Every day, there’s more and more good news about Obamacare and Shummycare. On the national front, Consumer Reports — which, in late October, warned consumers to stay away from healthcare.gov — has now pronounced the website “terrific.”
[CR health care expert Nancy] Metcalf praised
…the new window-shopping function, in which users can peruse health plans without registering with the site. The requirement to make an account before viewing options was considered one of the main causes for the site’s initial traffic bottleneck. “It’s terrific, I’ve tried it, it was working yesterday through the busiest times,” Metcalf said.
And while Obamacare is consistently raising the bar, Vermont is going even higher. Yes, even with small businesses having to register online and send a check in the mail, what a pain, by the most important metrics Vermont is the biggest success story in health care reform.
CNN has posted a state-by-state map of enrollment figures; it has Vermont at just under 8,000 actually enrolled through Vermont Health Connect. If that sounds a bit meh, consider it on a per-capita basis.
Vermont has 12.8 enrollees per 100,000 people. Kentucky, the most widely praised success story, has enrolled a mere 2.49 per 100,000. Geez Louise, when does Shummycare get some national media love?
Even without the per-capita adjustment, Vermont is near the top. There are only four states with higher enrollment figures: California, New York, Washington and Kentucky.
Want more good news?
After the jump: More good news. Also: Phil Scott, emerging firebrand.
A policy expert of my acquaintance did some number-crunching based on numbers from the Kaiser Family Foundation, and came up with a truly impressive figure. Vermont went into this with a relatively small uninsured population, thanks to Catamount Care and Dr. Dynasaur; we’ve already put a substantial dent in that. I’ve been told that Vermont Health Connect has already enrolled approximately 16.5% of Vermont’s uninsured population.
The next closest state, by this reckoning, is Connecticut — with 2.4%. Yeah, Vermont is lapping the field.
Now, will Phil Scott please shut the hell up with his “let’s put everything off for a year” nonsense?
Two further thoughts about Lt. Gov. Everybody’s Buddy, our Avatar of Moderation:
— How stupid does Scott think Governor Shumlin is? Postpone HCR for a year — conveniently just after the 2014 election? Hand the Republicans a gold-plated issue to run on? Let them yammer about the “failed rollout” and its dubious prospects for an entire campaign? That’d be the dumbest move since, oh, Neville Chamberlain.
— Who’s transforming who? When David Sunderland became VTGOP chair, the narrative was that Scott’s “moderate” faction had taken control of the party and would make it more inclusive. But on health care — the biggest issue in current politics — Scott is pushing the exact same talking point as Darcie “Hack” Johnston, firebrand of Republican conservatism.
I suppose Scott is simply taking more seriously his responsibility as putative party leader, but this isn’t exactly a positive indicator for the alleged “new direction” of the VTGOP.
of enrollees are those who benefit under ACA iow the sickest ppl with the most exorbitant medical costs.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/…
It is unaffordable for nearly everyone else except the lucky few carveouts who are not mandated to enroll. With deductibles so high (like roughly 6300/year in VT) that an enrollee never even begins to bite into the monthly cost which for me would be $375 x 12. I rarely see a doctor — my conditions & needs are small & predictable at this point.
None of the services other than basic health care that I’m paying for with any plan do I use or need. What I could use or need is not covered so I will have to pay cash anyways for those things, further increasing costs were I to enroll. I can get dental through FQH centers but will pay a sliding fee which is still significant for the amount of work I need.
So someone in my shoes is in actuality literally paying for someone elses health care costs. I don’t love anyone that much nor can someone like me with limited resources and own needs be expected to shoulder that type of financial burden. Although all insurance is like this to some degree – not to the exorbitant tune of this.
I’m still far from Medicare eligibility but could enroll in Medicaid. This would mean greatly limited service providers. I could get a catastrophic but again high deductible & plus high monthly cost.
I plan to continue self-paying while socking away as much of the plan cost as possible & if I need high-end services such as surgery, negotiate with the hospital for cash which always receives a hearty welcome.
it’s supposed to work I kinda get that. I personally have never questioned this, given it any thought nor have known anyone who did. Same with insurance plans for the same reason. However the funding for those items seems not only to be fair but proportional and affordable (what is not fair or proportional is allowing large business abatement esp for nationwide or multi-national corporations as it causes everyone else to subsidize their share) but I digress.
The difference is that this is a relatively large bill which is ongoing & comes due monthly while the services paid for are not even covered unless the $6300. out-of-pocket is paid out first. Any essential services needed not in the plans do not count toward the out-of-pocket either. Aforementioned insurances can have fairly low deductibles if any. Municipal services & other items in “the contract” have none so not quite the same.
What we were told would be an amount about the sixe of monthly cell phone or cable bill would now cover the cost of our health care which is simply untrue for ppl at least here in VT. And it’s more like the payment for a new vehicle or the amount of a rent-share – big difference, along with being able to keep Dr — many providers use nurse practitioners or physicians assistants which cannot do or prescribe all that Drs do — or even “your hospital” since now many hospitals including the nations finest — are not even in the “plan”. Cell phone/cable bill payment comparison does not include the large deductibles either.
I was and still am happy that many ill folks & friends will not pay a ridiculous portion of their income for their care. However, taking one group of ppl who can ill afford the deluge of loss which occurs when catastrophic care or serious illness occurs & transferring it to another group who can ill afford it is not progress.
Because of all the carveouts such as large businesses & VT state government including state employees, there is now a small pool of payers to absorb the sticker shock.
I am actually one of the luckier ones as I have some options. I could use the limited Medicaid services available which will have income-based co-pays & probably deductibles, use my husbands IRA & pay the penalty, start a HSA with the amount I am not paying into the “exchange”, take out a loan for any catastrophic & pay it with the HSA.
The others who are my upper, lower & in-between middle class friends & Vermonters will bear the brunt. Sorry, I don’t think this is how it’s supposed to work. Glass may be half full & some tweaking is all that’s needed, but in the meantime the have-nots experience upheaval & uncertainty while the smug haves simply smile at the “better society”.
Well, good for the haves. Some are my friends & fellow Vermonters too. Hopefully it will all shake out.
For a decade or more, as a sole proprietor of a small business, I have selected higher and higher deductibles as a way to keep the insurance cost increases lower. I am fairly healthy and have never met the annual deductible.
With the new program, my monthly cost is one-third lower.
If I ever have to stay overnight in the hospital, I will meet the deductible in the new program. And all the “well care” is covered.
I like it.
I’m not sold on single-payer or universal — yet. I’m also hoping for a single-payer/universal that reflects VT values as well as the values reflected in any state. Hopefully we can tweak things in a VT way that will include everyone in our tiny state.
When one side of the aisle attempts to foist their world-view on another it will inevitably result in problems which I believe can be overcome here in VT.
It is a model of compromise between right & left that could forge a new & better model which could then be the unifying model for our nation.
I have no dogs in any race except what is the best for the majority which I personally would like to see include all even those in the minority. I may disagree with a particular course of action taking place, however if there are workarounds which satisfy the goal but reflect the differences I this see as what is best for any democracy.
Assuaging rather than vanquishing is what I would like to see. In our small but infinitely progressive state, learning from past errors on all fronts & moving forward in what could be a transforming bi-partisan model of inclusion that could also transform our nation — is my desire & what I firmly believe is the answer to our national polarized political gridlock.
Hopefully the moneyed interests which came crashing down, crushing our democracy on many levels following Citizens United can be overcome if the good forces which remain rise up and prevail including the possiblilities everyone would like to see happen.