I love how the Democrats are so high-pressured to expand Medicaid right now to the point that they’re willing to shut the whole government down if they don’t get their way.
You would think they’d threaten Barack “Delay” Obama to get with it on Obamacare itself.
But no. They’re fine with Obama delaying and waiving this part or that part of his signature achievement of destroying our health care system while killing jobs and destroying the private insurance market.
They just need more people covered under Medicaid. NOW!
Ok. Fine. Compromise. That’s a good thing, right? Both sides give a little and make progress. That’s what Democrats want, right?
Add this amendment: “Virginia Medicaid expansion will commence when the Affordable Care Act is certified to be fully implemented as passed.”
I’m sure there’s a more legislative-servicesy way to say that, but that’s been my major problem with Democrats on the health care issue. They have absolutely no problem with all the delays from the President, but Democrats demand we kiss their ample glutes with extreme urgency and pass more Medicaid.
So, let’s pair health care with health care. All that needs to happen for Medicaid to expand is for Obama to stop these delays:
FEB. 7, 2013
Announces a one-year delay in issuing rules to states for putting in place a “Basic Health Program,” a Medicaid-like plan for low-income adults who don’t qualify for Medicaid and may not be eligible for insurance subsidies.
SPRING 2013
Delays for one year the option to provide workers with a choice of health plans on the small business marketplace, limiting them to a single plan.
JULY 2
Announces a one-year delay in the requirement that larger businesses offer health coverage to their employees or face a penalty.
SEPT. 26
Announces a one-month delay in the opening of the small-business marketplace, setting the new start date at Nov. 1.
OCT. 23
Announces an adjustment of the individual mandate deadline, saying people must now sign up for a plan by March 31, instead of Feb. 15, to avoid tax penalties.
NOV. 14
Allows insurers to reinstate for one year plans being canceled because they do not comply with minimum coverage requirements of the law.
NOV. 22
Extends the deadline to sign up for health coverage that takes effect on Jan. 1 by eight days (to Dec. 23) and delays the 2015 insurance enrollment period by a month, to Nov. 15, 2014, after the midterm elections.
NOV. 27
Delays for one year online enrollment in the small-business marketplace (until November 2014). The rollout had previously been delayed one month.
DEC. 12
Urges insurers to give consumers more time to make their first premium payments for coverage beginning Jan. 1. On Dec. 18, America’s Health Insurance Plans, an industry trade group, says insurers will give them an extra 10 days, until Jan. 10, to pay their first premiums.
DEC. 19
Announces that people whose policies have been canceled will be allowed to buy catastrophic coverage and will be exempt from tax penalties for not having insurance in 2014. It also extends for one month an expiring federal program for people with cancer, heart disease and other serious illnesses.
DEC. 23
Establishes a 24-hour grace period for people trying to sign up for health coverage that takes effect on Jan. 1, citing delays due to high website traffic. This change effectively extends the deadline for coverage beginning Jan. 1 to Dec. 24.
DEC. 24
Announces that if people could show that they missed the deadline for coverage beginning Jan. 1 because of problems with Healthcare.gov, they might qualify for “a special enrollment period.” The administration did not say how long the period would last, but a spokeswoman said it was not providing “a blanket extension,” but was offering to provide “assistance to individuals on a case-by-case basis.”
FEB. 10, 2014
For employers with between 50 and 99 employees, delays for another year (until 2016) the requirement that they offer health coverage to their employees or face a penalty. Temporarily reduces the percentage of employees that larger companies are required to cover.
FEB. 28
Allows people who were unable to purchase insurance through an online exchange because of “technical issues” and signed up for a health plan outside of the exchange the ability to get federal subsidies “on a retroactive basis” if they now sign up for coverage in an exchange.
MARCH 5
Extends for two more years the renewal period for plans not compliant with the new health care law, allowing noncompliant coverage well into 2017. Also exempts certain health plans from fees imposed on insurance companies and many self-insured groups, a change supported by labor unions.
The New York Times keeps a running list of Obama’s delays here.
At this rate, Obama’s health care delays might force them to print a special edition.
But Democrats aren’t complaining about the delays. And since the Medicaid expansion was a part of the Affordable Care Act to begin with, Democrats should have no problem with it being added to this long list of delays that they support.
Want to expand Medicaid? When Obama stops his health care delays, we will stop ours.
