healthy animal,” who harbors the virus without manifesting symptoms—labeled as the anatural host or reservoir.
October 17, 2014 at 1:39 pm
Geography is Hard says:
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I just want to point out that Africa is a Continent comprised of many countries. Africa, itself, is not a country. Not everyone from Africa is poor, nor does everyone have bad hygiene.
If your going to demand people be educated on the subject of Ebola, may I suggest you follow suit….
Geography isn’t hard. Who said Africa was a country? While not everyone from Africa is poor, the number that are is astounding.
“Africa actually had the largest proportion of its population undernourished, an estimated 30 percent in 2010, compared to 16 percent in Asia and the Pacific (FAO 2010). Thus almost one in three people who live in sub-Saharan Africa were hungry, far higher than any other region of the world, with the exception of South Asia.”
The facts are the facts. No judgement and no offense meant.
Can you provide me with a shred of evidence that the CDC informed the Texas hospital of the danger and they disregarded the info? No, I didn’t think so.
Go ask your local hospital what they would have done with an Ebola patient who lied to them about his condition and exposure. The exact same result. They are all scrambling now that they know what is coming. I should have invested some money in hazmat suits, respirators and I would be a millionaire by the first of the year.
October 17, 2014 at 10:45 am
FFA says:
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Once again Celtica, I would like to know how this disease came to be. What event took place that started the very first case. See Libby response. She understood simple English.
I for one enjoyed your guys’s conversations above. Informative.
Don’t worry about it. I’ll give you a thumbs up.
October 17, 2014 at 2:29 pm
Agent says:
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Does that include sneezing on someone from across the room? If not, would you be willing to let an Ebola patient sneeze in the same room with you?
October 17, 2014 at 3:16 pm
FFA says:
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humans having sex with bats deserves a down thumb….
October 17, 2014 at 3:32 pm
Libby says:
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FFA – that’s just wrong!
October 17, 2014 at 3:35 pm
Libby says:
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Agent – look, I’m not an Ebola expert. I just know what I’ve read, which I can tell is more than you have. I would rather not have an Ebola patient sneeze on me, but if one did I would be cautious and go to the hospital. BUT, unless the patient were symptomatic it would be doubtful I would get the virus. And he’d have to sneeze into my mouth or nose or other opening for me to catch it.
All I’m saying is calm the hysteria and educate yourself. That’s all. Why is that bad advice?
October 17, 2014 at 4:13 pm
FFA says:
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Just trying to keep my mind occupied. My Dad and sis in surgery today… Life just keep kicking.
October 17, 2014 at 4:24 pm
Libby says:
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I’m sorry. Both in the hospital on the same day? That’s alot to handle. Hope it’s the same hospital so you don’t have to travel from one to another. My prayers are with you.
October 20, 2014 at 10:01 am
Libby says:
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FFA – How are your Dad and Sis?
October 20, 2014 at 11:05 am
FFA says:
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Libby, Sis had her Fibroid removed.
Dad back in the home resting & re-couping.
Both HIV-1 and HIV-2 are believed to have originated in non-human primates in West-central Africa and were transferred to humans in the early 20th century. …
There is evidence that humans who participate in bushmeat activities, either as hunters or as bushmeat vendors, commonly acquire SIV.
So FFA, the President said that the risk of getting Ebola is low for “ordinary folks”. How Elitist of him! I hope he makes a personal visit to nurse Pham since she is in Maryland for treatment. Give her a big hug and kiss for us Mr. President.
There’s nothing elitist about that statement, Agent. You’re reaching again. There ISN’T a big risk for most of us. Unless you’re working in a Dallas hospital.
Libby, we all know except you that referring to Americans as “ordinary folks” is about as elitist as it gets. We also know that you consider Obama as “extraordinary” as a President. Why do you think he still is going to allow 150 people per day from West Africa to come in to America? Just taking someone’s temperature will not cut it. Liberia has ordered 79,000 body bags and there are no districts in Sierra Leone that do not have infections. The UN has stated Ebola is a huge international crisis. Why not treat it as such in this country and protect our citizens as much as possible?
October 17, 2014 at 11:23 am
Libby says:
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We are treating it as a potential crises. What should we be doing that we’re not doing? Closing the borders? There’s a little thing called civil rights if you’re an American citizen.
Ordinary folks means just that. I think I have a .000001% chance of contracting Ebola. Yours might be a little higher since you
October 17, 2014 at 11:26 am
Libby says:
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live in Texas. Since the virus can not spread until the patient is symptomatic, I don’t know what else you can do to monitor those people coming into the U.S. Or are you saying they shouldn’t be allowed in because they MIGHT be infected? I’m sure that wouldn’t sit well with you if you were on the other side of that equation.
October 17, 2014 at 12:07 pm
Agent says:
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Libby, the President thinks the crisis is serious. That is why he is appointing a brand new Czar, Klain to oversee the response. This guy is nothing but a spin lawyer who has worked for Biden and Gore and has no medical background at all. Even the now disgraced and forced to resign VA guy might have been a better choice to be the new Czar. Anybody but another attorney who has been a DC leach for years.
October 17, 2014 at 1:04 pm
Libby says:
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This guy is a point person, not a medical responder. He evidently knows all the players and has experience getting shit done. That’s what needs to happen. And fast. Mobilize. Arm. Defend. A pro-active response instead of reactive. I think he might be the person to do it. I’m willing to give him a shot before throwing him under the bus. He’s got Homeland Security on his side as well as the CDC.
October 21, 2014 at 10:35 am
Agent says:
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So Libby, Kay Hagen in NC had much the same attitude as you about letting people from West Africa come in a few weeks ago. Because she is having such a tough fight to keep her seat, she changed her tune yesterday and now says we should be closing our borders to them. A classic flip flop of a liberal Democrat because the tide is going against her and her constituents have let her know they are upset with her.
October 21, 2014 at 2:54 pm
Libby says:
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Agent – I never said anything about allowing people from West Africa into this country. In fact, I said non-citizens can be refused entry based on health issues. But U.S. citizens can not. That’s always been my position. You have to let Americans in, sick or not. But EVERYONE that’s coming from that area needs to be closely monitored. I don’t stutter, so I’m not sure where you get this stuff. Perhaps a reading comprehension course is in order for you?
October 17, 2014 at 12:28 pm
Always Amazed says:
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I bet if those patients with Ebola landed in DC he’d think differently!
What are you talking about? Most of them have been or are being treated in Bethesda, MD. Check out the map.
October 16, 2014 at 4:49 pm
Agent says:
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Celtica, and when the hunters contract the AIDS, they then have sex and spread it even faster. The wives get it, pass it on to their babies and soon there is an epidemic.
Quit with the insults. If you ever have to ask someone if you hurt their feelings with the implication being you don’t care and they are soft,
You probably crossed some lines.
Not them.
You.
October 17, 2014 at 3:38 pm
Libby says:
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Wrong person, bob. That was Celtica, not me.
October 17, 2014 at 4:44 pm
Agent says:
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Hey Bob, Celtica is trying to rival Libby for insults. She does have a long road ahead to catch up, but she is sure trying. Libby almost makes sense sometimes, Celtica, not so much.
October 17, 2014 at 4:54 pm
Libby says:
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bob – your apology is accepted.
October 17, 2014 at 8:07 pm
bob says:
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Libby,
I apologize, I was thinking of your conversation regarding ebola. I didn’t mean to type your name.
I was actually interested in your comments this time around.
October 17, 2014 at 8:09 pm
bob says:
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Though do try not to apology accept me into making an apology, if I had read that first…It would have deterred me from doing so on a bad day.
Just saying.
October 20, 2014 at 9:15 am
Libby says:
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If that’s the case, then you’re just stubborn which is not a good trait. When an apology is deserved, you should promptly give it.
October 20, 2014 at 12:59 pm
bob says:
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Libby,
Hold the same standards on that one.
I so promptly gave you an apology, I didn’t even post a second comment about your rudeness where you tried to say “apology accepted” to force one. That is prompt. I saw your comment. I wrote an apology. Then I saw your rudeness. That isn’t me being stubborn.
