Fair enough...

Most of what I have been reporting on comes from actual people and their experiences with TWC....

Never met a politician who could tell a straight story...

We'll see what things are like in a week or so...

Michale

(20)

Authorization by insurance companies was a pain in the tush before Obama Care and will continue to throb with full implementation. It's the nature of the insurance company:health provider interface. Of course, you can just pay for the surgery out of your own pocket and do own negotiation.

As time goes on and more people sign up, and actually use their insurance, I think the story will shift from the insurance side of the story to cost of health care, and the outrageously high dollar per equivalent medical outcome that we in the USA experience compared to other first world countries. That's the impending horror story, because Obama Care doesn't strike me as doing much to alleviate that part of the problem.

(21)

As long as the success:horror reports are data driven, and not the anectodal crap solicited by politicians, be they Blue or Red.

ObamaCare’s use expected to spike beginning next week
http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/health-reform-implementation/194316-obamacares-use-expected-to-spike-beginning

Wanna meet here in 10 days and compare obamacare success/horror stories? :D

Michale

Unfortunately for those that support obamacare, this is going to be the norm until obamacare is repealed..

Michale

Your prediction is based on best case scenarios and does not take into account the problems that TWC has already had and the future problems that are germane to a half-assed website that was thrown together by an apparently incompetent company from a no-bid contract..

I predict that we are going to see more and more headlines as I listed up in #15...

But I am SURE there are going to be just as many success stories, right??

After all, Obama paid some outfit over a million bucks to FIND success stories..

Don't seem like he got his money's worth...

Michale

You think the government is going to send a separate subsidy check to the insurance company of each enrollee? No, they will bundle all the subsidies due to each insurance provider and issue each provider one check at some regular interval. Saves paper and stamps!

The subsidy is computed at enrollment, each insurance company knows what it is owed per month, as does the government. The enrollment data will updated regularly, discrepancies will be ironed out between the government and its insurance contractors through standard procedures well known to both insurance company and government bureaucrats.

If the government purchases 1 million pencils from ABC pencil company, it cuts one check to ABC each month, not 1 million checks.

You are making a mountain out of a pretty routine mole hill. The insurance companies will get paid. That's my prediction.

With TWC, who has been more correct in their predictions?? :D

Michale

This is in direct contradiction to the Obama administration’s claims that his healthcare reform law would put a dent in costly visits to the ER as a way to cut spending.
http://dailycaller.com/2014/01/03/harvard-study-medicaid-actually-increases-er-visits/

Ooops... Caught in another lie....

The horror!!! The infamy!!! The ignobly!!!

Oh wait.. This is a DEM Potus...

Eh, no big deal...

Michale

Oregon Mother: I Can’t Afford Obamacare For Myself, 1-Year-Old Son
seattle.cbslocal.com/2014/01/02/oregon-mother-i-cant-afford-obamacare-for-myself-1-year-old-son/

NE Houston hospital unable to pay employees, blames new Medicare payment facilitator
abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=9372756

Insurance Customers Still Having Problems With MNsure
minnesota.cbslocal.com/2014/01/01/insurance-customers-still-having-problems-with-mnsure/

It’s official: Obamacare debuts with more canceled plans than enrollments

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2014/01/01/its-official-obamacare-debuts-with-more-cancelled-plans-than-enrollments/#ixzz2pKOvLhhZ
dailycaller.com/2014/01/01/its-official-obamacare-debuts-with-more-cancelled-plans-than-enrollments/

Poll: 59 percent report negative experience with ObamaCare
thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/194289-poll-39-percent-report-positive-experience-with-obamacare-in

More New Taxes and Fees: How You’ll Pay for Obamacare in 2014
blog.heritage.org/2014/01/02/mb-12-new-taxes-fees-youll-pay-obamacare-2014/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social

The Year Ahead for Obamacare
The Affordable Care Act faces multiple challenges in 2014
Hundreds of thousands have signed up for the new plans. However, it remains to be seen if the insurance companies received accurate information through the faulty website HealthCare.gov. If they did not, it is an open question as to whether or not those who think they are insured actually have coverage.

Improvements to the back end of the website—the part that transmits information from the federal agencies to the private insurance companies that are actually insuring individuals—have been less than impressive, as insurance companies were complaining as late as mid-December about getting incomplete and faulty insurance applications.
freebeacon.com/the-year-ahead-for-obamacare/

'They had no idea if my insurance was active or not!': Obamacare confusion reigns as frustrated patients walk out of hospitals without treatment
MailOnline spoke with patients who were told they would have to pay their bills in full if they couldn't prove they had insurance
One was faced with a $3,000 hospital room charge and opted to leave the hospital after experiencing chest pains
'Should I be in the hospital? Probably,' she said
Another, coughing in the cold, walked out without receiving a needed chest x-ray
Consumers face sticker-shock from medical costs under the new Obamacare system, made worse if they can't prove they're insured
As many as one-third of new enrollees' applications have seen problems when the government transmits them to insurance companies
dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2532869/They-no-idea-insurance-active-not-At-Virginia-hospitals-Obamacare-confusion-reigns-frustrated-patients-walk-out.html

Emergency Visits Seen Increasing With Health Law
nytimes.com/2014/01/03/health/access-to-health-care-may-increase-er-visits-study-suggests.html?src=twr&_r=1&

Now, if any of ya'all have any SUCCESS stories to match the horror stories???

