Heineman (Gov.R-NE) opts for federal health insurance exchange

While it doesn't yet go as far as many of us would like, the Affordable Care Act really is, as Biden put it, a big fucking deal -- not least of which because it should wind up changing minds toward taking it further. 8)

All the Republican tantrums have been pointless. Just putting their godforsaken corrupt degenerate party for fatcats above the interests of America and the American people.

Now that they are all LOSERS, they are only too happy to agree to what is sensible.

Ye gads, Republicans are a Curse Upon America.

Is that the power of the private sector at work?

it's just that, when a state opts for the federal exchange, the money isn't coming out of their budget, it's coming out of federal dollars.

Does each state run its own Medicare program? SS? Dept of Defense? FEMA?

It's not a difficult concept.

They are providing a marketplace to purchase insurance, not actually providing insurance.

I'm not sure how your example applies. I would assume the framework for creating these "marketplaces" - the information systems, the protocols, training the personel - I am sure that is where most of the cost is coming from.

in theory a statewide exchange is going to be more limited in size than a product on a national exchange.

That is how the program was designed.

Your examples the Department of Defense and FEMA don't apply - and the DOD example is particularly egregious. Defense is one of the major functions of our federal government; it is one of its enumerated powers.

they is lurning!

and that's good and promising. I don't really understand the ins and outs of these stories relating to the health care law, though. I've tried to Google "Obamacare will lead to public option or single-payer" but all I get back are scare tactics bs from way back in 2010 about how the Marxist Kenyan is taking away our freedoms. I've read somewhere on this website a few months ago that there is some hidden clause or something like that that will lead to some kind of single-payer. Is this just wishful thinking or is it real? I've looked up some health insurance premiums for my state and the premiums are ridiculous. $2,000 a month? 3,000? And to qualify for a Medicaid program, you have to earn less than 700 dollars a month? How can someone who makes a few pennies more than that all of a sudden not be considered poor? How can someone who makes 1,000 a month afford to pay for health care on top of food, rent, clothes?

It seems like there is good feeling around that maybe something good will come of this. It's a start. But will it really lead to a single-payer option? How will that go about?

So far, so good, in any case. First, the unthinkable happened when Roberts decided to vote with the reasonable faction of the court. Then (thankfully), Obama won the election, keeping Romney and Ryan out with their detestable ideas about the poor taking care of themselves and the sick getting better by sheer will power (or whatever the hell they think).

They can't and don't expect you to spend every penny you make on just Private Health Insurance...That is why it is a good deal for many if not most Americans...

I know lots of people who take home
$250 a week.

it is not possible for them
to pay $1000 a month.

That is what this is all about. Thirty miilion people that did not have health insurance will now get it....If you work for a company that employs more than fifty people then that company has to provide it, if you don't and make less than $30,000 a year the Government will provide it for you..That is the big "gift" Romney was talking about to get votes for Obama..

what I do see is ...
companies will limit hours to less than 30 a week
companies will split up into smaller companies

not seen yet, but antcipated...
companies will pay a $2000 fine

I'm thinking that this was done on purpose so that no state could legitimately complain about a federal takeover, because they do have the option of a state exchange, but they'd all opt for the federal exchange to save money.

Of course the ironic result of that is that the wealthier states, mostly blue, end up carrying most of the burden for everyone, and the red states are once again the takers.

reference Texas as an example

you are so funny; our repuke bastard governor doesn't give a shit about the people

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/local-news/20121115-gov.-rick-perry-officially-refuses-to-set-up-texas-health-insurance-exchange-under-obamacare.ece

The man is one big giant blowhard hypocrite

He says he hates the feds but he's letting them take responsibility for the exchange rather than the state. It's hypocritical.

there is no limit to the hypocrisy of republicans - NO LIMIT

yoju seem to be an expert