Arizona declines to set up state-based health insurance exchange

[AlphaCentauri]

Source: CNBC

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer said on Wednesday she was rejecting a major provision of President Barack Obama's healthcare reform law that calls for creating state-based health insurance markets where consumers can purchase private, federally subsidized coverage.

Citing lingering questions about the plan and operating costs she said would be passed on to families and small businesses, Brewer, a Republican, said Arizona would join at least 16 other states in opting instead for a federally run health insurance exchange.

Such networks are designed to function as online insurance markets where the uninsured can shop for private health plans offered at federally subsidized rates, and are an integral provision of the Affordable Care Act, a centerpiece of Obama's first term in office.

Brewer, along with many other Republicans, has been an outspoken critic of Obama's healthcare overhaul initiative, calling it an "overreaching and unaffordable assault on states' rights and individual liberty."



Read more: http://www.cnbc.com/id/50003124

[BlueJazz]

1. "individual liberty" = Get sick, Die

[rainin]

2. Can someone please explain to me how this is a bad thing?

I live in Texas where my idiotic Governor refused to participate. What does this mean for me? My first thought is that this is a great relief. I'd much rather have something designed by the Federal Government than something designed by Rick Perry and friends. I'd love to hear a good explanation of what this means for those of us who unfortunately live in one of these tea party states.

[northoftheborder]

4. yes would like answer to this also, as a fellow Texan....

[lonestarnot]

5. How 'bout you're on your way to single payer.

[rainin]

6. please, please, please, please, please be true n/t

[Brigid]

40. Yes!

+ 1,000,000,000 !

[northoftheborder]

3. I have a question about these states which are refusing to set up the state health insurance plans..

If these retrograde Repub governors are ever voted out and replaced with a progressive person, will the state ever have another chance to set up it's own plan, or will it be too late?

[Massacure]

7. I found that to be an interesting question.

I did a quick Google search. The answer seems to be yes, the states can opt to take over their own exchange.

[PoliticAverse]

11. Yes, states that don't set up exchanges now will have the opportunity to do so in the future...

http://www.healthcare.gov/law/resources/regulations/guidance-to-states-on-exchanges.html

[ROBROX]

17. FEDS RULE WITH IMPLEMENTATION

All federal mandated requires are supported with federal assistance with developing state required institutions. This has been done with safety in states which are not prepared to provide government safety organizations. The federal government is prepared to set up local state programs to provide citizens health insurance when the state fails to support their citizens.

[ramapo]

8. Maybe not such a bad thing

The more states that allow the federal government to run their exchange, then it could be a smaller leap to single-payer. I find it odd that the fervent states-righters so readily give up local state control.

[tomm2thumbs]

9. good point - and it also harmonizes the process for folks, creating a defacto standard

gotta love her ignorance -- she's actually helping things along for the rest of the country

[JTFrog]

20. Not cool.

I don't like Jan Brewer one bit. But posting sexist bullshit like this makes DU suck. It really makes DU look no better than freeperville.

[Jazzgirl]

22. Where did they say anything sexist?

I don't see anything in that statement that is. The woman is ignorant.

[JTFrog]

23. Seriously?

You don't see how "old hag" is sexist?

Yes, the woman is ignorant and bigoted. Why not say that? Why resort to sexist and ageist language like "old hag". She's not ignorant or bigoted because she's old or ugly or any other connotation of "old hag". Who cares how old she is or what she looks like? It's her actions that make people dislike her so much. I hear this same shit from freepers all the time about Nancy Pelosi. Do you think that's okay? I don't. I find it rather disgusting. Obviously there are folks here that disagree. Just take a look at the recent threads in meta.

[azbillyboy]

35. Her personal appearance...

...Would not be "fair game" or open to gratuitous pot shots if her POLICIES were not the embodiment of hate, racism, vindictiveness, et al. I'm sorry but I see too many Republicans both male and female who evoke the same response. We are in a state of war with the Repukes and I think any mode of attack is fair game. I'll follow the lead of Stephanie Miller on that front. Just look at what they have said, and the names they have called, our President. Are we lowering ourselves to their level? Probably. Okay. Take the high road and do what we seem to do so often: LOSE.

[JTFrog]

37. Well you go right ahead and take your chances then.

I think you'll find out soon enough what is and isn't acceptable here.

[azbillyboy]

38. My apologies then.

She's a wonderful fucking person looking out for all of mankind. Hey. I live in this state and have to deal with her and the rest of her troglodyte mouth breathing Republican compatriots. I have no words of kindness or love for her or any of them. If the Earth opened up and they all fell into a bottomless chasm, I would be there shoveling in the dirt to keep them from escaping.

Her physical appearance reveals the evilness in her soul. Have you taken a good look at Chuckie Krauthammer or any of the rest of that miserable lot? Do they LOOK like happy people? (Aside from the reality that Governor Sewer may have serious mental issues?)

You can play nicey nicey. I play to win.

[JusticeForAll]

46. Agree +100000

I live here too! and yes, she's a fucking horrible hag! I hope this comes back to bite her and the Repugnant ignorant nasty sons of bitches who inhabit the State House, State Senate and now every single last fucking seat at the State level.

Welcome to The Democratic Underground! Been here since the beginning!

[yardwork]

29. What does curly grey hair and being an "old hag" have to do with being ignorant?

[Lex]

42. I alerted on that piece of crap sexist garbage post.

[yardwork]

44. Good work!

P.S. The jury didn't hide it, but there is a thread about it in Meta:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1240172848

[Lex]

45. Thanks for letting me know about

the Meta thread. Off to read it now.

