An apology for Obama

| December 6, 2011

This woman, Spike Dolomite Ward wrote a piece in the LA Times today entitled “‘Obamacare’ to the rescue A woman who felt President Obama had let the middle class down has changed her mind.” It’s about a woman and her family who was struck by the tragedy of breast cancer and caught without health insurance.

She goes into this big long sob story about how she works for a not-for-profit organization. Well, “works for” is being generous. Actually she’s the executive director of Arts in Education Aid Council, at the Armory Center for the Arts, in Pasadena, CA. Her husband used to work in the entertainment industry until he lost his job and decided to go into business for himself.

Well, it seems that they were so strapped in this economy that they had to choose between their health insurance and their mortgage, and of course, they chose their mortgage. Well, it seems she contracted breast cancer. She writes “We chose to keep our house. We made a nerve-racking gamble, and we lost.”

She gets to start paying premiums now instead of for those two years she skipped, she apologizes to the president for losing faith in him;

Fortunately for me, I’ve been saved by the federal government’s Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan, something I had never heard of before needing it. It’s part of President Obama’s healthcare plan, one of the things that has already kicked in, and it guarantees access to insurance for U.S. citizens with preexisting conditions

She doesn’t mention that because of her irresponsibility, healthcare costs are rising for all of us, so we’re being forced to pay for her sloth. And it’s kind of funny that NOW they can seem to find the money to pay for her health insurance but they couldn’t last year.

Oh, that house that they chose to pay for instead of health insurance. Here’s what it looks like;

And here’s it’s value;

I found these by looking for her address in the White Pages and dialing it into Google Earth and Yahoo Real Estate, so you don’t have to chew me out for publishing her address…it’s available publicly.

But the larger question is why does she think she can take a gamble with my tax payer dollars and your health insurance premiums? And why do we have pay for her poor choices?

So this is my public apology. I’m sorry I didn’t do enough of my own research to find out what promises the president has made good on. I’m sorry I didn’t realize that he really has stood up for me and my family, and for so many others like us. I’m getting a new bumper sticker to cover the one that says “Got nope.” It will say “ObamaCares.”

Well, he cares about the irresponsible people in the coutnry. those of us who do the right thing our whole lives are generally screwed.

Category: Barack Obama/Joe Biden, Health Care debate

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TSO

This story has had me so mad for hours I can barely even think without hyperventilating and wanting to yell obscenities at her.
http://www.aieac.org/staff.html

Athanaric

We gambled and we lost, but thankfully we don’t need to learn from our mistakes.

Steve

You people don’t seem to understand. “Obamacare” will MAKE HER PAY FOR HER OWN HEALTH INSURANCE. Yes, people with lower incomes will receive some subsidies, but under “Obamacare” people can’t simply opt out of paying, and then show up at an emergency room when they need care. Since everyone benefits from the insurance system, everyone needs to chip in to pay for it.

That’s a GOOD (and conservative) thing, right??? If you don’t support the idea of everyone contributing something for their health care — the central component of “Obamacare” — you MUST support the idea that sick people without insurance should be turned away from emergency rooms. Do you?

2-17 AirCav

So, we are to believe she just gambled that neither she nor any member of her family would get seriously sick or injured? And are we further to believe that, coincidentally, there’s that pre-existing condition mandate under Obamacare? I’m a tad suspicious. I also wonder whether hubby truly “lost” his job due to the economic mess or whether loss includes quitting to start one’s own company, as mentioned, or even invited to leave for reasons unknown. While I’m at it that “not-for-profit” is a tax designation and many executives at non-profits take in oodles of bucks in salary and benefits. I got a look at the Armory. It’s a palace, replete with columns. I sincerely hope someone out in Pasadena starts looking into this apology. Something–aside from Spike–is wrong about it.

TSO

How on Earth can that work if one extends the logic, and one notes that Obamacare will both increase the burden for the public as a whole, and that premiums as a whole will go up. Conservativism isn’t about forcing someone to do something, it’s about creating market efficiencies and encouraging people to act responsibly. Everyone doesn’t benefit from insurance, as any rational look at the system would show. Some people never once use it, making it even out across all “beneficiaries.”

