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Tom Reel / San Antonio Express-News
Jerry Fielder, 64, of Universal City, Texas, is a cancer patient whose family was turned down by 16 different insurance companies because of pre-existing conditions before accessing coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
Jerry Fielder and Beth Ann Levendoski breathed separate sighs of relief Thursday -- one in Texas, the other in California -- on the news that the U.S. Supreme Court had largely upheld President Obama's signature health care law, preserving the guarantees that the seriously ill women will have health insurance.
Fielder, a 64-year-old cancer patient from Universal City, Texas, and Levendoski, a 57-year-old San Diego woman with a history of complicated spinal surgeries, were among those with the most to lose from the long-awaited ruling on the Obama Administration’s Affordable Care Act: people with pre-existing health conditions.
"I am thrilled. I can't tell you what this means," said Levendoski, who is still recovering from two 10-hour surgeries in 2011 to correct spinal fractures and a compressed spinal cord, which left her virtually paralyzed. "I hardly slept all night."
On a 5 to 4 vote, the nation’s top court on Thursday upheld the provisions of the Affordable Care Act, including the controversial proposal that requires all Americans to have health insurance, or face financial penalties. The court interpreted the so-called "individual mandate" as a tax, however.
"I was on pins and needles. I was dreading the results," said Fielder. "Then I was like, Oh my God, they upheld it? I can't believe it."
For Fielder, the ruling means she won’t have to count the months until Medicare kicks in next spring to continue treatment for lymphoma and a fist-sized malignant tumor in her abdomen.
Fielder spent most of the past decade struggling to acquire and maintain health insurance after giving up employer-sponsored care when the family decided to start a small business. They assumed they'd be able to buy private insurance, but when Fielder and her husband, Charles, now 65, went looking for coverage, they were stunned to be turned down by 16 different providers because of his history of heart problems.
They paid $73,000 out of pocket for Charles' heart surgery in 2003, but then, in 2009, came Jerry’s diagnosis.
“You can pay for a broken leg, you can pay for a broken arm, but you cannot pay for cancer,” she said.
Without insurance, Fielder received no treatment for months, growing sicker and weaker as the cancer spread. Only after she gained access to a stop-gap program through the ACA did Fielder get care that has slowed her disease and allowed her to return to work. Charles became old enough to qualify for Medicare last year.
Fielder said she has met many families, including single mothers with young children, struggling to find coverage for existing illnesses.
Courtesy Beth Ann Levendoski
Beth Ann Levendoski, 57, of San Diego, is enrolled in a PCIP, a health insurance plan provided under the Affordable Care Act for people with pre-existing conditions.
"Everybody is just a blink away from needing insurance," Fielder said.
Between 36 million and 122 million adults under age 65 in the United States have a pre-existing health condition and as many as 17 million do not have health insurance, according to the Government Accountability Office. The estimates vary widely because of the type and number of ailments used to define pre-existing conditions in each of five estimates. In the lowest estimate, adults reported whether they had ever been told they had one or more of eight specific conditions. The highest estimate included any individual reporting a chronic condition in 2009.
Fielder and Levendoski are among more than 67,000 people nationwide who enrolled in Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plans, or PCIPs, which were created to provide insurance for people too sick to get coverage on the private market. Both women were among the first to join in October 2010.
The PCIPs are temporary programs aimed at bridging the insurance gap until 2014, when the health reform law requires insurers to accept all comers, including those with previously identified health issues.
Their support for Thursday's ruling was largely echoed by a poll conducted by Truth On Call for msnbc.com, which found that nearly 64 percent of family care doctors queried thought that the high court's ruling was correct, while 36 percent disagreed.
For Levendoski, being able to maintain her insurance coverage is the key to her future.
Poll: Do you agree with the health care ruling?
A former director of a nonprofit agency, she lost her insurance in 2004 after being laid off. She exhausted benefits through the state COBRA health benefits program and then learned that she couldn't get private insurance because of a history of kidney problems and the degenerative effects of childhood scoliosis, which required repeated surgeries. Her condition grew so dire, she suffered spinal fractures and a compressed spinal cord that left her unable to walk.
She exhausted about $55,000 in savings paying for care out of pocket before the ACA was enacted. She eventually lost her home and had to declare bankruptcy because of the medical bills. Levendoski was able to buy insurance and resume her treatment in 2010 after enrolling in the PCIP.
The two surgeries last year helped relieve the paralysis in her legs, but left her with lasting, debilitating weakness in her arms. Unable to work now, she lives for free with her 80-year-old mother, which allows her to use state disability payments to cover the monthly premium of $467 for the PCIP program.
