(WSJ) China, Honk Kong ranks (No 1) the United States falls to (No 12) in the ‘2014 Index of Economic Freedom’ released today by the Heritage Foundation/The Foundry which points out, the U.S. has declined six places since Obama took office nearly 5 years ago.
On the 12 January, 2012 Open Market.org reported that the steady decline of the United States economic freedom could easily be attributed to the implementation of ObamaCare, together with its burdensome over regulations and costs.
Allen Echiverri@Twitter “Tried calling ‘Covered California’ about my coverage. They’re not taking calls and online wait time is 1 hr+”
(KPCC) The U.S. Dept of HHS released ObamaCare/Covered California enrollment data yesterday saying that as of the 31 December, 499,000 California residents signed up for ObamaCare but absent from the ‘enrollment’ numbers is:
‘Covered California’ says that we’ll have to wait longer for a more detailed breakdown of these numbers.
Related: Covered California Applicants Still Hit By Snags –SF Gate
Big Gaps in Enrollment Data Makes It Hard to Judge ObamaCare Success
Rep George Miller (D-CA) Promoting ObamaCare/Covered California Disaster –Image: SF Gate
(Politico) Incumbent Liberal Democrat Congressman George Miller, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) strong advocate, has announced that he will be retiring from Congress at the end of the year.
Miller represents California’s 11th Congressional District which consists of portions of Alameda County, Contra Costa, San Joaquin and Santa Clara counties.
In a short interview, Miller wanted to downplay the significance of his departure saying, “I was never in awe of the indispensable man theory,” adding “I tried that once on my high school football coach and I sat on the bench for for most of the year.”
Earlier this month, Legal Insurrection reported that Rep Mike McIntyre (D-NC) after nearly two decades in Congress announced his departure, McIntyre was considered one of the most vulnerable Democrats in this years mid-term Congressional elections.
Related: Covered California Applicants Still Hit By Snags –SF Gate
Lotta Denial Out There: Chuck Todd Gets Dose of ObamaCare Reality
“The Story of Our Life @CoveredCA @ObamaCare Error.”
Adriana Rodriguez@Twitter
What Others Are Saying at Facebook
Nick Stewart from San Jose “Im still waiting for info from Anthem Blue Cross so I can pay my premium. Their phone system doesn’t even put me on hold anymore–It just tells me they can’t take my call due to technical difficulties. Before it started doing that, it would put me on hold for about an hour and then hang up on me.”
Johnny Tran from San Diego “Website is not straight forward at all…such a joke.”
Linda Glassman-Davis “How does one access health care…All docs have canceled their appts this month and there is no way to get thru to Anthem Blue Cross or Covered CA reps????”
Carl Sforza “Are there any agents out there in the Sacramento area? I’m done with this worthless website and nobody at Covered California answers emails or telephone calls.”
Kate Lundquist “I applied on December 6 and qualify for financial assistance. I was never notified what documents to submit to where and my application status is still ‘pending’ I never got a letter from Anthem Blue Cross though I sent them a check anyway. Now I can’t get through to either Covered California or Anthem Blue Cross. Help!”
Timothy Kahn from Irvine “Yea its impossible to reach you guys–does anyone know how to sign up as a student (no income currently) without the system forcing you to MediCal? My wife needs insurance too…the website is forcing us to apply for MediCal…definitely don’t want. Is there anyway to decline MediCal–I like many others have been unable to reach anyone by online chat or email or phone–SUPER FRUSTRATING.”
Katy Maylor from La Canada Flintridge “So frustrating! ‘This page cannot be displayed’ is making my blood pressure go higher! Have been trying for weeks, can get to a website but when I click on one topic or another, I get the same message. I am ready to give up! BP can’t take it. When will it ever be fixed?”
Favie Jimeno “Agrrgghhhh!!! Can’t log on to the website. I wanted to upload proof/documents needed! Been waiting on chat for over an hour now. Tried to call customer service but automated tells me to go online and then hangs up :/ WOW!”
Christine Anne Taylor “Still waiting for my MediCal paperwork!!! Am I insured or not???????”
Tammy Hamilton from Sacramento “The goal was to get 30 million uninsured insured. The plan was to uninsure the insured and then reinsure them at higher premiums and take the extra money to insure the original uninsured. Make sense so far? Oh it gets better. So we’ve taken the insured who were happy with a product, forced them to buy a product they don’t want at higher rates to pay for those who didn’t want insurance in the first place and don’t want to pay for insurance. Welcome to Progressivism where Obama knows what’s best for you peasants…”
If ‘Covered California’ is so good, why have they spent wasted $86M for stupid ads and marketing (given they have a monopoly in the health insurance market–I digress) especially after forecasting a $78M deficit beginning next year?
Obama’s Record: War on Poverty –Image: Right Change@Facebook
(Washington Times) Fifty years after President Johnson started a $20 Million taxpayer funded war on poverty, the overall percentage of impoverished people in the United States has only declined slightly and the poor have lost ground during Obama’s Watch.
While Obama often rails against ‘income inequality’ in America, his deeds and actions together with his families personal lifestyle, doesn’t match his political rhetoric.