I support the proposition that this woman should have purchased her own insurance instead of a 400k house. Or, just a thought, she should have been employed by a company that offers insurance. Isn’t that the entire point of having benefits at work? This woman could have afforded it all along, and she chose instead to be a free rider.

2-17 AirCav

No thanks, Steve. Nice try, though. I especially liked your opening: “You people don’t seem to understand.” No, Steve, you go right ahead and give us the benefit of your wisdom. And keep sharing it with all comers right up to the day the Supreme Court declares the mandate unconstitutional.

melle1228

Apparently everyone deserves government insurance except Veterans…

TSO

I’m curious if Steve would think then that there should be federally mandated diet plans etc. Since we will all end up paying anyway, we should enforce it, right?

Steve

People: some of you are suggesting that people should NOT be “required” to purchase health insurance (even though we know that 99.9% of the public will need health CARE at some point in their lives).

Do you therefore take the position that people who are a) sick, and b) did not purchase health insurance should c) be turned away at an emergency room? Do you literally favor letting someone die at the door of a hospital, because they made a foolish decision of failing to purchase insurance?

And what about the millions — MILLIONS! — of Americans who WANT health insurance, and CAN pay for it — but are denied coverage because of “pre-existing conditions.” Do you believe so strongly in the free market that you want to CONTINUE allowing insurance companies to tell people who are sick (or deemed likely to become sick) that they CANNOT purchase a product that healthy people can?

That’s what we had before, you know … you REALLY want to go back?

2-17 AirCav

“Do you literally favor letting someone die at the door of a hospital…?” Steve, that crap doesn’t work. I know, I know, before Obamacare, poor folks were dying on the streets, and many tourists mistook California for Calcutta. It was a horror. Thank goodness for Obama. He saved us. Next item.

UpNorth

“take the position that people who are a) sick, and b) did not purchase health insurance should c) be turned away at an emergency room”? Can’t happen, Steve. If that’s your A game, the rest of what you say is just more bullshit. No one can be turned away from an ER.
“Letting someone die at the door of a hospital”? Come on, hyperbole will not win an argument.
Following your logic, what would be your reaction if the government said you had to buy car insurance, even though you don’t own a car? Shouldn’t it be up to you whether or not you buy car insurance? And don’t give us the bull that “health insurance” is different. Same idea, same heavy-handed response, mommy government knows best, don’t question them.
And, “If you don’t support the idea of everyone contributing something for their health care — the central component of “Obamacare” — you MUST support the idea that sick people without insurance should be turned away from emergency rooms. Do you”? Again, no one can be turned away, or are you going to change that law too?

malclave

@10

Stupid questions, and your last line is a lie.

TSO

Yeah, he’s trolling and not being honest. The “do you want people to die on the doorstep” has always been a horseshit argument.

TSO

http://www.kfvs12.com/story/16201834/home-burns-while-firefighters-watch

I assume this was cruel and heartless as well. For $75 they could have possibly saved their house. Now, after they need that insurance, and decided against it, they bitch.

Just Plain Jason

I was going to start to say something but my time and energy would be wasted on Steve…

Old Tanker

Steve

Cool….so when can I get car insurance AFTER the accident?

After all, it wasn’t my fault…..

nobama12

Steve @ 7:59

There is no (none, nada, zip) free market health insurance product available today and it is due to the meddling nannies in (name your state capital) and DC.

In California, insurance companies can charge higher rates for pre-existing conditions, up to twice the cost of a standard “no pre-existing conditions” policy, or they can turn down coverage. Writing a policy that excludes certain pre-existing conditions is against the law. So, lets suppose someone has an expensive athletic injury such as a torn or herniated disk that causes periodic nerve and muscle problems. The insurance company won’t touch it because they can only charge a certain amount for such a policy and that isn’t going to cover medical costs. Even if the person wanted to, they couldn’t buy a policy that excludes that condition because California requires all health insurance plans to cover a whole myriad of things and exclusions for pre-existing conditions are not allowed.

