I have health insurance, thanks to the ACA. It saved my life yesterday.

[riqster]

Because of the elimination of lifetime caps and ban on denials based on pre-existing conditions, I have insurance. And when I had a heart attack, I was admitted to the hospital and immediately given excellent care.

That, my friends, is what the ACA did for me. Without it, I would have likely died. Today I am on bedrest with medications and follow-up appointments scheduled.

Bless Obama and the other Democrats who just saved my cranky old ass. And fuck any and everybody who opposes the ACA, because if they had their way, I wouldn't still be breathing.

[Paulie]

1. Glad you're here

To talk about your cranky old ass!

[riqster]

4. Thanks.

For some inexplicable reason, I have family and friends who love me and the aforementioned kazoo.

[Voice for Peace]

110. jeepers creepers a heart attack?

you have duers also.. though I haven't heard your kazoo.

[riqster]

111. This kazoo you don't want to hear.

[NYC_SKP]

2. Congrats, riqster and damn I'm glad you survived it. ACA rocks, it paid out over $500K last year...

For my subarachnoid hematoma and subsequent head surgeries.

We need your cranky ass.

Thanks, Obama!

Everyone needs to get Obamacare.

Take care!

[riqster]

7. Dang, Skip, that was a helluva year for you.

Glad you are still here.

[blm]

106. ((SKP))

I didn't know - so glad that you're still here and raising a ruckus.

[LyndaG]

3. That's wonderful

I'm so happy for you. Best wishes for your continued recovery!

Thank you for sharing your story.

[riqster]

8. Thanks.

With the Teapubbies trying to kill the ACA, I figured a testimonial was in order.

[GReedDiamond]

5. Holy shit riqster!

I'm glad to hear you received the treatment you needed...now rest up, and get way better!!

[riqster]

10. Thanks, and will do!

[MiniMe]

6. You would have gotten treatment

But the bill collectors would be after you. From somebody who had a heart attack with no insurance.

edited to add: Hope you are feeling well!

[riqster]

9. Thanks. Glad you got through yours, too.

Last edited Wed Mar 18, 2015, 10:58 PM - Edit history (1)

On edit: I would have gotten some level of care without insurance. But the additional procedure that actually saved me would likely not have been done if the hospital didn't know it would get paid. Pretty pricey.

I used to work in health care, on the financial side, so I know how such decisions are made.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

45. Not to mention. Would you have gone to the ER if you didn't have insurance.

Many people don't.

My brother didn't. He died in August at the age of 51. He leaves a 19 year old sophomore in college.

[Nye Bevan]

11. Yep. A choice of either death or bankruptcy.

And that is what the Republicans are trying to return us to.

[lastlib]

20. Because of GOP greed, my sister got the former trying to pursue the latter.....

She died waiting for bankruptcy proceedings to allow her to get on Medicaid so she would have a way to pay the medical bills her insurance company said exceeded her lifetime cap.

Twenty-five years later I'm still as hell about it!!

[riqster]

26. You have every right to be angry.

My son died because of pre-ACA insurance, so I can relate.

[lastlib]

29. My sympathies to you

[riqster]

31. And to you.

[Nye Bevan]

41. This subthread has tragically become exhibit A of the evil of medical underwriting,

which the ACA mercifully abolished.

Condolences to all.

[riqster]

44. Thanks.

There were real death panels: those who denied care based on pre ACA business practices.

[niyad]

12. thank goodness you are still with us!! please rest and take care of yourself. we need

you here.

[riqster]

14. Thank you so much.

Heaven doesn't want me, and Hell doesn't want to hear my puns.

[msanthrope]

13. You mean the President isn't a POSUCS? nt

[riqster]

16. Shocking, innit?

[msanthrope]

18. No...not to anyone else who doesn't PWI. nt

[riqster]

23. I think Obama has done a very good job and will likely get credit when history books are written.

And those who called him such vile names will be mocked, or forgotten altogether.

[PowerToThePeople]

15. expanded medicaid has helped my family

All the more reason for universal health care.

[riqster]

19. Yep. Obama has repeatedly said the ACA was a first step.

If we want more such steps, we need to GOTFV and run good candidates.

