But much of the interview was dead serious, trying to tell viewers what they are up against. Stewart understood that letting states decide what the exact coverage could be within the ten coverage buckets the law requires—maternity, drug, mental health and so on—could leave people with good coverage or not-so-good coverage depending on where they live. He zoomed in on the often contentious relationship between the states and the feds over authority, and that led to a discussion of whether employers were likely to dump workers in the state shopping services, or the exchanges, and stop funding health insurance for them. Stewart asked several times whether employers would do that. It’s a good question, with opinions differing depending on who’s doing the opining. Stewart wanted Sebelius to opine. She was reluctant to say yes or no, but finally said no, reinforcing her PR message that the exchanges would would “stabilize” coverage for 180 million people with insurance from employers. In this discussion, a key point was missing, and one that Campaign Desk continues to point out. People who have employer coverage are generally stuck with that coverage even if they don’t like it and want to look for something cheaper or better. They cannot shop in the exchanges and receive a government subsidy to help pay for their policies unless their share of the premium exceeds 9.5 percent of their gross income. That’s a little-publicized part of the Affordable Care Act. Maybe The Daily Show can explore it later on.
Monday night’s takeaway, though, was not about the possibility employers might dump workers in the exchanges. It was that the secretary’s “flexibility” for the states might give them crappy, or shall we say less desirable, coverage if they live in the wrong state. As long as the coverage provides a minimum level of value, insurers have a lot of wiggle room to mix and match the premiums, the combinations of deductibles, number of doctor visits, and the coinsurance—the portion of the bill they will cover. Just imagine the choice and the headache someone will get figuring all that out. And just imagine the fun Stewart can have getting Sebelius to make all that clear.
If this thing holds up under Roberts' scrutiny then I predict a whole lotta sick people will be moving out of state in a few years.
The magic of the market, at work!
#1 Posted by Edward Ericson Jr., CJR on Wed 25 Jan 2012 at 03:09 PM
Ms. Sebelius:
The Obama Admin is absolutely WRONG in forcing we Roman Catholics and anyone (excluding yourself, who has NO moral compass) with a respect for life, to accept on-demand abortion. You think that you tossed us a bone by giving us 1 more year before enacting this political outrage. That is crap. You are giving us an extra year in order for Obama to get past the 2012 election process. I dare say that the President would not deliberately offend Muslims in the manner with which he has attacked Roman Catholics, and anyone who RESPECTS LIFE. Because of the President's (and yours) lack of a moral compass, I am about to change my political affiliation from DEM to Republican, BEFORE the 2012 election.
Sincerely,
Thomas Becker PA District 4
#2 Posted by Tom Becker, CJR on Mon 30 Jan 2012 at 10:36 AM
Mr. Becket I have no idea what you think you are referring to,in the law. Abortions are not covered. Period. Never have been.
If you are referring to the women's reproductive health provisions and their inclusion of birth control that is no assault on anyone, simply providing the same insurance coverage to all women. If a woman wants to,use contraception, she can. If she does not want to she doesn't have to. This is simply insurance not some religious assault.
98% of Catholic women use or have used birth control in the past so this by no means is violating women's consciences in having these benefits in a plan. Over half of the states already mandate contraceptives in plans already and have for years.
No one is forcing anyone to do anything anymore than if health plan has a smoking cessation or wellness benefit in it that folks can choose to use and benefit from or not.
Ultimately making contraceptives more widely and cheaply available will lower unwanted pregnancies and thus abortions so it would seem as a true Catholic you would support that.
#3 Posted by John Nail, CJR on Sun 5 Feb 2012 at 03:24 PM
Mr Nail, the forced down our throat at gunpoint health plan has nothing to do with whether a woman chooses a contraceptive or not. It's about forcing people to either distribute or prescrible birth control or be forced to participate in abortion. OR THEY LOSE THEIR JOBS! Contraceptives increase abortions NOT reduce them. WHY? Because contraceptives fail, and when contraceptives fail what's the next logical choice? ABORTION. Here's a little dirty planned parenthood secret. With our tax dollars they go into high schools and middle schools across the nation. They preach all about "safe"sex. Then they pass out low quality condoms and very low strength contraceptives almost bordering on a placebo. When the young girl is shocked to find out she's pregnant they're hoping she goes to them. They in turn will reply "You must not have taken your pills at the right time" In a state of panic the young girl doesn't know what do do. They convince her that they are their to "help" her by secretly and quietly get rid of her little "problem". And one more tidbit of info for you. Women who are on birth control regularly go through a yearly cycle and conceive a child. But because of the effect the pill has on a woman's reproductive system the uterus can not hold on to the baby and it's washed out .Life begins at the moment of conception. That one celled zygot is just as precious in God's eyes as a fully formed bouncing happy baby and beyond. Because HE put that one celled beginning of life there in the first place. Therefore true Catholics can not support contaceptives or abortion no matter what.
#4 Posted by louis borselio, CJR on Sun 5 Feb 2012 at 11:00 PM
I just want to put this out to all people of concious whether you or Catholic or not, whether you hate the Catholic church or not. If Kathleen Sebelius is successful in accomplishing her despicable agenda on the Catholic church, the largest single faith group in the world. How easy will it be for her to attack yours next. Whether it be Ron Paul, Rick Santorum, or Newt Gingrich . Get out on November and vote republican. Get rid of that entire current administration of heartless baby killers.
#5 Posted by louis borselio, CJR on Sun 5 Feb 2012 at 11:21 PM