I believe you now owe me one. Unless you’re stubborn.
I am anything but stubborn.
October 20, 2014 at 1:08 pm
Libby says:
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Your apology is posted underneath what you call my rudeness, which seems like you did see it first. When I am wrong, I usually apologize and have done so with you on more than one occasion. This doesn’t call for one, but if I hurt your feelings for that I am sorry.
October 20, 2014 at 1:22 pm
bob says:
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Libby,
Look at our comments and the order. You can see that my post shows up above where I said I’m sorry and right below I realized and saw your comment and posted another comment.
It’s clear that I said sorry first, thought later…
But I’m never one to refuse a genuine act of kindness, so thank you.
The virus responsible for the initial outbreak, first thought to be Marburg virus, was later identified as a new type of virus related to marburgviruses. Virus strain samples isolated from both outbreaks were named as the “Ebola virus” after the Ebola River, located near the originally identified viral outbreak site in Zaire
We cant be all things to everyone in the world. We have starving and homeless people on the main land. In my opinion, we should be taking care of Americans first. Let the rest of the world kill them selves off for all I care.
I agree FFA. We seem to care more about saving the rest of the world than to protect our own citizens. We shouldn’t be letting in 150 per day from West Africa. Shut it down and treat the disease over there, not here. Get a viable vaccine done and send it over there to stem the outbreak. What is scary is that Liberia has ordered 79,000 body bags. They know what they are facing.
October 17, 2014 at 12:59 pm
Libby says:
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FFA – I am torn by that. I tend to agree with you that we can not save the world, but on the other hand if we had given more attention over there maybe this Ebola thing could have been stopped in it’s tracks. I don’t know the answer.
October 17, 2014 at 1:00 pm
Libby says:
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Agent – not everyone coming here from West Africa is a threat. If they are coming here legally or are citizens, is it right to deny them entry based on the fact they MIGHT be infected? If we do that, it will force people to try to hide where they are coming from and thus no screening or monitoring at all. I think it best we screen and monitor instead of denying entry. We’re asking for trouble by doing that.
October 17, 2014 at 1:31 pm
bob says:
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Ouch. That’s a little harsh.
I can see this Ebola topic has really triggered some interesting conversations.
October 17, 2014 at 6:03 pm
Agent says:
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It can’t be done Libby. Civilization has been trying for at least 200 years. Missionaries from about every denomination have been trying to educate them, show them basic hygiene, how to properly prepare food, giving them medical care etc etc. President Kennedy started the Peace Corp and sent a bunch of idealists over there to show them how to purify water and all the basics about how to improve their lot to almost no avail. The big problem in many of those countries is the life expectancy which is about 35. They die off so quickly from AIDS and a multitude of other diseases, they can’t be advanced past the tribal existence they have.
maybe large employers aren’t seeing huge increases – if they did, most likely they would pass the cost back to the employees or consumers – BUT, for a small employer, the premiums have gone up substantially – i know, i am an insurance broker. don’t listen to the lies, obamacare is hurting small employers to the point they’re just telling their workers to buy on the exchange as they can’t afford to offer them a health care package any longer. (wasn’t this the underlying goal for Obama – to have people sign up in the exchanges and be limited to just a few metallic named plans? and if you don’t purchase during the “enrollment period”, you can’t buy health insurance from May to December (unless there’s a qualifying event which is narrow)- who made up these rules? as an insurance broker, obamacare needs to be gutted.
It’s not even fully implemented yet. Also, ask the retirees at GE why they were thrown off the GE health plan and tossed to the exchange? Kinda contradicts this propaganda.
The article does not mention the 24 significant changes and delays to the ACA made by unilateral executive action without the involvement of Congress that mask the inevitable impact of the higher costs including the 21 new taxes that we will bear. Several of these delays when enacted will adversely affect many Americans namely 1. Postponing the enforcement of the employer mandate for medium – size employers until 2016 and relaxing requirements for larger employers. Businesses with 100% or more employees must offer coverage to 70% of their full time employees in 2015 and 95% in 2016 and beyond. 2. Exempting unions from the reinsurance fee. The administration gave unions an exemption from the reinsurance fee. To make up for this exemption, non-exempt plans will have to pay a higher fee which will most likely be passed on to consumers in the form of higher premiums and deductibles.3. Non-complaint health plans e.g those that do not conform to the ACA requirements get a 2 year extension. These plans may now be offered until 2017. This extension will prevent a wave of cancellation notices going out before the 2014 midterm elections. 4. Expanding the hardship waiver until October 2016 to exclude people from the individual mandate whose plans were cancelled due to the ACA regulations. They can purchase catastrophic health insurance. 5. Doubling allowed deductibles. Beacause some group health plans use more than one benefits administrator plans are now allowed to apply separate patient cost sharing limits to different services, such as doctor/hospital and prescription drugs which allows maximum out-of pocket costs to be twice as high as the original ACA requirements intended.
“The article does not mention the 24 significant changes and delays to the ACA made by unilateral executive action without the involvement of Congress that mask the inevitable impact of the higher costs including the 21 new taxes that we will bear.”
Will you people do some research before you post ridiculous statements? THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT FOR CONGRESS TO BE INVOLVED IN DELAYING IMPLEMENTATION OF SECTIONS OF ANY LAW. This authority is granted to the IRS.
I read your response which required a second review because what you said is not correct by any means. You need to read The Constitution of the United States. There are three branches of the Federal goverment, Executive, Legislative and Judicial. The legislative powers are vested in Congress not the IRS as you implied. The IRS simply administers the tax provisions in the law. The President enacts and follows the law passed by both houses of Congress. When the Executive desires to change the law he must do so through Congress not unilaterally as was done with this law.
There are 16 changes to the law which were passed by Congress and signed by Obama. There are also 2 changes made by the Supreme Court. All of these are changes and are not the 24 implementation delays from administrative action. The IRS is responsible for implementing the tax provisions included in the law and specific reporting requirements.
October 20, 2014 at 3:36 pm
Libby says:
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If they were voted on and approved by Congress then they weren’t unilaterally made by executive action without the involvement of Congress as you stated above.
If there were rulings by SCOTUS then they weren’t unilaterally made by executive action without the involvement of Congress as you stated above.
All of the other “changes” were delays in implementation which is perfectly legal.
As I stated before, I don’t stutter. Your statement was incorrect.
October 20, 2014 at 4:36 pm
Patriot says:
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You are confusing the 24 Executive Actions with the 16 changes passed by Congress including the 2 from the Supreme Court. Contrary to what you may think the rule of law has been disregarded. The executive actions taken are not legal under the Constitution. Please read Article II, Section 3 which states “he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed,” It does not mean change or delay. This has to be done through Congress.
October 20, 2014 at 4:59 pm
Libby says:
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I’m not confusing anything. There has been ONE executive order issued regarding the ACA and that was in 2010 regarding federal funding for abortion.
The Treasury/IRS absolutely has the authority to delay implementation of parts of a law passed by Congress and signed into law by the President and it has done so on numerous other occasions.
If Obama had violated the Constitution, as your post suggests, he would have certainly been impeached by the House. He hasn’t been because he hasn’t done anything illegal.
October 22, 2014 at 10:07 am
Connie says:
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The reason Obama hasn’t been impeached isn’t because he hasn’t done anything illegal. It’s because the House knows that impeachment wouldn’t go anywhere once it reached the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats. This isn’t like in Nixon’s day, when even his own party refused to support him and he realized if he had lost his own party, that meant he was toast.
October 22, 2014 at 10:22 am
Libby says:
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That didn’t stop them from trying to repeal the ACA over 45 times. If they thought there were grounds for impeachment, they’d be all over it. Don’t kid yourself. They love to waste taxpayer money.
October 20, 2014 at 1:00 pm
Agent says:
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Good news Patriot. The most basic of the plans, Bronze will receive an average of 14% rate increase on 1-1-15. I am sure all those open enrollment people will just love their new rates. Saving an average of $2500 per year for the average family, right?