I agree, universal health care is the only viable solution. We will get there only by kicking Teapubs out of office environments masse.

[NanceGreggs]

17. Glad to hear you're okay.

And thanks for posting this.

It is up to those saved by Obamacare to speak out - because those who needlessly died without it are in no position to tell their stories.

[riqster]

21. Perfectly put.

It is up to those saved by Obamacare to speak out - because those who needlessly died without it are in no position to tell their stories.

Perfect.

[greatlaurel]

28. Well said. Thank you!

[pnwmom]

22. I am so happy for you!!! As imperfect as the ACA is, it has already made a positive difference

for millions of us!

[riqster]

24. Just so.

Obama called it an evolutionary law instead of a revolutionary one. He was right. And the ACA worked for me.

[greatlaurel]

25. Thank goodness you are OK! Being able to know you have insurance allows people to go get care.

Get well soon and do what the doctors tell you. Do not fall for the temptation of doing too much too soon. Thank goodness you have insurance so you did not hesitate to get treatment. I am so glad you are home and resting.

Hooray for Obamacare!

Take care of yourself.

[riqster]

27. Thank you.

[Moostache]

30. Stay above ground as long as possible...glad you're still here!

Give 'em hell until the ride ends, and thanks Obamacare for keeping another one of the good guys in the fight!

[riqster]

33. Oh Hellz yeah.

I am to cantankerous to shut up.

[handmade34]

32. ...

[riqster]

37. Back atcha.

[sheshe2]

34. Hey rigster....

glad we have it, so glad it may well have saved your life. ACA rocks as does Obama!

[riqster]

38. Thanks, and agreed.

[Thinkingabout]

35. I have had the fortune of having health insurance all my life, first through my father

and then on to health insurance through my job. Currently I am pegging towards the $1 million
lifetime cap, without the cap getting removed I would be close to loss of insurance. When I hear RW people complaining about Obama care, I immediately explain I would soon be without my health care and my chronic condition would result in death. Hell, yes, Obama care is a life saver for me.

[riqster]

39. Yep. It's amazing what a big difference such a small step has made.

[SheilaT]

53. Do the idiot RWs try to blame you personally

for your specific situation? I wouldn't be surprised.

[Thinkingabout]

56. Perhaps in their mind I should go to the death panel but I have

Auto-immune problem with cause isn't known.

[Doctor_J]

36. Actually, with an actual healthcare system like Medicare For All, you would also still be alive

Health insurance doesn't save a person's life, healthcare does. Health insurance only increases costs and logistical red tape. If we had an actual healthcare system like the other civilized countries, instead of Heritage Care, you'd still be alive and the costs for all of us would be somewhere between 1/3 and 2/3 of what they are.

Also on behalf of all the others whose premiums was jacked up to pay for those ridiculous insurance profits, you are welcome. I am glad you're OK, but it will be a cold day in hell before I thank an insurance company.

[riqster]

42. Yep. But here in the land of the brave and the home of the Fee,

(No, that was not a typo) Comparing Pre-ACA with Post-ACA, there is a large improvement and a lot of asses saved.

We need to keep pushing for true national health care, of course.

And I do not thank the insurance company: after all, before the ACA, the caps and exclusions were in effect. It took government regulation to force the insurers to cover people like me.

[1StrongBlackMan]

117. +1 ...

But you are not suppose to compare "Pre-ACA with Post-ACA" (which is reality) ... we are suppose to compare Post-ACA with "what we could have had, if ...", in which case, you (sadly) would not be a part of the discussion.

Hooray for the ACA! Glad you're still with us to share your story.

[riqster]

118. Hooray, indeed.

And thanks.

[DonCoquixote]

55. was it necessary

To say on behalf of those whose premiums were jacked you're welcome? I understand single payer would have been better, but would it have been better to let those who did benefit die in the meantime until the Koch's finally ran out of money? First aid and surgery do not conflict, the idea is to keep the person alive long enough to get the full blown treatment they need, but we do not say no firSt aid until we get to the hospital. If we do.we gamble with lives.

