Affordable HealthCare Message from Magic Johnson

Wednesday, January 15th, 2014

Magic Johnson on Getting Covered: "It Saved My Life"

No matter how old you are or what your profession is, an injury or illness could happen to anyone at any time. Watch Magic Johnson talk about what having quality health care has meant to him — then pass it on.

Like Magic, our family has had Affordable Healthcare for years as part of the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program.  If my kids were younger today, because of ACA they would be covered until 26 instead of us having to get them health insurance while they were still in college.
ACA may not be perfect, but it is a good start and if states like Oklahoma were cooperating instead of putting up roadblocks, we would be much farther along in covering those who don't have insurance. Republican Governors should be ashamed of themselves for putting petty party politics over the health and well being of the residents of their state.  Republicans have lost my total support for many reasons but their obstructionism on healthcare ranks right up there near the top.  The list is much shorter if I posted what I agree with the GOP on today as the top three items:

• _______
• _______
• _______

Absolutely nothing -- there is not one thing I can think of I agree with the backbiting, sold out GOP of today who have the empathy and credibility of a gnat.

Anyone thinking of voting for the obstructionist GOP who could care less about the vast majority of American people need to ask themselves why they have to lie so much to get their narrative out in public.  Is it because the facts are their enemy?   

If you cannot trust the GOP, why vote for them?  Help us elect people to office like Elizabeth Warren who put the American people first and big donors and Wall Street last.  This Country would be better off with more Elizabeth Warren's and less of the sell out Koch puppets who permeate the GOP of today!  

President Obama's OFA Phone Call Asks Our Help to Make ACA Successful for a Generation of Americans

Last night's phone call reminded me of being at a football game at the University of Oklahoma with 85,000 of my closest friends pulling together for the Sooners.  There were over 200,000 on the call from the President all dedicated to making the Affordable Care Act work and supporting the President. 
We have his back not only against Republicans but many members of the media.

As I was sitting here, I kept thinking this is the President of the United States asking for our help in supporting his signature issue, Affordable Care Act, plus asking us to help him get his judicial nominees through the Senate.   My first thought was "WOW!"
While listening to President Obama, I am blown away at how down to earth he is on the phone like talking to a close friend.  Then it struck that this man truly cares about what happens to those Americans without healthcare and how much his own Mom's death to cancer affected his drive for affordable healthcare for all Americans.  This is not a whim but it is something he feels about deeply and what the Republican obstructionist have failed to take into consideration when dealing with the President using their underhanded tactics.  Have 'zero' respect left for the Republican Party and their elected officials.  If there could be less than zero, today's Republicans have earned that designation.
Many of us expected the Republicans were attacking Healthcare.gov which slowed it down which has turned out to be true -- 16 cyber attacks hit the Healthcare.gov site where people were supposed to sign up.  Like we don't know who was behind that.  I am not a betting person but I would bet whoever did it is aligned with the Koch Bros and their campaign wasting millions to stop the rollout and implementation of Affordable Care Act.  Are Republicans afraid ACA will work and eventually we will end up with single payer to cut insurance costs even more?  Today's hard right GOP are going to find themselves on the wrong side of history as they continue to try to stall, destroy, and turn back the clock on ACA.
Speaker Boehner and his leadership team that keep voting to repeal ACA I didn't think were stupid. Beginning to change my mind -- what other explanation is there for their obstruction against ACA and high fiving each other when the House votes to repeal ACA knowing it is DOA in the Senate except stupidity.  What a waste of our tax dollars.  Now we find out the conservatives/GOP have been launching cyber attacks on the Healthcare.gov site, GOP Governor's have refused to set up exchanges which put more workload on the Feds with the House refusing to grant more funding, and the Koch Bros with the help of the GOP elected officials launched a million dollar plus campaign for people not to sign up for ACA.  The GOP/MSM have told so many lies that you have to wonder if they know the truth any more.  
As a former federal employee who is part of the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), I sit here in amazement at the members of Congress who fall under the same plan until they get booted out on 1 January and have to use ACA.  Over the years, it is not unusual to see different plans come and go who no longer meet the standards of FEHBP, and we have to choose a new plan.  The difference is that plans that were kicked out of or left FEHBP were not junk insurance but most people still waited until near the end of the time to actually switch their plan.   Republicans have been touting people should be allowed to keep junk insurance plans that if they got sick, their plan would pay little and/or most likely their insurance would be cancelled.  Why do Republicans want junk insurance plans to even be available?  Are they that angry about ACA or is the real reason they are so deep in the pockets of insurance companies that they feel obligated to tout worthless insurance plans for Americans to keep instead of encouraging them to move to ACA?
Why does the MSM not ask Republicans why they want Americans to have junk insurance?  If the MSM had any integrity left that would be the first question asked?  Many of today's media have not only no integrity but no ethics as they report Republican narratives/talking points they receive instead of facts.  Looks like when the wealthy donors like the Koch Bros bought Republican elected officials, they also did a great job of buying portions of the media. There is no other explanation for people like the Fox 'readers' who lie continually on the air reporting the talking points/narrative of the GOP House and some Tea Party Senators.  Are their hosts that stupid or are they that entrenched in the Republican Party to refuse to acknowledge that ACA is the law which was upheld by the Supreme Court.  Maybe  Fox News thinks only they should get to determine what is constitutional now?
Chuck Todd, NBC News White House Correspondent, might as well go to work for Fox News as he continues to report the GOP narrative not facts.  As he so aptly reminded us, it is not his job to check to see if something is factual.  That is what you get from a political science major who does not have a journalism degree which means he didn't have a course in ethics.  Must admit that it really shows. How many of the MSM even belong to the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) or know what the SPJ Code of Ethics excerpted below even says:

