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[Professor H]

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder today said the state will move forward to create a key component of the Affordable Care Act —a health exchange where people can buy insurance at reasonable rates.

But he said the entire law “misses the point on the most important reforms needed in our health care system.” Without more cost controls, the nation’s and state’s economic recovery is in jeopardy, he said.

Snyder’s statement did not say whether Michigan may need to ask the federal government to help Michigan run the exchange, a largely Web-based program where consumers and small business owners can compare insurance prices and benefits and buy coverage.

Both Marianne Udow-Phillips, director of the Center for Healthcare Research & Transformation and one of Michigan’s leading health policy specialists, as well as Kirk Roy, who oversees implementation of the law for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, said Michigan risks having the federal government run an exchange for it if the state doesn’t move quickly to implement the law. If Michigan doesn’t act quickly, “we’ll have the federal government do it for us,” Udow-Phillips said.

States can create the exchanges on their own; default and let the federal government run one or states can use some private and public partnership to do it.

The exchanges are projected to serve an estimated 12 million Americans in 2014, when the individual mandate takes effect. The number is likely to grow to 28 million by 2019, according to White House estimates.

The law provides tax credits and discounts on co-pays to help people buy insurance if they earn less than 400% of the federal poverty level (those with monthly incomes under $373 a month or $7,683 for a family of four.)

Michigan has received $999,772 to start the program but the legislature last year decided not to accept nearly $10 million in federal funds awarded to the state to create an exchange. Legislators said they preferred to wait for the Supreme Court ruling.

Michigan is unlikely to meet a Friday deadline to apply for money for the exchanges but new grant opportunities will be announced soon, according to a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The idea behind the exchanges is to make a complicated process as helpful and simple as possible. Small staffs would help take phone calls for those needing more help. The exchanges also would help determine quickly a person’s eligibility for Medicaid and point them to an application.

Here’s how an exchange works:

Policies sold through the exchanges would offer certain essential benefits determined by states or exchange boards. They would come in four different price ranges. The products would be easily identified with labels: from bronze, the most reasonable, and silver, gold and platinum, the costliest and most comprehensive.

Michigan’s Department of Financial and Regulatory Affairs currently is seeking public comment on what benefits must be offered in these plans. People can view a comparison of essential health benefits plans at the State of Michigan website.
http://www.freep.com/article/20120628/NEWS06/120628065/Gov-Rick-Snyder-health-care-reform?odyssey=nav%7Chead

[Frenchfry]

The GOP's 5 Stages of Grief: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression & Acceptance

Ed Schultz offers a great rib recipe for the Fourth of July and a recipe for how to explain the benefits of 'Obamacare' to your conservative relatives.
The ED Show - Big Eddie's barbecue and Obamacare tips

[Baby Hitler]

I respect the office, but not Obama.  He is destroying this country.

Actually, Bush already destroyed the country, it's been Obama's job to try and repair the damage he did.

Your entitlement mentality is something I can't change, and my idea of picking yourself up by your bootstraps and taking care of business is something you will never change... no matter how many links you post.

Actually, what I want is for everyone to be able to afford health care. And not have to become bankrupt, nor be denied coverage, nor have their coverage terminated.

There are people out there that believe just like you do. And they have lost everything because they, or someone they love, became ill and their insurance company dropped them, or raised there rates so high that they couldn't pay it even if they spent every last dollar they earned every month on insurance.

Did you know that before Romneycare (because that's basically what it is) if your kids were diagnosed with Asthma, insurance providers could deny coverage for them?

What proposals do you see from the Republicans to fix all these other problems?

There are too many good things in this to throw it all away.

[Baby Hitler]

I don't know where the Freep got their information from, but here is a listing of the current federal poverty levels.
http://coverageforall.org/pdf/FHCE_FedPovertyLevel.pdf
It currently only goes up to 300% but at 300% the number for a family of four is $69,150.

[Baby Hitler]

http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/12poverty.shtml/

This one shows the same numbers for 100% of the poverty level and since $69,150 is 3 times the poverty level, $82,200 would be the amount at which a family of 4 would no longer be eligible for any subsidies or tax credits.

[Frenchfry]

I have to ask why is this 400 tax a good idea on someone with 40,000 of AGI? Won't this 'tax' unfairly affect the poor people?

LOL @ implying 40k is "poor" 
Out of touch comes to mind. 

[Frenchfry]

Posted that in post #38...or #39...but I guess repetition may help get it through some thick heads. 

[Baby Hitler]

Posted that in post #38...or #39...but I guess repetition may help get it through some thick heads. 

38 was from Aunt Lisa, and 39 was from Old Salt. Maybe it's in the other thread in Politics?

Anyhow, yeah, definitely worth repeating.

[Frenchfry]

Oops....I meant 28 

Supreme Court Upholds President Obama's Health Care Reform
Questions about what the decision means for you? Check out an infographic showing how the Affordable Care Act benefits Americans

Today, the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act ensures hard-working, middle class families will get the security they deserve and protects every American from the worst insurance company abuses. The Court has issued a clear and final ruling on this law.

For a comprehensive overview of the Affordable Care Act, visit WhiteHouse.gov/HealthReform and HealthCare.gov.

