Tag: Obamacare

NOV 26, 2013 - I found this small clip of a skit by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood at the CMA Awards poking fun of the rollout of the Affordable Health Care Act, or the "AHCA" as I like to call it. Many folks call it "Obamacare", but the two poked fun of the horrendous rollout of the website part of the health care exchanges to the tune of an old George Strait song. Maybe if the Teabagger Republican governors would have cooperated more with the federal government on the exchanges, and worked for their constituents instead of a political party (a small one I might add), then maybe the rollout would have been smoother. Watch for the reaction of Taylor Swift, who is a big President Obama supporter. Lets hope they get it all fixed in the next few weeks, and get the federal exchanges humming as well as the state exchanges, where enrollment is surging.  Those are the states where the governor cooperated and didn't suffer from OHDS: Obama Hatred Derangement Syndrome. The website is actually handling a fair clip of people, and will get better. If you do not have health insurance either thorough Medicaid or your employment, many will find they will be covered by Medicaid, qualify for subsidies to help pay for it, or find a cheap health insurance plan through the exchanges for as little as $20 a month. You may need it one day. Visit HealthCare.gov today to see your options.

NOV 19, 2013 - Musician and filmmaker Julie Sokolow saw firsthand the problem her and other musicians and artists in the Pittsburgh area having the same problem she had, trying to find an affordable health care insurance plan for a single person. So, she formed an organization called "Healthy Artists" to push for a single-payer health care system.  After the ACA, or "Obamacare", was rolled out she started using the organization to help musicians and artists not only learn more about the Affordable Health Care Act, but also help it roll out more smoothly and be successful. Musicians and artists have a special stake in the successful roll out and implementation of the ACA, because many musicians are self-employed and have never even thought about health care and insurance. Read more about Julie in her work on PittNews.com here, and check out Healthy Artists website here. Watch musician-activist Matt Dull from the group Young Brokaw talk about getting a bill for $1200 because he had no health insurance after he slipped on the ice. He talks about the need for everyone to have health insurance, so please sign up if you do not have health insurance yet. In some states it is very low cost, and many people will get subsidies to help you pay for it. JTMP asks our musician supporters to sign up for health care insurance through the exchanges by December 14th, 2013 by going to the government's health care insurance exchange website here.

NOV 13, 2013 - We have been honoring veterans all this week since Monday was Veterans Day, and one way we can "support the troops" is to support legal medical marijuana in your state for one possible treatment for veterans with PTSD. There have been many studies showing medical marijuana can be used as a treatment in a wide variety of health issues, and PTSD is one of them. Dr. Sue Sisley in a YouTube video by MAPS below explains the evidence showing medical marijuana can be beneficial in treating PTSD. One organization, Veterans for Medical Cannabis Access, is working hard at getting veterans access to medical marijuana.

Earlier this year, Maine's state government approved PTSD to be on the list of conditions patients can get medical marijuana prescriptions for and Governor Paul LePage quietly signed it into law. In an article on CannabisNews.org, retired Marine Corps Sgt. Ryan Begin, who lost part of his arm in an IED explosion and suffers from PTSD, talks about using medical marijuana to treat his pain and PTSD saying, "It balances me. Instead of being on a roller coaster, you're more even keeled. You don't get too far up, and you don't get too far down." Maine joins California, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, and New Mexico that allow vets to use medical marijuana to treat their PTSD, which can consist of flashbacks and anxiety attacks.  JTMP urges our supporters to contact your state and local officials, and tell them you support the troops, and you support medical marijuana for use in treatment of PTSD by veterans.  (photo credit: ODea/CC)

OCT 1, 2013 - President Barack Obama's Affordable Health Care Act rolls out a huge piece today, the "mandate"; the requirement for individuals to carry health insurance. The AHCA, or "Obamacare", requires that all persons who do not have insurance already either through your employer or whatever, purchase individual insurance in the "Health Insurance Marketplace" the federal government has set up where one can shop around, and get the lowest price. In fact, it is similar to when the conservatives were whining about "exchanges across state lines". Now, one is not tied down to the health insurance company that one's employer uses either. People are now free as an individual to purchase a competitive policy. In fact, early reports coming in is that most of us will be paying very little, as little as $28 a month. Many people in poor states such as Mississippi will pay as little as $8 a month.  Read more about the low costs reported by the CBO on CBSNews.com.

So, if you do not have health insurance through work or an individual insurance policy, or you are not covered under Medicare or Medicaid, head on over to HealthCare.gov and get your heath insurance going. Senator Angus King (I-ME) said right-wing extremists who are using the government shutdown to try and stop "Obamacare" are "guilty of murder"; because having health insurance saved his life. When you have health insurance and you have checkups, they may find cancer early like they did with him; the doctor will remove it before it gets worse and save your life. Having more people access to check ups will save lives, and money. For it costs more to treat a disease in the later stages. This, and millions of other people joining the market, should bring the "cost curve" down. For more info, check our HealthCare.gov.  (Photo credit: Pete Souza/CC)

REPUBLICANS FURIOUS (OF COURSE)

SEP 27, 2013 - JTMP believes health care is a human right and a civil right, and we support steps like Obamacare that takes us toward a better system. We actually support Medicare For All, but hopefully this is a step towards a more universal and fairer system in doling out health care to our citizens. Turns out the Affordable Heath Care Act has an added benefit on top of getting people more access to our health care system, it automatically registers one to vote, and that is totally pissing off conservatives. Why are they always angry when our government tries to make it easier to vote? They fought the Motor Voter Bill, they hate early voting, etc. Addiciting Info has a great article on it, and how the roll out of Obamacare may crush their efforts of voter suppression at the state level they have been engaged in recently. Read more on AddictingInfo.org here. If you want to start your Obamacare registration check out HealthCare.gov, and register to vote...AND VOTE! Especially for midterms and the local and state level elections. VOTE EVERY TIME, EVERY ELECTION!