Reported by Washington Times and Investors Business Daily. Actually, the rate increases are much larger in several parts of the country. You should subscribe to Washington Times and you might get current information. Huffington Post will never show it.
Interesting fact: the Washington Times is owned by the same guy who owns the “Unification Church” – remember Rev Moon and the “moonies”? (Apologies, since that term is no longer as politically correct as it was back in the day.)
“Love bomb”, anyone?
October 21, 2014 at 9:51 am
Agent says:
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Nome, George Soros owns Media Matters, Moveon.org and is the man pulling the strings on our puppet President. I noticed you didn’t refute anything on the figures.
October 21, 2014 at 10:57 am
Libby says:
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And there is no need to attack nomesaneman for his comment. He was only commenting on an interesting fact about the ownership of your rag, the Washington Times.
Hardly the Washington Post!
October 20, 2014 at 2:10 pm
Patriot says:
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Agent your point on the Bronze plan rate increase of 14% at 1/1/15 is correct. Also “if you have health insurance through your employer, you can keep your health insurance , keep your doctor , keep your plan.”
Libby, and I was commenting on an interesting fact about the leftist media. You and Nome are two of a kind. You admitted not watching the news. Is it any wonder that your credibility is often questioned?
I don’t WATCH the news. I READ about the news. And then I RESEARCH what I read. You, on the other hand, believe everything you hear on FauxNews and read on that rag, the Washington Times. No research. No questions. No nothing. As evidenced below with your assertion that “Bronze will receive an average of 14% rate increase on 1-1-15.” That article says no such thing. It says they MAY go up that much. You can’t read and you can’t reason. That’s why you, my little curmudgeon, are on scary little dude.
October 21, 2014 at 5:05 pm
Agent says:
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Huffington Post, NYT, Media Matters, Moveon.org, MSNBC are the filthy rags you read Libby. They have no facts so they just promote the leftist agenda. Washington Times and Investors Business Daily both reported on this. What are you going to say when the open enrollment period starts and rates are this high and higher? Will that be a vast right wing conspiracy as well? After all, that is what your heroine Shrillary said when Bill got caught with his pants down on Monica.
October 22, 2014 at 9:09 am
Libby says:
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“In a 2008 essay published in Harper’s Magazine, historian Thomas Frank linked the Times to the modern American conservative movement, saying: There is even a daily newspaper—the Washington Times—published strictly for the movement’s benefit, a propaganda sheet whose distortions are so obvious and so alien that it puts one in mind of those official party organs one encounters when traveling in authoritarian countries.”
October 22, 2014 at 8:56 pm
nomesaneman says:
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Hey A:
To be clear, I wasn’t trying to be snide or cast any aspersions your way – just pointing out that most of today’s media is backed by a cavalcade of outfits that have another axe to grind and so their reporting oughta be taken with a grain. The one thing all these media owners have in common (including the Unification Church) is a —-load of money. Whether it’s GE, Disney, Soros, Murdoch, etc., it’s clear that the “media bias” takes on many slants. The recent past saw a lot of the little guys (who admittedly had their own axes, too, but they were smaller) taken over by these large GLOBAL companies, who, I argue, are not as interested in reporting the news as much as they are interested in spinning it (or commenting upon it) to their advantage. I resent that part no matter who or what “side” is doing it is – I am offended by the cynical way they think they can bamboozle me (I’m not that easy).
For news with a relatively low hysteric-factor, I used to rely on the Christian Science Monitor, but that’s all but gone now — a shell of its former self. Back in the day, I can’t ever remember them once encouraging me not to see a doctor, for instance.
I think you have actually raised the same point I tried to make: “It’s not only what they tell you – it’s who is doing the telling.” I am with you on that. And many might be surprised who the owners of the tellers really are.
Again, not personal but FYI, up until a few years ago I read at least 2 papers per day since I was in high school in the 70‘s and read many of the major news mags, including the National Review, and I do “watch” some news (Firing Line was a favorite if only for Buckley’s Latin phrases), and I listen to a lot of radio and portions of many talk shows I imagine you dial into from time to time, too.
The only common thread with any of them is that I ask myself: “Why are they telling me this, and what are they not telling me?”
Sorry for any perceived offense.
Your Pal,
-nomes
October 21, 2014 at 10:56 am
Libby says:
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Agent – I checked out your claim about an article in the Washington Times and didn’t find it. I did, however, find an article that accuses the White House of withholding 2015 rates until after the mid-term election. Which is it? They’re posting double-digit increases or accusing the White House of collusion? The Washington Times certainly did not seem like an unbiased media source to me.
Libby, rate changes are coming in from the carriers. Personally, I cant see OBama and company hold that info back unless they are in bed with the carriers.
That was my point exactly, FFA. The right wing will do everything it can to make it look like Obama is doing something underhanded when he’s not.
October 22, 2014 at 5:28 pm
Agent says:
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Hey FFA, it looks like the forces of evil are at work in the wonderful state of Illinois. Early voting had the touch screen machines voting Democratic even if the Republican was selected. No wonder the state has had a long string of Democratic leaders in office and several convicted and sent to prison. I would bet everything I own that Obama’s vote did not go to a Republican. What do you think?
October 21, 2014 at 4:31 pm
Agent says:
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Libby, it was on the Sunday, 10-19-14 e- newsletter of the Washington Times. It is in big headlines. Scroll back to the Sunday edition if you have that capability. Just look for the mug of our wonderful President in the picture. He looks like someone who has pulled the wool over the country’s eyes. I suppose that could be correct. He certainly did over yours.
You mean this? “Obamacare “bronze” plan owners MAY be in for a shock next year. Investors PREDICT the cheapest healthcare offering under the Affordable Care Act COULD jump nearly 14 percent in price.” It goes on to say:
“In Providence, R.I., the plan cost is expected to SOAR from $72 to $99 per month, from $88 to $111 in Los Angeles, $100 to $122 in Las Vegas, and $97 to $114 in New York.” Hahahahahahahaha.
You are absolutely hilarious. What a joke. Now I see where you come up with the drivel you post. I bet you’re on their hot-button breaking news email flash program, aren’t you?
October 22, 2014 at 3:08 pm
Patriot says:
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Libby:
The bronze plan rate LA increase comparison you sardonically reference is short on the facts. What you omitted in stating is the cheapest CA bronze plan for anyone 30 and older there is a $3,250 deductible for individual coverage, its $6,500 for a family. Once you spend that much on medical care, including medication, you’ll still have to pay 40% of the cost for many services, including visits to specialists, outpatient services,emergency room visits and lab work. You’ll have to pay 40% of the cost of non-generic drugs. The out- of pocket expenses are capped at $6,250 or $12,500 for a family. When factoring in the deductibles and co-pays why is that “hilarious” using your word.
Good one Patriot. We aren’t even talking about the Silver or Platinum plan yet. No telling how high those will be. They all stink and everyone but Liberals know it.
What ?!?!?! The sky didn’t fall as predicted? Boy oh boy, is Rush gonna have a cow on this news.
It did not cost the employer because they transferred the costs to the employees. Our rates have more than doubled, our family deductible increase by 400% and we’ve added the a health saving account to cover the outrageous deductible. Our prayer is that we don’t have a major illness where only 80% is paid by our new and wonderful insurance plan.
I checked and we are not alone. This is similar scenarios for employees of other companies that did not receive the one of the 1,200 exemption approved by the king.
Way to go BO. This still stinks no matter how pretty the picture is painted by your servants in the media and at Kaiser!!
Not all employers simply transferred the costs to the employees as PM says…. and even if they did, as the article states, the average price increase was not as high as it has been in years prior to passing of Affordable Care Act.
PM, I am sorry to hear your family has increased costs… but that seems to be more your employers fault that Obamas.
Producer are you nuts? The premiums today are $1,800 lower than where they would have been without the ACA. So basically a savings of $450 annually. No if you do the math, the out of pocket costs to consumers via increased deductibles and co-pays has probably increased more than that each year.