Now, as a middle aged person, there are a whole lot of things (heart attack, cholesterol drugs, high blood pressure, etc. etc. etc.) that might require health insurance besides that back problem, but California (in its wisdom) has made choosing a plan with a carve out for a pre-existing condition illegal. Sure hope folks in this condition can hang onto their jobs, because an individual policy doesn’t exist. Brilliant. Thanks folks. Sure glad you know how to run my life, because I sure couldn’t do it without your help.

OWB

How about life insurance – can I wait until someone dies to take out life insurance, then collect on it? Maybe just look over the obits in the morning, get a policy and collect a bazillion bucks before finishing the first cup of coffee?

Absurd? Of course, but no more so than waiting until you get sick to get insurance, or waiting until you’ve had an accident to get car insurance.

Something the Steves of this world really need to understand is that medical insurance is a rather new phenomena. At least several of us here are old enough to remember not knowing anyone who had insurance. I certainly remember the first member of our family to have it, and it was quite revolutionary. Hardly something which anyone should consider a right, or an obligation that anyone else should provide for you.

Azygos

The entire article has so much BS my computer is starting to stink. These government sponsored no preexisting condition programs have been around for 20 or more years.

I have my own small business and preexisting conditions. The plan here in my state is the only available insurance I qualify for.

Obama was probably in the back seat of a limo smoking crack and Larry Sinclairs and Reggie Loves Poles when these programs started.

But what do facts matter to liberals?

The Sniper

I like Steve: he makes me look smart when I am drunk and suffering blunt head trauma.

insipid

So she’s “irresponsible” for not wanting to sell her house in order to have health care? That’s insane.

The reason why they can afford health insurance NOW is because in order to qualify for the high risk pool you must be without insurance for 6 months and have doctor’s certification that you have a preexisting condition OR you have to be turned down by two insurance carriers. I know, I have rheumatoid arthritis and chron’s and am applying for the high risk pool.

Eventually, WHEN “Obamacare” is lowering YOUR rates, and it will, you’re going to like this. It will increase effeciency, lower premiums and provide better care. Unless you’re millionaires, you’re rooting against your own interests here

faboutlaws

This smells. I would like to see her budget. These were people who were used to living comfortably. I bet there was room to pay both the insurance premium and the mortgage, but they would have had to cut out the wine, smokes, the gardener, the fillet and two nights a week on the town. This is more income redistribution. From others who are also struggling to the utterly selfish.

insipid

The husband had a job that paid health care, lost it when the crash happened and tried to go into business for himself. Isn’t that the kind of rugged entrepreneurial spirit you guys claim to be so fond of?

The reason why wealth stratification is HIGHER in socialist countries is because of the broad social saferty net. People don’t feel locked into a job just because it pays insurance. They feel empowered by the fact that they’ll always have health care to take chances to open their own businesses.

The sad truth is that the reason why things were better from the 1940 till the 1980s is NOT because black’s couldn’t vote or gays couldn’t marry. It’s because of socialism. It’s because there was a 90% top marginal tax rate. It’s because people were going to school free because of the GI bill, it’s because we spent a HUGE amount on infrastructure. Infrastructure that we’re still using to this day.

Doc Bailey

Insipid, you do realize the reason Health care costs so much has a lot to do with the fact people DON’T pay. Now here’s the kicker. We’ve also got people who have lost their damn minds, and go to a doc in a box for complete idiocy.

Obama has just given us a “to each according to his needs” mandate. One would have thought that it simply never works that way. The mindset alone does not work. Why do people keep trying it? Its like watching an idiot strain and strain to pull a door that has a large “push” sign on it.

defendUSA

Insipid…Gays have nothing to do with this discussion, FFS!!
Your arguments make no sense. Illegal immigrant kids go to school free because the laws in this country say it must happen, but the parents pay nothing for this.

Uh, last time I checked I noticed that Europe is fucked because they took the slow train to hell. When is the last time anyone could really start their own business there? You better check that entrepreneurial spirit…they’ve all come here, dummy.

