Monday, November 26, 2012
Sunday, November 25, 2012
People like me need Obamacare and can't get it
I
am 28 years old and I need Obamacare. I was diagnosed with epilepsy at
the age of 11. My seizures are controlled with expensive medication. My Rx is $225 every month, with a
pharmacy discount card the cost is $136. When I was 22, I fell off my parents
military retirement medical insurance and have been considered an
insurance pariah.
I was given hope with the passage of the Affordable Care Act, a.k.a. Obama-care. Governor Scott Walker (R-Wisconsin) has blocked the implementation of this law, despite the health care needs of the people of his state. Affordable health care is in the best interest of everyone, and Wisconsinites need to stand up and demand it of our governor.
The economy has not been kind to me. In the last two years I have held 6 jobs, only 1 offered me health insurance. I am on state welfare, due to being an impoverished adult female. I qualify for the the state family planning waiver, I receive free birth control. To those who oppose this program it is a medical necessity. I cannot get pregnant on my medication and due to my seizures a pregnancy would be life-threatening. Obama-care would eliminate my need for welfare by offering me birth control coverage through state-offered Badger-care. The governor could change a welfare benefit into an insurance program for many women in Wisconsin if he allowed the implementation of Obama-care.
Badger-care has unintentionally created an incentive to get pregnant, by allowing instant access to healthcare for pregnant women. Women seeking to prevent a pregnancy, recieve the Family Planning Waiver which is also welfare. If birth-control costs were covered by insurance plans instead of the state, pregnant mothers and women seeking not to be pregnant would no longer be a burden to the taxpayers of Wisconsin.
December 14th is the deadline for Wisconsin to extend Badgercare, through the President's health care law. If Badger-care is extended, it will cover more then 14,000 currently on the waiting list for state health care.
Walker has refused to implement the law on the state level. Instead, he has demanded the federal government enforce the law in Wisconsin. In a letter to the Secretary of and Human Services (DHHS), his reason given was not being given enough control over the program, he believes Wisconsinites will not have enough choice over their health-care decisions if Obama-care is implemented. His reason for not taking control is that he wouldn't have all the control over the healthcare extension. His rationalization becomes, we can't have all the control, so therefore we will have none.
The state legislature is even further away from understanding the need for health care in Wisconsin. 9 Republican state legislators believe those to who implement Obama-care should be arrested. Rep. Chris Kapenga (R-Delafield) believes Obama-care is unconstitutional, despite the fact that it was declared constitutional by the US Supreme Court in June 2012.
People like me, don't get a choice in health care. If we are lucky enough, we get a plan through our employer. I am not lucky enough to have health insurance, in today's society this is a privileged right. Like many in my position, I favor an approach to health insurance that ensures coverage of everyone, some may call this socialistic, I believe it is an aspect of populism.
This insurance exchange would open thousands of windows and allow MORE control over health care. Wisconsinites currently have no choices and Walker could change that for millions in his state by just standing aside.
The people of Wisconsin need to send a clear message to Governor Walker: Obama-care is the law of the land and constitutional, blocking it's implementation is not in the best interest of Wisconsin. Put aside ideological and partisan rationalizations and do the work we need you to do.
UPDATES: According to the Kaiser Foundation, which studied the cost of implementing Obamacare - . "Overall state costs of implementing the Medicaid expansion would be modest compared to increases in federal funds, and many states are likely to see small net budget gains." - They estimate state spending would increase by only 3% - Read the FULL ARTICLE
I was given hope with the passage of the Affordable Care Act, a.k.a. Obama-care. Governor Scott Walker (R-Wisconsin) has blocked the implementation of this law, despite the health care needs of the people of his state. Affordable health care is in the best interest of everyone, and Wisconsinites need to stand up and demand it of our governor.
The economy has not been kind to me. In the last two years I have held 6 jobs, only 1 offered me health insurance. I am on state welfare, due to being an impoverished adult female. I qualify for the the state family planning waiver, I receive free birth control. To those who oppose this program it is a medical necessity. I cannot get pregnant on my medication and due to my seizures a pregnancy would be life-threatening. Obama-care would eliminate my need for welfare by offering me birth control coverage through state-offered Badger-care. The governor could change a welfare benefit into an insurance program for many women in Wisconsin if he allowed the implementation of Obama-care.