The law, which promised to lower health care costs, has done nothing to that affect. It’s simply shifting the cost. From premiums paid up front for great benefits. To defered costs such as deductibles.
They are robbing peter to pay paul.
the coverage offered by obama are more expensive and provide much higher out of pocket expense to the employee. I know because i have experienced it. I can assure you once ebola sets in here in the US premiums will soar.
Ebola will never “set in” the U.S.
You can’t say that for sure. With the systemic incompetence and bumbling by Obama’s appointee at the CDC and the massively high global population it could very well become a bigger problem than they are trying to downplay.
Well, I choose to think the U.S. can handle this virus better than a third-world country. But, since you have so little faith in our nation, go ahead and panic.
“This is similar scenarios for employees of other companies that did not receive the one of the 1,200 exemption approved by the king.”
?? The employer mandate has not even gone into effect yet.
Employers have been increasing employee premiums and raising deductibles for years now. The pre 2000 health care plans are a thing of the past. You are lucky to have an 80/20 split. We no longer have that option and have been moved to a high deductible plan. However, if it makes you feel better to blame it on Obama, have a good bashing and screaming match. But it won’t change a thing.
What a head ach on our end. No CE Credits for Certifying or Recertifying. Yesterday, I get an E Mail From BCBS that I have to re-contract. Spending more time on the Admi end of this then its worth…
Of course worst case wasn’t gong to play out. Maybe its because we have moved to a part time job force? On my road trip through Southern IL yesterday, I seen more vacant & abandoned properties making an ugly picture. At least we still have oil to drill.
part time jobs with more government benefits, sweet! let’s just tax the 1%, they need to pay their fair share.
Hi FFA. Tell me, how does increasing deductibles and co-pays benefit the covered employees. Cost shifting only benefits the employer. If you went from a $1,500 deductible and $5,000 out of pocket to a $6,000 deductible and $10,000 out of pocket, you might be reluctant to go to the doctor who would want some money up front to treat. People just aren’t going to go to the doctor unless they get something real serious and have no choice. They would have to have a pay plan just for the doctor charges before insurance kicks in. By the way, we don’t have the costs coming in for Ebola yet. Once those costs hits the fan, I would guess premiums will skyrocket again. Most hospitals do not have the protective equipment, hazmat suits or isolation wards to handle this. Maybe they should petition Obama for a loan to get their facilities up to standard.
Yes, Agent, I’m sure those TWO Ebola cases are really going to affect our premiums. LOL! Maybe in Texas, where you allowed the virus to be transferred. That didn’t happen with the other 5 patients that were treated in the U.S. What’s wrong with Texas? Your treatment was as bad as that in Africa.
Off Topic Libby, have you seen who Bob Seeger is touring with?
No. Who? He’s my fav!
J Geils…
Holy crap!!! That would be awesome! I love J. Geils and I’ve seen Bob Seager 4 or 5 times. What a great show. I’m going to see if they’re coming anywhere near me. Thanks for the heads up! Are you going?
Just checked. They’re coming to Pittsburgh in January. I am so there! Thanks so much for the info!
I’ld pay that money for J Geils… Had a chance to see them on Freeze Frame Tour but got called into work. I think we are seeing the Chicago stop, but have not secured the tickets yet. Seen Seger twice. Loved the show both times.
It would appear that my local venue is targeting J Geils.
Pittsburgh haven’t gone on sale yet. I put it in my calendar to check later this month so I don’t end up empty handed.
J Geils is not with him on all stops. Check the J Geils web Site.
I did. They’re with him in Pittsburgh!
Ebola? You are today’s Chicken Little.
Ha!
Raising the deductible while rates went up (even if only 3%) is obfiscating the fact that more cost was shifted to the consumer and therefore is quite an increase.
Obamacare is benefiting everyone! I’m happy for our economy and our workers and employers that the program has been so successful.
Rosie!!!! It’s been forever!
How does cutting full time jobs benefit everyone? Anyone? College Grad on the high honor role sitting at home wondering how he is going to pay his student loans a benefit?
FFA, you did notice the title of this article was that Obamacare has mitigated cost for “Big Employers”. There is a problem here in that there are hundreds of thousands of “Small Employers” in this country who employ 10 to 50 employees. They are not being treated so kindly in the brave new world of Obamacare. They have had to lay off workers, cut hours, make sure they stay under 50 lives etc and yes, many have had rate increases and will get more down the road.
OBamacare is NOT benefitting everyone. It’s negatively affected about 95% of the population to pay for a few hundred thousand people who are debatably undeserving in the first place.
Undeserving?!? Who are you to determine who deserves health insurance and who doesn’t? Very arrogant indeed.
Celtica, the sky didn’t fall, the floor just dropped out from under everyone including you. Read PM’s full comment to find out why the affordable care act benefits the insurance companies and business. You are the one who will have a cow when you find out what your med care costs.
Plus, you are all forgetting that there are nefarious portions of the law and mandate that have not yet kicked in, and won’t until Odummy is gone.
My wife is so happy for Obama. Job cut to part time and she can’t work more than 20 hours per week, all because of the employer mandate. She doesn’t need insurance from her employer, but that doesn’t matter. They still restrict her hours.
Smoke and mirrors – great spin article timed to help the Demo’s with re-election.
Larger employers are not being affected as most self insure which limits the mandates of the law. Small group employers are beginning now to see true cost of law as last year most renewed early to avoid premium increases. All of our small group employers including our own group have seen 15% to 40% increases in premium and rewriting to compliant forms.
I think the folks at Bloomberg should get an actual source instead of making things up. Walmart’s plan was to eliminate health insurance availability to part times working under 29 hours a week and increase the cost to the rest of the part timers. In the same release they said their health insurance cost last year was 330 million dollars and will be 500 million this year.
Clearly somebody doesn’t know what 3% of 330 million is. As far as hours, full time employees at Walmart have had their hours cut and part timers working more than 30 hours have had their hours and days cut, so that benefits don’t have to be offered to dependents, (there are qualifiers before a part time employee is eligible for health insurance coverage that include average hours worked over the prior year and years of service. The calculations are done in August).
In addition, the cost of their top HRA plan for a family is going from $169.60 per pay period to $207 per pay period. Again, much more than 3%! The second tier HRA and the HSA plan had larger increases. Walmart put wage caps in place several years ago to control payroll expenses because of the large percentage of their workforce that is long-term, so these folks don’t get raises anymore either.
So you have a situation where healthcare coverage went up 20%, the wage to pay it went down because of a 5 – 10% reduction in hours (as well as a significant rate of inflation that goes unreported).
Good one Wayne. I am sure Libby and Rosie won’t like it since they think everything is great on the Healthcare front.
Hi Agent. Been wondering about you folks down there since you been in the news.
Yes FFA, we have been in the news for this Liberian dude who lied to his country about being sick and then lied to the Dallas hospital about being exposed to Ebola and then dying because CDC didn’t give the hospital a heads up on proper protocol on protective equipment, clothing or treatment. This could have happened in any part of the country with any hospital in any state including Libby’s. She should trot down to her local hospital and ask them about their bio containment unit, hazmat suits and the treatment they would offer if an Ebola patient shows up in their Emergency Room. It is funny, I don’t remember them sending either of the two nurses to Pennsylvania for further treatment. The CDC guy said last week that any hospital in the country could treat Ebola patients. What an incompetent fool he is.
On a lighter note, the Cowboys seem to finally have it together going to the defending Superbowl Champions house and kicking butt for 60 minutes. Except for a blocked punt and muffed punt return, that game wasn’t even close. How are your Bears doing? I haven’t seen them play much this year.
Bears been up and down. No Defense. All 4 top LB were out last week and we win. VS Carolina two weeks back the usual reliable Forte fumbles the ball away that allows Carolina to come back and win. VS Green Bay, toss the record books out the window.
