The Affordable Care Act was a massive piece of legislation, but it only went so far in defining the details of policy implementation. For example, the text of the bill mandates that Americans' preventive care be provided without a copay, but it doesn't specify what, exactly, counts as preventive care.
And that's where the regulatory process kicks in. It's up to the Obama administration to make choices defining the limits and the benefits under the legal framework. With this in mind, "Obamacare" implementation took another important step forward yesterday.
The Obama administration took a big step on Tuesday to carry out the new health care law by defining "essential health benefits" that must be offered to most Americans and by allowing employers to offer much bigger financial rewards to employees who quit smoking or adopt other healthy behaviors. [...]
The rules translate the broad promises of the 2010 law into detailed standards that can be enforced by state and federal officials. Under the rules, insurers cannot deny coverage or charge higher premiums to people because they are sick or have been ill. They also cannot charge women more than men, as many now do.
"Thanks to the health care law, no one will be discriminated against because of a pre-existing condition," said Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of health and human services, who issued the rules with Phyllis C. Borzi, an assistant secretary of labor, and Steven T. Miller, the acting commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service.
When it comes to "essential" benefits, states will have some leeway, but under the regulations unveiled yesterday, all insurers will be required to provide "dental care and vision services for children, treatment of mental health and drug abuse problems, and 'habilitative services' for people with conditions like autism or cerebral palsy."
There's also some worthwhile provisions related to wellness: "The less-familiar wellness rules will increase the maximum permissible reward for workers who participate in programs that encourage certain health outcomes, such as smoking cessation or weight loss. Under the proposed rules, these 'health-contingent wellness programs' will now yield a reward of up to 30 percent of the cost of health coverage rather than 20 percent."
In light of the election results, the opportunities for the law's opponents have faded away. All of this, in other words, really is going to happen.
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"much bigger financial rewards to employees who quit smoking or adopt other healthy behaviors. "
FOX NEWS HEADLINE:
NANNY STATE TRIUMPHANT-CIVILIZATION IN PERIL!
Fox Business Channel Headline would read
"Obamacare destroys American Tobacco Company's"
"Under the implementation of Obamacare, The company Phillip Morris (most notably known for making the Marlboro brand of cigarettes) is filing for bankruptcy. Under the new health care law that rewards workers for quitting smoking, has damaged the company's profits, and is laying off it's workers. If Obamacare is so good for this country, than why is it costing us good American jobs? Thank you Mr President, for sending more people on food stamps and making them more prone to government dependance. And destroying an American Iconic Company with your Socialist Laws, Europe applauds you, while Americans in their uncertainty of how their bills will be paid, or put food on the table, are outraged in disgust. "
As the full effects of the ObamaCare Tax are felt, unemployment will go up, employer provided insurance plans will dry up and health care costs will skyrocket. That's the bad news.
The good news is more Americans will become dependent on the federal government and vote Democrat. That was the whole idea to begin with.
What will happen is that full time employees will suddenly find themselves as independent contractors responsible for getting their own insurance and having to pay not just their own taxes, but self employment taxes as well. Given the additional burden of not having insurance that covers pregnancy but which covers abortion and birth control, the reproductive freedom of middle class America is in peril. This is the Real War On Women as conducted by the Obama administration.
Obamacare is revolutionary on so many levels. Thank you, Mr. President.
Like the Russian Revolution in 1917?
Not at all like the Russian Revolution, Henry.
More like the fall of the Berlin Wall: Obama brought the first form of universal healthcare to an industrialized nation who doesn't offer universal healthcare for all its citizens.
I know I was meant to come here to this blog, but I came here for a reason and that was not for the benefit of some rich bastards. And that is one thing I will not keep doing and that is to benefit some rich bastards as so many other people are sitting there everyday of their lives struggling just to make ends meet. I don’t believe anything will change until I actually see it happen and I am not going to be a part of just playing the motions and in the end nothing is really done that helps people in the end. That is why I have hit this point finally, because all I have really seen was just motions and just the same rich bastards putting on a new disguise just to keep fooling people some more. Let’s see the real proof that something is actually going to be done right for everybody and not just senseless chatter.
Well, Deb w/a bazillion numbers - ObamaCare has truly made a difference in my life! My children are now once again getting medical services under an insurance plan (mine) that had expired for them under the old system. My second daughter got a mouth full of dental work done, and without ObamaCare, her dental health would have been greatly diminished by now.
