Reasons I cannot vote for Trump

[flyer]

BG, you make some very good points, and I think the reason many people don’t understand your level of concern regarding medical coverage, is because they are not yet 50+, so they are not yet in the health coverage danger zone.

Very few younger people will have lifetime health insurance at any level provided by their employers as we have, so, if they should find themselves without coverage during that critical time of their lives, and the government doesn’t find a way to continue to subsidize them indefinitely without going bankrupt (good luck with that) they will eventually understand exactly what you have been talking about. Sometimes experience IS the best teacher.

[joec]

[quote=flyer]BG, you make some very good points, and I think the reason many people don’t understand your level of concern regarding medical coverage, is because they are not yet 50+, so they are not yet in the health coverage danger zone.

Very few younger people will have lifetime health insurance at any level provided by their employers as we have, so, if they should find themselves without coverage during that critical time of their lives, and the government doesn’t find a way to continue to subsidize them indefinitely without going bankrupt (good luck with that) they will eventually understand exactly what you have been talking about. Sometimes experience IS the best teacher.[/quote]

I did not support unemployment until I got laid off for the 1st time.

I did not support maternal/paternal care until I had to help my wife care for the new born.

I did not worry about health insurance until I was self employed and couldn’t even find any insurer willing to cover us with maternity no matter the cost (us paying).

What you are saying, flyer is very true and until you are hit with something that you are without a safety net, your views of this and any topic will not be supportive of it.

That said, I am OK with no coverage for some things that are simply too advanced or has a low chance of success or too costly. Or if you want to try, get in line like foreign countries or something.

I agree that ACA still needs a lot of work and why for me, probably the most important thing in the election is healthcare and I want single payer.

Cut benefits, destroy the current healthcare/insurance/drug companies/monopolies/power.

The problem is only in America, if you have 1 medical emergency you can’t pay for, you will be bankrupt if you don’t have decent coverage.

At that point, might as well go to jail.

[flyer]

Joe, I understand everything you are saying, but, for the most part, although I realize we are not always in control of everything in our lives like getting laid off, etc., I believe the state of our finances are, to a great degree, the direct result of the financial and life choices we, as individuals, make.

For example, and as the housing crash made crystal clear, many people in America believed they were entitled to have whatever home they wanted–even when they knew they couldn’t afford it–and we all know how well that worked out.

The line between rights and privileges is becoming a blur in our present society of entitlement–many expecting they should get everything they want just because they want it.

Only time will tell if that’s a good thing, or if the system will simply collapse under that level of economic/financial pressure. If it does, like it or not–the reality is–nobody will win, and those who are the most dependent on the system will have the most to lose.

[FlyerInHi]

BG, what makes you think that your entitled to the best PPO? Why not a local HMO? At least you’re covered.

You rail against ACA, but remember, you’re older now and insurance companies are profit making businesses and they charge more for higher risks and benefits.

In my view, everyone should have baseline single payer coverage. If you want more, pay extra or your employer can pay for you. I believe republicans would agree with that, unless they believe that some people should go without coverage altogether.

One of my friend opened a business last year and I’ve been helping with software and administration. Thanks to ACA the employees have coverage.

Before ACA, the secretary in a small office or the car wash guy at a small dealership, or a freelance independent contractor didn’t have coverage. Now they do. We are all better off. Again, it’s not all about you.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=flyer]BG, you make some very good points, and I think the reason many people don’t understand your level of concern regarding medical coverage, is because they are not yet 50+, so they are not yet in the health coverage danger zone.

Very few younger people will have lifetime health insurance at any level provided by their employers as we have, so, if they should find themselves without coverage during that critical time of their lives, and the government doesn’t find a way to continue to subsidize them indefinitely without going bankrupt (good luck with that) they will eventually understand exactly what you have been talking about. Sometimes experience IS the best teacher.[/quote]Thanks, flyer. I tried to explain the obamacare debacle ad nauseam on this forum, replete with dozens of links explaining in intimate detail all the dozens of problems with dealing with the exchange. (Even enrolled health exchange agents, who have their own screens and special passwords on Covered CA have massive, intractable problems with their clients’ accounts.) This is all due to Covered CA’s (CC) and Medi-Cal’s utter incompetence due to too many fingers in the pot, too many working parts which are NOT working in tandem with one other, poor interpretation of the law as well as having the hopelessly understaffed IRS involved in this mess. The ~30 or so links I posted here are just the tip the iceberg.