Well, like little ole Ross Perot said, "I'm all ears".... :D

If this were truly a checkup, then this TWC "patient" would be at death's door...

Michale

So, out of the goodness of their hearts, the insurance companies are going to pay for people's health care, even though they (the insurance companies) haven't been paid for their services..

Have you MET our insurance companies?? :D

weeklystandard.com/blogs/obamacare-contractor-blamed-slow-medicare-payments-hospitals_773207.html

This is an example of what's going to happen...

At most, I'd imagine it's a few thousand checks.

Well, considering the crappy turnout for signups on TrainWreckCare and the exorbitantly high costs and low subsidy qualification, you might be right..

seattle.cbslocal.com/2014/01/02/oregon-mother-i-cant-afford-obamacare-for-myself-1-year-old-son/

But if TrainWreckCare has the tens of millions of Americans enrolled as ya'all seem to THINK it will, then it's going to be a LOT more than just a "few thousand" subsidy checks..

It's like saying the IRS can process refunds by hand because there is only going to be a "few thousand" who get refunds..

But, like I said, since it's becoming apparent that very few Americans are going to qualify for subsidies and will, therefore, be unable to afford TrainWreckCare, you might actually be correct about the "few thousand" claim..

Michale

The notion that insurance providers might not get their subsidies and subsequently dump enrollees doesn't seem to have gained traction since it was broached by Politico (and maybe other sources) over a month ago.

The problem doesn't seem all that complicated.
The insurance provider knows the amount of the subsidy, based on calculations made during the enrollment process. So does the government. So does each enrollee, if they choose to look, but that's optional.

The insurance company forwards the bill to the government, just like they forwarded my unsubsidized portion to me. It's not like the government has to track and pay millions of insurance companies. At most, I'd imagine it's a few thousand checks. It could probably be done by hand if it came to that. Auditing the payouts will be harder, but the government has some expertise at that. The insurance providers will put up with short term glitches to reap long term profits from an expanded health insurance market place.

You predict swarms of unsuspecting enrollees will be dropped due to unpaid subsidies, I say that's hogwash, wishful thinking based upon last month's hyperventilation over at Politico.

Michale
0308

Well, let's see....

There was supposed to be 7 million Americans enrolled in obamacare by now..

Real count?? Just over a million...

And when one takes into account that 4 to 5 million Americans have LOST insurance......

Well.... THAT's a train wreck, no matter what litmus test you use..

Let's see what happens in 2014 when insurance companies can't get paid..

It's gonna be a wild new year....

Michale
0307

Naw, I think that Weigantians would collectively blow a gasket if I REALLY cut loose.. :D

I plan on holding some various "contests" today and tomorrow to get my donation count up.. :D

Michale
0301

But, in such case as you fail to reach that particular milestone, I will endeavor to make your life at CW.com most enjoyable throughout 2014, more enjoyable than usual, even ... if you know what I mean, and I'm sure that you do! :)

Happy New Year, Michale!

Michale
0298

hehehehehe

It IS going to be interesting, the dynamic around here if the GOP takes the Senate and retains the house..

Other than me being insufferable (that's a given :D) one has to wonder how much worse it's going to get for Obama when he has absolutely NO pull in Congress at all...

Michale
0295

We knew that. :)

And THAT's what I get for posting while drinking.. :D

That should read:

And it's entirely possible that what they sow is control of the Senate in addition to retaining control of the House..

:D

Michale
0290

They may indeed...

And it's entirely possible that they they sow is control of the Senate in addition to retaining control of the House...

You heard it here first.. :D

Michale
0289

Just stopped by quickly -- was out most of last week and will be out most of this. Your awards columns were good btw.

Had to comment here because I remember commenting not too long ago that I felt pretty confident the ACA website's problems would be resolved and now feel vindicated! The thing was, the problems with the website were definable and fixable. What it needed was time, organization and skilled personnel. Simple exercises in competence (though the competencies aren't simple). I don't want to be too complacent but overall I think we can breathe easier and feel reasonably confident going forward.

Which is one of the (many) reasons repub fixation on the website was shortsighted and counter-productive.

In 2014 may they reap what they sowed.

If you use the numbers that the Administration is putting out, then obamacare is doing pretty decently..

But considering the HUGE credibility gap that this administration suffers (Biggest Lie of 2013 anyone??) do you REALLY want to put all your eggs in that basket???

Further, signing up is just half the battle.

Let's see what happens when the insurance companies don't get paid before we shelf the Train Wreck idea, eh?? :D

Michale
0288