PoppaGringo Loc: Muslim City, Mexifornia, B.R.

Obama lied, my health plan died
by Michelle Malkin
Creators Syndicate
Copyright 2013
Like an estimated 22 million other Americans, I am a self-employed small-business owner who buys health insurance for my family directly on the individual market. We have a high-deductible PPO plan that allows us to choose from a wide range of doctors.
Or rather, we had such a plan.
Last week, our family received notice from Anthem BlueCross BlueShield of Colorado that we can no longer keep the plan we like because of “changes from health care reform (also called the Affordable Care Act or ACA).” The letter informed us that “(t)o meet the requirements of the new laws, your current plan can no longer be continued beyond your 2014 renewal date.”
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In short: Obama lied. My health plan died.
Remember? Our president looked America straight in the eye and promised: “If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor. Period. If you like your health care plan, you will be able to keep your health care plan. Period. No one will take it away. No matter what.”

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., also lied when she pledged: “Keep your doctor, and your current plan, if you like them.”
This isn’t just partisan business. It’s personal. Our cancellation letter states that Anthem is “not going to be selling new individual PPO plans.”
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When we asked whether we could keep our children’s doctors, an agent for Anthem told my husband and me she didn’t know. The insurer has no details available yet on what exactly they’ll be offering. We either will be herded into the Obamacare federal health insurance exchange regime (launching October 1), a severely limited HMO plan, or presented with costlier alternatives from another insurer. If they even exist.
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My family is not alone. Across the country, insurers are sending out Obamacare-induced health plan death notices to untold tens of thousands of other customers in the individual market. Twitter users are posting their Obamacare cancellation notices and accompanying rate increases:
Linda Deright posted her letter from Regency of Washington state: “63 percent jump, old policy of 15 yrs. cancelled.” Karen J. Dugan wrote: “Received same notice from Blue Shield CA for our small business. Driving into exchange and no info since online site is down.” Chris Birk wrote: “Got notice from BCBS that my current health plan is not ACA compliant. New plan 2x as costly for worse coverage.” Small-business owner Villi Wilson posted his letter from HMSA Blue Cross Blue Shield canceling his individual plan and added: “I thought Obama said if I like my health care plan I can keep my health care plan.”
Few among Washington’s protected political class are paying attention, because they enjoy their lucrative government benefits and are exempted from Obamacare’s destructive consequences. But one of my state’s congressional representatives, GOP Rep. Cory Gardner, also lost his individual market plan. Unlike most politicians on Capitol Hill, Gardner chose not to enroll in the federal health insurance program. He told me that he opted to participate in the private market “because I wanted to be in the same boat as my constituents. And now that boat is sinking!”
Gardner points to recent analysis showing individual market rate increases of 23 percent to 25 percent in Colorado. “After my current plan is discontinued,” he wrote last week, “the closest comparable plan through our current provider will cost over 100 percent more, going from roughly $650 a month to $1,480 per month.” He now carries his Obamacare cancellation notice with him as hardcore proof of the Democrats’ ultimate deception.
Maryland announced that its post-Obamacare individual market rates could also rise by a whopping 25 percent. The National Association for the Self-Employed is recommending that its small-business owners and freelancers plan for at least a 15 percent increase nationwide. One of the reasons for those rate hikes, of course, is that Obamacare’s mandated benefits provisions force insurers to carry coverage for items that individual market consumers had deliberately chosen to forgo.
Americans who had opted for affordable catastrophic coverage-style plans now have fewer and fewer choices. This includes a whole class of musicians, photographers, artists, writers, actors and other creative people who purchased health plans through the individual market or through small professional organizations. As St. Vincent College arts professor Ben Schachter reports in the Weekly Standard, groups like the College Art Association, Modern Language Association and the Entertainment Industry Group Insurance Trust are dropping their plans. Young, healthy members of these groups “are far more likely to see their rates go up — or to face the individual mandate penalties.”
Thanks to Obama, access is down. Premiums and health care spending are up. Research and development on lifesaving drugs and medical devices are down. Hours and benefits have been cut because of Obamacare costs and regulatory burdens by at least 300 American companies, according to Investor’s Business Daily. And the Obamacare layoff bomb continues to claim victims.
Obamacare is destroying the private individual market for health insurance by design, not accident. For hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of self-employed job creators, three fundamental Obamacare truths are becoming as clear as Obama’s growing nose: 1) You can’t keep it. 2) We’re screwed. 3) The do-gooders don’t care.

faithistheword

Many people saw this coming. We knew there was no way something as Utopian as obamacare could possibly be sustainable. I guess in a way, I was happy to see that actors are going to suffer along with us, as they wholeheartedly supported it. It's pretty frustrating to hear the RINO's hedging on supporting Sen. Cruz. IT COULD BE STOPPED!

bahmer

I think some of them may be thinking that if they take the senate and retain the house that they can defund or remove it in 2014. Right now it is a long shot but I hope that they are right. We need to get rid of any and all RINO'S this election and not let any of them slip through the cracks. We don't need any more like John McCain in the senate and if we could get rid of Reid that would be great although I don't know if Reid is up for reelection this coming year or not.

AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

I obviously am not a kind person, because it brings great joy to me to see and hear all the past supporters of this law wail voraciously about having to participate.

bahmer

That pussycat in your picture definitely has a mean look about it. Are you still on medication because on further examination the pussy cat looks vicious.

AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

I am still on medication. It is better; however, must find a dentist very soon to resolve the issue. The cat is representative of my feelings currently. My next avatar will have a fall theme. I have one ready for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

bahmer

That cat should see a vet really soon. It almost looks like it is snarling. There must be a liberal nearby is all that I can figure out.

AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

The cat is snarling with continued Aunti tooth issues.

PoppaGringo Loc: Muslim City, Mexifornia, B.R.

He looks as if he might be daring anyone to enter his domain.

AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

We actually have two felines and both go "on alert" at outside noises, just as a dog would.

PoppaGringo Loc: Muslim City, Mexifornia, B.R.

One of mine runs whenever anyone comes near. The other one thinks he has found a new friend and will be all over them both giving and wanting some loving.

AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

Oh, once you have entered, they are here let me help you sit so I have a new lap. It is when you are outside you are to be checked on.

UncleJesse Loc: Hazzard Co, GA

The reason why this plan is being dropped is because it is illegal. It didn't cover beneficiaries if they became too sick or too injured. It looked cheap but you were paying way too much for simple, routine health service.

Three fundamental Pre-Obamacare truths are becoming clear: 1) If you get seriously sick or injured, you can’t keep it. 2) The minority sick and injured were screwed. 3) The head-in-the-sand majority didn’t care.

John Deere

I think everyone agrees that the past health care in this country needed repair, but Obama told the republicans, who were willing to work with him at first, it's his way only and if you don't like it, tough shit. Hey McCain, YOU were one of those republicans. Quit trying to be a suck up to Obama. It's no wonder you lost 2 attempts to be president.

bahmer

Yes needing repair, throwing out altogether for something no one wants is not a good idea. But then again Obama doesn't care about good ideas all he is concerned with is power and if I read him correctly he wants absolute power over everything and everybody in this once great nation.