Agent – get your facts straight. He told them he had been to Liberia. He didn’t tell him he had been exposed to Ebola. And quit blaming this on the CDC when it was the Dallas hospital that 1) sent him home after hearing that he had been in Liberia and 2) didn’t provide proper protective gear or training to their staff. That’s not the CDC’s responsibility. Quit pointing the finger at everyone else and take personal responsibility for a change. Isn’t that the republican mantra?
On the other hand, my Broncos are kicking a**!!
As usual, your research and understanding of what happened is faulty Libby. No wonder since you don’t watch the news and get your info from Huffington Post or Media Matters. The man did lie to Liberia on his exit form and when he showed up at the Dallas hospital, he did not tell them he had been exposed to Ebola when he definitely did. Yes, the CDC does have the responsibility for disease control in this country and informing hospitals about threats, treatment, protective equipment etc. Had you watched the hearings today with that dufus Freidan stammering and stuttering and making excuses, you would see what I mean, but I know you really love to run down Texas at the first opportunity. It is too bad the guy didn’t land in Philadelphia or Scranton to have the same scenario.
I don’t have all day to watch T.V., Agent. I work for a living.
Yes Libby, I know… Peyton Kicking everyone but on Fantasy….
Agent, why do you need the CDC? Its just another govt beauracracy! Surely Texas is self reliant enough to not need some liberal commie govt agency telling them how to run their hospitals!
Walmarts “Healthcare coverage” did not go up 20%; they are self insured. If their employee count went up or covered services were added, that increases their cost directly since they only buy excess cover.
Read what I wrote, you don’t get to change the words I wrote to suit your agenda. The cost of coverage for the employee went up 20%, I was very clear on that fact. Perhaps a reading comprehension class would help you.
Wayne, you sound like a “good Ron” on your statement about reading comprehension. One thing to keep in mind is that Liberals almost never change their mind from the agenda they believe in and will insult us Conservatives ever chance they get.
Like that’s only a trait of the Democrats! LOL! You crack me up you old curmudgeon you.
Allow me to crack you up one last time for the week Libby. Did you know they were going to rename AF1? Yes, it will know be known as the Ebola Gay.
Not funny.
You are right Libby. You stay misinformed by not watching the news and only get your info from the left wing internet. You could use the DVR to record important events and see actual hearings with real people. Frieden was a real joke as are most government bureaucrats. I caught it on my lunch hour. Does your boss permit a lunch break? I know that would get in the way of your blogging time.
I don’t take a lunch break, Agent. So if I blog an hour throughout the day, my employer and I are even. And I’m very aware of what goes on without having to resort to the mainstream media, which you denegrate every chance you get. The fact that I DON’T get my information from the “left-wing media,” as you routinely call it should make me MORE credible, not less.
Your politics will never be credible.
You know what was playing on the broadcast networks yesterday Libby? The Chew on ABC, soap operas on the other two. Gee, that is really showing concern for the crisis we are having now. They just don’t cover anything and are doing a disservice to their viewing audience. No wonder Liberals are so uninformed about current events.
Destro – you know nothing about my politics. You only have your f’d up impression of what my politics are. I’m nothing like you think I am. I’m fiscally conservative and socially liberal. You are just narrow minded and can’t see anything other than black or white.
Agent – it’s interesting that you know what is on daytime television during the week. It begs the question “How?” Not everyone wants to be bombarded daily with politics and bad news. Some people actually watch television for entertainment and a distraction from all that is wrong with the world. That’s why there is CNN, FoxNews, and other news-only channels. For people that have nothing better to do than follow the latest “scandal” or “crises.” Have fun with that.
Seriously, a wage cap? Sounds to me like Walmart is a crappy employer. Not that it surprises me. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything positive they’ve done for their employees.
People I know that work there don’t complain. They get a paycheck that don’t bounce.
I don’t know anyone who works at Walmart.
Paycheck that are not made of rubber is a good thing.
BTW, what is the status of the pending court case? Is the supreme Ct hearing it? Last I heard OfnBama wanted the Full Appeals Court to rule on it. Ive been out of the loop. So I have lost touch.
And another thought – how the hell did Ebola come to be?
Where did AIDS come from FFA? Africa, which doesn’t exactly have standards for hygiene, waste disposal and has water and food contamination etc. I know missionaries who have gone over there to those backward countries and they said they were amazed that people over there still live in mud huts and haven’t ever advanced for hundreds of years. It doesn’t surprise me that virulent viruses and diseases are originating on that continent.
Aids originated from Sex with Monkeys if I recall correctly.
FFA: Re monkeys and Aids — this certainly begs the question of whether you have first hand knowledge of it. Just saying…
Celtica, I am alive and well. Not my question where it came to the US from, What “Invented” this disease? I don’t need your sarcasm, I need knowledge. There is a rumored case much closer to my home. Don’t know if its BS as it has not hit the news. It could just be someone shooting their mouth off.
FFA: Therein lies the mass hysteria that surrounded Obamacare in the first place. It sure did not originate on my side of the house and senate.
Ok two options here Celtica:
Either you like Obamacare, it originated from Republicans, and is thus good. So you can’t insult republicans on healthcare like you do.
Or you don’t like Obamacare, and are refusing to acknowledge your side made it.
Let me spell it out:
Obamacare. Came. From. Democrats. PERIOD.
There was a debate regarding a mandate about 30 years ago. Most republicans didn’t support it, it did not pass. This does not make it a republican idea. Massachusetts passed a state plan. A STATE plan. If you don’t know by now that a state plan being passed is better than federal, because then you can compare results (with federal you CANNOT compare because everyone is doing it) then you know nothing. One republican state wanted to try it out. And it went horribly for that state.
But moving on: The bill is huge. Having an exchange which everyone wants, and a mandate, doesn’t make it a republican plan. At all. The republicans didn’t vote for it, except for I believe it was Snow.
It is from your side of the aisle. Accept it. Move on.
Hey Bob, good to see you back again. Reading wonderful Celtica’s post, I agree that there wasn’t mass hysteria on Democrats part to pass Obamacare. That is what Progressives have wanted for a hundred years. Most of them want single payer similar to the VA and we know how that worked out for veterans. They were in absolute shock that the law rammed down the throat of the American people was so unpopular and continues to this day. There is no doubt that costs will continue to rise for the majority of Americans and they will certainly find out in the next enrollment period. That doesn’t bother the liberals in the least. They just keep on spinning and spinning and hoping someone will believe them.
Agent,
There are however different types of liberals. Be careful not to lump them together.
Celtica somehow combines different types based on scenario. It’s really confusing.
She likes it. But she doesn’t like it because it isn’t single payer, and is thus willing to blame republicans for passing it. But…Why blame them for the (good) change (seeing as she argues Obamacare was a good change) if you like it? Why even argue that they thought up the mandate, if you like the mandate? The easy answer is just to try the old ad hominem style of attacks for debate. She doesn’t care if the republicans help her, (in her head, they didn’t really pass it) as long as she can pretend they are hypocrites.
So there are many types of opinions held by democrats on this one.
One type wants single payer.
One type does not, and likes the reforms made. They want it regulated more and have subsidies. There is overlap here with republicans. But most this type don’t realize it.
One type wants both single payer and private options. I’m one of the few republicans who overlap into this area. Most don’t, this is usually just a democrat “thing”.
For those of us “for” the ACA, it’s because SOMETHING needed to be done and this was something rather than the nothing which had been the status quo for decades.
The ACA is NOT the answer. Single payer with a private option is optimal. But that NEVER would have flown in the current political climate. So, because Congress can’t play nicely together (both sides) we are stuck with this turkey.
Libby,
I agree. It wouldn’t happen. Which is sad.
Though as a side comment: Doing something with the health care insurance system, is probably what needed to be done, if you’re talking a private and public system. The public would cover those not insured by the private.
Messing up the insurance field just isn’t the way to get better healthcare.
I agree. It never should have been about insurance.
Sorry I typoed like crazy. Doing something with the health system probably needed to be done, not the health insurance system.
There is a definitive difference.
No, FFA. Not sex.