Preamble Members of the Society of Professional Journalists believe that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. The duty of the journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues. Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty. Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist's credibility. Members of the Society share a dedication to ethical behavior and adopt this code to declare the Society's principles and standards of practice.

Seek Truth andReport ItJournalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.  

Minimize Harm Ethical journalists treat sources, subjects and colleagues as human beings deserving of respect. 

Act Independently Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public's right to know. 

Be Accountable Journalists are accountable to their readers, listeners, viewers and each other.

As members of the MSM report lies and inaccuracies about ACA, judicial nominations, immigration, jobs bills, sequestration, etc., you are left disgust and anger toward the media who have problems reporting the truth when it comes to President Obama.  It is beyond anything I have witnessed and find it reprehensible by allowing their own personal feelings to replace integrity and ethics in reporting.  I just want the facts not spin when I hear or read what a journalist has to say about a subject.  If I want their opinion, I will read it on the editorial page.

That live call with the President last night made me even more disgusted with the media, the Republicans, and the Koch Bros for trying to nullify the results of the 2012 election by their attacks on President Obama.  Who do these people think they are?  Over 5 million more people voted for President Obama then Romney but we still have to listen to the Romney's espouse how much better he would have done along with the hard right GOP.  Today I would like to tell the Romney's along with the GOP -- "You Lost -- Grow Up and Get Over it!"

Truth Wins Out -- GOP in Congress Sabotaged Obamacare Rollout -- Some GOP Governors Complicit

In fact, putting an excessive burden on the federal government was the explicit aim of the law’s opponents. “Congress authorized no funds for federal ‘fallback’ exchanges,” the Tea Party Patriots website noted as long ago as last December. “So Washington may not be able to impose exchanges on states at all.” The group went on to suggest that since Washington was not equipped to handle so many state exchanges, “both financially and otherwise — this means the entire law could implode on itself.  Todd S. Purdum, Politico

Anyone who knows me knows I have been blaming Republicans for the problems with Obamacare knowing some State Governors like Oklahoma's Mary Fallin, pulled back at the last minute.  It just made sense it would put an extra burden on the main site.  Lo and behold that is just what happened. 

The lowlife, underhanded GOP sabotaged the rollout of ACA and then criticized it for having problems.  Despicable, lying, overpaid, lazy, and arrogant Republican members of Congress are going to find out the Democrats they are dealing with today are not the rollover types and are willing to stand up to the lying GOP like Rep Pallone of New Jersey.  This may be one of the funniest exchanges I have seen from the House in a long time.  I applaud Rep Pallone for standing up and not backing down.  

The Wrecking Crew courtesy graphic is courtesy of Politicususa.com from Crooks and Liars which is a perfect description of today's GOP:

 

From Sarah Jones, Politicususa:

For weeks I’ve been wondering why no one is talking about how Republicans sabotaged the ACA rollout by refusing to implement state run marketplaces, and thus unexpectedly forcing all of that additional burden on to the federal website.

