People Are Calling This Obamacare Insurance Exchange in Tears

[CarrieLynne]

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-10-03/people-are-calling-this-obamacare-insurance-exchange-in-tears

When the exchange opened—17 minutes later than the 8 a.m. scheduled start time—the website and call centers were flooded with inquiries. Walsh said that in the first few hours“it was just raw emotion calling in.” People eager for insurance, at times in tears, wanted to get coverage that they didn’t have before. “They were calling up saying, ‘Can I get my coverage today so I can see my doctor this afternoon?’” he says. “That is in one sense moving but also frustrating because, sure, you can sign up—but the coverage can’t be effective until Jan. 1.”

man....this is So needed.....

[liberal N proud]

1. Americans are desperate for health care

and the GOP is digging in to keep them from it.

Insane!

[ffr]

4. I forced my TV over to Fox briefly last night.

Sean Hannity and Co. were posting names of weak kneed Reps who may cave, the show's co-host/panel member was uncomfortably parroting Sean's "nobody's going online to do this," "people will be paying as much as 300% more," "ObamaCare is proving to be a failure..." memes. It looked like a train wreck of desperation. I was laughing so hard, tears were coming out of my eyes. It was pathetic. And you could see hints of it in their faces too, like the shit they have to shovel sometimes.

Between the civil war going on in the GOP to what I was witnessing last night, ever-so-briefly, I want to say the Republican party is about finished as an organized group. It has splintered for sure!

[krispos42]

8. Remember how "Cash For Clunkers" was a failure, too?

They were swamped with applicants, it was so popular.

"Failure"

[RiffRandell]

14. I forgot about that one!

It was a success, and we got a kick out of the name!

[SidDithers]

17. "Nobody goes there anymore, it's too crowded" - Yogi Berra...

Sid

[Skittles]

28. bailing out GM too

[krispos42]

37. And GM = the whole global auto industry

At least, indirectly, what with all the tiers of suppliers.

[Marcuse]

9. Have some more popcorn?

http://ricochet.com/main-feed/In-Which-I-Write-the-Post-that-Gets-Me-Called-a-RINO-CINO-LINO-Whatever-the-HeckINO/(page)/2

[90-percent]

10. I saw a hannity clip

i forget the context, but a big sign behind him said

THE OBAMA SHUTDOWN

That is PATHETIC!

They sure do make their own reality, don't they?

They are doing a damn good job of making Americans pay attention to what their government is up to.

Currently they are merely extortionists, I wonder what they have planned that I predict will morph the lot into full blown SUICIDE BOMBERS.

Would the fifty consider visiting the Wall Street Trading Floor and whip out automatic weapons and do a St. Ted's Day massacre? I mean, Wall Street is starting to say stuff that just has to be hurting their feelings!

When are we going to get our; "At long last, sir, have you no sense of decency?" moment?

-90% Jimmy

[Cha]

48. It's not called "Bullshit Mountain" for nothing. nm

[Bluenorthwest]

62. No, 90-Percent, they decidely not not 'make their own reality' all they do is create a set

and setting from which they present a dramatic reading which entertains on average slightly more than 2 million aged Americans. This week's episode of Big Bang Theory had 18 million viewers, just for comparison.
So they are not making 'reality' anymore than Fred Phelps placards make God actually hate gay people. They are making 'reality' like those haunted houses that colleges do at Halloween to raise money.
It's not reality they make, it is a show tailored for their dwindling audience's delusions.
To say 'they create reality' is to serve their message, and I won't do it.

[CarrieLynne]

13. omg I know! I did the same thing!

[7962]

33. Since its such a failure, they should WANT it to go through!

Then the Democrats would be blamed for the awful failure. I think they're more concerned of it WORKING. Then they get no credit for starting it.

[truebluegreen]

41. Dog Forbid the government actually does something to help people,

you know, like the magical Free Market.

It's a death knell. Even without turning Republicans into liberals, it can demonstrate that all their leaders have been LYING to them.

Heh.

[mazzarro]

36. If I may ask you to digress for a brief moment to answer my question

Can you explain to me how you "forced" your tv over to Fox? I am conjuring a scenario where you and your tv are going back and forth to and off the Fox channel and I am laughing my head off!

[winter is coming]

44. I was imagining that the remote control suddenly sprouted large tentacles

and they were having a wrestling match kind of like when the alien had her baby in a station wagon on the turnpike in Men in Black.

[mazzarro]

50. Wow - that is funny - thanks! -- n/t

[anneboleyn]

55. Hee. Hee. Great name, Winter is Coming! I support House Stark (but also House Targaryen --

I am torn). But maybe there will be resolution...eventually, when Martin finishes the whole series.

Great image from Men in Black -- works perfectly in that context!

[ffr]

51. Fox and a bunch of other channels are blocked.

That way I don't even see who advertises there or any of the hysteria even for one brief moment. Life is too short to tolerate that.

Doesn't everybody block these stations?

[Walk away]

53. I do too. I do unblock fox for special occasions. nt

[ffr]

54. Yeah, like election 11 PM EST on election night 2012

Sweet gravy. That was gold. Pure gold.

