Cable Television and Cell Phone... OR ObamaCare?

[JesusOfNazareth]

Forgive me that the Youtube clip is long, but the President is trying to be very clear (or suffers from the political syndrome where one continues to speak at length before coming close to answering a question).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Rk0aycma5s

You might disagree with me after viewing this, but IMHO, I think if push came to shove that the President would rather you budgeted for ObamaCare than had a cell phone and a cable television subscription.

What would you choose?

[Mike the Progressive]

What youtube video?

[Shibe Island]

Oh I don't feel like risking it. It's bad enough that healthcare.gov has more glitches than an old Minecraft update.

[JesusOfNazareth]

What youtube video?

Oops. Fixed.

[Lemanrussland]

I'd rather have health insurance than cable TV, yes. This is actually the situation I am in now. TV is not that important.

I do have a cell phone, simply because I need one.

He is just making a point that people who think they can't afford insurance may be able to, they may be eligible for Medicaid or other assistance, or may have to make changes to their household budget. Many middle class people who are always "tight on money" waste it on things like iPhones and eat out all the time.

[Geilinor]

I'd get insurance, drop cable (Netflix is cheaper anyway), and try to save somewhere else rather than get rid of my cell phone.

[Tekania]

Forgive me that the Youtube clip is long, but the President is trying to be very clear (or suffers from the political syndrome where one continues to speak at length before coming close to answering a question).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Rk0aycma5s

You might disagree with me after viewing this, but IMHO, I think if push came to shove that the President would rather you budgeted for ObamaCare than had a cell phone and a cable television subscription.

What would you choose?

Yes, he is talking about prioritizing the budgeting of personal healthcare coverage over things which may be luxuries. It makes perfect sense.

[Rio Cana]

Unfortunately, the Affordable Care Act is defective.

For example, our island , as US territory, was allowed to join this Affordable care act. Our island govt. decided to expand Medicaid. So all sounds like happiness. But if you are unemployed but have assets like money in the back over $2500 (which is an obsolete number from who knows when) then you do not qualify for Medicaid. So they send you to the new island exchange. The problem is that the local insurance those private exchange companies are selling can run you easily from $100 to more then $300 a month. Price depends on your age, deductible you pick and how many members. So the question is, how is someone who is unemployed able to pay this. First comes the house payments then utilities, food and then loans. So little to nothing is left for insurance. All this means that the Affordable Care Act for those people equal business has usual. Before they had no insurance and today they still have no insurance. What a Joke.
The person in charge of this on our island tends not to mention this flaw in the Affordable Health Plan. Only the good parts are mentioned.

One thing is strange. It is said the US eliminated the Asset Test limit starting in January 2014 for all 50 States which means your local Medicaid office cannot ask you how much assets or money you have. They can only look at what you make a month if you are unemployed. So was it really eliminated or not at the last moment. If eliminated, were US territories included or not.


On our island, people are not penalized for not having insurance unlike in the US. Also, local businesses here do not have to participate in this Affordable Health Act. What is needed here is a Universal System like Uruguay just introduced.

[Saiwania]

Many middle class people who are always "tight on money" waste it on things like iPhones and eat out all the time.

I for one, would rather be doing that than paying for health insurance. Unless I'm an old fart or have an accident, I'm never going to need a doctor. Do you honestly believe that if you purchase an insurance plan that it will pay out all the much if something does happen? Cigna doesn't pay squat in my experience with them.

[Ashmoria]

Forgive me that the Youtube clip is long, but the President is trying to be very clear (or suffers from the political syndrome where one continues to speak at length before coming close to answering a question).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Rk0aycma5s

You might disagree with me after viewing this, but IMHO, I think if push came to shove that the President would rather you budgeted for ObamaCare than had a cell phone and a cable television subscription.

What would you choose?

I would suggest that someone in that position ask their parents to pay for their insurance.

[Ashmoria]

Unfortunately, the Affordable Care Act is defective.

For example, our island , as US territory, was allowed to join this Affordable care act. Our island govt. decided to expand Medicaid. So all sounds like happiness. But if you are unemployed but have assets like money in the back over $2500 (which is an obsolete number from who knows when) then you do not qualify for Medicaid. So they send you to the new island exchange. The problem is that the local insurance those private exchange companies are selling can run you easily from $100 to more then $300 a month. Price depends on your age, deductible you pick and how many members. So the question is, how is someone who is unemployed able to pay this. First comes the house payments then utilities, food and then loans. So little to nothing is left for insurance. All this means that the Affordable Care Act for those people equal business has usual. Before they had no insurance and today they still have no insurance. What a Joke.
The person in charge of this in our island tends not to mention this flaw in the Affordable Health Plan. Only the good parts are mentioned.