It reminded me of Republicans denying security funding for Benghazi and then blaming Obama and Clinton for the lack of security in Benghazi. The media were oddly uninterested in that alarming fact. 

But today, Todd Purdum at Politico exposed how Republicans sabotaged the ACA rollout. One small part of their plan was the rejection of the state run exchanges.

But also, Purdum points out, Republicans refused to fund the extra work on the website after the states refused to do their parts, leaving the administration to cobble funding together for Healthcare.Gov. Putting this extra burden on the website was a deliberate effort to cause the law to “implode” on itself.

When I saw the above on Politicususa, it all made sense and answered my questions on how the lowlife Republicans caused the problems and then blamed President Obama.  The theory was correct that the MSM was complicit with Republicans and hard right in the lies about the ACA rollout refusing to get to the heart of the problems and took to blaming the Obama Administration.  Daily we see the MSM reporting the GOP narrative on ACA as facts with some reporters actually saying it is not their job to determine the truth like Chuck Todd and Lisa Myers of NBC.  If a reporters job is not to report the facts, then he should go to work for Fox News where facts and truth rarely see the light of day.

The excerpted article by Politico is outstanding as Purdum put the facts together and shows how a real investigative reports works.  Great knowing there are still some around today -- his full article is well worth the read:

The Obamacare sabotage campaign 

By TODD S. PURDUM | 11/1/13 5:04 AM EDT Updated: 11/1/13 8:31 AM EDT 

To the undisputed reasons for Obamacare’s rocky rollout — a balky website, muddied White House messaging and sudden sticker shock for individuals forced to buy more expensive health insurance — add a less acknowledged cause: calculated sabotage by Republicans at every step. 

That may sound like a left-wing conspiracy theory — and the Obama administration itself is so busy defending the indefensible early failings of its signature program that it has barely tried to make this case. But there is a strong factual basis for such a charge. 

From the moment the bill was introduced, Republican leaders in both houses of Congress announced their intention to kill it. Republican troops pressed this cause all the way to the Supreme Court — which upheld the law, but weakened a key part of it by giving states the option to reject an expansion of Medicaid. The GOP faithful then kept up their crusade past the president’s reelection, in a pattern of “massive resistance” not seen since the Southern states’ defiance of the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954. 

But the bitter fight over passage was only the beginning of the war to stop Obamacare. Most Republican governors declined to create their own state insurance exchanges — an option inserted in the bill in the Senate to appeal to the classic conservative preference for local control — forcing the federal government to take at least partial responsibility for creating marketplaces serving 36 states — far more than ever intended. 

Then congressional Republicans refused repeatedly to appropriate dedicated funds to do all that extra work, leaving the Health and Human Services Department and other agencies to cobble together HealthCare.gov by redirecting funds from existing programs. On top of that, nearly half of the states declined to expand their Medicaid programs using federal funds, as the law envisioned. 

Then, in the months leading up to the program’s debut, some states refused to do anything at all to educate the public about the law. And congressional Republicans sent so many burdensome queries to local hospitals and nonprofits gearing up to help consumers navigate the new system face-to-face that at least two such groups returned their federal grants and gave up the effort. When the White House let it be known last summer that it was in talks with the National Football League to enlist star athletes to help promote the law, the Senate’s top two Republicans sent the league an ominous letter wondering why it would “risk damaging its inclusive and apolitical brand.” The NFL backed off. 

The drama culminated on the eve of the open enrollment date of Oct. 1. Congressional Republicans shut down the government, disrupting last-minute planning and limiting the administration’s political ability to prepare the public for the likelihood of potential problems, because it was in a last-ditch fight to defend the president’s biggest legislative accomplishment. 

“I think my Republican colleagues forget that a lot of people are enrolling through state exchanges, rather than the federal exchange,” Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) noted last week. “And if it wasn’t for the fact that many Republican governors, including my own,” failed to set up state exchanges, “then we wouldn’t be putting so much burden on the federal system.” 

