General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsYou Probably Didn’t Hear About The Most Important Health Care News This Week
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/11/22/2983481/media-historic-slowdown-health-spending/<snip>
On Wednesday, the new head of the White House Council of Economic Advisers released a bombshell report finding that U.S. health care spending since 2010 has increased by just 1.3 percent the smallest cost growth over a three-year period in American history while prices in the health care sector rose by 50-year lows, thanks in part to structural changes made by the Affordable Care Act. But most media outlets ignored that story, instead choosing to focus on ongoing glitches with the Healthcare.gov website.
According to a ThinkProgress analysis, English-language online and print media published about ten times as many pieces on the troubles with the Obamacare site than they did on the new health care spending report:
<snip>
Regardless, the record slowdown is one of the most important economic developments of the decade, and has huge ramifications for the fiscal viability of major programs like Medicare and Medicaid. In fact, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has already cut its projections for Medicare and Medicaids price tag in 2020 by $147 billion a 10 percent reduction from previous estimates.
Hekate
(90,849 posts)Just goes to show you what can be done when the governor supports the plan instead of working to sabotage it.
ailsagirl
(22,899 posts)and desperately trying to officially be accepted, but am running into obstacles. Gee... what a surprise.
Live and Learn
(12,769 posts)As far as I know, Covered California is working beautifully.
ailsagirl
(22,899 posts)Last edited Fri Nov 22, 2013, 07:41 PM - Edit history (1)
I guess that means I qualify for Medicaid only.
Live and Learn
(12,769 posts)That is exactly what Single Payer would be. It includes no deductibles, no premiums and no caps. You should be ecstatic! I would be.
ailsagirl
(22,899 posts)except having to give up my MD of 20+ years
Hekate
(90,849 posts)... on any given day, and apparently getting through. Or maybe there are 11,000 people trying on any given day, and "only" 10,000 get through that day. Those are pretty big numbers that are successful -- you're bound to be one of them soon.
ailsagirl
(22,899 posts)Live and Learn
(12,769 posts)because you won't be paying anything. So forget Covered California. Instead, you will get free Medi-Cal. Here is how you apply for Medi-Cal: http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal/Pages/ApplyforMedi-Cal.aspx
Edited to add: Medi-Cal is the California version of medicaid.
And be sure to spread the word to fellow students. This is a great deal for all of them.
Bigredhunk
(1,351 posts)I thought Medicaid (and like programs) were only for people who worked (but made very little) and/or had dependents(?) Single people with no children who don't work can get Medicaid? Single people with no children who don't work and take college classes can get Medicaid?
I guess I've never understood how Medicaid and food stamps (etc
) work.
Live and Learn
(12,769 posts)The Affordable Care Act opened medicaid up to everyone under a certain income in those states that agreed to implement it. I am not sure why this information hasn't gotten out to people since it is one of the most wonderful parts of the act.
Eligibility
The Affordable Care Act fills in current gaps in coverage for the poorest Americans by creating a minimum Medicaid income eligibility level across the country. Beginning in January 2014, individuals under 65 years of age with income below 133 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) will be eligible for Medicaid. For the first time, low-income adults without children will be guaranteed coverage through Medicaid in every state without need for a waiver, and parents of children will be eligible at a uniform income level across all states. Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) eligibility and enrollment will be much simpler and will be coordinated with the newly created Affordable Insurance Exchanges.
http://www.medicaid.gov/AffordableCareAct/Provisions/Eligibility.html
Bigredhunk
(1,351 posts)I assumed you still had to have a job (some income). I didn't know that part changed.
edit: And as to why the info hasn't gotten out...that's not the media's job. Their job is to push talking points ("Obama's Katrina" and sensationalism. What, you think it's the media's job to inform people??
pnwmom
(109,000 posts)But you do have to live in one of the states that accepted the expansion, unfortunately.
liberal N proud
(60,346 posts)Who do they work for?
NewJeffCT
(56,829 posts)so often and so frequently that almost all of the RWers believe it, and many others do as well.
loudsue
(14,087 posts)they are the only voices that get the real truth out there.
FarCenter
(19,429 posts)See Table 1 and Figure 3. Costs have been held down the most for Medicare and Medicaid spending. Many prescription drugs going off patent has restrained drug costs.
cynzke
(1,254 posts)for many premiums are going to increase under ACA due to the expanded coverages, but the indications are ACA is slowing down the raise in health care costs and eventually start to reduce the cost of insurance. The raising costs are due primarily to the raise in chronic illnesses. One of the reasons our health care system is overwhelmed and failing is due to the fact that we only react to the problem....focus on the outcome of chronic illness, i.e. surgery, hospitalization and expensive drug treatments. Like skipping those oil changes and tune ups for your car, then paying substantially more for repairs to your damaged engine. Most chronic illness is preventable and we must stop reacting and start acting...devote more time, energy and money into keeping people healthy. ACA tries to address that with the preventive coverages and there is a cost for that. I wish we would see more discussion/explanation about this. Its unfortunate that ACA has been over hyped as the panacea...an affordable and instant cure to our health care problems. It brings about major improvements, but also at first...an increase is cost for many and these people just don't understand why that is necessary. They don't understand the big picture and don't have patience to wait for those economic benefits.
pnwmom
(109,000 posts)that will be because "many" have been throwing their money away on junk policies that would turn out to be almost worthless if they actually needed coverage.
Live and Learn
(12,769 posts)mountain grammy
(26,656 posts)and the new deal with Iran. But, what's important here are the Obamacare glitches and FREEDOM!
Mainstream "news" is a waste of time! They've all been "out foxed."