Health reform: A hard sell to 5 million Native Americans

Monterey Herald ^ | 10/15/2013 | Christine Vestal

[artichokegrower]

For most uninsured Americans, the motivation for checking out the health insurance exchanges is simple – they could face stiff penalties if they don't sign up. For Native Americans, the decision is more complicated.

Longstanding treaties with the federal government guarantee all Native Americans free health care. As a result, the Affordable Care Act exempts them from paying a penalty if they choose not to purchase insurance. More than 2 million Native Americans receive free health care at federally supported Indian health facilities. Many others receive care from tribal facilities and urban Indian organizations.

[artichokegrower]

"the Affordable Care Act exempts them from paying a penalty if they choose not to purchase insurance"

Really?

[SteveH]

in the long term, non-native americans are being herded onto the obamacare healthcare reservation... but it is ok because it is for our own good... our own collective good, that is...

:-/

[Vince Ferrer]

They ought to start their own private “off grid” hospitals on their reservations.

[blueunicorn6]

They aren’t native Americans. Their DNA proves that they are Chinese.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Then what’s the excuse for exempting Muslims, or do they have their own federally-subsidized clinics?

[artichokegrower]

Obama speaks with forked tongue.

[VanDeKoik]

“More than 2 million Native Americans receive free health care at federally supported Indian health facilities. “

And how many of them opted to use the stuff outside the reservation when they needed something that actually worked?

[Tax-chick]

Because the Indian Health Service has worked out so well for them up to now. Unnngh.

[MUDDOG]

They can sign up at any time – there are no open enrollment deadlines. Tribal members with incomes below 300 percent of the federal poverty level ($34,470 for an individual) are exempt from paying deductibles and copays, so they can purchase the cheapest plans without worrying about out-of-pocket expenses.

Sweet.

Great Black Father in Washington take care of Indian.

[A_Tradition_Continues]

The Muscogee (Creek) Nation (Oklahoma) has its’ own hospitals and clinics. These are not run or financed by the BIA.

[Eska]

I live near an Indian Village, was out the clinic earlier this morning to see the doctor that came in from Fairbanks for a couple days. Indians have excellent health care facilities, but if you've ever lived around Indians, you know they are a hard livin bunch, great people, just don't have the same world view as most us Whites. In our clinic, Whites are served too since the nearest health center is 500 miles away and the road is now closed for the winter. Indians thought it was the right thing to do also.

Indians don't have to even think about Obama Care, but most Indians don't pay no mind to any govt anyway; they sure don't tremble in fear like most Whites. Services have been reduced for Indians with the cuts that have already occurred. Money doesn't flow into the villages like it use to, no joke.

[VeniVidiVici]

As a result, the Affordable Care Act exempts them from paying a penalty if they choose not to purchase insurance.

How.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Who ISN’T on the government dole????

[redhead]

"They ought to start their own private “off grid” hospitals on their reservations."

In Alaska, it's called ANS, or Alaska Native Service, and there are state-of-the-art hospitals in most towns of any size. A brand new one just opened here in Wasilla.

[I want the USA back]

So then the enrollment website must ask the applicant’s victim group.
The government has no right to collect that kind of information. Furthermore, there is no legal definition of the various ethnicities.

[wrencher]

How many centuries do we have to pay money to people whose great great great great great grandparents were wronged by someone else’s great great great great great grandparents? Has this ever been defined?

/s, to be sure

[heye2monn]

When it comes to minorities in the United States, white people will never be un-guilty. It is the perpetual sin.

[terycarl]

the entire concept of “Indian Nations” reservations, “native Americans etc. should have been done away with years ago. Give them the land that they are on, but stop, immediately, the nonsense government policies that keep these people trapped in poverty and dependence for their entire lives....get them into the mainstream and let them compete.....just like real Americans have to do every day