I work for a relatively large corporation. So when annual enrollment started for 2014 for employees, I looked at what changed in my health insurance coverage provided by my employer.
If I took Faux News and the right-wing media machine at face value, I should have expected any of the following:
- Massive increase in my contribution/rates, co-pays, or deductibles
- Worse coverage
- Increasingly restrictive choice of providers
- Hooded U.N. death-panelists jumping out of black helicopters over the Capitol.
Instead, I found no change (none, zero, zip) in my rates/contribution and only minor changes in coverage (mostly for the better.)⸮ In terms of the immediate impact of Obamacare on changing my family's coverage, it's been minimal to non-existent.
Long-term, however, the impact has already been very positive. In particular, I no longer have to worry that my son (in his early 20s) will never get covered due to a prior serious illness.
I do consider myself lucky to have reasonable health insurance through my employer. Millions are getting screwed by Republican governors and insurance companies, while many are falling for the lies from the right.
Still, I'd feel much better if we had a more universal system. If we read the Constitution's "provide for the common defense" literally, it includes providing for the defense of citizens' health. The equation should be simple: if you are a citizen (small c) of this country, the government should provide for the defense of health. Or: if you live here, you're covered. And everyone should contribute to their appropriate ability to make that possible.
