Another letter in support of Obamacare in the Daily Camera from Adam Estroff.
Mr. Estroff is distressed that the governments oral arguments went so poorly with the Supreme Court. His first concern, aside from the cost and supposed mediocrity of care, is…
Obtaining health insurance is virtually impossible for young people just out of school without the Affordable Care Act letting us stay on our parent’s policies. I have found that the recession made finding full time work with benefits extremely difficult. While many young people are healthy being uninsured can set you up for a catastrophe in the event of illness or injury.
Uugh? Really?
WHY IS IT IMPOSSIBLE? Adam, IS it impossible because:
- You don’t want to pay for it?
- You believe that being on your parents insurance means your coverage is FREE? I got news for ya, it isn’t. The cost of you being on your parents policy varies from employer to employer and you can be certain that they are paying some of it.
- Consider your present expenses, do they include netflix, smartphone w/data plan, cable TV with HBO, etc? Are your priorities really correct?
Oh… and you only need catastrophic insurance? First of all, I congratulate you on seeing the value of the having the coverage. That said, sorry, Obamacare will not help you with that and here’s why. Mandates.
- All those mandates for mammograms, colonscopies, alcohol abuse, diabetes screening, diet counseling, HIV screening, Immunizations (Hep A, B, Herpes Zoster, HPV, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, …) obesity, etc. Premiums for new plans PAY FOR ALL OF THESE, even the mythical hypothetical plan that you want.
- Your catastrophic plan in Colorado already covers maternity by state mandate. Oh, you can’t have babies, too bad.
- Yearly physical exams are covered at “no charge”. Oh, you don’t need that because you’re young and healthy. Don’t worry, your premiums are going to pay for someone else’s exams.
Adam, do you think these mandates have just possibly increased the cost of the mythical catastrophic plan that you desire? You betcha.
I advise that you belly up to the bar and get some health coverage. Take advantage of the “free” physical and other mandated benefits and rest easy knowing you are covered if something serious happens. I bet your parents would be glad to assist with the monthly premiums.
Of course, in the end, what you actually want is someone else to pay for your health coverage. At the moment that someone else is one of your parents and their employer, I hope you’ve thanked them. Perhaps if President Obama had spent his political capital on the economy instead of health care, possibly, just possibly, we would all be better off.