I am looking forward to more of the current implementation of ObamaCare! How's that Deb for a little up lift in the morning! -Kevo
Deb, I want you to go to the window, and open it, and yell as loud as you can, "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not gonna take it any more!"
You will feel better, and it will also annoy the neighbors.
NO, actually I've just been planning my exit. I already know everything I have said will be proven to be true and it's just not necessary to be saying anymore. This is just becoming my final words for my exit from here. If anything I am leaving the way I want to with a big final blast.
Deb, I can't tell if you are exiting this exchange or if you are thinking of hurting yourself. If the latter, please reconsider. There is always another way.
Kevo you couldn't cover your childrens' dental care without Obama? That's pathetic. If Obamacare is required for you to meet dental needs, you clearly couldn't afford children in the first place. Seriously. By the way, don't thank Obama for that which is provided by others. Thank those who pay the majority of taxes and those who are seeing their insurance premiums surge upward.
Treblehook,
You represent everything that is wrong with the GOP.
You have no right to dictate to others who and who should not have children. You should be ashamed of yourself. Seriously.
And your ignorance about the Affordable Healthcare Act shows in your post. Educate yourself. Maybe you will learn a thing or two about how this will benefit you. But I doubt that you will. Because people like you are blinded by ignorance and hate.
Well, Treblehook, if you do check back at this late hour, I'll give you that you aren't stupid as you did write the language. But, you can't read very well, and seem to be ignorant of the law we shall be calling ObamaCare for generations to come!
I noted I have insurance, and it is what covers my medical. It covered my children's medical until they grew older (you know Treblehook like all human beings). Now in their 20's, it is they who can't afford insurance for their medical needs, including dental.
Treblehook, learn how to connect dots better next time before you show your blazing ignorance, and hatred for our POTUS! -Kevo
I sincerely hope that those in the media will inform the public about the details of this progress. In large measure, the coverage of the issue of Obamacare in recent days has been limited to the story that GOP governors are continuing on with their anti-Obamacare crusade. Once again, republicans are drowning out the progress being made.
Its those governors who will need to find the hundreds of millions of extra dollars to pay for this MASSIVE entitlement on their own two years from now. I have to assume, you are one of those people who dont actually know the DETAILS of the legislation.
Yes, the Affordable Care Act is now starting to be defined and will cover more people - but just like Americans didn't see the "tax cuts" provided by this President via pay-roll tax holiday - they probably won't pay attention to what is now being done with the ACA. And good luck pretending that the lame-stream media and the celebrity journalists will actually break it down so that the public becomes "informed" - that's no longer what they do!
Heard on Last Word today there is a massive media campaign planned to educate people. It will also be important that providers educate people as they seek medical care without insurance. It will take time but word will get out. Remember their will be fines for not having insurance so that will drive people to enroll. That whole mandate thingy.
In light of the election results, the opportunities for the law's opponents have faded away. All of this, in other words, really is going to happen.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/repeal_of_health_care_law_favoroppose-1947.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2012/07/01/poll-most-americans-want-to-keep-obamacare-in-some-form/
Hmmmmm....typical! You forgot the other 31% that say they want to repeal the law entirely! Typical lib twisting of the poll. WOW. What a crazy misleading article! Thanks for drawing attention to it. The math does not add up, like usual.
Like Social Security & Medicare before it, Obamacare once again shall anchor the perception and realization that the Democrats truly are the Party for the 99%. This legislation that will now move forward to reality (a liberal bias) should guarantee the election prospects for a majority of Democrats for years to come once fully implemented - much to the dismay and the absolute number one reason the GOP & conservatives rejected this common sense legislation in the first place. As some commentators have postulated, the GOP could very well become history as they are so-o out of touch with the cultural movements of the 21 century.
Happy to see that the philosophy is what you truly believe .... give people stuff so they will vote for you ..
re: give people stuff so they will vote for you ..
^ Or take the GOP's approach. Insult them with bigotry, misogyny and stupidity and they won't. :)
Democrats want government dependents because they vote Democrat. Working, independent Americans with good paying jobs become Republicans. They don't want THAT. Got it?