In fact, putting an excessive burden on the federal government was the explicit aim of the law’s opponents. “Congress authorized no funds for federal ‘fallback’ exchanges,” the Tea Party Patriots website noted as long ago as last December. “So Washington may not be able to impose exchanges on states at all.” The group went on to suggest that since Washington was not equipped to handle so many state exchanges, “both financially and otherwise — this means the entire law could implode on itself.” 

Excerpt:  Read more at Politico  

The way some of the media is attacking President Obama over ACA shows how much they are in bed with the GOP.  For years we have heard that the MSM is liberal when he fact they are controlled by mostly conservative organizations who frankly don't like the President because he doesn't do favors for the wealthy like Republicans.  President Obama actually cares about regular people not just the top 2%.  

For years I have been told by some Republicans to blame the opposition for what you are doing.  My reaction was to say you have to be kidding because you will be found out but they weren't.  They even defunded ACORN after it had been destroyed.  How much of the voter fraud attributed to ACORN came from the GOP?  

At least the answers are out about ACA and once again just like Benghazi, the fault lies with the lack of GOP funding ACA websites while they blame Obama and the Democrats.  Politico and Politicususa made my day with these revelations.  About time someone tells the truth because you are not going to get it from much of the MSM who are too lazy to investigate anything except where their next meal is coming from and who they can get to pay for that meal.

Welcome to #1 Red State Oklahoma which Ranks #3 in Women Murdered by Men

“Nine women each week are shot to death by their husband or intimate partner,” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.

Oklahoma and other Red States are not faring well in all of the data that is coming out recently.  The latest on gun violence again women along with other issues affecting women is not something Oklahoma should be proud.  Oklahoma already scored #1 in the amount of money cut from the public schools.  That's one ranking you don't want.  Then they come in at 49th in teacher pay and even with an election year pay raise suggested by Superintendent Barrasi who is up for reelection, they still rank 49th.  Now we are running 3rd in women murdered by men and 48th as the worst state for women to live from pay to healthcare.  Someone tell me how this State can be sold to businesses with these rankings?

Instead of social issues highlighting the agenda of the Legislature, time to get pro-active and start taking care of real issues facing our State.  You would think these rankings would wake up elected officials but they will just come back with the "Oklahoma standard" mantra which is not something I would brag about when you are at or near he bottom on so many issues that are really important.

They keep bragging about the rainy day fund but how about spending that money to improve our education which eventually would show up in how women fare in the workplace instead of being #48. Past time to lose the concentration on social issues and tell the hard right to sit down and shut up on abortion, gays, creationism, bible being taught in schools, and other religious/social issues they push to the front in every session.  Since Republicans don't seem to be able to say no to these groups maybe it is time for more Democrats to be elected.  What I have seen out of Senator John Sparks and Representative Emily Virgin Democrats from Norman, shows they have a ton more common sense then most of the elected Republicans.

These ratings along with the others should get every statewide office holder thrown out of office but will the people of Oklahoma wake up?  I have serious doubts they will.

From Channel 4 News:

Oklahoma ranks 3rd in Women Murdered by Men 

OKLAHOMA CITY – A national study released Wednesday focused on a sad reality of our country and had shocking results for the Sooner State. 

According to the new Violence Policy Center report, Oklahoma ranks third in the nation in the rate of women murdered by men. 

The study covered homicides across the country involving one female murder victim and one male offender in 2011. 

“Nine women each week are shot to death by their husband or intimate partner,” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “That’s nearly 500 domestic gun violence deaths each year, more than twice the number of servicewomen killed in military conflicts since the Korean War. We urgently need better policies that protect women and their families from this senseless violence. No American, adult or child, should live in a perpetual state of fear. It’s inhumane.”

For more information on the study, visit the VPC’s website. 

South Carolina and Alaska are 1 and 2 respectively in the murder rate of women by men.  Once again top states are Red States where the NRA is very pro-active and believes the more guns the better.  Tell that to women in abusive relationships.  So sick and tired of the gun culture today and the hard right won't even agree to background checks required by all people purchasing guns at gun shows.  If I am a private seller, I don't have to take down any information and can get paid in cash which should be against the law.  As far as I am concerned the hard right gun lobby supported by the NRA are responsible for all the guns in the hands of violent people and those prone to anger issues.