Regaining strength in her arms and re-learning to walk mean Levendoski has a long road ahead, including another major surgery planned in just a few weeks.
She was in an agony of anticipation most of this week. When the high court didn't rule on the law as expected Monday, Levedoski was in tears. On Thursday, as early reports appeared mixed, she was worried, then elated.
"I am going to be so relieved," she said.
More health reform coverage:
- Supreme Court upholds health care law
- Dems cheer high court as Romney leads GOP charge to repeal health law
- Health care reform is legal, but is is moral? Bioethicist weighs in
NBC's Tom Costello explains the benefits of the healthcare law and the costs to small business to insure their employees.
Leave a Comment:
more free sh!t
more free sh!t
i don't wan to work, i want to live on the dole all day.
yeah
Wow, James....you must be a high Administration Official...you seem to have the key to Obama-thinking....you get to have it all now....not just food stamps forever....unemployment checks forever....but, all the medical care your little heart desires...even if you don't actually need anything....go on down to the doctor's office and just sit around till somebody sees you...get your vitals taken or something. You don't have nothing else to do...it's not like you have a job or anything....so boring to hang out at the food stamp office....hang out at your brand new, personal, medial staff office....they will be happy to bill Uncle Sam for it.
Grandfather teabagger says "Get your goddamn government hands off my Medicare!!!!!!"
actually James from Seattle is rich and swims in his pool all day.
James you are a greedy, selfish pig and only care about yourself and your money.
What about this is free? Everyone is complaining about the tax they will have to pay for not being responsible about paying for their own healthcare.
"It was not just bad policy; it was a moral failure to put forward a piece of legislation that wouldn’t help Americans get back to work, and to focus the energy of the White House on Obamacare."
Is that Romney eating sour grapes and trying to change his talking point?
Hilarious how he bets against average Americans.
Talk about a political party that speaks out of both sides of their mouth, the Republican Party will have some trouble explaining this one. One side of their mouth tried to scare the American public into believing that "death panels" would be set up and out of the other side of their mouths they want to try and deny care to those with pre-existing conditions what could die without care. The Republican are totally in bed with the big pharmaceutical companies and the insurance industries that are scared to death ( I wish) that they will lose profits by having to care for sick people. makes perfect sense if you don't think about it too hard!
OBAMA: My critics say everything is a tax increase. My critics say that I'm taking over every sector of the economy. You know that. Look, we can have a legitimate debate about whether or not we're going to have an individual mandate or not, but ...
STEPHANOPOULOS: But you reject that it's a tax increase?
OBAMA: I absolutely reject that notion.
Well....check the 6 o'clock news tonight....he'll be embracing that thought all the way to November.....actually this is a SCOTUS plot to win the election for Romney....who will now campaign against Obama-the-Taxer, who can't deny it since SCOTUS says it's true.
How does the President's signature achievement being confirmed Constitutional help Republicans? I don't see that.
What the ----- I was self employeed with a pre-existing condition, my health premiums were over $600 per month and the condition was not covered. The hospital stays and Dr./medical services all came out of my pocket for this condition and I paid it. My condition, my responsibility and I didn't look for anyone to bail me out like these freeloaders are doing today. Sometimes we are handed a spell of bad luck, it happens but why should we take money from someone/something else for our misfortune? Same as stealing, don't you think?
Good news for you....don't be an idiot by paying for health insurance....no need ...just pay the $94 tax penalty and drive up to the doctor's office and demand your free care. The taxpayers will cover your costs, no problem....and, no need to thanks us....but, your welcome. Oh, as for that personal responibility stuff....that's just for suckers....get over it.
Ah!!! the good old days. When folks could not afford insurance, they would show up at the emergency room deadly ill and had to be treated by law. The hospitals would stabilize them and kick them out ASAP, then they would show up again for more treatment. Don't worry, the cost was not paid by any of us with insurance. The "Emergency Room Fairy" paid that. That was not the reason that we pay more taxes than the rich or corporations after all when the hospitals write that loss off and get a tax credit for it (aka pay less in taxes), the rest of us did not have to make up the difference because the "Tax Fairy" pays that.
What is wrong with you people... Let's say I am on board with your nonsense, this way, the jerk is at least paying $98 as opposed to NOTHING!!! I would love to meet the person who would never need healthcare.... ever. I think that if you don't buy coverage, you when you get sick(and you will) providers should have the right to turn you away. They should not be allowed to write it off for a tax credit that the rest of us must then pay for. If you want to be a loser, you should die as one.
