Must everyone be an "expert" on PPACA?

I'm betting some of the "experts" out there don't even know what PPACA stands for and initially have no idea what this post is about.
I shall tell you - it's all about the oh-so-many of folks out there that are now experts on "Obamacare" and health insurance in general.
I worked in the healthcare industry for 18 years. I know about health insurance. I have managed two small businesses, I know about group insurance premiums. I have an individual health plan, I know about individual health plans. I know what an HSA is, I know how a FSA works and I know many of the rules surrounding both and I bet most of you don't.

I know that the commercial on television that is either republican or tea party based that talks about how this woman doesn't want her children to just be a number in the government's system is stupid. Duh - we are ALL numbers in the "government's system" - have you never heard of social security numbers?
I wonder if the people so vehemently against "government run" health insurance have ever heard of Medicare. The government has been managing the healthcare of some of our most frail since the '60s folks. It's not perfect but its' fundamental idea is pretty good.

I think it's quite ironic that some of the folks posting hate for our president and hate for this plan are some of the most "christian" people I know. I think it's strange that I have stood elbow to elbow serving hot meals to folks in need or have seen the posts or pics of folks helping at the food bank from some of the people most against helping to equalize access to healthcare in the country. So you can give of your time and give sweat equity but you'd rather keep every penny for yourself and leave someone who dare not have insurance bleed and/or die in the street.

See - that's essentially what you're saying. That folks that don't (for the dozens [hundreds?] of reasons why they may not) have health insurance they should not receive health care. Because if they can't pay for it, and no one else should be expected to contribute to the assistance of others, then we should let them bleed to death or suffer the pains of terminal cancer or blah, blah, blah.

Of course, the alternative is to allow them (under our good graces as human-folk) to receive necessary, emergent medical care only (EMTALA) and then let them go bankrupt trying to pay the bills...because that is the monster that has become healthcare in this country. Is it your fault? No. It's not mine either. And it's not the fault of the folks who aren't lucky enough to be able to afford health insurance. See that's the thing people: too much of life is a crap-shoot and we shouldn't stand by and allow others to suffer an injustice of the world and of our society that has been in the works long before we got here. We should try to be heroes for those coming after. That at least we tried to fix things, at least we tried to care for others, we tried to make it better.

I believe people's health premiums are going up (but: they've been going up; year after year for many years), I believe nonsense plans are dropping coverage for people. This is NOT the president's fault. This is not the government's fault. Are you blaming the government after a catastrophic claim against your homeowners or car insurance totally jacks up your premium or causes you to get dropped? Of course not...because that would be silly, right? Don't you see the correlation? Part of your current car insurance is for un and under-insured drivers, right? You're paying to cover an accident caused by someone who can't (or won't - there are those) buy auto-insurance. Is that the president's fault? Nope. Does it protect you in the end? Of course. As does spreading out the cost of health coverage for the many, to the many - protects us all.

In the end it's about equalizing the cost and access of healthcare for all. In some time, as things shake out, healthcare costs: from an x-ray to an insurance premium should come down...but too many people are focused on their hate of a president or a political party or whatever else to see the forest through the trees. Instead folks spread hate and ignorance via FaceBook memes and Fox News quotes and anything that fits EXACTLY how they do or think they should feel...in alignment with their neighbors or their political party or their spouses or whatever else.

I don't believe that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is perfect. I'm not even that big of a fan of Obama in general. But I'm educated in this arena. I can't discuss or debate this with many people because people are SO hot about their hatred of PPACA and/or the president and/or democrats and/or the government as a whole (hell - no one likes the government except the government themselves, right? But we should be better...) that it's like folks can't see or think straight. It's weird to me.

So - if you can't discuss or debate this like a normal person and you don't want to actually learn true pros and cons of PPACA (it actually does have some good ideas rolling around in there!) then can you please just kindly keep your "expertise" on the matter to yourself? Stop sharing posts that are baseless (or are based in hate or ignorance). And if you're actually interested in learning about PPACA and/or discussing its' good and bad: let me know. I refuse to discuss such things on FB or via email or text but I am a calm and patient person and I actually know how to discuss and debate in person without fighting or swearing or losing a friend: I do.

In the end, you may still not believe in PPACA and that's ok but, if you can get beyond the hype, I truly believe a lot more people out there would at least begin to appreciate the underlying idea and at least lose some of the hate strangling their hearts. Life is too short to be so hostile about this.

Thanks for your time.
'Nighty-'night.

CH-CH-CH-Changes...

Life is a funny thing.

My life has changed dramatically since my last post. I am now employed full-time, split between two positions with two organizations that support each other. Business Manager for a local business and Fundraising and Development Director for a local dog rescue. 

It's a really different day and a really different life. 

I feel like I actually make a difference. I wake-up in the morning and not dread my day. 

I feel good supporting this phenomenal person who graciously welcomed me into both of her organizations as an integral member. I know I am helping her and making a difference but I am eternally grateful to her and her crew for welcoming me in, for supporting me and educating me...and listening and accepting the new and the different that I bring to their everydays.

I get to see dogs every day. I get to help save them. I get to help acclimate them to kindness and good food and clean spaces and safety and security. I get to moosh faces and kiss wet noses and send dogs off to new homes and new lives. 

Not too shabby, eh?

Doesn't mean I'm not still playing the lottery: I am. But I'd share it with a whole new group of people today. 

Big, Bold, Stupid Steps

Just to put it out there: sometimes taking big, bold steps is a big, huge mistake.

I feel like that stupid Alanis Morissette song "Isn't it ironic...?"

Isn't it ironic that in my entire 36.5 years on this planet I had never taken a bold step. I had never done anything big or brave or outside of my comfort zone: I have been too worried about not being able to pay my bills and maintaining perfect credit and not being able to take care of my pets and not being able to help others and not being able to be secure.

Until my last (first) big, bold move I had never made/taken any big steps in life. I had never been brave, I had never thrown myself out of my comfort zone: it was far too scary and far too risky.

You know what?

Totally.not.worth it. I had high hopes and I had good intentions. Didn't matter this time around. I hope to make that matter in the near future.

So, now I know and I suppose there's that.

I really try and not be the whoa is me type (there are plenty of negative people out there) so this is just an acknowledgment that sometimes we fail. Sometimes things don't work out.

Just means you re-figure and re-group, right?

Goodnight peeps.