Oklahoma ranks #48 in Worst States for Women

Women in the United States earn an average of 77 cents for every dollar that men make, face many barriers to reproductive health care and are significantly underrepresented in leadership roles. But the worst state for women by far is Louisiana, according to a state-by-state examination of these issues released Wednesday by the Center for American Progress. 

In terms of economic security, health and leadership representation, the analysis rates Louisiana the lowest. Full-time working women in Louisiana earn only 67 percent of what men earn, on average, and more than one in five women and girls in Louisiana are currently living in poverty. 

Only 12 percent of Louisiana's congressional seats are held by women, and the state has one of the top 10 worst maternal mortality rates in the country. There is only one OB-GYN for every 13,136 women in Louisiana, and nearly 20 percent of non-elderly women in the state are uninsured. Louisiana also requires an ultrasound, waiting period and counseling session before a woman can have an abortion. 

The report also considered in its ratings the state's minimum wage, family leave policies, percentage of 4-year-olds enrolled in pre-K, the gender management gap and publicly funded contraceptive services.  

Other states that earned an "F" overall in these categories are Utah, Oklahoma, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, Arkansas, South Dakota, Indiana and Georgia. 

Check out the map at Huffington Post to see where your state fares on women's issues. 

Excerpt:  Read More at Huffington Post

Where are our elected officials in Oklahoma when it comes to women?  Voting for more tough abortion laws that will get overturned and wanting to tell women how to think.  Kind of reminds me of the Mormon Church philosophy where men are to be honored and women do their bidding.  That same mentality must permeate a lot of the legislature thinking or they wouldn't be concentrating so much on women's issues that are none of their business.  Many in our legislature are so against Planned Parenthood that all they think they do is provide abortions which is far from the truth but truth and Republicans today are not on the same page.  Say anything lie or not that advances their agenda and that is okay.

Now for the ranking that shows the Republican Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John Doke and other Republicans are going to hate since they have been touting Affordable Care Act (ACA) was going to send prices through the roof.  Imagine that -- they lied just like other Republicans have been doing about ACA and its impact on prices of healthcare.

Tulsa has the details where in this instance Oklahoma fares very well:

Oklahoma health insurance rates will be 20 to 30 percent below U.S. average under ACA 

Monthly rates for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act in Oklahoma will be below the national average, and residents can choose from 53 health plans on average, according to new federal data. Monthly premiums in Oklahoma will range from $266 for the second-lowest-cost silver plan to $174 for the lowest-cost bronze plan before subsidies are applied, according to the report released Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The report shows that rates in Oklahoma will be about 20 percent to 30 percent below the national average for the three plans listed. 

Excerpt:  Read more from the Tulsa World. 

Did you know that with ACA there will be no lifetime caps allowed or that your child can be on your insurance until they are 26?  First children with pre-existing conditions will be added and then adults with pre-existing conditions so they can get insurance without having to pay huge premiums.  If you want facts and the truth, please visit Healthcare.com to read the about the benefits of ACA and how it will affect Americans.  Time to go to the source instead of believing the crap Republicans and their big donors are pushing with their scary ads meant to keep people from getting the facts.

Because of Oklahoma's ALEC led Legislature and Governor, Oklahoma Republicans turned down running the exchanges so the federal government has taken over which is probably why the rates are so low.  In the process over 150,000 people are going to be denied healthcare because our Governor turned down the expansion of Medicaid and dollars to go with it because they cannot stand IMHO the thought of implementing a healthcare plan written and passed by the Democrats.

When Tom Cole said “It's awfully hard to repeal Obamacare when a guy named Obama is President says it all.  Then he goes on to talk about how unpopular the program is throughout America.  If ACA was that unpopular like the lies/spin of the GOP, Obama would not have been re-elected by a large margin.

Welcome to the #1 Red State Oklahoma that has been bought and paid for by the Koch Brothers, ALEC, and the Chamber.  What does that give you?  Last or near last in education and women's issues for starters. Time for common sense Oklahomans to start to take the state back starting with the Superintendent and Insurance Commissioner.   Going to take work but the truth has to get out instead of the lies from the Republicans and their office holders.

