What will Obamacare mean for you?

1. 89

   cam8510posted 12 years ago

   First of all, this question is straight forward.  It is not a masked slam of Obamacare.  I would appreciate responses in the same spirit.  Do you know what your employer will do now that Obamacare is coming.  Your employer can continue providing your coverage, or they can drop your insurance, forcing you, by law, to buy into either the government system or a private plan.  If your employer drops your coverage, they will be fined/taxed (?) by the government.  It appears that in many cases the fine/tax (?) will be less expensive than providing insurance, so employers may be motivated to drop employee insurance.  If I have gotten this completely wrong, someone correct me.  This is how I understand it.

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      joeyallenposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Using the right wing term "Obamacare"  is a slam.
      The new Healthcare law will work itself out as  time goes forward if  the right wing will work on compromising with the left. The law will become balanced as each part is worked out.
      This country was founded on the concept of compromise.

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         BLACKANDGOLDJACKposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         ObamaCare is easier to say than the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, and everybody knows what you are talking about. That's probably why Joe Biden used the term ObamaCare in fund-raising literature.

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            cam8510posted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Thank you.  I think the term has caught on sufficiently.  Actually I like the term myself.

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         cam8510posted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Did you watch the debates?  President Obama embraced the term Obamacare.  It is the only reason I used it here.  Did you read my Original Post?  This is not a partisan question.  It is a simple, straightforward question.  What was not clear about that?

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   SimeyCposted 12 years ago

   My company is offering healthcare for my children up to 26, has free contraception, sepcifically notes you cannot be denied healthcare for previous conditions - these are the most visible so far -  a lot of the new Healthcare act doesn't go into law until 2014 so there'll probably be additional changes.

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   1. 89

      cam8510posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, 2014, it does give us time to understand it and for things to be ironed out.  Thanks

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3. 67

   innersmiffposted 12 years ago

   Does nobody else think that these measures are going to de-incentivise hiring?

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      cam8510posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      It is actually irrelevant at this point.  I don't mean to sound harsh, but Obamacare is here.

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         innersmiffposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Laws can be repealed. Do you disagree?

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            cam8510posted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Oh, of course they can be repealed.  But do you really think with the senate makeup after the election and with Obama's victory that there is a realistic chance for that happening?  I don't.  I will deal with it as a reality and find the good in it.  There is some good there too, you know.

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            psycheskinnerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Not for at least 4 years, by which time the PR of ripping healthcare off 100,000s of people will make it very difficult.

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            1. 89

               cam8510posted 12 years agoin reply to this

               I think you are correct on that point.  Good insight.

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4. 73

   livewithrichardposted 12 years ago

   I'm self employed and I am still trying to figure out just how exactly it will affect me.  I will be expanding my business in 2013 will be adding at least 5 new employees so I am way under the current restrictions, though I do intend on getting my employees into a good healthcare and benefits program.  Still doing the research as it is pretty hard to get solid figures to project past 2013.  So, I guess you could say that long term planning is the biggest struggle right now, at least for small business owners.

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      cam8510posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Good point.  Hopefully more information is coming soon.  Congratulations on the small business.  That is a lot of work I'm sure.

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5. 73

   sweetypie1968posted 12 years ago

   It will be a relief.  I have been without health insurance for two years since my employer dropped me from coverage after having major (life-saving) surgery.  I have been paying cash for medicine/doctor's visits ever since.  Needless to say, my medical treatment has been horribly limited which may be setting me up for even more health problems.

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      cam8510posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I am glad for you.  Enjoy the relief of stress and fear.

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   psycheskinnerposted 12 years ago

   I expect it will not noticeably affect me in a financial way. 
   But I will sleep better knowing more people have access to medical care.

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      cam8510posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      And there is the silver lining.  Thanks.

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   kathleenkatposted 12 years ago

   My insurance will remain provided, although the rates are now a little higher. I don't know specifically why, but I know it happened immediately after the ACA was passed this summer. I think my employer/insurance is preparing for the costs associated with it, when it goes into effect. Perhaps they suspect they will lose a percentage of enrolled employees in favor of government-offered plans.
   
   I wonder what those of my coworkers who choose not to enroll in healthcare through the company, will do? Is the requirement to buy insurance lifted when you are carried on your husband or wife's insurance plan?

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      cam8510posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I'm only guessing, but if their concern is that we are covered, then I would think being covered on a spouses plan would be fine.  Maybe someone else will have some information.

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8. 74

   Mighty Momposted 12 years ago

   Obamacare seems to have been embraced by the Obama team now.
   In the industry they refer to it as "ACA" or "health care reform."
   
   Personally, I've already been able to get my husband insurance through our state's preexisting conditions health care exchange. My son recently applied for his state's preexisting conditions health care exchange. So that's HUGE for me. No more playing Russian roulette waiting for one of them to need hospital care that would bankrupt us.
   
   The media seems -- as it the media's wont -- to favor the negative, sensationalistic stories.
   The Papa John's and Denny's guys are the ACA equivalent of Trump the birther. Getting publicity for themselves. And very likely, losing themselves customers.

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