Go to Europe with their broad safety nets, and let me know how that works out for you…

Old Trooper

@10: You aren’t at all familiar with the law that states that no one can be turned away at an emergency room; right? That has been a law for a long time, so if you can’t pay, it doesn’t matter, you have to receive treatment. That’s why emergency room waiting areas are constantly full of illegals and the poor, because they have to be treated. Plus, there are so many programs out there where medicine is paid for either by a third party or by the drug company that makes the medicine, so there goes that argument, too.

As a conservative I can tell you that I am not for government mandated healthcare. The reason I’m not is there is no basis for it in law or the Constitution. The government cannot force you to buy a service, it’s that simple. Healthcare is a service. The old argument about the government forcing you to buy car insurance doesn’t stand up, because the government didn’t force you to buy the car.

I hope that clears it up a smidge for you.

NHSparky

Eventually, WHEN “Obamacare” is lowering YOUR rates, and it will, you’re going to like this. It will increase effeciency, lower premiums and provide better care.

Not working so far. And if you want to see what Obamacare looks like five years down the road, look at Massivetwoshits–highest premiums in the country and longest waits.

Yeah, that’s quality, alright. BTW–how’s that vaunted British NHS doing these days? Or the Canadian system–you know, the one where droves of people show up at clinics in Maine, NH, Vermont, and NY with Canadian plates?

defendUSA
defendUSA

OT #27
EMTALA is the law and 1985 was the year. It’s the reason ERD’s are closing all over the country and especially California. Illegals come for kidney dialysis and it’s killing them.
Again, if people prioritized better, they would be able to afford health care.

Bubblehead Ray

Oh InSteve (or Stespid… Whatever your troll name is)

Tell me about how ER’s work. Teach me the wonders of free care. I myself would have no idea… Except for the fact that I’ve been an ER Nurse for the past 11 years.

The worst abusers of Medicaid are people who come to the ER for the most rediculous reasons because they don’t have to pay. They come for sore throats, runny noses, toothaches and (my personal favorite) because they were out of Tylenol . Oh, and they show up in an Ambulance for that. Never mind that Mrs Johnson had to wait an extra 30 minutes for the Ambulance to show up at her house and save her dying husband because the EMTs were stuck until they could complete the first bullshit call.

The idiots think they’ll be seen faster if they show up in an Ambulance, and don’t realize that we just bounce their dumb ass out to Triage when they arrive. There they can sit with all the other drug seekers, homeless people looking for a shelter that won’t make them stop drinking, and the occasional unfortunate people who are really Ill, but have to wait for hours to be seen because of the human debris field clogging the system. Tell me how adding more bullshit patients that have to be seen is going to help me do my job and save poor Mr. Johnson.

Bobo

Interesting that she is the executive director and president of the board but didn’t have health insurance. Should I then assume that none of her employees have health insurance either? If that’s the case, isn’t she doing just as much, if not more, of a disservice to her employees as she did to herself? I guess that she is, by default, putting her employees in the same position that she was in, with the federal government and the tax payers providing the health coverage that she as an employer refuses to provide.

UpNorth

“WHEN “Obamacare” is lowering YOUR rates“. You don’t realize it, sepsis or insipid or whatever, O-care has already kicked in and it’s costing me more now, not less. I take a cough syrup, promethazine w/codeine, for a cough that my allergies kick start every fall and spring.
I got a letter from my insurance carrier, explaining that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, hereafter CMS, had decided that the cough syrup is too “high risk” for someone of my tender years. Therefore, I could no longer get it, because it becomes dangerous for my health on January 1, 2012. Not today, but 1-1-12.
So, I followed the directions and called the insurance carrier, as they said I should if I had questions. It turns out that the cough syrup is still available to me, but CMS has determined that it will cost me more, because they won’t allow my insurance to cover my deductible now. So, it isn’t that some bureaucrat decided that it’s dangerous to take promethazine/codeine, some bureaucrat has decided that Medicare(Federal Government) will just make sure that I have to pay more to get a medicine that works perfectly well for me.