Affordable Care Act (ACA) is Working to the Dismay of the GOP and Koch Bros

Koch Bros launch disinformation campaign using their Americans for Prosperity (AFP) against the Affordable Care Act (ACT) with support from Republicans

President Obama Speaks on the Affordable Care Act (ACA)

July 18, 2013 | 15:49 | Public Domain

President Obama explains how the Affordable Care Act is putting money back into the pockets of millions of Americans thanks to a provision in the health reform law that requires insurance companies spend 80 percent of its customers premiums on medical care, rather than administrative costs.

You have the facts on what is happening with the ACA from the President along with studies that have been done like those from Kaiser Family Foundation that back the Administration versus the disinformation campaign of the Koch Bros.  Makes you wonder why the Koch Bros are leading the fight against a health care program that is working.   Do the Koch Bros hate the President that much to spend millions through Americans for Prosperity (AFP) in a disinformation campaign for Republicans or is it their bottom line as they are cheapskates when it comes to their employees or is it both?  Are they afraid ACA will be successful and they will have to provide the coverage for their employees?  Do the Koch Bros currently provide second rate health care coverage to employees?   

From Think Progress comes the video of their first ad by their mouthpiece group Americans for Prosperity which is actually a lie but guess that is what a disinformation campaign is all about -- lies.  Even the Wall Street Journal which AFP spokesman gave as a link to substantiate their claim actually undermines the AFP ad:

Americans for Prosperity — a conservative group funded by the Koch brothers — is spending millions on ads that aim to turn Americans against the Affordable Care Act, just as government officials prepare to enroll the uninsured in the law’s new health care exchanges beginning on October 1. The campaign will eschew attacks on President Obama in favor of a new non-ideological tone that could appeal “young women” who watch the Food Network, “Law & Order,” and “Good Morning America.” 

The goal is to “start softening the ground” ahead of implementation, Tim Phillips, the group’s president told the New York Times. “Too often we fell into a broad-based ideological argument, and I think we failed to get at ‘Look at what they’re doing and how it impacts you,’ ” he said. “I think where we win is on the impact of a specific policy.” 

But if the group’s first TV ad, titled “Questions,” is any indication the new spots are no more honest than the partisan advertisements from 2012. The commercial opens with “Julie,” a mother of two, who tells the camera that she “has some questions about Obamacare,” but is then quick to offer false answers about the effects of reform: 

JULIE: If we can’t pick our own doctor, how do I know our family is going to get the care they need? And what am I getting in exchange for higher premiums and a smaller paycheck? Can I really try the folks in Washington with my family’s health care? I think we all deserve some answers.

Nothing in the law prevents patients from choosing their own doctors — uninsured patients who seek coverage through the exchanges will have access to the doctors who accept the private insurers that participate in the new marketplaces and individuals and families with employer-based coverage probably won’t see any changes at all. 

Asked to substantiate Julie’s claim, AFP spokesperson Levi Russell pointed to a Wall Street Journal article from March of 2013, which actually seems to undermine the ad’s argument.

Have conservatives forgotten how to tell the truth?  Yesterday the House GOP took another vote against ACA this time to delay individual implementation which they know full well will never get through the Senate and would be vetoed by the President.  Are they that stupid or do they want to make sure they are still supported by the Koch Bros and their organizations for their campaigns?  Actually I think they are both stupid and bought and paid for by the Koch Bros.  Voters need to take notice House Republicans could care less about the American people and refuse to work with anyone who doesn't subscribe to their agenda.  Their oath means nothing to this group of do-nothing House Republicans as they continue to obstruct.

Looks like Republicans are having a meltdown because the facts are coming out on how the ACA is saving money.  There is a catch that most likey bothers Republicans and some donors -- insurance companies have to pay 80 to 85 percent of premium dollars on actual health care instead of administrative costs.  Is this why some insurance companies are giving big donations to Republicans?  Are some insurance companies opposed to spending money they collect from premiums on better health care instead of more bureaucracy? 

According to a new report, Americans buying individual market health insurance saved $1.2 billion in 2011 and $2.1 billion in 2012 because law has begun to hold insurance companies accountable. 

Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies are required to spend 80 to 85 percent of premium dollars on medical care and health care quality improvement, rather than on administrative costs. If they don’t, the insurance companies must provide a rebate to their customers. Last year, over 13 million consumers received $1.1 billion in rebates – the average consumer rebate was around $151. 