Be prepared to spend 4-36 hours PER MONTH “maintaining” your OWN CC account if you are over 55 and your monthly income is within ~250% of “poverty level.” CC (and Medi-Cal) will do whatever it takes to get your income down below the Medi-Cal threshold and will do it behind your back without notice …. all the while you believe you have coverage because you paid your premium on time. Once you’re thrown into “the system” (involuntarily) you’re stuck in there for a minimum of 9 months and often the entire year (and longer, if you don’t file a timely appeal and pursue it thru to administrative hearing). One stuck in Medi-Cal can’t buy off-exchange individual coverage after the “enrollment period” is up because Medi-Cal is considered to be “ACA-compliant.” In any case, the only choices off-exchange in SD County are a handful (2-3) HMOs and 1-2 Bronze-level PPOs. Everything else is gone.

I’m probably one of the most anal-retentive ex-bureaucrats you will ever meet and I have never seen anything like this colossal mess that is the ACA …… ever. Never in my lifetime did I think I was going to have to keep copious records in paper (mostly everything in every file off my CC account and visit it very regularly (at least once per wk) to see, what, if anything was done behind my back. Nor did I think I would have to wait up to 3 hrs to speak with a CC rep on the phone and log every single name and agent number and everything that transpired during the call (I’ve taken to recording them). I feel all this must be done because CC tries to cover their errors after the fact (when they’ve been pointed out by a customer or agent to a supervisor) by deleting the erroneous entry in the customer’s case, or worse, locking the customers CC case so they (and their agent) no longer have access to it.

CC needs to be dismantled forthwith and all those clowns running it and “working” in it let go (maybe 5-10% of their reps attempt to be honest to customers but don’t have the skills or computer access to fix their problems).

Nor did I think I was going to have to deal with County Social Services (Medi-Cal) and discuss all my private business with them. WTF?? Are you joking me? Ha, ha, I used to be one of YOU!

If a CC customer over 55 pays less attention to their CC account than I do (most everyone), then they’re setting themselves up for forced Medi-Cal placement for the purposes of “Estate Recovery.” I feel sorry for those CC enrollees for which English is not their first language. I’ve helped several people with their CC problems and was successful and am probably now nearly qualified to be one of their enrolled agent/navigators but I don’t want the job. It’s too time-consuming and NOT financially rewarding for the time you put into it. I applaud those agents with the patience of Job who assist in signing up many families on Medi-Cal and take care of all of their inevitable enrollment problems, which take many, many hours to fix. I think it is really unfortunate that so many middle-income people are unwittingly thrown into that system (over 12M now in CA) when it didn’t have enough providers to serve the <3M who were in it prior to obamacare.

In addition, CC issued tens of thousands of Form 1095's this year to exchange customers which were in error, refusing to correct them and causing these poor slobs to have to file extensions on their tax returns. Lots of these working stiffs were expecting large refunds (even the EIC) and cannot get those refunds until they can file their returns. These erroneous 1095 forms were sent to customers who changed plans from Jan-March (before open enrollment ended) or who were required to "prove their incomes to CC during the year, causing CC''s "system" to boot them out and set them up as a "new" client with a "new" plan with a slightly different subsidy and even a different premium (if they had a birthday since they signed up for or renewed their plan) under the same case number even if they kept the same plan as they always had! The “system” then mailed them a new “Welcome to CC” letter and started their account all over again. This happened to me when I was required to prove my income again in March 2016. I rec’d a new welcome letter from CC this past April with my new subsidy ($26 difference) and I have been with them since 1/1/14! So this group who rec’d the erroneous 1095A forms from CC are enrollees whose APTC and possibly monthly premium changed one or more times during the year (it wasn’t the same amount every month). I fully expect to get an erroneous Form 1095A from CC for tax year 2016. When it doesn’t match the subsidies I (and my carrier) state that I was/they were paid on my 2016 Form 8962, I’ll get a “12C letter” from the IRS about 2 months after I file my taxes. It’s okay. I now know the drill.