[passiveporcupine]

138. Do you have a solution?

To the reality that Obama never could have gotten single payer to pass at this point in time, and he took the only option available to help more people? Major change like this takes time and this was but a stepping stone. Of course...we all want single payer and lower costs, but it had to start somewhere that was "possible", and there is too much money and power in the "for profit" insurance lobby to get single payer past them. It's why Clinton failed at it earlier.

We will get there, but in the mean time, many lives will be saved. To me, it's worth it. Or do you think we need more collateral damage to enforce single payer? I don't want more people to die just to make the case for single payer.

[Liberal_in_LA]

40. great news that u had health care when needed

[riqster]

43. Me and a lot of others.

[brewens]

46. No big deal, your first heart attack.

Glad it didn't break the bank.

[riqster]

64. LOL, not the first.

Thus the "pre-existing conditions" and "lifetime caps" concerns.

[jimlup]

47. Take it easy and glad you are here!

Yes, my adult kids have insurance because of the ACA

[riqster]

65. One of ours does, too.

A very good thing for her, too.

[calimary]

48. Great news, riqster! So glad we have a President who cared about this.

All the rest of 'em gave lip service. Except for the Clintons - who at least tried to get this done in the 90s.

[riqster]

66. Agreed. Obama saw what happened with the Clintons and took an incremental approach.

And he gets pilloried for that. Sheesh.

[calimary]

94. I remember during the end of the Clinton administration and all through bush/cheney,

I'd find myself in conversations with both Dems and others - and when that subject came up, usually derisively (from both sides!?!?!?!!) I always said - "well, at least they TRIED!" And I'd go on with - "hey, how many administrations have we had where NOBODY did ONE DAMN THING even to TRY to address the problem of the need for affordable health care? NOBODY did a THING! Didn't even acknowledge there was a problem! And AT LEAST THEY TRIED! They brought it up, got some action started, and okay, they failed. BUT DAMMIT, AT LEAST SOMEBODY GOT OFF THEIR ASSES AND TRIED to get something done!!!!!" And that usually shut them up. And I'd follow with - "YES they failed, Hillary couldn't get it done. But at least she got out there and TRIED! Nobody did jack shit about this problem - FOR YEARS. She actually TRIED to get this problem solved. Like it or not, she tried to get something done, finally."

There'd usually be some low-pitched begrudging grumbling and "yeah, well..." Or MY personal favorite: "welllll, I don't know..." that kinda trails off into sulking silence.

And then, if it was a GOP-leaning person I was arguing with, I'd finish it up with - "and what has YOUR guy done about it since then? Something? ANYTHING? Did the problem and the need just magically go away on its own and we don't have to bother about it anymore? WHAT has YOUR GUY done about it?" And there'd be more silence. And I'd say - "yeah, just as I thought."

BTW>>>... whenever you get the response "welllll, I don't know..." then THAT is a tell. That tells you you got to them. That tells you you've messed with their heads enough that something deep down in there doesn't compute anymore. Something they really can't rebut because deep down they know it's true. And they also know that true fact doesn't fit with the mindset that's been installed within them by constant exposure to the toxic bullshit of Pox Noise and the hate radio crowd. That tells you that you got under their skin with that point you just made. They have no comeback for it, and there's a little angel and devil sitting on each of their shoulders now, having a big argument.

Now, mind you, that may not be enough either to inspire or compel them to start considering some other input than the biased CON bullshit they're fed and happily gobble up every day. Maybe they're gonna fight that twinge that they now feel in the back of their brains down and try to bury it and forget about it. OR maybe it starts an itch in the back of their minds that they're forced to scratch - and start using just a wee bit of more critical thinking.

You have to keep in mind that if YOU speak up, and provide argument or evidence that their opinions are based on lies and distortions and bullshit, that may be the first time they ever heard the other side expressed. Yours may be the FIRST comments they've EVER heard - on the other side of that argument. If they're loyal Pox Noise viewers and hate radio listeners, they're only EVER going to get one side. So if YOU come along with different info that shows them there's a whole 'nother side to this that they hadn't even considered - you're already a winner. Maybe it's because they didn't even know about it, or hadn't heard it discussed before, except by voices that misrepresented or twisted the truth, or scoffed and sneered and turned the issue into an object of derision, and/or were loud and interrupted continually or flat-out lied and spewed a bunch of frank-luntz-focus-tested sloganeering and other baloney so the proponent couldn't get a word in edgewise (and often became flustered on the air - MORE damage to the truth-side of the argument - YEP, THAT'S a tactic, too).