I have had great paying jobs in my career before retiring. I am not a Republican, so you are wrong just like Karl Rove. LOL
that is silliness. there are many independent businesspeople like myself who are Democrats because we believe in a measure of social justice. Problem is we are often drowned out by the angry loudmouths.
@Bob Galinsky. How do you explain that the top 3 richest people in America are all democrats- Gates, Buffet and Ellison? It appears your theory has a 126 billion dollar hole in it (their combined wealth.
http://newamericangazette.com/2011/01/top-20-richest-people-democrats/
It's so sensible to have routine preventative care covered without a copay. If it is not included, routine lab work should also be included. Eventually, dental work should also be included. Copays on things like crowns are unaffordable for someone making just above minimum wage, so things get put off for years at a time.
Before Obamacare, the whole health care system was set up to charge you as much as possible for insurance, and then pay as little as possible in benefits. Even with insurance, the copays and deductibles can be burdensome for those of us with not much income. If you can't pay the copays/deductible for routine care, then you tend to put it off, with possibly devastating results.
Enjoy the Obama soup lines when the ObamaCare Tax actually kicks in. Is your job really safe?
Is anybody's job really safe? If the company you work for decides not to pull out the rug from under you, there's always Mother Nature... or to be equitable - father time.
We all know how much the country loved what Prohibition brought. When the full impact of Obamacare is felt by those who shall bear its costs and adverse consequences, repealing the law will seem very easy compared to ending Prohibition.
I disagree. Most people haven't even bothered to read the ACA and rely on anti=Obamarants to oppose it. Polls indicate more people are in favor now than when the ACA was passed. As time goes on and all the doom-and-gloom doesn't come to pass, a majority will cometo support it. I am old enugh to recall the fight over medicare which now accepted. My problem with the ACA is that it is not a single=payer plan but it is a step toward it.
And while OBC move forward, the layoff notices are just beginning. http://www.wesh.com/news/central-florida/Orlando-Health-announces-layoffs-citing-cost-cutting-measures/-/11788162/17471682/-/v3mohs/-/index.html
Not to mention Darden Foods, Applebys, Dennys, Papa Johns the SBA conference where their heads almost exploded when the realized the costs they would incur and the following:
Stryker, a maker of artificial hips and knees based in Kalamazoo, Mich., is slashing 5 percent of its global workforce (an estimated 1,000 workers) this coming year to reduce costs related to Obamacare’s taxes and mandates.
Covidien, a N.Y.-based surgical supplies manufacturer, recently announced layoffs of 200 American workers and plans to move some of its plant work to Mexico and Costa Rica, in part because of the coming tax hit.
Mass.-based Zoll Medical Corp., which makes defibrillators and employs some 1,800 workers in the U.S. and around the world, says the medical device tax will cost the company between $5 million and $10 million a year.
This July, Indiana’s Cook Medical Inc. shelved plans to open five new plants because of the imminent medical device tax hit. They are not alone.
I cant wait for the first REAL BOMB to drop. The first LARGE company to announce they are ending coverage, paying the cheaper per-employee fine and letting their employees get on government exchanges. We have already seen the memos that they are "crunching the numbers"
That is where the free market and capitalist dogma people like you love to talk about takes over.
Other companies will move in those areas that these companies fail to do so.
And life will go on, but better, because of Obamacare and the millions of people that it will have a positive impact on.
This is such amazing news! The individual health plan I'm currently buying for me and my family costs over $400 a month and doesn't include maternity, dental, vision or much of the wellness/drug abuse coverage. And my plan could use pre-existing conditions and deny coverage to the chronically ill. Plus they could charge women more than men or older people more then younger people.
I'm sure when I get my chance to buy my new plan on the exchange it's going to be a whole lot cheaper than what I'm paying now PLUS I'll now have all of this extra coverage. (does this make any sense?)
Granted I'll only get to pick from 4 plans designs (funny seniors get to choose from 100s of different Medicare Advantage plans?) Oh well, I feel much better knowing a really smart govt. person has already made the choices for me as to what I should have in my plan. I mean, it is kind of true that my wife and I deliberately selected a plan with no maternity coverage because it saved us $100 a month and my wife had her tubes tide so we're certainly NOT going to need that coverage anymore. No worries, up to $90,000 a year and the govt. helps to pay for my health insurance. The federal govt. will find the money somewhere.