“Most AIDS researchers believe that the “bushmeat trade” allowed the HIV-1 virus, and separately HIV-2, to enter the human bloodstream several times. Hunters who kill and butcher chimps and monkeys are regularly exposed to animal blood teeming with SIVs. If the hunters have cuts, bites, or scratches — and given the nature of their work they almost always do — they can catch the viruses from their prey. Hunters going after chimps in Cameroon could have caught the first strains of HIV-1. Sooty mangabeys, hunted and kept as pets in West Africa, could have transmitted HIV-2 to humans.”
Thanks Libby. Good info.
I’ve heard the same for the Ebola virus too, Libby. Hunters are going after anything that moves. Elephants and rhinos will be extinct in our lifetime. And don’t even get me starting on those evil trophy hunters. Sorry, got of the topic there for a moment.
Yes. On this topic we agree, Always.
http://www.idausa.org/bushmeat-ebola-connection/
A very interesting read. Ebola is a zoonotic disease, meaning it’s transferred from an animal to a human (also like HIV, SARS).The exact modes of transmission, scientists have deduced a scenario like this: First, the virus lives inside a “healthy animal,” who harbors the virus without manifesting symptoms—labeled as the anatural host or reservoir.
I just want to point out that Africa is a Continent comprised of many countries. Africa, itself, is not a country. Not everyone from Africa is poor, nor does everyone have bad hygiene.
If your going to demand people be educated on the subject of Ebola, may I suggest you follow suit….
Geography isn’t hard. Who said Africa was a country? While not everyone from Africa is poor, the number that are is astounding.
“Africa actually had the largest proportion of its population undernourished, an estimated 30 percent in 2010, compared to 16 percent in Asia and the Pacific (FAO 2010). Thus almost one in three people who live in sub-Saharan Africa were hungry, far higher than any other region of the world, with the exception of South Asia.”
The facts are the facts. No judgement and no offense meant.
FFA – in the U.S. it came to be in Texas as Texas doesn’t like pesky government regulation and interference. I thought we covered this already…
Can you provide me with a shred of evidence that the CDC informed the Texas hospital of the danger and they disregarded the info? No, I didn’t think so.
Agent: do you mean with a dose of common friggin sense or without a dose of common friggin sense?
Go ask your local hospital what they would have done with an Ebola patient who lied to them about his condition and exposure. The exact same result. They are all scrambling now that they know what is coming. I should have invested some money in hazmat suits, respirators and I would be a millionaire by the first of the year.
Once again Celtica, I would like to know how this disease came to be. What event took place that started the very first case. See Libby response. She understood simple English.
It looks like it may have come from bats to humans. Human to human transfer is by body fluids.
Why the thumbs down for stating a factoid?
Some people just like to down thumb everything.
I for one enjoyed your guys’s conversations above. Informative.
Don’t worry about it. I’ll give you a thumbs up.
Does that include sneezing on someone from across the room? If not, would you be willing to let an Ebola patient sneeze in the same room with you?
humans having sex with bats deserves a down thumb….
FFA – that’s just wrong!
Agent – look, I’m not an Ebola expert. I just know what I’ve read, which I can tell is more than you have. I would rather not have an Ebola patient sneeze on me, but if one did I would be cautious and go to the hospital. BUT, unless the patient were symptomatic it would be doubtful I would get the virus. And he’d have to sneeze into my mouth or nose or other opening for me to catch it.
All I’m saying is calm the hysteria and educate yourself. That’s all. Why is that bad advice?
Just trying to keep my mind occupied. My Dad and sis in surgery today… Life just keep kicking.
I’m sorry. Both in the hospital on the same day? That’s alot to handle. Hope it’s the same hospital so you don’t have to travel from one to another. My prayers are with you.
FFA – How are your Dad and Sis?
Libby, Sis had her Fibroid removed.
Dad back in the home resting & re-couping.
Glad to hear they’re both doing well.
RE: Origin of Aids: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aids
Both HIV-1 and HIV-2 are believed to have originated in non-human primates in West-central Africa and were transferred to humans in the early 20th century. …
There is evidence that humans who participate in bushmeat activities, either as hunters or as bushmeat vendors, commonly acquire SIV.
Thanks…
So FFA, the President said that the risk of getting Ebola is low for “ordinary folks”. How Elitist of him! I hope he makes a personal visit to nurse Pham since she is in Maryland for treatment. Give her a big hug and kiss for us Mr. President.
There’s nothing elitist about that statement, Agent. You’re reaching again. There ISN’T a big risk for most of us. Unless you’re working in a Dallas hospital.
Libby, we all know except you that referring to Americans as “ordinary folks” is about as elitist as it gets. We also know that you consider Obama as “extraordinary” as a President. Why do you think he still is going to allow 150 people per day from West Africa to come in to America? Just taking someone’s temperature will not cut it. Liberia has ordered 79,000 body bags and there are no districts in Sierra Leone that do not have infections. The UN has stated Ebola is a huge international crisis. Why not treat it as such in this country and protect our citizens as much as possible?
We are treating it as a potential crises. What should we be doing that we’re not doing? Closing the borders? There’s a little thing called civil rights if you’re an American citizen.
Ordinary folks means just that. I think I have a .000001% chance of contracting Ebola. Yours might be a little higher since you
live in Texas. Since the virus can not spread until the patient is symptomatic, I don’t know what else you can do to monitor those people coming into the U.S. Or are you saying they shouldn’t be allowed in because they MIGHT be infected? I’m sure that wouldn’t sit well with you if you were on the other side of that equation.
Libby, the President thinks the crisis is serious. That is why he is appointing a brand new Czar, Klain to oversee the response. This guy is nothing but a spin lawyer who has worked for Biden and Gore and has no medical background at all. Even the now disgraced and forced to resign VA guy might have been a better choice to be the new Czar. Anybody but another attorney who has been a DC leach for years.
This guy is a point person, not a medical responder. He evidently knows all the players and has experience getting shit done. That’s what needs to happen. And fast. Mobilize. Arm. Defend. A pro-active response instead of reactive. I think he might be the person to do it. I’m willing to give him a shot before throwing him under the bus. He’s got Homeland Security on his side as well as the CDC.
So Libby, Kay Hagen in NC had much the same attitude as you about letting people from West Africa come in a few weeks ago. Because she is having such a tough fight to keep her seat, she changed her tune yesterday and now says we should be closing our borders to them. A classic flip flop of a liberal Democrat because the tide is going against her and her constituents have let her know they are upset with her.
Agent – I never said anything about allowing people from West Africa into this country. In fact, I said non-citizens can be refused entry based on health issues. But U.S. citizens can not. That’s always been my position. You have to let Americans in, sick or not. But EVERYONE that’s coming from that area needs to be closely monitored. I don’t stutter, so I’m not sure where you get this stuff. Perhaps a reading comprehension course is in order for you?
I bet if those patients with Ebola landed in DC he’d think differently!
What are you talking about? Most of them have been or are being treated in Bethesda, MD. Check out the map.
Celtica, and when the hunters contract the AIDS, they then have sex and spread it even faster. The wives get it, pass it on to their babies and soon there is an epidemic.
Agent, this isn’t quite the same as sex with monkeys, now is it…
Wrong response to the wrong person Celtica. Re-read the posts. Direct your ill informed responses to FFA.
Agent: did your widdle fweelings get hurt?
Libby,
Quit with the insults. If you ever have to ask someone if you hurt their feelings with the implication being you don’t care and they are soft,
You probably crossed some lines.
Not them.
You.
Wrong person, bob. That was Celtica, not me.
Hey Bob, Celtica is trying to rival Libby for insults. She does have a long road ahead to catch up, but she is sure trying. Libby almost makes sense sometimes, Celtica, not so much.
bob – your apology is accepted.
Libby,
I apologize, I was thinking of your conversation regarding ebola. I didn’t mean to type your name.
I was actually interested in your comments this time around.
Though do try not to apology accept me into making an apology, if I had read that first…It would have deterred me from doing so on a bad day.