Anybody remember that show featuring the loud, obnoxious, HORRIDLY rude asshole-whose-name-rhymes-with-Vanity against the milquetoast Alan Colmes? Seems to me THAT was a deliberately calculated tactic, too. Bring on your ostentatious camera-hog firebrand spewing your message at the top of his lungs and interrupting all the time, and pair him with an "opponent" who folds like a piece of paper anytime you turn the frickin' lights on. Put your pit bull up against a handful of lint you just took out of the filter in your dryer. Send the guy armed with the feather duster out against the guy with the AK47. OBVIOUSLY the mush-mouth is gonna cave and crumble and look ridiculous and puny and pathetic, and by association, SO DOES HIS ARGUMENT.

At Pox Noise, they deliberately do not bring on many firebrands from our side. Because they have to keep the deck stacked. They WANT our side to look, and be represented as, completely pathetically anemic. Their much-manipulated viewers can then be counted on to make the "right" conclusions.

[riqster]

98. Very well said!

[ReRe]

49. Tha ACA ain't goin' away

So glad you got the help you needed because of it, riqster. You and umpteen other millions.
The ACA is saving lives every day now.

[riqster]

67. I hope it doesn't go away.

But I am not sure. Put a Repub at 1600 again, and I think it'll go bye-bye.

[smirkymonkey]

50. I am so glad you made it through!

I know what it is like to have a close call with emergency lifesaving health care like that and it seems like a miracle at the time. Keep resting and don't exert yourself anymore than you have to. I hope you have a good night's rest and take care of yourself!

[riqster]

68. Thanks. I have been a good boy.

So far, anyway.

[still_one]

51. you are absolutely right, and glad they got it treated in time.

Last edited Thu Mar 19, 2015, 11:12 AM - Edit history (1)

[riqster]

69. Thanks.

[Hekate]

52. I am so glad you are still with us and on the mend. As others have already said...

...it's so important for those who have benefitted from ACA to speak out.

Bless you and your cranky old ass.

[riqster]

70. My cranky ass and I both thank you.

[SheilaT]

54. It never fails to amaze me when posters here on DU

start pissing and moaning about the ACA, how awful it is, how much they have to pay, how much better off they were before.

The ACA is far from perfect, but it's a good start in the right direction.

[riqster]

72. Yep. Most people save or come out at par.

Those blaming Obama don't understand how the health insurance marketplace operates.

[TBF]

57. Glad you're ok -

you would have been in the ER at best receiving minimal care.

Now that folks are getting ACA they can go to urgent cares at the very least (here they are putting them up in every strip mall) for minor things, leaving ERs to their original intent - car accidents, heart attacks, strokes - serious things hitting people & needing serious urgent care immediately.

[riqster]

73. Just so.

That is one problem the ACA was designed to correct.

[KittyWampus]

58. sorry you had a scare and are on the mend. I also benefitted this entire past year from the ACA.

Broken bone, teeth finally taken care of and now bad knees.

[riqster]

74. Good for you, and thanks.

[raccoon]

59. K&R. nt

[riqster]

75. T&Y.

[Dustlawyer]

60. Very happy for ya! I have my own ACA story.

When my insurance renewed through work, United Health Care was charging $1,200 per month to insure my healthy 20 year old daughter, $1,200 freakin dollars! Under ACA it is $360 with a plan that blows the UC plan away, which is the best they offered my firm (double upgrade is what they call it)! Thanks OBAMA!

[riqster]

76. A good point. It's the AFFORDABLE Care Act.

My previous employer's plan did not qualify as affordable, so a fair few people did as you have done.

[BubbaFett]

61. You had a heart attack yesterday

and your priority is to go online and make a political argument about it?

Wow, you must be tough as nails.

[riqster]

77. Not my only priority, but hey, I'm laying here in bed with not much to do.

So spreading the word about the ACA is as good a pastime as any, and better than most.