I don't mind that you people hate Obama but you should admit that it is because of his color and stop making yourselves look stupid trying to make it about what he has accomplished. You are not fooling anyone.
God bless America. For once, compassion has won over selfishness. Let us hope that millions of Americans can regain their health so that they can work. My family has insurance, but I can't tell you how grateful and relieved we are that, if my husband might not be able to work while fighting cancer, we won't be out on the street. Thank you!
Yep...and with 32 million new "paying" patients and no new doctors or hospital beds, your insurance won't do you much good....take a number and get in line....and keep paying those premuims for you and your family...and for several other families (they are the ones just ahead of you in that line) who can't afford insurance but, luckily, have you (the taxpayer) footing their bill. You are right....this is a great country!
I hope we have more stories like these about individuals. The more that people see how much these laws actually help individual Americans, the less general spewing of hatred we'll see.
Go Grandpa. You are so right. All of these new people are going to mess with your Medicare paid access to the best doctors. You are a saint. I would take this to the supreme court if I were you. Oh wait... that's over.
Baaaahahahahahahahaha
Yes, 32 million new paying patients will definitely create some logjams at first, but, that many new patients will also create a tremendous amount of new business opportunity for primary care physicians and for their required support staff too!!! I will admit that some jobs at big-city public hospitals might be lost as a result too.
But, what was more unfair to the established status quo, the ACA or airline and trucking deregulation back when Reagan was in office? What comes around, goes around, eh??? That is the fun of living in a democracy, as this time somebody else gets it instead!!!
So let us all understand this. Bernardo thinks this is just sucks ALL the way around. Since you have this, uh-hem, incurable disease, what exactly is it? Shingles? Turretts? Come on. Fess up. With all this idiot blabbering I am curious EXACTLY what is it? I know for sure it's not CANCER so you don't have ANY business speaking for people who have life-threatening pre-existing conditions. I was treated for osteoporosis 7 years ago. When I tried to get SCREENED for it? My insurance company DENIED because it was pre-existing. Now I'm angry but at least I don't have to worry about whether I'm going to be alive next year. I'm luckier than alot of people who are battling cancer and children born with defects who require ongoing treatment. BERNARDO!!! What about THOSE people? Should they just be allowed to suffer, die and lose everything they own! Ann Romney should be DENIED coverage for the Multiple Sclerosis she lives with. But hey! She's rich! And as the wife of a politican, she would never have been denied to begin with. I promise you. If Anne was denied like most millions in this country, old Rob-me would be singing a different tune. Oh wait...he did that already. In 2006 he SUPPORTED the mandate. Old flip-flop is tripping over his shoes again!
Of course they are happy, now I get to pay for whatever they need and most of them will get off scott free. Boy I can't wait!!
Pecker - you don't get it. What about those pre-existing people with cancer? Children born with birth defects? This bill is DIRECTLY in place to help the MILLIONS in this position. So you would rather those MILLIONS suffer and die? Oh wait..yeah. That's right. That's the Republican way.
Cindy: don't be an idiot.....millions didn't die before we had Obamacare....why would they now, regardless of the Court decision. What most people don't realize is that this was never about delivery of medical care to people....everybody that needs care gets care. It was about who pays for it....the doctors and hospitals are the ones that benefit from this....no more pro bono medical treatment....everybody is on the public insurance dole now (some may actually pay for insurance, but most won't cuz if they could they would have)....gov't now pays via Medicare or Medicaid for millions of new people....and that isn't free...and you and I are going to pay foir it. If it were up to me...I'd opt out and just let you pay for it.
Actually, Grandfather, millions HAVE died for lack of medical care in this country, and millions more will before this is ironed out and carved in stone. It's just that the death certificate has no box to check for "No one gave a happy crap" as a direct cause of death, even though it sometimes is.
Are there abuses to the system? Of course there are. There has always been that segment of our population that will take advantage of others, either directly or indirectly. Will there be abuses to the new system? Of course there will be. For the most part, people do not change.
The simple truth, though, is that this system will have its greatest positive impact on the people who did not abuse the old system and will not abuse the new one. It will benefit the most vulnerable, the ones with the least resources, and it will save lives.
How can anyone oppose that and face themselves in the mirror every day?