One thing is strange. It is said the US eliminated the Asset Test limit starting in January 2014 for all 50 States which means your local Medicaid office cannot ask you how much assets or money you have. They can only look at what you make a month if you are unemployed. So was it really eliminated or not at the last moment. If eliminated, were US territories included or not.


On our island, people are not penalized for not having insurance unlike in the US. Also, local businesses here do not have to participate in this Affordable Health Act. What is needed here is a Universal System like Uruguay just introduced.

yeah and their are some other glitches like that that ought to be fixed.

too bad the republicans control the house and will never allow sane fixes to obamacare.

[Gauthier]

Obama's Death Panels trying to take away our cable TV and cell phones!

[JesusOfNazareth]

Forgive me that the Youtube clip is long, but the President is trying to be very clear (or suffers from the political syndrome where one continues to speak at length before coming close to answering a question).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Rk0aycma5s

You might disagree with me after viewing this, but IMHO, I think if push came to shove that the President would rather you budgeted for ObamaCare than had a cell phone and a cable television subscription.

What would you choose?

I would suggest that someone in that position ask their parents to pay for their insurance.

What if they're over 26 years old? Or should the parents be on the hook after that?
As has been mentioned by others, the problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of tother people's money.

[JesusOfNazareth]

too bad the republicans control the house and will never allow sane fixes to obamacare.

I would say that the President and the Senate Majority Leader are so egotistical and socialistic that they can't sit down and actually bargain with The House on a way to salvage health care insurance that would actually help the vast majority of Americans.

These Dems are hell-bent on incrementally bringing about a one-payer (the taxpayer through the govt.) system that they've put the country on the road to economic failure.

BTW, if you had to choose one, would you keep your electronics or Obamacare?

[Olivaero]

too bad the republicans control the house and will never allow sane fixes to obamacare.

I would say that the President and the Senate Majority Leader are so egotistical and socialistic that they can't sit down and actually bargain with The House on a way to salvage health care insurance that would actually help the vast majority of Americans.

These Dems are hell-bent on incrementally bringing about a one-payer (the taxpayer through the govt.) system that they've put the country on the road to economic failure.

BTW, if you had to choose one, would you keep your electronics or Obamacare?

You know this shit wouldn't happen if you had simply one election to decide who writes the laws and who doesn't not fucking three. Republicans or Democrats would just have to sit down and shut the fuck up for 4 years and it would be incredibly satisfying for this observer of American politics. Oh and the possibility of extending my life from a preventable disease or watching tv... hm what should I choose...

[Lemanrussland]

I would say that the President and the Senate Majority Leader are so egotistical and socialistic that they can't sit down and actually bargain with The House on a way to salvage health care insurance that would actually help the vast majority of Americans.

These Dems are hell-bent on incrementally bringing about a one-payer (the taxpayer through the govt.) system that they've put the country on the road to economic failure.

BTW, if you had to choose one, would you keep your electronics or Obamacare?

You know this shit wouldn't happen if you had simply one election to decide who writes the laws and who doesn't not fucking three. Republicans or Democrats would just have to sit down and shut the fuck up for 4 years and it would be incredibly satisfying for this observer of American politics. Oh and the possibility of extending my life from a preventable disease or watching tv... hm what should I choose...

But what about the Super Bowl commercials?!?!11

[Lemanrussland]

too bad the republicans control the house and will never allow sane fixes to obamacare.

I would say that the President and the Senate Majority Leader are so egotistical and socialistic that they can't sit down and actually bargain with The House on a way to salvage health care insurance that would actually help the vast majority of Americans.

These Dems are hell-bent on incrementally bringing about a one-payer (the taxpayer through the govt.) system that they've put the country on the road to economic failure.

BTW, if you had to choose one, would you keep your electronics or Obamacare?

Not sure why I'd have to give up my electronics (basically my computer, plus old left over computer parts), I paid cash for them.

I'd definitely refrain from buying any new electronics if my budget was that tight. I'd downgrade or even get rid of my internet service before going without insurance.

I've had to go to the hospital in the past month, so I'm glad I've made the decisions I made. If I had decided watching Breaking Bad and Dexter was more important than being insured, I'd be in a world of shit financially.

[Tekania]

too bad the republicans control the house and will never allow sane fixes to obamacare.

I would say that the President and the Senate Majority Leader are so egotistical and socialistic that they can't sit down and actually bargain with The House on a way to salvage health care insurance that would actually help the vast majority of Americans.

These Dems are hell-bent on incrementally bringing about a one-payer (the taxpayer through the govt.) system that they've put the country on the road to economic failure.

BTW, if you had to choose one, would you keep your electronics or Obamacare?

What we have is the product of compromise.... I've got a better solution.... kick al the conservatives out of Washington and get us a real universal healthcare system.

[Galloism]

too bad the republicans control the house and will never allow sane fixes to obamacare.

