Health care overhaul spawns mass confusion for public

McClatchy ^ | 4/7/10 | By Margaret Talev

[Red Badger]

WASHINGTON — Two weeks after President Barack Obama signed the big health care overhaul into law, Americans are struggling to understand how — and when — the sweeping measure will affect them.

Questions reflecting confusion have flooded insurance companies, doctors' offices, human resources departments and business groups.

"They're saying, 'Where do we get the free Obama care, and how do I sign up for that?' " said Carrie McLean, a licensed agent for eHealthInsurance.com. The California-based company sells coverage from 185 health insurance carriers in 50 states.

McLean said the call center had been inundated by uninsured consumers who were hoping that the overhaul would translate into instant, affordable coverage. That widespread misconception may have originated in part from distorted rhetoric about the legislation bubbling up from the hyper-partisan debate about it in Washington and some media outlets, such as when opponents denounced it as socialism.

"We tell them it's not free, that there are going to be things in place that help people who are low-income, but that ultimately most of that is not going to be taking place until 2014," McLean said.

Adults with pre-existing conditions are frustrated to learn that insurers won't have to cover them until 2014 (though those under 18 will be protected in late September); then they become both hopeful and confused upon learning that a federal high-risk pool for them will be established in the next few months. "Health insurance is so confusing. You add this on top of it and it makes it even more confusing," McLean said.

[Tarpon]

Useful idiots figuring out the free stuff never comes, but the gulags open to accommodate them.

Now who was it that was pushing the free stuff?

[Abathar]

They haven’t keyed on the fact that it was Rush telling his audience to call and demand their free Obamacare that’s the reason for most of this confusion... :)

[mrmeyer]

[JPG]

Don't they all have to go to Detroit and get their FREE Obama stash money first? I pray that these idiots find something else to do on election day besides voting.

[WOBBLY BOB]

reminds me of this:

“Obama’s Stash”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19v5Kjmc8FI

[a fool in paradise]

[a fool in paradise]

It's not free EVERYWHERE, you just need to look for a hospital with this sign in the window:

[stephenjohnbanker]

Scary......

[a fool in paradise]

FREEEEEEEE!

[Travis McGee]

[Spunky]

My daughter works for a large company and they just sent out an e-mail to all the employees stating that their HEALTH CARE BENEFITS WILL BE REPORTED ON THEIR 2011 W-2 FORMS.

That is going to be a BIG increase on employees income that they will have to pay taxes on.

[Hoodat]

That widespread misconception may have originated in part from distorted rhetoric about the legislation bubbling up from the hyper-partisan debate about it in Washington and some media outlets, such as when opponents denounced it as socialism.

Gee, no bias there. Actually, there should be no confusion since conservatives warned the entire country about these very issues.

[skr]

I wonder how many Obama bumper stickers will still be on her fellow employees’ cars by April 15, 2011.

[nina0113]

My daughter works for a large company and they just sent out an e-mail to all the employees stating that their HEALTH CARE BENEFITS WILL BE REPORTED ON THEIR 2011 W-2 FORMS.

I know I'm going to get screwed at Open Enrollment, but it'll almost be worth it to hear the Obama-voters howls of outrage.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Just wait until the freebies have to be paid for or discontinued. The useless eaters will be rioting in the streets — like recently in Greece.

[Kimberly GG]

It’s only ABSOLUTELY FREE and will continue to be ABSOLUTELY FREE, IF you’re an ILLEGAL ALIEN.

[mbarker12474]

We should all write our congress rep’s staff, stating that we are contemplating the notion of dropping our current health insurance, and ask for advice on the best date to actually do so. The letter should ask for clarification on points of law. The letter should ask for clarification of timing. The letter should be sent to all state and D.C. offices of the Congressman. The letter should be sent whether the Congressman favors the new law or not.

The objective is to create a news story that large numbers of Americans are going to, en masse, start relying on government healthcare beginning on a certain date in the future.

[PogySailor]

I don’t think it will be reported as income in 2011, but getting it on the W2 IS a step towards that.

[OB1kNOb]

Obummer is making it into a national holiday..............