Clearly I am on a roll, in terms of stating my position on controversial topics. I have one more: Affordable Care Act (ACA), aka Obama Care.
I have heard instene opposition to the ACA, mostly from people who don’t know anything about how it works. I never knew much so I didn’t offer many opinions. I did think that the $780/month that my employer paid for my health insurance was obscene, and based on that, felt like some kind of affordable care would help many Americans. I wondered what I would do if I did not have a group plan.
I also wondered why the same politicians who voted for billions of dollars for warfare and foreign aid balked so much at taking care of their own people.
Enter in my move to Idaho. My group insurance ended in May. If I wanted to pay the same $ as before I could have the same insurance. Nope, I said. I will find another option.
I will not bore you with the month-long process of figuring out Affordable Care. 
Fortunately, it is administered at the state level, so once I got my bearings, the process was super-easy. They even allow a regular insurance agent to help you navigate the website free of charge. I applied on a Thursday, had approval on Monday. My next step was to look at all the options and make a choice. Coverage and premiums vary widely. I also had to review all the dental plans. In the end, I have coverage as good or better than my previous coverage, for $101/month, starting July 1.
I do not understand why anyone wants to repeal the ACA. It is a great service for families, children, even seniors like me who have 3 more years until Medicare kicks in. Why are so many people just blindly against the program, without knowing the details or talking to anyone who is on the program? Certain politicians don’t like the idea of a handout, yet they vote in farm subsidies and corporate tax breaks for themselves and their friends.
Greed. Selfishness. The hallmarks of modern America. Only one thing will right the listing ship: a return to decent values and the ethic of loving your neighbor as yourself.
It’s simply the right thing to do, provide healthcare to people. As for the ‘affordable’ part it’s income based. With my 6 years younger and ineligible for Medicare for years to come, it makes the retirement budget squeal. Based on the estimates I’ve received, it will definitely pose a challenge. This is no give away as the opposition would have us believe. However, it’s our good fortune to have this opportunity.
I agree!! Health insurance is so expensive and the med/pharm companies are not interested in making any of it “affordable”.