Grandfather, I don't have a problem paying a few more bucks to help someone who has less than. The GOP needs to stop the lies and intentionally driving Obamacare into the path of an 18-wheeler. The majority of the people who will reap the rewards from Obamacare are those who need it the most. When insurance companies decline coverage for cancer treatments and drugs, ABSOLUTELY, hospitals DO turn away those who are uninsured if a patient is wanting advanced treatment. It's obvious you don't have a problem letting sick people suffer, but I would hope you did having a problem looking in the mirror. The ugly reflection does not lie.
A really touching story....wish they would just do the polite thing here...and thank the rest of us for paying their medical bills....
Nobody can force you to actually read the article before commenting. The most anyone can do is strongly urge you, to prevent you looking foolish.
These people are paying for their own insurance premiums. The point is, they could not get any company to give them insurance, due to pre-existing conditions.
You're a heartless s.o.b. grandfather. Want to give up your government medicare that all of us are paying for?
I don't get the whole - hate this because its Obama and I'm a right winger so I hate everything Obama does.
I work in a hugely strictly extremely right wing environment and despite all the Hate for this
they are all enrolling their <adult> kids a mile a minute.
If you don't like - don't enroll.
I am happy for these people. I will soon be joining them because my employer will now drop my
coverage and I'll have to pay for insurance myself, if I can afford it. My wife is enrolled in Medicare
Advantage Plan which will now be done away with. Medicare is going to cut her benefits and any
supplemental insurance premiums will then go up accordingly along with the increase in Medicare premiums.
It will be great to arrive at the same level of misery and destitution as these two unfortunate people.
Except, since we are older, we may not be eligible for any benefits after the death panels do a cost
benefit ratio on keeping us alive( which won't happen because we are not members of an official minority or
in the country illegally.)
ARE THESE TWO WOMEN JUST TOTALLY STUPID OR WHAT? What part of Obamacare guarantees them insurance? The main problem is that in 2014 when this law takes effect the one lady wil be 66 and that may be deemed too old to continue to support care for her. do these women think they are going to get free health care? How? if they live in a state the opts out of the medicaid expansion program they wil have no place to turn for care. Obamacare wants them to die and get out of the way. The perception and lack of knowledge of these women and young people is unprecedented in our society. If these women have jobs there is a good chance that in 2014 the company will cancel their benefits packages and make employees buy their own insurance. They wil pay the penalty for not supplying it but that is cheaper than paying for benefits. That money goes to their bottom-lines. These people that are for Obamacare just make me sick.
By your logic what is stopping employers from cancelling benefits now? After all it would be a lot cheaper than waiting until 2014 to pay a penalty. What you clearly do not realize is that employers that can afford to offer health insurance do so to be competitive. It's a form of compensation. If you don't offer health insurance you have to pay more wages. That means more payroll taxes and in 2014 a nondeductible penalty too? Not good.
Further, these women are covered and PAYING for health insurane because the ACA requires insurance companies to cover people with preexisting conditions. That little requirement is not going anywhere in 2014.
If you had an illness and couldn't get insurance coverage because of it, and therefore, had to pay thousands and thousands of dollars out of pocket, I am sure you would feel differently about this plan. If you didn't know that this was a Democratic-led bill, but rather a bi-partisan-led bill, you would feel differently about this plan.
It sickens me how political this has become. This is not a political issue. This is about providing all Americans with the coverage they need, not just the rich. This will also help with price gouging from the insurance companies. No longer will they be able to charge such astronomical fees and line the pockets of their executives so fully. And that is ok. They will be under the microscope much more than they are today, thankfully.
Stop making this all so political and focus on the people whose lives will be much easier because of it.
This story is the real heart of the health care act. People who need coverage will get it. People won't be denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions, or thrown off their policies because there is no longer annual or lifetime limits. Part of this act also says that insurance companies must spend at least 80% of their premium on hard health care costs. Starting in August some people will start to get rebates as a result of this provision.
The mandate is a very big part of the Act but there is so much too it that also does so much good.
This is one of the reasons why today is a great day.
How can conservatives say Obama care will have death panels and kill people, when at the same time people in this article are dying and the wonderful free enterprise insurance companies would not insure them so they could get health care. Now THAT'S a death panel! And anyone who denies those insurance companies are killing those patients just isn't willing to look at the facts.
This is just another case of conservatives trying to get enough people to say a lie is true so that if enough people agreed, it would automatically become "the truth". America: you're toast if you continue to allow these people to dumb you down any more.
While calling the mandate a tax is so inanely insane an excuse, it makes me think that the supremers were coerced to do this by the insurance companies that overall will gain billions of dollars and even more power under this system.