Let’s take a look at what today’s ruling means for the middle class:

    Insurance companies no longer have unchecked power to cancel your policy, deny you coverage, or charge women more than men.
    Soon, no American will ever again be denied care or charged more due to a pre-existing condition, like cancer or even asthma.
    Preventive care will still be covered free of charge by insurance companies--including mammograms for women and wellness visits for seniors.
    By August, millions of Americans will receive a rebate because their insurance company spent too much of their premium on administrative costs or CEO bonuses.
    5.3 million seniors will continue to save $600 a year on their prescription drugs.
    Efforts to strengthen and protect Medicare by cracking down on waste, fraud, and abuse will remain in place.
    6.6 million young adults will still be able to stay on their family's plan until they're 26.

A major impact of the Court's decision is the 129 million people with pre-existing conditions and millions of middle class families who will have the security of affordable health coverage.

We should also remember that under today’s ruling, having health insurance is and will continue to be a choice. If you can’t afford insurance or you’re a small business that wants to provide affordable insurance to your employees, you’ll get tax credits that make coverage affordable. But if you can afford insurance and you choose not to purchase it, the taxpayers will no longer subsidize your care for free.

Given today’s ruling, it’s now time to focus on implementing this law in a smart and non-bureaucratic way that works for the middle class.

As we’ve said, the Court has issued a clear and final ruling on this law. The last thing Congress should do is refight old political battles and start over on health care by repealing basic protections that provide security for the middle class. The President refuses to go back to the way things were.

Right now, Congress needs to work together to focus on the economy and creating jobs. Right now in congress, what’s at stake is how--at this make or break moment for the middle class--we break through Washington gridlock to move our country forward. Right now in Congress, what’s at stake is our chance to seize this moment to build an economy not from the top-down, but one based on a strong and secure middle class.  We need to create secure middle class jobs and an economy built to last where hard work and responsibility are rewarded, everybody gets a fair shot, pays their fair share, and plays by the same set of rules.

Right now, Congress should act on the President’s concrete plans to create an economy built to last by reducing the deficit in a balanced way and investing in education, clean energy, innovation, and infrastructure. It’s time for folks in Washington to work together on behalf of the American people.

Please check back periodically for additional information on today’s decision.

Read the President's full remarks here
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/06/28/supreme-court-upholds-president-obamas-health-care-reform

[LetsGoWings]

LOL @ implying 40k is "poor" 
Out of touch comes to mind. 

Does not get to the median household income either, so it is not that far of a stretch. It is in the range of lower to middle class, again not exactly living large, and depending on the city they live in might just be scraping by. Not everyone has the same cost of living as someone in Detroit, but I am sure you didn't think about that did you?

So FF, why is this 400 tax good, but charging someone 10-20 dollars for a drivers license such an inconvenience and an outrageous fee?

[LetsGoWings]

http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/12poverty.shtml/

This one shows the same numbers for 100% of the poverty level and since $69,150 is 3 times the poverty level, $82,200 would be the amount at which a family of 4 would no longer be eligible for any subsidies or tax credits.

Not trying to call you out or put you on the spot FB, but do you know if they will factor in cost of living adjustments? It would make sense if it were because $40,000, or a similar number, in New York City or Washington DC is probably barely scraping by, but that same $40,000 would be living comfortably in a different city.

[ducksoup]

Is this topic going to be beat to death for the next two years because SCOTUS said it was Constitutional?

Did those from here that claim taxes are not Constitutional notice that they were just ruled Constitutional?

For those declaring repeal and go back to what we had really want that?

[ducksoup]

Not trying to call you out or put you on the spot FB, but do you know if they will factor in cost of living adjustments? It would make sense if it were because $40,000, or a similar number, in New York City or Washington DC is probably barely scraping by, but that same $40,000 would be living comfortably in a different city.

The federal minimum wage is $7.25 everywhere whether downtown New York City or Humblebottom population 10.  What's your point?

[LetsGoWings]

The federal minimum wage is $7.25 everywhere whether downtown New York City or Humblebottom population 10.  What's your point?

Just a simple question DS, no need to be snippy, why do you have to insert that into a civil discussion? The question was just inquiring if there was a difference between what the healthcare law considers poverty levels for different areas because they $400 dollar tax will have a much larger affect on someone living in NYC than it will to someone who even lives in the Monroe area.

Also, places change the minimum wage to be higher in certain locations, it is kind of hard for a state to reduce a tax owed to the federal government, unless they give a state credit to the tax paid, which they would never do.

[ducksoup]

Just a simple question DS, no need to be snippy, why do you have to insert that into a civil discussion? The question was just inquiring if there was a difference between what the healthcare law considers poverty levels for different areas because they $400 dollar tax will have a much larger affect on someone living in NYC than it will to someone who even lives in the Monroe area.

Also, places change the minimum wage to be higher in certain locations, it is kind of hard for a state to reduce a tax owed to the federal government, unless they give a state credit to the tax paid, which they would never do.

The poverty guidelines are the other version of the federal poverty measure. They are issued each year in the Federal Register by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The guidelines are a simplification of the poverty thresholds for use for administrative purposes — for instance, determining financial eligibility for certain federal programs.

http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/12poverty.shtml/

I wasn’t snippy, just a short question.  Not sure why you thought so.  But, this IS snippy...

Does not get to the median household income either, so it is not that far of a stretch. It is in the range of lower to middle class, again not exactly living large, and depending on the city they live in might just be scraping by. Not everyone has the same cost of living as someone in Detroit, but I am sure you didn't think about that did you?

So FF, why is this 400 tax good, but charging someone 10-20 dollars for a drivers license such an inconvenience and an outrageous fee?

The national averages of whatever are averages.  Yeah, some are going to be better or worse than the averages.  Just as with the minimum wages, some can do better with minimum wage and others not be able to buy a coffee on minimum wage.

You are going meta over too many variables. Insurance costs are different by state too.