You can’t have Obamacare

This is another futile effort to make people less stupid.

“Obamacare” is a set of Policies, Requirements and Regulations affecting the Health Insurance industry.  It is impossible to enroll in Obamacare.  It is impossible to not be affected by Obamacare.  It is impossible to “Opt Out” of Obamacare – you can’t “Opt In” either.

You can’t “have Obamacare.”

You can have Health Insurance as provided by a variety of Private Insurance companies – as you always have.  Those insurance companies now have to adhere to a new set of regulations that do a better job of protecting YOUR interests.

1. You can’t be dropped from coverage when you get sick 
2. You can’t be dropped from coverage if you made an honest
   mistake on your application. 
3. You also can’t be denied coverage or
   treatment for being sick
4. You can’t be charged more for getting sick. 
5. You can’t be
   charged more for just being a woman.
6. Most insurers must spend at
   least 80 percent (85 percent for insurers covering large
   employers) of the premiums you pay on medical care
   and quality improvements. If insurers spend too much
   on overhead, such as salaries, bonuses, or administrative
   costs, as opposed to health care, they must issue
   premium rebates to you each summer.

There are pros and cons as with any policy adjustment.

Most of the conversations I hear about Obamacare are full of misinformation and outright lies.

You can use a Health Insurance Exchange that was set up by the policies of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act – also known as “Obamacare” or the ACA.  If you don’t have insurance provided by your employer or you are not happy with that insurance, you can go to a State HIE or the Federal HIE if your state is too stupid to have one set up (like Mississippi, even though we spent the money to set one up, the Guv blocked it being implemented).  This allows you to shop around for all the Private Insurance offered through the exchange.  It is like if you were employed by a mega corporation who offered various insurance plans through various insurance companies.  The effect this has is to lower overall insurance premiums by spreading the risk pool – just like what large companies offer.  The reason single or single family plans are so expensive is that there is no risk pool, its just that one, small group. 

You can opt to not get health insurance and be charged a tax penalty instead of get health insurance for yourself.  Not the most shining example of “Personal Responsibility,” but you could choose to do that.