Has anyone else lost their respect for the supremers, or is it just me? How's that decision about it being legal to lie about miliary awards sitting with you? Hmmm? Some day we will look back and say: "You know, I think that's when we finally decided that we had become collectively stupid and insane and decided to finally do something about it." At least I can hope...
It truly is amazing to see the misinformation about what ACA does and does not do.
Did any of you Republicans actually read the story? This woman had insurance and then she decided to start a small business and her family was denied health care insurance because of preexisting conditions. You are pro small business but why would anyone create a small business if they can't get health care insurance!
Now THAT's the joke of the day! A Republican who actually reads and reasons without prejudice or bias!
What is the difference between a "death panel" and our current HMO system which always seeks to keep their costs as low as is possible?
Do ILLEGALS have to purchase their own health care or are they going to continue to have the taxpayers pay for their healthcare and everything else that they are now already getting for FREE?
The only way illegals get free health care is the same exact way that uninsured Americans get health care. That's by goin to the ER for every minor scratch or sniffle, and then not pay the bill. People who have not dealt with the system hear about one illegal who ends up on life support with no way to pay. Illegals don't generally run to the ER for minor crap, because that draws attention and may end in their being deported. In fact, in the '60's, 70's, 80's, and early 90's when I was working trauma center ER on the Left Coast, we could always identify the illegals because they paid their bill in cash on the spot.
The concept that Medicaid is handed out on a wholesale basis is a great way to spark a flaming argument, but like a lot of other polarizing statements, it simply is not true.
Oh Lord ! Why Republicans are so stupid?
Please tell me Lord, Please tell me.
Why are they whining now?
SCOTUS has made a right decision.
To help sick people with pre-existing conditions.
To help people without health insurance.
So Why Republicans are whining?
Republicans rejoiced when SCOTUS stole the election.
And made George Bush the President.
Who started two wars of revenge.
That killed more than 5000 brave Americans.
And created many widows, children without parents.
And Republicans rejoiced again.
When Bush bankrupted US economy.
By turning a positive budget into a massive black HOLE.
Oh Lord Did you run out of intelligence and humanity?
When you created Republicans?
Republicans rejoiced when Bush curtailed our FREEDOM.
By passing Patriot Act and incarcerations w/o appeal.
I can understand that Republicans rejoice for all things stupid.
But Why are they whining now when SCOTUS has spoken.
To favor the masses and help bring some balance in life.
Why Republicans are so stupid?
Oh Lord please tell me, please tell me.
I am one of the 99 % who will benefit.
By this Health Care program.
So Why Republicans are whining?
Why are they against the 99% of decent folks?
Oh Lord please tell me, please tell me.
Thank you Lord.
Republicans rejoiced when SCOTUS stole the election.
And made George Bush the President.
Who started two wars of revenge.
That killed more than 5000 brave Americans.
And created many widows, children without parents.
Speaking of this subject, I have to wonder how many innocent Afghani and Iraqi civilians have been killed trying to restore Cheney's own company Haliburton and a number of other members of our military-industrial complex to abject prosperity?
I can't believe you folks are on here posting away - you should be at work EARNING MY HEALTH CARE FOR ME!!
Now get to work. GO GO GO!!
Mind you, I want nothing but the best (Mayo Clinic) and I want it often (I'll see the doc constantly) and I want more meds than a 87-year old hypochondriac (bucket full). Oh, yeah, my docs will need to run every last complaint I have through their gauntlet of diagnostic tests and expensive imaging.
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012
"This will get repealed and replaced with something more sensible and affordable!!!"
Like what, maybe a continuation of those 20% annual medical insurance, deductible, and out-of-pocket cost increases that have plagued the middle-class ever since GW was elected by a 5-4 vote of the Supreme Court? Just think, if those 20% annual cost increases and the average increase in pay rates among the bottom 90% of us continue through 2020, just 8 years from now, 90% of Americans will not be able to afford to have health insurance at all!!! By 2025 that figure is 97% too!!!
I have to believe that the Republicans have been trying to get rid of health insurance for most of us, and they are upset that the ACA and the SCOTUS have derailed those long-cherished plans!!!
Now even though I am a liberal Democrat further left than the current administration, I could see one of the Republican proposals, which would be allowing health insurers to cross State borders. The way that the ACA reads now, my fear is that the residents of certain rural or economically-depressed States will be disadvantaged by the ACA's strict within State boundaries approach, while the residents of other wealthier more-liberal States most-likely will do much better under the terms of the ACA. I have to believe that the establishment of a national health insurance exchange would greatly help to keep costs down as well as offer health insurance options much more evenly across all States. What we do not want to see is States competing to see which one can most-poorly cover their own citizens.