[Walk away]

65. I did unblock it just in time to see that live.

I was going to wait but everything was happening so fast that I tuned in to see Rove at the very beginning of his melt down. What a way to discover that Obama won his second term!

[Raffi Ella]

12. that's where my mind went too.

It's a crying shame that ANY one feels as desperate as those callers do over healthcare!


To the trolls: WHAT WOULD JESUS DO you fucking monsters?

Matthew 25:31-46: ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’

[calimary]

16. That Matthew 25:31-46 is all you need. That's the bottom line, Raffi Ella, as you show here.

As you CLEARLY remind people.

"...the least of these." "The Least of My Brethren." The GOP says fuck you to them. And then they turn around with their holier-than-thou crap and beat everybody over the head with their Bibles.

[Raffi Ella]

26. you know, the most horrific thing about it, calimary

is that I know exactly how some of the extremist religionists justify this in their heads. It's sick. You can't even shame them into doing what is the ONLY right thing to do in ANY civilized society, not even if you use their own weapons to show them the way. It's Infuriating.

[fasttense]

20. The crap awhile back about What Would Jesus DO (WWJD)

Kids were wearing bracelets and everything. Well I always turned it around to What Would You Do to Jesus? Then I threw out Matthew 25. It made Preachers' heads spin.

[Raffi Ella]

27. !

That is awesome.

[Tikki]

2. I can picture people marking off the days on their calendars until January 2nd..kind of like when...

you're waiting for your vacation days. And just as eager.


Tikki

[seabeyond]

3. this is important for the nation to hear, and identify with. many will be repugs and they will

continue to vote against their interest. but, this goes beyond party.

[JustAnotherGen]

5. +1

[Kablooie]

6. The Republlicans had a golden opportunity to take primary credit for this.

After all it was originally a Republican idea.
They could have owned it and gained many grateful voters.

But, man, did they blow this big time.

[SunSeeker]

25. Only the mandate part was a GOP idea.

The expansion of medicaid to cover the working poor and the free preventive care, that was a Dem idea. Romney vetoed similar portions of the Massachusetts law, but was overriden by the Dem legislature.

Ironically, it is the mandate portion that the GOP is now trying to do away with. Cynically, they know that if there is no mandate, healthy people will not sign up and costs for the remaining (sick) individuals in the pool will skyrocket, causing even fewer to sign up...until the system collapses.

If you don’t have single payer, you must have a mandate, and the GOP knows it.

[Kablooie]

30. Even so, the GOP could have used it to their political advantage if they had chosen to do so.

[SunSeeker]

32. They couldn't; supporting the ACA would have meant helping "bla" people. nt

[Egnever]

59. Good post

Hadn't thought of that motivation.

[grantcart]

7. in 90 days there will be thousands of stories of people rushing to see the doctors.

I expect to see some smart Doctor open their practice Jan1 to a long line of newly insured folks.

Millions of people with pent up demand.

Going to be a mini stimulus.

[Politicub]

39. I predict the healthcare revolution

will be a mega stimulus.

I think that's what has the GOP scared shitless.

[MoonRiver]

11. I feel like crying for joy that these poor souls finally can feel safe.

Nobody deserves to live through the anxiety and, really, sheer terror of not having health insurance.

[calimary]

22. I know what you mean. I've been saying for a long time - THIS, TOO, is national security!

How can you feel "secure" - in ANY way, by ANY definition - if you are literally fearful of the wolf at the door. Not some big Commie Bad Guy from Russia or something. Not some big brown bearded guy with a turban on his head. Not some - gasp - black guy!!!! The fucking bill collector. The nonstop calls at home. Fear that you may have your power cut off. Fear that the Repo Man is coming up the street. Fear that your home is about to be foreclosed out from under you. Fear that the next visit to the emergency room is gonna include the news that will officially bankrupt you.

WHAT THE FUCK KIND OF SECURITY IS THAT??????????? Could YOU sleep at night with that bearing down on you? Shit - how many of our own DUers, just in this one little microcosm, have we seen posting about having to cope with this kind of ordeal - DAY IN and DAY OUT?

This, TOO, is national security. That We-The-People need not be fearful in our own homes forcryingoutloud!!!

[MoonRiver]

38. Well said calimary!

I agree 100%! I am blessed with awesome insurance. It has paid every medical bill, including those that I incurred after being diagnosed with breast cancer. But so many are not as lucky. And it shouldn't have anything to do with LUCK!

[Whisp]

24. yes.

I've never had to worry about health care my entire life or for my kid, family, friends, everyone (Canadian). I cannot imagine the stress of worrying about that every day.

I've had tears over this too, and more is sure to come.

[Politicub]

40. I danced around my living room and shed some tears

after the house passed the ACA.

I grew up poor and uninsured, and an emergency surgery my father had made us come close to losing everything my parents had worked so hard for.