Today a new analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation provides the most complete look yet at the benefits of the policy. In addition to rebates from insurers who are charging more for overhead than care (those with medical loss ratios below 80 percent), the report estimates the savings that resulted from insurers exceeding 80 percent, who provided more value for each consumer dollar than history shows they otherwise would have. 

The study found that the average medical loss ratio went from 78 percent in the individual market in 2010 to 83 percent in 2012 in the individual market. Had medical loss ratios remained at 2010 levels, premiums would have been much higher than they actually were. Combining these savings from better medical loss ratios with rebates, the Kaiser analysis estimates that the 80 / 20 rule yielded $3.2 billion in lower health care costs to consumers – not counting savings to employers’ health plans. 

And the 2012 rebates for consumers are on their way. While final rebate totals are still being tallied, some States are reporting early results. According to the Los Angeles Times, so far, insurers in California will provide rebates totaling $44.5 million by August. For example, Blue Shield of California will provide $24.5 million in rebates to 29,000 small businesses with 90,000 enrollees. Kaiser Permanente will provide $2.7 million to 66,000 enrollees in the individual market.

Welcome to Oklahoma one of the Red States owned by ALEC and the Koch Brothers who are fighting the Affordable Care Act:

Thousands to lose health coverage if changes not made to “Insure Oklahoma” 

Posted on: 11:28 am, July 18, 2013, by KFOR-TV 

OKLAHOMA CITY–Thousands of Oklahomans who relay on the state to help with affordable health care could soon be losing their coverage. 

The state was warned in May that if changes were not made to the “Insure Oklahoma” program to comply with the Affordable Care Act, federal funding for the program would end. 

Recently, two senators attempted to make changes to Senate Bill 640. 

However, it was not brought up before the end of the session. 

Now, some lawmakers are wanting to call a special session to address the deadline. 

They say if the Legislature does not act, more than 30,000 residents would lose their coverage.

Because of the stubbornness of the Oklahoma legislature in not taking care of Oklahomans, over 30,000 residents could lose their health care coverage.   It is quite obvious that at all levels the new hard right Republicans don't care about people or who they hurt as long as they keep their hard right base happy along with wealthy donors.

For a state that is so quick to offer help to their neighbors in an emergency, it is ludicrous to have a legislature who is against the Affordable Care Act which will help people because it comes from a Democrat President.  That is just flat out childish on the part of Republicans and their hard right followers.

Will Oklahoma residents wake up to what has happened to our State since Republicans took full control of the State Legislature and now Statewide offices?  Will Oklahoma voters rebel in November 2014?   Oklahoma Democrats need leadership that will take on the hard right and go toe to toe with them.  Right now that State leadership seems to be missing.

It is not healthy for any one party to control a state IMO - you need checks and balances.  We have none in Oklahoma.  Time for change!

GOP Attack on Obamacare with Flawed 'Study' Goes Down in Flames

Imagine that, a group bought and paid for by the Koch's with the help of ALEC who is loyal to the Koch's puts out a "Misleading and Highly Incomplete Study" on ACA

Figured when The Drudge Report had the headlines that Affordable Care Act (ACA) was going to cost much more then expected that somewhere there was a 'report' that probably didn't use full facts but followed a Republican narrative instead of facts to end up supporting Congressional Republican opposition to AHA.  The minute I saw the Heritage Foundation was involved knew there were major problems because former Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) has never played by the rules but follows a narrative.  He is going to damage the reputation of The Heritage Foundation to the point when they put out any research, it will be assumed to be tainted.  No wonder the Koch Brothers wanted DeMint to take over Heritage Foundation. They have their own little puppet in charge now who when they pull the strings dances to their agenda.

the latest “the sky is falling” study of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) has just been released by the Society of Actuaries (SOA) and its message is clear. Insurance companies are going to take it on the chin starting in 2014 and every year thereafter.

Imagine that, a group bought and paid for by the Koch's with the help of ALEC who is loyal to the Koch's puts out a "Misleading and Highly Incomplete Study."  Who would have thought?  Only about 60% of Americans or more instantly figured the Republican Party donors were up to no good again.  We are proved right again with ALEC being involved now in trying to turn people against ACA for Republicans.  This group just doesn't stop in attempting to damage the Country and this President.

To get to the high numbers Drudge was shouting would doom ACA, Politicususa looked inside the report:

It covers medical claims for only “individual health policies.”   No estimates were included for employer plans, the source of the majority of health insurance coverage. 