Badger-care has unintentionally created an incentive to get pregnant, by allowing instant access to healthcare for pregnant women. Women seeking to prevent a pregnancy, recieve the Family Planning Waiver which is also welfare. If birth-control costs were covered by insurance plans instead of the state, pregnant mothers and women seeking not to be pregnant would no longer be a burden to the taxpayers of Wisconsin.
December 14th is the deadline for Wisconsin to extend Badgercare, through the President's health care law. If Badger-care is extended, it will cover more then 14,000 currently on the waiting list for state health care.
Walker has refused to implement the law on the state level. Instead, he has demanded the federal government enforce the law in Wisconsin. In a letter to the Secretary of and Human Services (DHHS), his reason given was not being given enough control over the program, he believes Wisconsinites will not have enough choice over their health-care decisions if Obama-care is implemented. His reason for not taking control is that he wouldn't have all the control over the healthcare extension. His rationalization becomes, we can't have all the control, so therefore we will have none.
The state legislature is even further away from understanding the need for health care in Wisconsin. 9 Republican state legislators believe those to who implement Obama-care should be arrested. Rep. Chris Kapenga (R-Delafield) believes Obama-care is unconstitutional, despite the fact that it was declared constitutional by the US Supreme Court in June 2012.
People like me, don't get a choice in health care. If we are lucky enough, we get a plan through our employer. I am not lucky enough to have health insurance, in today's society this is a privileged right. Like many in my position, I favor an approach to health insurance that ensures coverage of everyone, some may call this socialistic, I believe it is an aspect of populism.
This insurance exchange would open thousands of windows and allow MORE control over health care. Wisconsinites currently have no choices and Walker could change that for millions in his state by just standing aside.
UPDATES: According to the Kaiser Foundation, which studied the cost of implementing Obamacare - . "Overall state costs of implementing the Medicaid expansion would be modest compared to increases in federal funds, and many states are likely to see small net budget gains." - They estimate state spending would increase by only 3% - Read the FULL ARTICLE
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Election Day 2012: Live Blog Tidbits
- 6:00 AM - Polls have just opened on the East Coast, more then 2 million votes have already been cast and before the night is over many millions more will decide the future of the country. Many bold predictions have been made. Here, I collected the most entertaining and informative election tidbits.
- 7:00 AM - I drove into my polling place to vote, the grey morning looked a little ominous and snow was just starting to fall. I arrived in line at 7:04am. I was under the false assumption if I arrived early I wouldn't have to wait in line, I wasn't the only one. The snow fell heavier and heavier, and finally at 7:40 I cast my vote for President Obama. By the time I left, the world looked white with falling snow, this snow could change the course of how Wisconsin swings.
-8:00 AM - With an 11% approval rating, the fate of the House and Senate will be written into history today. Several interesting House and Senate races will show the mood of the country. The Democrats are in a strong position to maintain control over the Senate. I voted for Tammy Baldwin, a strong democratic voice and she maybe the first openly gay Senator.
-8:05 AM - Mitt Romney cast his vote in New Hampshire. WI Gov. Scott Walker likes Romney's chances. "It's going to be by an inch...but we're going to win here in Wisconsin"
- 8:37 AM - This election, in particular, it is so very important for women to exercise their right to vote. Women died to guarantee the right to vote for every woman in the US. Here's a wonderful version of Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" that tells the story of women's suffrage.
- 3:05 PM - Facebook tracks votes in real-time with "heat map" all the information gained from users.
- 5:25 PM - Man dies while voting, is revived and asks "Did I vote?"
- 6:00 PM - Kentucky is projected for Mitt Romney, and no surprise there. Vermont with 3 electoral votes goes to Obama
- 6:20 PM - States on the East Coast are starting to get called, remember not all votes have been counted. 1-5% of precincts are reporting and no electoral votes have officially been assigned
-6:40 PM - W Virgina, and Indiana projected for Romney, South Carolina is being projected for both Romney and Obama but Romney takes the state
-7:00 PM - Projected Electoral votes so far 33 to Romney and 3 to Obama. Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee projected to Romney
-7:11 PM - Vermont, DC, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maryland and Maine projected for Obama, Oklahoma projected for Romney
-9:00 PM - Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania go to Obama. Electoral Votes are 158 To Obama and 154 to Romney. Elizabeth Warren wins Senate seat, a huge win for the democrats. Romney admits he has only written a victory speech, isn't that tempting fate to screw you?