And I'm fortunate to have insurance as an adult, but my inner child has never gotten over the shock that you feel when an uncountable number of medical bills start piling up. I've worried about losing coverage if I lost my job, but that worry is gone for good thanks to the ACA. Amazing.

[kentuck]

45. It should make all of America feel better...

knowing that their fellow citizens can go to the doctor when they get sick. Only uncivilized morons would think otherwise.

[PatrynXX]

15. So if the election were held so do you wanna live or you wanna die

who would win?? like hello open the Govt back up sheesh. (dumb doornails )

[SunSeeker]

18. Yes, realizing your life has been saved is an emotional experience. nt

[Zorra]

19. K&R nt

[B Calm]

21. All these years the republicans have held this country back,

it would be a lot nicer place to live if they would just go away!

[calimary]

23. What you said!

I'd suggest Somalia! Their kind of place! Total anarchy and nobody even has to care!

[nxylas]

66. They wouldn't like it there

Too many black people.

[calimary]

67. ROFL!!!!!!!

[Arugula Latte]

29. Republicans don't care if tens of thousands of Americans die annually from lack of insurance.

They only care about American deaths in one circumstance: If Muslims do the killing.

[ramapo]

34. Tens of thousands die from guns too

Yet guns are sacred, almost a bipartison "we don't care how many are shot to death each year".

[Arugula Latte]

35. Yep. We have a sick, sick, sick society in this country.

Other "developed" nations don't have this disgusting mentality.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

46. oh, they care about imaginary people....

Fetuses.

But not the real people they want to force into bearing them.

[Jefferson23]

31. The need has been so great and their voices have not really had an opportunity to

be heard..the MSM has never helped much either. Obamacare, the GOP will forever
regret calling it that.

The Dems need to use all of this for the 2014 elections, it is real and as raw as it gets.
Persuading voters from the other side will be more doable than ever before b/c they'll
see the difference for themselves.

K&R

[kentuck]

42. That is really sad.

[ailsagirl]

43. What are the crackpots at repuke websites saying?

Are they jubilant?

I don't go to those places because I have a delicate stomach.

[nxylas]

58. A teabagger on another forum I frequent posted this "news" story

He didn't give a source, but knowing this guy, it'll be either Fox Noise or Breitbart:

“Very, very few people that we’re aware of have enrolled in the federal exchange,” said one anonymous insurance industry official to the Washington Post. “We are talking single digits.”

Exchange agencies walk back high-traffic hype

Other exchanges have had to pare down their initial statistics. Covered California, that state’s subsidized insurance exchange, initially claimed that its website had received 5 million hits on October 1. They later had to revise that number down 87 percent, to 645,000. KUSI-TV in San Diego is reporting that not one policy has yet been sold on the California exchange.

Edit: a Google search finds that it actually comes from Forbes, which since Obama's election. has become just as bad as the other two sources I mentioned.

[Bluenorthwest]

64. Oregon's site has had glitches but still they say 21% of uninsured Oregonians have already

contacted Cover Oregon. The online application function is on hold or was yesterday and still over 400 people downloaded applications and submitted them electronically to get around the delay. Site visits I hear surpassed 100K and 3,500 telephone contacts were made to the exchange. Entire population of Oregon is 3.89 million. About 400,000 Oregonians will get subsidies. Our site is made to also enroll folks in Medicaid and no one here was expecting a flawless opening in spite of months of preparation. It's a big fucking deal as someone once said and a week or so to iron out the IT is not a big fucking deal.
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/heavy-traffic-clogs-delights-obamacare-insurance-sites/story?id=20447403

[BlancheSplanchnik]

47. unfathomable that teapuke terrorists don't care

About people to the point that their power, lies, greed and hate is more important than the people they destroy with their perverted worldview.

[Cha]

49. Thank you, CarrieLynne! nm

[Liberal_in_LA]

52. kick

[defacto7]

56. K & R

[MichaelKelley]

57. This shows the need

This shows the eagerness of the people and their enthusiasm for the insurance. I think that this is the basic need for everyone and should not be stopped or opposed.

[Jasana]

60. Calling in tears? That's not surprising...

When I got sick (leading into disability) I happened to work for a foundation whose prime mission was social justice. They did absolutely everything they could to keep me on their COBRA. They even helped me apply for an extension. I think I was on the COBRA for about 24 months. Even so, my out of pocket costs were $18,000. I can't even imagine what I would have gone through if I didn't have insurance. Being without it is very scary.

I had just managed to get on the Romneycare plan when my SSDI came through and I got on Medicare. I didn't have any glitches but the Mass plan was well thought out before implemented. I'm sure there's going to be glitches galore with Obamacare because so many states are trying to trying to do this at once. Glitches and all, this plan is so needed just like the OP said. I feel bad for the people in states where the Republicans are doing everything they can to muck up the roll out or refusing to participate at all.

[jimlup]

61. I really wonder about folks

who think ACA isn't absolutely essential at the moment. The Republicans are heartless bastards and there is no other way to say it.

[ailsagirl]

63. "Heartless bastards" is right

Sadists, sociopaths, scum, slime

The list goes on and on