And don't worry about premiums we have the MLR mandate that 80% of premiums go to care. Turns out - most insurance companies were already spending that much. And the easiest solution for the insurance companies to make sure they lower their administrative overhead was to just squeeze out the only consumer advocate in the whole process - state licensed independent health insurance agents. They never liked those guys anyway - because those agents could price plans from other insurance carriers and show people options. Now the insurance companies are free from "professional" advice and can sell direct.
Why do you think the health insurers went along with this? They win.
Final note - just because it pisses me off. Currently, women are generally charged more than men up until about age 42. At that point it switches and men are charged more than women(although nobody seems to be as outraged about this fact). This is common sense reasoning and the same logic as why your auto insurance costs more when you're 19 than at 35. Actuaries calculate expected losses within a set a variables to produce a rate that should, in theory, cover expected costs. If you don't do this - your insurance company goes out of business.
"A big step forward on 'Obamacare'" is a big step backwards for the people of this country, but the people of the Left who crammed this monstrosity down our collective throats don't care about that.
Goodness. You guys lost. Get over it. Sheesh.
Yeah, and when the costs of this monstrosity swamp the budget "grand bargain" and the deficit explodes back to the trillion $ plus range as far as the eye can see, and the left comes back with vast new taxes on the middle class to pay for it (can you say VAT?) are you going to say "get over it?"
Why we need GOVERNMENT run exchanges is beyond me, why can't we have private exchanges? Oh I forgot about the massive subsidies Obamacare brings into the equation that will only add to our outrageous deficit. Those old obstructionist Republicans, always worrying about paying the bills.
Half of America has gone retarded and voted for Obama.
Using "retarded" is a shameful. You shoild know better! Shame on you!
Let's talk economic reality as related to Obamacare. First, as a teacher I ended up with the new mandates back in Sept of 2011. My premiums went up 15% and my deductible went up to $5000. Even when I pay my copay of $30 a visit, I get an additional bill for $135. We can't afford basic care. When I tried to get a mammogram I discovered that if I used insurance I would have to pay $311, but without insurance it was only $157. Please explain?
On top of that, my daughter, 27, employed, newly married, sought to consolidate her and her husband's insurance policies. She has a privately bought policy because it was less than the one at her work and covered more. Unfortunately under the new mandates her Blue Cross policy covers birth control, abortions, mental health treatment, drug treatment BUT NOT PREGNANCY. None of the carriers are writing private policy coverage for pregnancy. As more employees end up being contractors because of the high cost of Obamacare, middle class women will find themselves unable to afford to have a baby. There's your liberal "reproductive freedom" Maddow. The poor can pop out a kid every year on our dime as they already do in public hospitals like Parkland in Dallas with a 70% rate of births to women here illegally. The rich can without thinking twice. But middle class women will be shut out. That's the REAL WAR ON WOMEN.
Now that the real costs of the rightly renamed ObamaCare Tax are hitting, more and more Americans will discover they REALLY don't like this poorly thought through, written and implimented legislation.
It's a job and economy killer, but that's what Democrats REALLY want. More govenrnment dependents who vote Democrat for "the free stuff."
PS "There is no such thing as a free lunch."
tpaine. Yes, it is a job killer and economy killer. You are so right.
Well, it was a fun troll-free two weeks while it lasted...
Hope Maddow is wrong, as she usually is.
ObamaTax will destroy America Health care.
We don't have enough drs, and Obamatax is rationed care.
I think America deserves better, much better than rationed care.
"In light of the election results, the opportunities for the law's opponents have faded away. All of this, in other words, really is going to happen."
I guess you missed the House of Representatives is STILL controlled by the GOP - and will be for the foreseeable future - and that ALL funding must go through them?
The ObamaCare Tax was badly conceived, poorly written and is now being ineptly devised. It received not a single GOP vote and will become as it is implemented even more hated.
Now everyone will have an "insurance" card. Good luck trying to find a doctor who accepts it.
That's a fact alright, but how does it create jobs? Oh, that's right...it doesn't!
A poll was taken 2 years ago just before the aca was passed. It was taken from seniors and they were asked if they liked their medicare. 94% said yes! You couldn't get 94% of the public to approve anything else in the country! Universal single payer here we come!!!!!!!!!!!!!