[BubbaFett]

81. when I had mine

I was in major pain for awhile.

Plus I really wanted a cigarette.

[riqster]

83. Yeah, I am hurting pretty good. Chest, arms and groin.

Between the heart and the interventions, one can get pretty sore.

[riqster]

78. We need to get there. And to do that we have to de-elect Repubs.

Every election, every race, every time. The Teapublicans will never support expanded health care.

[madokie]

63. You got it

Rest and take it easy for a while. They, whoever the hell THEY are, say that cranky can kill you

[riqster]

79. Too much crankitude can be bad for the health.

Complete elimination is unrealistic, I'm afraid.

[madokie]

115. I hear that

[spanone]

71. k&r...

[riqster]

80. TY.

[herding cats]

82. I love a success story!

One like this is even sweeter than most. Take care of yourself, cranky or not the world is a better place with you in it!

[riqster]

84. Thanks. At the very least, I can serve as a bad example.

[flamingdem]

85. Yes, indeed!

Best wishes for your recovery

[riqster]

86. Thanks!

[Cha]

87. What peace of mind to have Obamacare in the first place.. knowing if anything happened

you wouldn't have to worry about finances.. and now that it did happen, your cranky butt was covered! So happy for you riqster!

Understandable you want to sing its praises.. even if it means posting online about it the next day.. getting all "political" on us! Good Grief! It saved your life.. why wouldn't you want to shout it from the roof tops, asap?

Lots more joining you.. excuse me for being "political".. lolololol..


The White House ✔ @WhiteHouse
Follow
FACT: The uninsured rate has dropped by 35% since October 2013 ? http://bit.ly/1Eqt2MO #ACAWorks
9:53 AM - 16 Mar 2015 228 Retweets 155 favorites

http://theobamadiary.com/2015/03/16/a-tweet-or-two-262/

[flamingdem]

89. +1

[Cha]

92. Hey flamingdem..

Aloha

[riqster]

90. Hey, political is as political does.

I've been this way since May Fourth, 1970. That was the day I became politically conscious.

Thanks for the stats and kind words.

[Cha]

93. Everything is political now.. important things.. like air, water, food, healthcare..!

You beat me by 30 years.. late to the party but once I started I didn't let up!

[riqster]

96. S'truth. Thanks, Cha.

I may be getting older, but I refuse to give up my youthful ideals.

[Cha]

146. Yeah, I'm

older too.. I just got a really late start!

Good on you being there from the get-go, riqster, and not giving up on your youthful ideals!

[riqster]

148. I think I'm just stubborn.

[madamvlb]

88. I'm glad your doing well....stay hydrated.

[riqster]

91. Oddly enough, I am on limited fluid intake.

Due to a couple of issues. But I am following orders.

[Android3.14]

95. Good to hear

Take care.

[riqster]

97. Thanks much.

And the same to you.

[MADem]

99. So pleased for you! Get better soon!

I take it, then, that you would buy a used car from the POTUS...?



I know I would...and I don't even have an insurance issue, thanks to TRICARE. But I know what a difference it has made to so many, and I'm glad that people can get the care they need.

[riqster]

100. I'd buy that car,.yep.

[BumRushDaShow]

101. Wow. Do get well soon!

[riqster]

102. Thanks. Working on it.

[Scurrilous]

103. Get well friend!

Boink!

[riqster]

104. Thank you, my friend.

And a very happy boink to you as well.

[blm]

105. ((riqster))

.

[riqster]

107. Yup.

[malaise]

108. I'm so glad you're recovering rigster

[riqster]

109. Thanks much.

[KyleMcShades]

112. The ACA saved me too..

It makes me sick that anyone would want to take it away from us.

[riqster]

113. Glad you are OK!

We success stories need to tell ourselves.

[ashling]

114. Glad to have your cranky old ass

here on DU

[riqster]

116. Thanks.

Glad Skinner tolerates me.

[cwydro]

119. K and r. nt

[riqster]

120. Thanks

[cwydro]

121. And I hope you continue

to recover.

[AtomicKitten]

122. ;)

Very glad you got the care and treatment you needed to keep on keeping on. Remain vigilant about monitoring symptoms. Best regards.