-9:15 PM - Democrats hold onto the Senate and keep Claire McCaskill who ran against Todd "the female body has ways to shut that whole thing down" Akin. A win for choice!
- Massachusetts becomes the 18th state to legalize medical marijuana
-9:20 PM - Mitt Romney gains in the projected electoral votes 163 to Romney and 158 to Obama, but the swing states are swinging toward the President.
- In the Wisconsin Senate race, with 17% reporting, Thompson is in the lead.
- VP Candidate Paul Ryan maintains his seat in the House and on the Budget Committee
-9:40 PM - Tammy Baldwin wins the Wisconsin Senate seat becoming the first openly gay Senator!
- Minnesota projected for Obama
-10:00 PM - California, Washington, and Hawaii projected for Obama, Romney projected to carry Arizona, North Carolina, and Nevada. Electoral college votes are Obama 244, Romney 193
-10:12 PM President Obama wins Re-election by snagging Iowa, Ohio
- 7:00 AM - I drove into my polling place to vote, the grey morning looked a little ominous and snow was just starting to fall. I arrived in line at 7:04am. I was under the false assumption if I arrived early I wouldn't have to wait in line, I wasn't the only one. The snow fell heavier and heavier, and finally at 7:40 I cast my vote for President Obama. By the time I left, the world looked white with falling snow, this snow could change the course of how Wisconsin swings.
-8:00 AM - With an 11% approval rating, the fate of the House and Senate will be written into history today. Several interesting House and Senate races will show the mood of the country. The Democrats are in a strong position to maintain control over the Senate. I voted for Tammy Baldwin, a strong democratic voice and she maybe the first openly gay Senator.
-8:05 AM - Mitt Romney cast his vote in New Hampshire. WI Gov. Scott Walker likes Romney's chances. "It's going to be by an inch...but we're going to win here in Wisconsin"
- 8:37 AM - This election, in particular, it is so very important for women to exercise their right to vote. Women died to guarantee the right to vote for every woman in the US. Here's a wonderful version of Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" that tells the story of women's suffrage.
- 3:05 PM - Facebook tracks votes in real-time with "heat map" all the information gained from users.
- 5:25 PM - Man dies while voting, is revived and asks "Did I vote?"
- 6:00 PM - Kentucky is projected for Mitt Romney, and no surprise there. Vermont with 3 electoral votes goes to Obama
- 6:20 PM - States on the East Coast are starting to get called, remember not all votes have been counted. 1-5% of precincts are reporting and no electoral votes have officially been assigned
-6:40 PM - W Virgina, and Indiana projected for Romney, South Carolina is being projected for both Romney and Obama but Romney takes the state
-7:00 PM - Projected Electoral votes so far 33 to Romney and 3 to Obama. Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee projected to Romney
-7:11 PM - Vermont, DC, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maryland and Maine projected for Obama, Oklahoma projected for Romney
-9:00 PM - Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania go to Obama. Electoral Votes are 158 To Obama and 154 to Romney. Elizabeth Warren wins Senate seat, a huge win for the democrats. Romney admits he has only written a victory speech, isn't that tempting fate to screw you?
-9:15 PM - Democrats hold onto the Senate and keep Claire McCaskill who ran against Todd "the female body has ways to shut that whole thing down" Akin. A win for choice!
- Massachusetts becomes the 18th state to legalize medical marijuana
-9:20 PM - Mitt Romney gains in the projected electoral votes 163 to Romney and 158 to Obama, but the swing states are swinging toward the President.
- In the Wisconsin Senate race, with 17% reporting, Thompson is in the lead.
- VP Candidate Paul Ryan maintains his seat in the House and on the Budget Committee
-9:40 PM - Tammy Baldwin wins the Wisconsin Senate seat becoming the first openly gay Senator!
- Minnesota projected for Obama
-10:00 PM - California, Washington, and Hawaii projected for Obama, Romney projected to carry Arizona, North Carolina, and Nevada. Electoral college votes are Obama 244, Romney 193
-10:12 PM President Obama wins Re-election by snagging Iowa, Ohio
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