Just saying.
If that’s the case, then you’re just stubborn which is not a good trait. When an apology is deserved, you should promptly give it.
Libby,
Hold the same standards on that one.
I so promptly gave you an apology, I didn’t even post a second comment about your rudeness where you tried to say “apology accepted” to force one. That is prompt. I saw your comment. I wrote an apology. Then I saw your rudeness. That isn’t me being stubborn.
I believe you now owe me one. Unless you’re stubborn.
I am anything but stubborn.
Your apology is posted underneath what you call my rudeness, which seems like you did see it first. When I am wrong, I usually apologize and have done so with you on more than one occasion. This doesn’t call for one, but if I hurt your feelings for that I am sorry.
Libby,
Look at our comments and the order. You can see that my post shows up above where I said I’m sorry and right below I realized and saw your comment and posted another comment.
It’s clear that I said sorry first, thought later…
But I’m never one to refuse a genuine act of kindness, so thank you.
Ebola origin:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebola
The virus responsible for the initial outbreak, first thought to be Marburg virus, was later identified as a new type of virus related to marburgviruses. Virus strain samples isolated from both outbreaks were named as the “Ebola virus” after the Ebola River, located near the originally identified viral outbreak site in Zaire
So… Bats in Africa. Seemingly the similar chain of events with HIV.
Yes. Scary stuff over there. All the more reason to try to drag those people into the 20th century (let alone the 21st!)
We cant be all things to everyone in the world. We have starving and homeless people on the main land. In my opinion, we should be taking care of Americans first. Let the rest of the world kill them selves off for all I care.
I agree FFA. We seem to care more about saving the rest of the world than to protect our own citizens. We shouldn’t be letting in 150 per day from West Africa. Shut it down and treat the disease over there, not here. Get a viable vaccine done and send it over there to stem the outbreak. What is scary is that Liberia has ordered 79,000 body bags. They know what they are facing.
FFA – I am torn by that. I tend to agree with you that we can not save the world, but on the other hand if we had given more attention over there maybe this Ebola thing could have been stopped in it’s tracks. I don’t know the answer.
Agent – not everyone coming here from West Africa is a threat. If they are coming here legally or are citizens, is it right to deny them entry based on the fact they MIGHT be infected? If we do that, it will force people to try to hide where they are coming from and thus no screening or monitoring at all. I think it best we screen and monitor instead of denying entry. We’re asking for trouble by doing that.
Ouch. That’s a little harsh.
I can see this Ebola topic has really triggered some interesting conversations.
It can’t be done Libby. Civilization has been trying for at least 200 years. Missionaries from about every denomination have been trying to educate them, show them basic hygiene, how to properly prepare food, giving them medical care etc etc. President Kennedy started the Peace Corp and sent a bunch of idealists over there to show them how to purify water and all the basics about how to improve their lot to almost no avail. The big problem in many of those countries is the life expectancy which is about 35. They die off so quickly from AIDS and a multitude of other diseases, they can’t be advanced past the tribal existence they have.
It would seem that a single individual with tremendous powers of thumbs down –or up — has a lot of time on their hands. Sad little life.
maybe large employers aren’t seeing huge increases – if they did, most likely they would pass the cost back to the employees or consumers – BUT, for a small employer, the premiums have gone up substantially – i know, i am an insurance broker. don’t listen to the lies, obamacare is hurting small employers to the point they’re just telling their workers to buy on the exchange as they can’t afford to offer them a health care package any longer. (wasn’t this the underlying goal for Obama – to have people sign up in the exchanges and be limited to just a few metallic named plans? and if you don’t purchase during the “enrollment period”, you can’t buy health insurance from May to December (unless there’s a qualifying event which is narrow)- who made up these rules? as an insurance broker, obamacare needs to be gutted.
It’s not even fully implemented yet. Also, ask the retirees at GE why they were thrown off the GE health plan and tossed to the exchange? Kinda contradicts this propaganda.
Increase in participant retention has more to do with it’s “success” than anything else.
The article does not mention the 24 significant changes and delays to the ACA made by unilateral executive action without the involvement of Congress that mask the inevitable impact of the higher costs including the 21 new taxes that we will bear. Several of these delays when enacted will adversely affect many Americans namely 1. Postponing the enforcement of the employer mandate for medium – size employers until 2016 and relaxing requirements for larger employers. Businesses with 100% or more employees must offer coverage to 70% of their full time employees in 2015 and 95% in 2016 and beyond. 2. Exempting unions from the reinsurance fee. The administration gave unions an exemption from the reinsurance fee. To make up for this exemption, non-exempt plans will have to pay a higher fee which will most likely be passed on to consumers in the form of higher premiums and deductibles.3. Non-complaint health plans e.g those that do not conform to the ACA requirements get a 2 year extension. These plans may now be offered until 2017. This extension will prevent a wave of cancellation notices going out before the 2014 midterm elections. 4. Expanding the hardship waiver until October 2016 to exclude people from the individual mandate whose plans were cancelled due to the ACA regulations. They can purchase catastrophic health insurance. 5. Doubling allowed deductibles. Beacause some group health plans use more than one benefits administrator plans are now allowed to apply separate patient cost sharing limits to different services, such as doctor/hospital and prescription drugs which allows maximum out-of pocket costs to be twice as high as the original ACA requirements intended.
“The article does not mention the 24 significant changes and delays to the ACA made by unilateral executive action without the involvement of Congress that mask the inevitable impact of the higher costs including the 21 new taxes that we will bear.”
Will you people do some research before you post ridiculous statements? THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT FOR CONGRESS TO BE INVOLVED IN DELAYING IMPLEMENTATION OF SECTIONS OF ANY LAW. This authority is granted to the IRS.
Libby:
I read your response which required a second review because what you said is not correct by any means. You need to read The Constitution of the United States. There are three branches of the Federal goverment, Executive, Legislative and Judicial. The legislative powers are vested in Congress not the IRS as you implied. The IRS simply administers the tax provisions in the law. The President enacts and follows the law passed by both houses of Congress. When the Executive desires to change the law he must do so through Congress not unilaterally as was done with this law.
Patriot – the law was not changed. Implementation of certain parts of the law was delayed. This authority is granted to the IRS.
I didn’t stutter.
There are 16 changes to the law which were passed by Congress and signed by Obama. There are also 2 changes made by the Supreme Court. All of these are changes and are not the 24 implementation delays from administrative action. The IRS is responsible for implementing the tax provisions included in the law and specific reporting requirements.
If they were voted on and approved by Congress then they weren’t unilaterally made by executive action without the involvement of Congress as you stated above.
If there were rulings by SCOTUS then they weren’t unilaterally made by executive action without the involvement of Congress as you stated above.
All of the other “changes” were delays in implementation which is perfectly legal.
As I stated before, I don’t stutter. Your statement was incorrect.
You are confusing the 24 Executive Actions with the 16 changes passed by Congress including the 2 from the Supreme Court. Contrary to what you may think the rule of law has been disregarded. The executive actions taken are not legal under the Constitution. Please read Article II, Section 3 which states “he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed,” It does not mean change or delay. This has to be done through Congress.
I’m not confusing anything. There has been ONE executive order issued regarding the ACA and that was in 2010 regarding federal funding for abortion.
The Treasury/IRS absolutely has the authority to delay implementation of parts of a law passed by Congress and signed into law by the President and it has done so on numerous other occasions.
If Obama had violated the Constitution, as your post suggests, he would have certainly been impeached by the House. He hasn’t been because he hasn’t done anything illegal.
The reason Obama hasn’t been impeached isn’t because he hasn’t done anything illegal. It’s because the House knows that impeachment wouldn’t go anywhere once it reached the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats. This isn’t like in Nixon’s day, when even his own party refused to support him and he realized if he had lost his own party, that meant he was toast.
That didn’t stop them from trying to repeal the ACA over 45 times. If they thought there were grounds for impeachment, they’d be all over it. Don’t kid yourself. They love to waste taxpayer money.