Thank-you, Chief Justice Roberts, for helping to restore some of my faith in fairness for all in America, as my wife and I are both considered "pre-existing" conditions, both due to no fault of our own, in fact, my medical condition was accidentally given to me by the medical community itself. And, ever since I was diagnosed with Hepatitis-C in 2006, given to me by a 1987 blood transfusion after a botched root canal and oral surgery, the medical community has tried to avoid any responsibility for giving me the disease, as well as in 2010 then denied my access to health insurance after my left eye starting giving out and I lost my 30-year trucking career because of my loss of depth-perception because of it.
I had a 30-year, 3 million mile trucking career without an injury accident starting at age 21, and I had health insurance non-stop since 1997, and 90% of the time going back to 1978 too, but when I actually needed my health insurance, "sorry, get lost, helping you will cost us too much" was the result!!!
I mean, who stuck a needle in whose arm, and who charged me 20 times as much for that blood as the blood bank paid the junkie that they got it from??? "We didn't know" is not a good reason to take your victim's health insurance away, considering that the current cost of the new 3-drug cocktail which only has a 65% chance of ridding me of the disease is almost $100K without insurance.
Thankfully today's SCOTUS decision renders this issue a moot point starting in 2014 just as long as my Democrats win the House, or at least 41% of the the Senate, and/or retain the Presidency this Fall! Imagine something like this happening to you or a member of your family??? Is that possibility what you Republicans want so badly?
If you vote to elect Romney or the Republicans, being denied health insurance after the medical community makes an egregious and 50% fatal mistake very well could happen to you or to anyone that you know. Why would the vast majority of us want to elect someone whose allegiance is tied firmly to ultra-conservative big business interests and who most likely could care less what happens to the vast majority of us???
Remember all of that consternation the Republicans made leading up to the 2010 Congressional elections about creating jobs??? How many jobs have the Republicans in the House created since then, since it would seem that all they have wanted to do since they were elected is roadblock any progress toward creating jobs in order to try to make the President look bad! And you think that Romney will somehow be different?
One definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results!
#1.21 - Thu Jun 28, 2012 2:35 PM MDT
Somebody has to pay for this dog, and it will be very costly. We are already a society wherein half of the people don't pay income tax. Guess we'll soon see about half paying no insurance premiums too (it's called Medicaid - i.e. welfare). Those of us who pay will have to pay more. Those who do not pay will get an even bigger free ride. Obviously some people are too sick or too poor to pay. Those people should get our help. BUT there are many, many, many people who are freeloading on the system (anyone who denies that simply doesn't know what they're talking about). How moral is it for someone to be a freeloader? Does anybody out there want to pay for my health insurance? If so, please contact me.
How moral is it to take away someone's health insurance because their employer went bankrupt, or because they lost their job because of a medical condition?
Somebody pays no matter which way we go, because without health insurance, currently 45 million Americans are dependent on public hospital emergency rooms for their expensive medical care, which then gets spread among everyone who still has health insurance too!!!
What you are saying is that you don't want to be the guy who has to pay, and yet you are already paying dearly under the old system too, which has averaged a 20% cost increase annually where I live for the past 11 years!
Just think, another 8 years at a 20% annual cost increase and you will have to earn over $150K to even afford health insurance, and by 2025 that earnings figure will be up to over $300K too, figuring that nobody can afford to spend more than 1/4 of their income on health insurance!
I am a 100% service-connected veteran so all my medical is taken care of by the VA. First, I would like to thank all the people from whom I have received care from the receptionist to the specialists. Secondly I wish every American should receive the same medical service I receive. Third, why do people without insurance have to pay more than people with insurance. When I have to go to the local hospital for an emergency I see the bill they send the VA. I also see what the VA pays. It can be as little as 25 cents on the dollar. Same with Medicare.
What bothers me is that the concern has always been for Americans to have 'health insurance' [even if they can't afford it - but that's okay because now they're forced to buy it] rather than for all Americans to have 'health CARE'. A truly concerned President would be making it easier for Americans to receive affordable medical treatment when they need it, not making sure money keeps flowing into the pockets of insurance companies.
Apparently you're not familiar with the provisions of the PPACA, as low-income subsidies are part of the law.
It also reduces costs by limiting insurer profits and overhead, amongst other things.
It's also just a first step, just like Social Security and Medicare improved with later legislation.