Obama Care Glitches In Land of Romney Care – New Depths of Disaster - Let’s Blame it on the Website! The Repercussions.

According to the Boston Herald Governor Deval Patrick has insisted that everyone in Massachusetts will have health insurance by the deadline and insured by January 1, 2014. That may be a tall order since even under Romney Care, not everyone in Massachusetts was insured. In fact, many preferred to pay the fine rather than the higher and unaffordable premiums under Commonwealth Care – it was that simple. Those that are not subsidized do not have a choice.

Apparently these individuals will not get any exceptions under the hybrid Obama-Romney Care either: Red Mass Group reports that. as of the 17th of December those who are unsubsidized (working and making too much money) will not be eligible for extensions under the new Obama Care. The numbers are dismal - as of yesterday, the 18th of December, not one individual, subsidized or not, was able to sign up through the website.(Red Mass Group).

Apparently, Red Mass Group (Read Here) has been chronicling the disastrous roll-out of Obama Care in the Commonwealth upon which it was modeled. From individuals denied coverage due to their non substantiated criminal past (a mistake), to those who are now on phones with state workers who will “describe” a plan to them. Frankly, if one has been to the DMV does one really trust a state (read government) employee to give them the straight scoop – especially since nothing appears work – it’s a question of trust as well as proof of disaster.

From Massachusetts doctors sending out notices telling their patients they are either ending their practices or going to a fee for service sans government intervention method (preferred!!) – one wonders how long it will be before the Feds throw in the towel and turn to some in the Senate or Congress that have suggested solutions which fell on deaf ears – (make that the hyper-partisan ears of Harry Reid, Democrat sheep leader). Pull the mandates for individuals and employees, open each state to competition and watch the premiums fall – those who cannot afford the now lower plans would be on Medicaid, which is the vehicle used in the past. A few tweaks were all it would have taken to prevent this mess. The worst of it was that it was modeled on a system that “pretended to cover” everyone in the first place – but, at least the website worked.

2014 for the Independent, the Libertarian and those few incumbents who never voted for the Bill, or voted to Fund the bill (recall Ted Cruz); will be in fairly decent shape. Those who are still supporting or furthering Obama Care on either side of the aisle, will be facing a rough road – they may even loose with the dead voting.

Feeding the Beast – Massachusetts Health Care Reform Act

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Communities across Massachusetts are expressing disappointment with budget cuts made by Governor Deval Patrick this past week. Give the Deval his due, the budget must make room for the States mandated health care plan, a program that is already running 200 plus million over budget with no end in sight – and a legislature fully prepared to include more state mandates that will insure the trend continues. The FY2009 budget is not yet set in stone, as the legislature still may override the governors veto on certain programs.

Those eligible to receive Commonwealth Care include families of 4 earning less than $63,612 annually (or poverty level in Massachusetts). Those not fortunate enough to qualify under the state program are paying family premiums upward to $1,200 per month (insurance premiums have risen to compensate for those numerous federal and state mandated health benefits). Woe to those that fall through the cracks (unable to qualify for Commonwealth Care and unable to afford private insurance) - they are assessed a fee, this fee is then charged to ones Massachusetts Income Tax. Mandated insurance can be added to reasons why the state is losing population.

The Governor has had to make tough decisions regarding this budget, and although one may disagree with types of programs left untouched. (The program to eliminate Racial Imbalance – METCO – FYI 09 Budget, granted $21,615,313 – may be viewed as critical by some in State Government but one must ask, in this Democrat run state, how racially imbalanced can Massachusetts possibly be? The governor did make cuts to programs that in today’s economy appear essential ($545,195 requested for the “Open Pantry” a Springfield MA community outreach program that feeds those who cannot afford to feed themselves (rising fuel and food costs) has been cut from the budget) outlining just how difficult the role of governing with a house, senate and executive branch of like political ideology may be, especially when the House Speaker rules with an iron fist and individual in the executive branch lacks – experience. (There will be no hope for a stable economy should the Massachusetts political model be exported nationwide.)

The Massachusetts Model of Health care, bearing no resemblance to the program that Hillary Clinton envisions (one which, when viewed objectively, is sound), should be a warning bell to those states who are considering implementing a similar plan. Suggestion, compare the current runaway Mass Health Care Reform Act to the proposals made by Sen. Hillary Clinton (National Health Care Reform) prior to making a commitment. (Sen. Clinton’s views on National Health Insurance can be found in the archives of this blog – interview with Bill O’Reilly)