The ACA is working, even if it did not work for us.. it is still a huge leap forward.

[Peacetrain]

Over the years, I have been pretty up front with my support for ACA... and how much it would mean to our family.. My younger brother has not had insurance for over 10 years.. and cannot afford to buy it on his own. We were hoping above all hopes that it would work out for him..but being that he lives in SD .. it did not. The SD republicans refuse to expand medicare that would have finally covered him.

But we are not giving up. As the ACA expands and people across other states get their health care..even SD will have to bend to the pressure. I live in Iowa, but SD is our far right neighbor. ~sigh~..

Keep on keeping on.. and say a little prayer for us, as we fight the good fight for Health Care in states that are holding it back.

[steve2470]

1. I agree

my thoughts:

1- We can all have maximum compassion for those who have to suffer from the system's deficits. We see this every day on DU and in real life. We can help those who suffer with accurate information and compassion.

2- Some of us are now better off under the ACA. This is a good thing.

3- Of course the ACA needs to morph into single payer.

4- We need accurate information about the ACA and the health care system on DU.

We need a stickied FAQ thread on how to navigate the ACA and the health care system.

[Skidmore]

6. Second. Good suggestions all.

[Peacetrain]

8. Good suggestion..not just a post

but a referral place that is permanent..

[KittyWampus]

2. SD- is that South Dakota? I live in eastern NY. Liberal bastion. Even Republicans tend to be

liberalish.

DU is still important to me after all these years for a few reasons… one being it reminds me of the plight those living in red states deal with.

One would think that midterms should be all about electing more Democrats so we can try and push the ACA further.

[Peacetrain]

5. I am sorry about that..yep SD is South Dakota

Beautiful state.. just a LOT of right wing politicians in charge

[VanillaRhapsody]

3. Thank YOU .....this is the appropriate response....

Many on DU worked to get the ACA passed....and I am sorry the Republicans are preventing us from helping your brother...

The fight continues!!!!

[Peacetrain]

7. We could have cried a river

when they refused to expand medicare.. but you know.. progress cannot be stopped. Even red states will have to bend at some point..hopefully sooner than later..but the better the states that have expanded medicare do.. the more pressure it will put on those red states.. and that is how it will finally finish out I think.. shame on the red states

[Rex]

10. We'll just have to replace all those red governors with blue governors!

Like in Texas, the next governor is going to be Wendy Davis. We've had enough abuse by Rick Perry, it is time for Texas to go blue again!

[Peacetrain]

11. Go Texas!!!!

Yep.. if we could move SD to a reddish purple, I think there is enough pressure in the community to expand medicare..

[Rex]

15. I do too, at this point it is red state governors that are denying federal aid

to the working class. I'm hoping that political gambit bites them hard in the ass later this year! A lot of people like to vote with their pocketbooks and the GOP just stole their last dollar.

[Peacetrain]

16. That is the stone cold truth!

[VanillaRhapsody]

20. Or you could have said "Fuck You President Obama" but you understood that nothing is

perfect and NO system guarantees access to everyone's preference in drugs either. You understood that its a step in the right direction and though it let your brother fall through the cracks because of Republican rule of his state...that many many many people WILL be helped by it.

[riversedge]

4. Same situation in Wisconsin--many left behind as our

Red state sinks along with many of the people.

[Peacetrain]

9. We have to keep pushing..

We have to shame our legislators.. Shame them in church, and at town halls..

[steve2470]

12. Good luck to you in Iowa and the people in SD nt

[LWolf]

13. Working for whom?

For what purpose?

I don't know why I have to keep pointing out these simple facts:

Insurance is not care. Having insurance doesn't guarantee care. Insurance does not pay for all needed care. As a matter of fact, the more "affordable" the insurance, the LESS affordable the care.

The goal is not to get insurance. It's to get authentically affordable CARE.

[Peacetrain]

14. I would take what California is doing in a heart beat

and work on the rest.. I have a brother who is in need of health care.. something he can afford..

[LWolf]

17. I don't know what California is doing.

I know that, until every single human can get any needed care where and when they need it without insurance, and without debt, it's not enough.

I know that the ACA has not helped make care affordable for me, for either of my sons, for my grandson, or for my elderly mother. The Oregon Health Plan, on the other hand, HAS helped my grandson. Making it available to all would be a good start.

[MurryMom]

18. Health insurance

If your son is under 40 and a nonsmoker, he ought to be able to purchase a high deductible policy covering regular checkups and most medical issues, for under $150 per month. My son (age 37) is covered for about $130 per month here in PA. Costs and availability vary by state, but low cost policies were available even before the ACA.

[EC]

19. I wonder if those who make too little to

qualify for ACA and do qualify for Medicaid...if those in the states that did not expand, lied and said they made more money than they do, would they then qualify for the ACA? I don't see how they could penelize someone for saying they were projecting making 14,000 or some low number that would still qualify for ACA (higher than whats needed for Medicaid) since they ask how much you think you will make in 2014.