Calif. becomes laboratory for Affordable Care Act

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A national health policy nonprofit on Thursday announced it is making California the focal point of a long-term research project to examine whether the Affordable Care Act lives up to expectations for the uninsured.

The Kaiser Family Foundation released the initial results of interviews with 2,000 randomly selected Californians who had lacked health insurance for at least two months.

The study will follow the respondents for two years, as they examine their options under the federal health care law. The act reaches its most notable public milestone Tuesday when the exchanges that act as marketplaces for insurance shopping open for business.

The initial study, conducted from mid-July to the end of August, found a relatively favorable response regarding expectations, with about 40 percent of those who are uninsured believing the Affordable Care Act will improve their ability to get affordable health insurance. Yet it also found a huge communication gap between the law's boosters and those who could benefit from it: About seven in 10 uninsured Californians told researchers they did not have enough information to understand how the law will affect their families.

California is home to roughly 15 percent of the nation's uninsured residents. About 7 million people in the state were without health insurance at some point in 2012, including about 6 million adults.

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While the uninsured and self-insured can begin enrolling Tuesday, actual coverage starts Jan. 1.

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Kaiser's initial survey found widespread confusion about the law. Nearly three-quarters of uninsured Californians who would be eligible for government subsidies to buy insurance did not know they were eligible or believed they would be ineligible. The subsidies, which can greatly lower the cost of insurance for lower-income people, will be available on a sliding scale to individuals making up to $45,960 a year or a family of four with an annual income $94,200.

Nearly half of those whose incomes were low enough to qualify for Medicaid coverage didn't know it or thought they were not eligible. Medicaid will cover individuals whose incomes top out at $15,400 a year, or a family of four with an annual income of about $31,000.

More than 40 percent of the uninsured were unaware that the law includes a penalty for those who do not obtain health insurance, starting out at a minimum of $95 a year but rising to at least $695 by 2016.

Even when informed of the penalty, four of every 10 uninsured Californians said they still would not get coverage or that their decision would depend on the cost.

http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/news-health/20130926/US--Health.Overhaul-California.Study/

I can say the word about free Medi-Cal (Medicaid) for the lazy hippies is getting out on social media. A couple days ago, nobody knew, now they all know.

[Darnell 8,478]

Stop checking in with the lazy hippies. Thanks in advance !

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Stop checking in with the lazy hippies. Thanks in advance !

Why? They got the system working for them, instead of the other way around.

[Darnell 8,478]

Yes, my fear is that you'll become tainted, with repeated exposure, then

you'll stop being a productive member of society.

Oh wait, it's California. Nevermind.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I am reformed, more or less. However, I am still a well known personality among several groups of graying hippies and their progeny and I do live and work in a northern California resort area. This is a "safe" Democratic district, the birthplace of many popular high tech and aerospace companies, as well in the heart of the wine industry.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

And for true craziness, Bohemian Grove is just down the road.

http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/False%20Religions/Wicca%20&%20Witchcraft/bohemian_grove_exposed.htm

Edited September 30, 2013 by The Patriot

[mota bhai 2,675]

California is pretty awesome in so many ways.