[riqster]

123. Me, too.

I have follow-up appointments, meds, and a very good support network. Pretty lucky.

[Bigredhunk]

124. K & R

[riqster]

125. TY!

[JoePhilly]

126. K&R

[riqster]

132. Thanks, JP.

[JoePhilly]

135. np ... glad to hear you are OK ... the ACA ...

... will save my niece too, she had cancer when she was 2, has never had full coverage before ACA as a result, she's now 18, has full coverage for the kidney stones that used to be a pre-existing condition ... cost my sister a fortune.

And down the road, it'll save me ... I have a stack of pre-existing conditions ... but I've had insurance through work ... otherwise, I'd be screwed multiple times over.

ACA helps ... we'll keep pushing til everyone is covered.

Best wish on a speedy recover!

[riqster]

136. Bless you and your family. This is what the ACA was meant to do.

[davidsilver]

127. I'm so happy to hear your story my friend.

I too am thankful that you and millions of others are now afforded adequate health care. Best wishes to you!

[riqster]

129. Thank you. Lots of people are benefittng.

Their stories need to be told, lest we all lose our coverage.

[davidsilver]

130. Yes indeed. Thank you again for telling yours.

[longship]

128. The best to you, riqster.

And, although I am an atheist, bless you (in the secular sense).

Keep on keeping on. You are a valued asset to the DU community.

My best.

[riqster]

131. Thank you so much.

And the blessings of good people are always welcome, regardless of their faith/non-faith.

Good people are good people.

[flying-skeleton]

133. "any and everybody" = Republicans

"any and everybody" = Republicans

[riqster]

134. Almost entirely.

There were those who opposed the ACA from other parts of the political universe, remember.

It is now the Teapublicans who are the sole threat. And fuck them all. Sideways.

Anybody who wants millions of us to die deserves no better sentiments.

[Diclotican]

137. riqster

riqster

Wonderfully to hear you get the medical attention you was in need of - when you needed it most - heart attack i painfully - and deadly when not treated propperly... I experienced the same last year - in December - a rather unpleasant experience to say it least - but thanks to public health care - Universal Health Care - I was able to walk out of the hospital 6 days later - with the old ticker working as it should - and with tonnes of medicines to keep me afloat for a while..

ACA is a step in the right direction - to single payer system or Universal Health Care - but many survive thanks to ACA - even if it was a watered down proposal who finally was the law of the land...


Anyone who is against ACA, and oppose it - is either evil or misguided and full of hate - for everyone who in any form have a health problem... And for the GOP i think it is everything - and more.... Much more

I think the only solution who could work - is Universal Health Care - or Single payer system - where medical help and prosedyres was guarantered by the Federal government - who could oversteped every State when needed... Maybe "dicatorial" in nature - but needed I suspect - as othervice US wil never enjoy the full benefits of Universal Health Care....

Diclotican

[riqster]

149. Having spent time in countries where there is universal health care, I can see that America needs it

It'll take time.

[samsingh]

139. bless you

[riqster]

141. Thanks.

[treestar]

140. Good!

I too am very happy with it. The notices let me know how much the plan is worth and what the subsidy is. I have this cheap co-pay, whereas before I had to pay the whole bill. I used to dread the mail, due to medical bills for the various cancer-prevention tests. Now I get mail from the Health Insurance Marketplace all the time. They may not have good web sites, but they sure use the good old US Mail!

[riqster]

142. I am still paying off my Pre-ACA bills.

Nice to know that they won't bankrupt me.

[barbtries]

143. yay! so glad it came in time to save you.

stay as well as you can.

[riqster]

144. Thanks. Working on it.

[Dont call me Shirley]

145. Awesome! Glad you're ok, riqster!

I almost died from lack of insurance, by miracles I pulled through.

Glad you're ok!

[riqster]

147. And I am glad you are too.

[Dont call me Shirley]

150. Take good care of yourself.

[Gothmog]

151. Thank you for the story

I am glad that you survived your heart attack. Health insurance is vital and the lack of health insurance can kill you

[riqster]

152. Yep. Health care is indispensable.