Kathleen Sebelius Told Congress She Can't Enroll In Obamacare — And She's Wrong

[FarCenter]

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius (D) testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee Wednesday about the rocky rollout of the Affordable Care Act's insurance exchanges.
Twice, Republican representatives asked her a stock question: If Obamacare is so great, why don't you enroll in a plan through the exchanges?

This is an inane question. Sebelius is both a federal employee and old enough to qualify for Medicare. Asking Sebelius why she doesn't decline the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan and Medicare so she can enroll though the exchange is kind of like asking the Secretary of Agriculture why he doesn't decline his salary so he can qualify for food stamps, if food stamps are so great.

But just because a question is inane doesn't mean you're allowed to give a wrong answer to it. Sebelius did that twice, saying it would be illegal for her to shop in the exchange because she is offered health insurance through work.

That's wrong. As made clear on Healthcare.gov, you may enroll in coverage through the exchanges even if you are offered coverage through work. Your offer of work-based coverage may make you ineligible for a subsidy, but that doesn't stop you from enrolling.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/kathleen-sebelius-can-enroll-in-obamacare-2013-10

[FarCenter]

1. Kathleen Sebelius Pleads On Hot Mic: 'Don't Do This To Me'

Near the end of grueling testimony during which she was repeatedly grilled on the disastrous rollout of the Affordable Care Act, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius was caught on a hot mic whispering to a colleague, "Don't do this to me."

It wasn't immediately clear what she was referring to.

But her aside came during a line of questioning in which Republican members of Congress repeatedly questioned her on whether she would be willing to enroll in the federal health insurance exchanges under Obamacare.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/kathleen-sebelius-hot-mic-dont-do-this-to-me-obamacare-testimony-2013-10

[Mass]

5. Who cares? This was a sham hearing, where the GOP could not care less about her answers.

I am sure businessinsider.com is happy to bash her, but she was as good as could be expected considering the stupidity of the questioning line.

[spanone]

19. exactly, it was pure sham-wow!!! posturing for the cameras. fuck the republicans.

[Mass]

2. She cant because she is enrolled in Medicare, at least according to this.

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/10/30/2861601/yes-illegal-sebelius-enroll-obamacare/

But ThinkProgress has confirmed that Sebelius, who turned 65 in May, is enrolled in Medicare and is thus ineligible to enroll for insurance through the exchanges. Exchange plans “duplicate many benefits provided by Medicare, and it is illegal for insurance companies, agents and brokers to sell such polices to people known to have Medicare,” federal officials told the New York Times in October.
From Medicare.gov:
Medicaregov

[FarCenter]

6. Apparently you can withdraw from Medicare Part A.

Since she is just 65 and still working with medical benefits from her employer, there was no reason for her to apply for Part B.

Part A is automatic at 65, but SSA allows withdrawal from Part A.

HI 00801.197 Withdrawal of Application
https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0600801197

Were she to do so, she could apply for coverage through the exchange.

[ProSense]

7. WTF? Why are you pushing RW talking points? n/t

[geek tragedy]

8. You're not familiary with this one's work, are you?

Tendentious
Repetitive
Obnoxious
Loose with the truth
Lame
posts constantly

[ProSense]

9. And another thing,

learn the facts.

Q. Will Members of Congress and their staff continue to receive a Government Contribution toward the cost of their health insurance premiums?

A. Members of Congress and their congressional staff who are no longer eligible for enrollment in an FEHB plan will continue to receive a Government contribution toward the cost of their premiums for health plans purchased on the Exchange. This contribution will be no greater than the Government contribution provided for other Federal employees eligible for FEHB coverage and purchasing coverage offered by an FEHB plan.

Q. What will be the amount of the employer contribution for Members of Congress and congressional staff?

A. The amount of the employer contribution for Members of Congress and official staff will be the same as for other Federal employees. OPM annually determines the government contribution based on the average of health plan premiums for the two types of enrollments (self only and self and family) allowed in the FEHB Program. By statute, the government contribution is the lesser of 72 percent of the weighted average of all FEHB plan premiums or 75 percent of the individual plan premium. OPM will apply the same employer contribution amounts up to 75 percent of the total cost of the health plan premium on the Exchange, the same as for an FEHB health plan. An individual with an enrollment on the Exchange for more than one person (i.e. self plus one) will receive the employer contribution amount the same as for an FEHB self and family enrollment.

http://www.opm.gov/retirement-services/publications-forms/benefits-administration-letters/2013/13-204attachment2.pdf

[FarCenter]

12. I know about the subsidy for staff formerly on FEHB; but are any plans on healthcare.gov equivalent?

Are the plans available to Congressional staffers on healthcare.gov equivalent to FEHB plans in terms of covered services, copays, limits, and participating hospitals, doctors and other providers?

[ProSense]

13. Read the information at the link. n/t

[FarCenter]

17. It doesn't provide information comparing Summary of Benefits or provider networks for plans.

[ProSense]

20. Since you like searching for information, go to an official site and

do some research.

I'm sure you would agree that it's better than posting fact-free, ridiculous RW talking points, right?

[Coyotl]

3. That wasn't a hearing, it was a witch burning exercise.

The republicans didn't just over talk the answers to their own questions, they over shouted her answers.

[Coyotl]

4. Actually YOU are wrong and Secretary sebillius is correct.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

10. you love to fail, don't you? try doing actual fucking research next time.

Coytl has kindly handed you your ass.

[snooper2]

11. you ever see a squirrel vs rattle snake?

[grantcart]

16. thats a lot of risk for a pop tart.

Need to recalibrate your risk/reward matrix, Rocky.

thanks for that, loved it.

[MADem]

18. That is probably the most amazing footage I've seen in months! Who knew? nt

[MADem]

14. If you had a lick of sense, you'd delete this pack of lies.

You've been told by several people in this thread that this wingnut thesis is just not true. You should have taken it down and apologized for your error.

But we probably could use a record of this disgraceful post in future, so I'll do the duty:

FarCenter (15,334 posts)

Kathleen Sebelius Told Congress She Can't Enroll In Obamacare — And She's Wrong

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius (D) testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee Wednesday about the rocky rollout of the Affordable Care Act's insurance exchanges.
Twice, Republican representatives asked her a stock question: If Obamacare is so great, why don't you enroll in a plan through the exchanges?

This is an inane question. Sebelius is both a federal employee and old enough to qualify for Medicare. Asking Sebelius why she doesn't decline the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan and Medicare so she can enroll though the exchange is kind of like asking the Secretary of Agriculture why he doesn't decline his salary so he can qualify for food stamps, if food stamps are so great.

But just because a question is inane doesn't mean you're allowed to give a wrong answer to it. Sebelius did that twice, saying it would be illegal for her to shop in the exchange because she is offered health insurance through work.

That's wrong. As made clear on Healthcare.gov, you may enroll in coverage through the exchanges even if you are offered coverage through work. Your offer of work-based coverage may make you ineligible for a subsidy, but that doesn't stop you from enrolling.


Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/kathleen-sebelius-can-enroll-in-obamacare-2013-10
0

[JaneyVee]

15. I like cats.