I would say that the President and the Senate Majority Leader are so egotistical and socialistic that they can't sit down and actually bargain with The House on a way to salvage health care insurance that would actually help the vast majority of Americans.

These Dems are hell-bent on incrementally bringing about a one-payer (the taxpayer through the govt.) system that they've put the country on the road to economic failure.

BTW, if you had to choose one, would you keep your electronics or Obamacare?

That's right. The Dems are extremely unreasonable on this subject.

They've voted 46 times to repeal, neuter, or defund the ACA and replace it with a single payer system, you know.

[JesusOfNazareth]

I would say that the President and the Senate Majority Leader are so egotistical and socialistic that they can't sit down and actually bargain with The House on a way to salvage health care insurance that would actually help the vast majority of Americans.

These Dems are hell-bent on incrementally bringing about a one-payer (the taxpayer through the govt.) system that they've put the country on the road to economic failure.

BTW, if you had to choose one, would you keep your electronics or Obamacare?

What we have is the product of compromise.... I've got a better solution.... kick al the conservatives out of Washington and get us a real universal healthcare system.

It's not a compromise when the entirity of the House and Senate Republicans voted against the monstrosity, Silly.

[Ashmoria]

I would suggest that someone in that position ask their parents to pay for their insurance.

What if they're over 26 years old? Or should the parents be on the hook after that?
As has been mentioned by others, the problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of tother people's money.

im talking about being over 26 but too poor to have everything that modern life demands--cellphone, internet, cable tv and insurance.

most parents are far more prosperous than their 20something children and most would be very happy to pay the $50/month to make sure their kids are covered. no they shouldn't be forced to do so and obviously not every family can do this but id recommend asking if it was that kind of issue for them.

it is far cheaper for parents to cover their kids than it is to try to help them out after an uninsured medical catastrophe.

[Tekania]

What we have is the product of compromise.... I've got a better solution.... kick al the conservatives out of Washington and get us a real universal healthcare system.

It's not a compromise when the entirity of the House and Senate Republicans voted against the monstrosity, Silly.

I said "conservatives".... not republicans.

[Ashmoria]

too bad the republicans control the house and will never allow sane fixes to obamacare.

I would say that the President and the Senate Majority Leader are so egotistical and socialistic that they can't sit down and actually bargain with The House on a way to salvage health care insurance that would actually help the vast majority of Americans.

These Dems are hell-bent on incrementally bringing about a one-payer (the taxpayer through the govt.) system that they've put the country on the road to economic failure.

BTW, if you had to choose one, would you keep your electronics or Obamacare?

the vast majority of people are being helped by obamacare. it is a freaking godsend to never have to worry again that your insurance company will find a way to drop you when you really need it.

the republican have zero suggestions on how to actually improve on what we have now and if they had some ideas that would work they would never suggest them.

[JesusOfNazareth]

I would say that the President and the Senate Majority Leader are so egotistical and socialistic that they can't sit down and actually bargain with The House on a way to salvage health care insurance that would actually help the vast majority of Americans.

These Dems are hell-bent on incrementally bringing about a one-payer (the taxpayer through the govt.) system that they've put the country on the road to economic failure.

BTW, if you had to choose one, would you keep your electronics or Obamacare?

the vast majority of people are being helped by obamacare. it is a freaking godsend to never have to worry again that your insurance company will find a way to drop you when you really need it.

the republican have zero suggestions on how to actually improve on what we have now and if they had some ideas that would work they would never suggest them.

ObamaCare is a wash. If it has seven million enrolees, it's because of the six million plus lost insurance policies that it caused.

So far, our unscientific poll, and may I say it's my experience that NS leans somewhat leftward, seems to be going against the ACA and in favor of cell phones and cable television. Cell phones are practically indispensible and who really wants to watch network television?

[Ashmoria]

the vast majority of people are being helped by obamacare. it is a freaking godsend to never have to worry again that your insurance company will find a way to drop you when you really need it.

the republican have zero suggestions on how to actually improve on what we have now and if they had some ideas that would work they would never suggest them.

ObamaCare is a wash. If it has seven million enrolees, it's because of the six million plus lost insurance policies that it caused.

So far, our unscientific poll, and may I say it's my experience that NS leans somewhat leftward, seems to be going against the ACA and in favor of cell phones and cable television. Cell phones are practically indispensible and who really wants to watch network television?

its funny how that number of cancelled insurance policies go up and up even after various states have told insurance companies that they cant do that.

but the exchanges are only a small part of the aca. the best part is the standardization of insurance so you can always know what you are getting and they cant keep you from getting it. the second best part is the expansion of Medicaid (which would be first if the supreme court hadn't made it optional) which is an amazing boon not only to the working poor but also to the county as a whole who will have a healthier population. maybe the exchanges are third....the republicans hate them so much that paul ryan is still suggesting using exchanges when they privatize medicare... it certainly makes shopping for insurance easier.