Only individual policies were studied not employee plans?  Right there you have an extremely flawed report without going any further discussion. They have completely ignored in their report how much our healthcare costs have been rising over the last ten years ( 131% increase in premiums).  The American people got sucker punched once again by the Koch Brothers on behalf of the Republican Party and their members of Congress.  Fortunately Americans are a lot smarter now after the 2010/2012 elections about what the hard right is up to when they release a so-called 'study,' and you look under the cover.

The Obama Administration found the flaws in the report immediately:

Administration officials pointed out more shortfalls in the design of the study; a design whose parameters in my opinion were intentionally drawn to result in a preordained conclusion. Tax credits and other special payments to companies that would in all likelihood insure most of the sicker clients were ignored.

Right there are the facts - the so-called 'study' is flawed but then when you have ALEC (think Koch Brothers) and Heritage Foundation (think Jim DeMint) involved, there is no other conclusion that could be reached.  When facts don't fit their narrative, this group eschews the facts to plow ahead with parameters that will fit their narrative.

The dots are connected by Politicususa as to who is behind this flawed 'Study' attack on ACA:

A Misleading and Highly Incomplete ‘Study’ Continues the GOP Attack on Obamacare  (excerpts)
By: Dennis SMar. 28th, 2013 

(snip) 

Here comes the juicy part. John Haley, an influential “Fellow” in the SOA is CEO and President of Towers Watson & Company. TW & C specializes in health and group benefits. Tasty when you can get the outfit you serve as a “Fellow” to do the heavy statistical lifting for your company. And, wouldn’t you know it, Haley’s company is the daddy to Extend Health, America’s largest private Medicare Exchange. There’s that competition I was talking about that was left out of the study. The health insurance industry must not be hurting too much; 2011 total compensation for Haley was $6,288,629; for 2012 a “healthy” $7,617,513 including stock awards and options. He also draws money from several boards he sits on. 

Here’s the payoff. I called the folks at SOA and asked them if this was an in-house study or was it commissioned by an outside source? Turns out 2 companies combined their resources in ordering the ACA chop-job. One of the companies was “The Lewin Group.” It’s a health care consulting firm with at least a dozen health plans and the far right American Legislative Council (ALEC)-connected Heritage Foundation among its clients. 

The other money contributor that commissioned the study is where it really gets interesting. The company is called OptumRX (at least as of this submission). It has also answered to Ingenix and OptumInsight in the past. Part of the name changes has to do with a $350 million dollar class-action restitution fund growing out rigging a database to underpay doctors and patients. The Optum parent company is UnitedHealth, a company that, according to Kaiser Health News has a reputation for denying or underpaying claims, especially to out-of-network physicians. I guess that’s how you become the #1 health insurance company in the country. 

It should come as no surprise to any thinking human being that United Health is a major ALEC player that has been a $50,000 “Chairman” level sponsor and exhibitor at an ALEC annual conference. 

So that’s how it works. The special interests bent on destroying Obamacare, keep the pressure building, oft-times through legitimate “non-partisan” organizations like the Society of Actuaries. Such organizations have expenses. For SOA there’s rent to pay at their Schaumburg, Illinois Martingale Rd. Suite and the tab for the Queensland Hong Kong office and staff (still semi-capitalist after nearly 16 years of Chinese rule), neither locale’s staff works for nothing. There are research and education projects undertaken by SOA itself plus conferences to go to and ordering in (Chinese?) for top management. 

You can read more of the article at Politicususa.com  (Note:  My bold in the article)

As you read the details of this report you realize that the Society of Actuaries was well paid to do this so-called 'study' but seems they were provided the parameters to use which has resulted in a total flawed 'study' that can be labeled worthless.  That doesn't stop Republicans from touting the study to try and end Obamacare which makes no sense since it is essentially their plan from the early 90's.  Do they hate Obama and Democrats that much to trash a plan that they helped come up with in the 90's?  Sure looks like it and why the GOP no longer should be listened to in Congress as they are proving daily that most of them do not have the best interests of the Country at heart but their own selfish and wealthy donor interests.

What are Republicans going to pull out of the hat next to try and destroy Obamacare since this 'study' is going down in flames?