Good news Patriot. The most basic of the plans, Bronze will receive an average of 14% rate increase on 1-1-15. I am sure all those open enrollment people will just love their new rates. Saving an average of $2500 per year for the average family, right?
Where do you get your information, Agent? Are you talking about Bronze plans in Texas or nation-wide?
Reported by Washington Times and Investors Business Daily. Actually, the rate increases are much larger in several parts of the country. You should subscribe to Washington Times and you might get current information. Huffington Post will never show it.
Interesting fact: the Washington Times is owned by the same guy who owns the “Unification Church” – remember Rev Moon and the “moonies”? (Apologies, since that term is no longer as politically correct as it was back in the day.)
“Love bomb”, anyone?
Nome, George Soros owns Media Matters, Moveon.org and is the man pulling the strings on our puppet President. I noticed you didn’t refute anything on the figures.
And there is no need to attack nomesaneman for his comment. He was only commenting on an interesting fact about the ownership of your rag, the Washington Times.
Hardly the Washington Post!
Agent your point on the Bronze plan rate increase of 14% at 1/1/15 is correct. Also “if you have health insurance through your employer, you can keep your health insurance , keep your doctor , keep your plan.”
Libby, and I was commenting on an interesting fact about the leftist media. You and Nome are two of a kind. You admitted not watching the news. Is it any wonder that your credibility is often questioned?
I don’t WATCH the news. I READ about the news. And then I RESEARCH what I read. You, on the other hand, believe everything you hear on FauxNews and read on that rag, the Washington Times. No research. No questions. No nothing. As evidenced below with your assertion that “Bronze will receive an average of 14% rate increase on 1-1-15.” That article says no such thing. It says they MAY go up that much. You can’t read and you can’t reason. That’s why you, my little curmudgeon, are on scary little dude.
Huffington Post, NYT, Media Matters, Moveon.org, MSNBC are the filthy rags you read Libby. They have no facts so they just promote the leftist agenda. Washington Times and Investors Business Daily both reported on this. What are you going to say when the open enrollment period starts and rates are this high and higher? Will that be a vast right wing conspiracy as well? After all, that is what your heroine Shrillary said when Bill got caught with his pants down on Monica.
“In a 2008 essay published in Harper’s Magazine, historian Thomas Frank linked the Times to the modern American conservative movement, saying: There is even a daily newspaper—the Washington Times—published strictly for the movement’s benefit, a propaganda sheet whose distortions are so obvious and so alien that it puts one in mind of those official party organs one encounters when traveling in authoritarian countries.”
Hey A:
To be clear, I wasn’t trying to be snide or cast any aspersions your way – just pointing out that most of today’s media is backed by a cavalcade of outfits that have another axe to grind and so their reporting oughta be taken with a grain. The one thing all these media owners have in common (including the Unification Church) is a —-load of money. Whether it’s GE, Disney, Soros, Murdoch, etc., it’s clear that the “media bias” takes on many slants. The recent past saw a lot of the little guys (who admittedly had their own axes, too, but they were smaller) taken over by these large GLOBAL companies, who, I argue, are not as interested in reporting the news as much as they are interested in spinning it (or commenting upon it) to their advantage. I resent that part no matter who or what “side” is doing it is – I am offended by the cynical way they think they can bamboozle me (I’m not that easy).
For news with a relatively low hysteric-factor, I used to rely on the Christian Science Monitor, but that’s all but gone now — a shell of its former self. Back in the day, I can’t ever remember them once encouraging me not to see a doctor, for instance.
I think you have actually raised the same point I tried to make: “It’s not only what they tell you – it’s who is doing the telling.” I am with you on that. And many might be surprised who the owners of the tellers really are.
Again, not personal but FYI, up until a few years ago I read at least 2 papers per day since I was in high school in the 70‘s and read many of the major news mags, including the National Review, and I do “watch” some news (Firing Line was a favorite if only for Buckley’s Latin phrases), and I listen to a lot of radio and portions of many talk shows I imagine you dial into from time to time, too.
The only common thread with any of them is that I ask myself: “Why are they telling me this, and what are they not telling me?”
Sorry for any perceived offense.
Your Pal,
-nomes
Agent – I checked out your claim about an article in the Washington Times and didn’t find it. I did, however, find an article that accuses the White House of withholding 2015 rates until after the mid-term election. Which is it? They’re posting double-digit increases or accusing the White House of collusion? The Washington Times certainly did not seem like an unbiased media source to me.
Libby, rate changes are coming in from the carriers. Personally, I cant see OBama and company hold that info back unless they are in bed with the carriers.
That was my point exactly, FFA. The right wing will do everything it can to make it look like Obama is doing something underhanded when he’s not.
Hey FFA, it looks like the forces of evil are at work in the wonderful state of Illinois. Early voting had the touch screen machines voting Democratic even if the Republican was selected. No wonder the state has had a long string of Democratic leaders in office and several convicted and sent to prison. I would bet everything I own that Obama’s vote did not go to a Republican. What do you think?
Libby, it was on the Sunday, 10-19-14 e- newsletter of the Washington Times. It is in big headlines. Scroll back to the Sunday edition if you have that capability. Just look for the mug of our wonderful President in the picture. He looks like someone who has pulled the wool over the country’s eyes. I suppose that could be correct. He certainly did over yours.
You mean this? “Obamacare “bronze” plan owners MAY be in for a shock next year. Investors PREDICT the cheapest healthcare offering under the Affordable Care Act COULD jump nearly 14 percent in price.” It goes on to say:
“In Providence, R.I., the plan cost is expected to SOAR from $72 to $99 per month, from $88 to $111 in Los Angeles, $100 to $122 in Las Vegas, and $97 to $114 in New York.” Hahahahahahahaha.
You are absolutely hilarious. What a joke. Now I see where you come up with the drivel you post. I bet you’re on their hot-button breaking news email flash program, aren’t you?
Libby:
The bronze plan rate LA increase comparison you sardonically reference is short on the facts. What you omitted in stating is the cheapest CA bronze plan for anyone 30 and older there is a $3,250 deductible for individual coverage, its $6,500 for a family. Once you spend that much on medical care, including medication, you’ll still have to pay 40% of the cost for many services, including visits to specialists, outpatient services,emergency room visits and lab work. You’ll have to pay 40% of the cost of non-generic drugs. The out- of pocket expenses are capped at $6,250 or $12,500 for a family. When factoring in the deductibles and co-pays why is that “hilarious” using your word.
Patriot, I was quoting from Agent’s own article. His comment involved premiums, not deductibles. Going from $88 to $111 is still affordable for most.
Good one Patriot. We aren’t even talking about the Silver or Platinum plan yet. No telling how high those will be. They all stink and everyone but Liberals know it.
Interesting vocabulary lesson for today.
Definition of Liberal:
broad-minded, nonconventional, nonorthodox, nontraditional, open-minded, progressive, radical, unconventional, unorthodox, abundant, ample, aplenty, bounteous, bountiful, comfortable, cornucopian, generous, plenty, bighearted, bounteous, bountiful, charitable.
The OPPOSITE of Liberal:
nonprogressive, old-fashioned, orthodox, stodgy, traditional, bigoted, intolerant, narrow-minded; reactionary, deficient, inadequate, insufficient, lacking, wanting; meager, niggardly, stingy; skimpy; minimum; barren, unfruitful, unproductive, mean, petty, small; frugal, spare, thrifty; acquisitive, avaricious, coveting, covetous, desirous, grasping, hoggish, itchy, mercenary, rapacious; begrudging, envious, grudging, resentful.
Hmmmmm. I know which one I’d rather be. So ends today’s lesson
So how about that Tom Brady! How bad are the Bears??? what Tares will play out for Health insurance??? Stay Tuned…
BTW Agent, kicked johnny Football tot eh curb on the fantasy roster. Hoping for a good keeper pick for next season.
Meanwhile, Polls show IL may be getting the same old same old… Quinn and Rauner neck & neck.
Sorry – what rates will play out for Health Care?