As Americans continue to tighten their belts, ‘The Obama’s Family’ spent wasted $4 Million of taxpayers money on a lavish 17 day Hawaiian vacation which Michelle O, has stayed behind to celebrate her 50th Birthday at additional costs to the taxpayers and to the ire of Maui locals, all the while:
If Obama is so confident that his economic policies are working so well, why is the economy so lousy and we need an additional ’emergency extension’ of unemployment benefits?
Related: Obama, The Fed & The Phony Economic Recovery
Obama: Extending Unemployment Benefits Creates Jobs, You Know
Obama Claims ‘No Serious Evidence’ ACA is Holding Back Economy
YMI Record High During Obama’s Watch –Young America’s Foundation
ObamaCare Smashing The Hopes of America’s Youth –Washington Times
Obama’s Wrecking Ball –Image: Young America Foundation@Facebook
“Anyone Else Tried To Use Covered California’s Online Assistance?”
Image: Thomas Dodson@Twitter
What Others Are Saying…
“Honestly…I’m having such a hard time figuring out this Covered California stuff…I can never get a call back and have yet to be insured. What plans are you guys using? — Katie Torwalt@Facebook
Some Replies: Ellen Ward@Facebook “None of them because they are too expensive, a $5,000 deductible is outrageous.”
Katie Torwalt@Facebook replies: “Right now I am paying Dr visits out of pocket.”
Jesse Roberson@Facebook “Entirely out of pocket! That typically results in eating whatever you might find in your pocket…LOL.”
Ellen Ward@Facebook “Mine was going to be over $200 a month and watch out, not every Dr takes ObamaCare.”
Chelsea Petranek@Facebook “I’m confused about it all too. I’ve been going around in circles with them and with my old insurance (thats no longer existing as of Jan) for the last few months and I am still having a hard time with them.”
David McKay@Facebook “Mine for Kaiser is $1,100 With no ObamaCare site quotes for our family are $1,400…”
Some Comments to: Covered California@Facebook
John Edmondson from Ventura: “After waiting online for over an hour to have an online chat they send me to an email system which they would not let me send. I really hope someone reads this because I am beyond angry right now…”
Matt Conn “I paid my premium, I have not received any paperwork and anytime I try calling Blue Shield, I’m on hold for hours and I have NO idea what my plan is, my benefits or where I can go–why is this such a mess?”
Angelina Lopez from Camarillo: “Major joke! So many clients of ours are so frustrated with not being enrolled in the right plan. Price comes back different or they are automatically enrolled in Medi-Cal which most DO NOT want and not to mention, no one knew how or where to make their payment–not even CoveredCA.”
Terry Givens from Durham: “Dear Covered California: Your new page is useless if the health coverage carriers can’t handle all the calls coming in. Maybe if you are listening, Covered California could REALLY help some people out.”
Kevin Knauss from Granite Bay: “I have clients where the carrier doesn’t even have a record of the application but Covered California says they sent it. Covered California has failed the residents of California. We don’t need a web page of how to make a payment, we need Covered California to straighten out the mess they’ve created.”
Amy Belanger from Berkeley: “My account says that I’m enrolled with Anthem, I applied for Kaiser (or thought I did) What do I do to fix this?”
Adam Hirschfelder from San Francisco: “What is happening here, Covered California is shameful. There is a very serious problem here and your well meaning officials are actually aware of it. Tens of thousands of us followed your directions exactly as your website directed us to, We filled out our applications by the deadline on your site and then, expected to hear from the carrier we selected but thousands of us have NOT heard from our selected carrier…Many of us heard from you that we ‘had coverage’ but again, your well meaning officials know this means nothing if we haven’t heard from our selected carrier. Then when we try to reach our selected carrier, tens of thousands of us can’t get through to discuss the issue with them…”
Remember When Obama Pledged Not to Raise Taxes on Middle Class–New ObamaCare Tax Hikes That Took Effect on January 01
Image: Evan Adams@Twitter
What Others Are Saying…
“Been on hold with @CoveredCA for 40+ minutes. Sigh.”
Marcie Diaz-Ordorica@Twitter
“@CoveredCA have not received my 1st invoice from Kaiser”
Fred Walker@Twitter
Related: Covered California Stumbles Into New Year –News Caller
Covered California Projects $78 Million Deficit 2015-2016 –UT San Diego
ObamaCare/Covered California Leave Many Latinos Behind –Calif Report
“Wow, I am a fan of @CoveredCA but after being notified that I’m 425 in the queue with 46 minute wait, I’m peeved!” –MVQ@Twitter
“@Covered CA: A New Low…Now I Can’t Pay For My Insurance In Time For Coverage This Month.” –Lia Holland@Twitter
“Oh Snap! After a Good Half Hour Covered California Decided They Didn’t Want To Have Our Little Chat, After All.” –EdnaPontellier@Facebook
“CoveredCA: I’ve Been Having Issues Getting Through Via Chat The Last Two Days…” –Image: Franko Fonseca
“CoveredCA: This is the message I received after waiting 35 minutes plus to talk to an agent. You people are awful.” –Tim Davis@Twitter
“Not happy with Covered California. Waited in online queue to get help and heres what I got.” –Image: Frank Sosa@Twitter