KC

@insipid
@steve

Sharing this to really piss you off! (agree with the bubblehead ray)

Took my son to the ER. Running 102 temp w/vomiting, body aches. Wouldn’t have even thought of going but I tried my mothers way of givning it the old home try. Tepid baths, dry toast, soda. On the third day I drove him over. Here’s my point. I got to the ER and it was packed with Mexican’s. People were told to lie on the floor and wait their turn.

I stopped a Dr. and asked him, “do these people have insurance or medicaid”?

He replied, “medicaid, why?”.

I replied, “well then, I have insurance, my child has been sick for days, I refuse to put him on the floor, and your nurse told me to wait my turn.” (don’t have a problem w/that)

He then said, “what can I do for you?”

I replied, “Dr, I’m a paying customer and I would like to be seen before the non-paying customers”.

At which point I was promptly taken back to the next open bed. The Dr. came into the room and said, “they do this all the time, and I’ll be happy to treat your child”.

Steve

To all who are complaining about people accessing emergency rooms and not paying for their care:

“OBAMACARE” WILL MAKE THEM PAY. It does AWAY with the reality that anyone can access emergency medical care, whether or not they are paying for insurance, by REQUIRING EVERYONE TO HAVE INSURANCE — and to pay for it.

Yes, there ARE subsidies, but no one is inherently immune from the requirement of paying into the system, and no one will be ALLOWED to simply opt out of paying for insurance, yet still receive medical care.

“OBAMACARE” is a CONSERVATIVE reform. (Don’t believe it? Ask yourself why the Heritage Foundation supported an ‘individual mandate’ a decade ago.) Personal responsibility is built in. It is in fact the cornerstone of the new system (along with the removal of the “pre-existing conditions” that insurance companies have long used to deny coverage). Isn’t that a good thing???

UpNorth

No, Stevie, there are so many “waivers” for O-care, that the percantage of mooches who don’t pay taxes, won’t pay for O-care either. You really ought to pay attention when the news is on, instead of watching those DNC motivational videos.
If someone is “subsidized”, then they aren’t paying into the “system”. They’re being paid to participate. What is so hard that you can’t figure that out? When they, or their union or employer are granted waivers, they aren’t paying into the system. That makes those who get screwed into having to pay, pay more. Simply put, the less who partake, the higher the cost for those who do.
Go back, see what the DNC said, then come back and post again, mmm-kay?

OWB

“Personal responsibility is built in.”

That must be THE most STUPID thing I’ve read in a very long time. You actually are trying to sell this as “conservative” based on the concept that by removing any need for personal responsibility to care for yourself, your needs, or those of your family, the gubmint will decide what is best for you, mandate that you “buy” medical insurance, but if you cannot afford it one will be appointed for you (oh, wait, that is a different gubmint program), errrr, we will pay for it for you thereby guaranteeing your continued life without having to make any serious decisions or pay for anything you want just because you are so special.

Np, I don’t really care for any Koolaid.

Bubblehead Ray

Steve, you’re not listening (now there’s a shock). The biggest abusers of the Emergency Room system are the people who have Medicaid. (Hint… it’s a bloated government program designed by Democrats that pays their medical bills)who come to the ER for stuff that should be seen by their regular MD. Problem is, there is a (very)nominal fee that those folks need to pay to see their regular Doc, but the ER has to medically evaluate any patient that presents to them for care before seeking payment and stabilize that patient before disposition (admit/discharge/transfer). That means these non-emergent, freeloaders that are too lazy to make an appointment with their primary MD or too cheap to pay the nominal fee take up an ER Doctor’s time, and clog the system creating a backlog in the ER when they didn’t need to be there in the first place.

There is a reason for the word “Emergency” in Emergency Room. Removing cost from Health Care just makes it inevitable that those that don’t have to pay will abuse the system.

And afterwards, when the Dr and the hospital try to collect for the work-up the Government forces them to provide, they will be paid pennies on the dollar.

Obamacare will just multiply that by 1000.