[JTFrog]

25. I don't think I understand.

I'm hoping this was sarcasm?

[Sekhmets Daughter]

26. What else could it be?

[JTFrog]

28. Good point.

I re-read it and it can't be anything but.

I think the (Waiting for my pizza) bit threw me.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

34. LOL..

A jury unanimously voted to leave the post alone as all 6 jurors apparently recognized it for what is was....a strong statement against ageism and sexism.

I didn't understand the pizza bit, but it did not seem relevant.

[JTFrog]

36. As they should have.

I'll admit I'm a bit slow in the mornings when I'm out of coffee. Shouldn't have taken me two reads to get it. But I really was puzzled by the pizza comment.

It's actually a good post.

[yardwork]

27. Your photo and its caption is a classic attack on older women.

So according to you, the thing that really bothers you about Jan Brewer is that she is an old hag whose natural hair is probably short, grey, and curly?

The implication of your post is that there is something wrong with all older women, and you are triumphantly pointing out that Jan Brewer is one of us too.

As an older woman, I take offense. There are a lot of things to hate about Jan Brewer. Her age and her sex are not relevant.

President Obama has short, curly hair that is turning grey. How do you feel when people post ugly racist caricatures of the president? Don't you think the people who do that are idiots?

[Sekhmets Daughter]

31. Perhaps because I am silver-haired myself,

I think Brewer looks better with the gray curls. I don't particularly care for the notion that all older women are hateful and strongly object to that stereotype.

[noamnety]

41. As an older woman with graying hair

I found your post offensive and sexist.

[rbixby]

32. I think the idea is that if it doesn't work out well, they don't have to take the blame

they blame the feds, which is the default thing to pass the buck to for republicans anyway

[TM99]

10. I would like an answer on this as well.

So I am on state medicaid currently. As I begin working more, I will be forced off of it as Brewer and AZ Republicans are doing everything they can in the last 2 years to get citizens off the AHCCCS plans.

So, if they decline to set up a state exchange under the ACA, what happens to people like me? Will the Feds step in and set it up? Will they wait till 2014? Will I have a gap in insurance and therefore medical care? I require several prescriptions that I must take, or I do risk death. After chemo successfully eradicated a pituitary tumor, I have been left with a damaged & failing gland. I will be on several necessary hormones for the rest of my life.

This has never fully been explained and frankly, it has me very concerned.

Can someone with more knowledge on this subject please weigh in?

Thanks.

[PoliticAverse]

12. Yes the feds will set up the exchange if the state declines to do so...

and it will be by the same deadline the states would be required to meet.

Medicaid though doesn't involve the exchanges.

If you are on Medicaid what happens to you may depend on whether your state chooses to
participate in the ACA's expanded Medicaid program (Brewer indicated she will announce what
her state will do on that issue in January). If Arizona joins in the expanded Medicaid program
you should be fine, if not it will depend on what happens with the AHCCCs plans.

[TM99]

15. Thanks

So I guess I wait and see what happens come January.

For now, I still qualify for Medicaid. I don't make enough as I have only just now started back to work. Even then, it is only 1/4 to 1/3 time as I rebuild my business. As my income returns and I am dropped off of Medicaid, will the ACA exchanges from the Fed's be worthwhile for me? I obviously have a pre-existing condition, and I will need medical insurance somehow.

Being self-employed in Arizona for twenty plus years, I have paid my share of taxes both federal and state. It just galls me that through no choice of my own, a major medical problem has me relying on help that should be there from a local government that has become so selfish, hateful, and evil really. I got mine so screw the lot of you.

Ah well, thanks for letting me know.

[TexasTowelie]

16. The last sentence of the next to last paragraph should be adopted as the Republican campaign slogan

and mission statement.

[PoliticAverse]

43. Yes when you leave Medicaid you will find the exchange useful for your insurance need. n/t

[Blackhawk44]

13. Why should states take a piece of the action ...

when they add next to nothing
in value.

any 18 year old could set up
an 'exchange' in a dorm room
using a '386 computer from 20 years ago

[grantcart]

18. welcome to DU but no not anybody could set up a state exchange

Its not about setting up a internet link, its about allowing only those plans with a 20% medical loss ratio to be certified and in the plan.


These Republicans don't want to be in the position of tellling the industry folks that they have to slash their rates because they are overcharging.

[hrmjustin]

39. Welcome to DU!

[elleng]

14. Good. The Big Bad Feds will get to practice setting up exchanges on Arizona!

[wandy]

19. Sure, leave it up to the feds, then if you don't like the outcome bitch about states rights.

Teapublicans = Useless.
EOD

[HereSince1628]

30. I agree that is a likely view for the teahadists.

[madrchsod]

21. if the federal government uses the medicare system for administrating medicaid...

there will be a lot of people wondering why this was`t done a long time ago...

[BeyondGeography]

33. It's tradition; they didn't participate in Medicaid until 1982

They eventually caved but demanded to do it their way:

...Arizona eventually relented and joined Medicaid in 1982. Brecher explains the about-face: first, county government officials were being saddled with growing health-care costs, and they were angry with the state for “failing to capitalize on an opportunity to receive millions of dollars in federal aid.” What’s more, he explains: “Critics charged that Arizonans were paying federal taxes to support Medicaid programs in other states, without receiving federal help for their own indigent health care programs.” Ultimately, Brecher continues, the state decided to implement its own unique version of Medicaid, though it also secured numerous waivers from Washington to exempt it from some federal requirements deemed onerous.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2012/06/29/will-states-really-turn-down-federal-money-theyve-done-it-before/