This doesn’t even take into account the intransigent problems with the exchange carriers. These problems mostly have to do with billing (carriers taking too much from customer’s credit cards and bank accounts), wrong start/stop dates of enrollment, failure to issue a timely member ID card (or one at all) and failure to delete providers from their website when they drop out of serving exchange customers.

We exchange planholders are forced to put up with all this crap (daily/weekly/monthly) just for the “opportunity” to get an (often small) subsidy to help us pay our now exorbitant premiums under “obamacare.”

I could go on and on …. and on. Suffice to say that CC and their uber-tight bedfellow, Medi-Cal, is still a colossal, effed-up mess for everyone who finds themselves involved with it. In my humble opinion, these problems are not fixable. My being “bumped” from my plan last November while I was on the road, traveling and having to get it reinstated (again) seriously caused me to develop high blood pressure (136/94) just after Thanksgiving last year (I never had HBP in my life). Thankfully, I was able to get it lowered without medication before the holidays.

Honestly, I don’t think too many Piggs have actually read any of my eye-opening posts re: the mechanics of the ACA. I mean …. you’re right, flyer. Why should they care? The truth is, they don’t want to know. The ACA really doesn’t affect worker bees who have employer coverage too much. And Estate Recovery doesn’t apply to people under the age of 55 who sign up for Medi-Cal.

Until one actually walks in another’s shoes, they can’t possibly know or understand why they feel the way they do.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=FlyerInHi]In my view, everyone should have baseline single payer coverage. If you want more, pay extra or your employer can pay for you. I believe republicans would agree with that, unless they believe that some people should go without coverage altogether . . . [/quote]FIH, you ought to be supporting Bernie Sanders. Just out of curiosity, do you plan on voting for Bernie?

[flyer]

From my observations, the trendy concept that we all must sacrifice for the greater good, just doesn’t seem to be working out very well in the real world, considering the wealth gap is greater than ever before in history. Should be interesting to see if any of our politicians can solve that one.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=joec] . . . I agree that ACA still needs a lot of work and why for me, probably the most important thing in the election is healthcare and I want single payer.

Cut benefits, destroy the current healthcare/insurance/drug companies/monopolies/power.

The problem is only in America, if you have 1 medical emergency you can’t pay for, you will be bankrupt if you don’t have decent coverage.

At that point, might as well go to jail.[/quote]joec, IIRC, you are a CC customer. I take it that you are planning on voting for Bernie Sanders in the primary.

I am a CC customer and also (pretty much) a one-issue voter this year. That is, I want obamacare repealed and replaced and it can’t be soon enough for me. So I’ll be voting for Trump in the primary. But if a one-off incident is somehow successful in derailing his candidacy at the convention (highly unlikely), I’ll be voting for Sanders in the general election IF he gets the nomination. If he doesn’t, then I won’t be voting for president in the general election.

I’d take a single payer system any day of the week (with an option to “upgrade” it with a supplement) than the horrendous pile of horsesh!t we are currently living with. I predict obamacare premiums will go up $250-$300 month in 2017 in my age group and region … with dozens more local providers (maybe hundreds) dropping off the few available plans we have to choose from.

[FlyerInHi]

[quote=bearishgurl][quote=FlyerInHi]In my view, everyone should have baseline single payer coverage. If you want more, pay extra or your employer can pay for you. I believe republicans would agree with that, unless they believe that some people should go without coverage altogether . . . [/quote]FIH, you ought to be supporting Bernie Sanders. Just out of curiosity, do you plan on voting for Bernie?[/quote]

I support Bernie. I didn’t vote for him (in Nevada) but I gave him money because I like his message.

[enron_by_the_sea]

.

[no_such_reality]

Where the money goes:

And according to blue shield, the big drivers are older, sicker, specialy drugs and newer more expensive treatments, i.e proton beam therapy. Someone has to pay for each of those $200 million dollar centers.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ll be first in line for proton beam if I get something that needs treatment by it, but the fact remains, $32K versus $18K.

[FlyerInHi]

[quote=flyer]From my observations, the trendy concept that we all must sacrifice for the greater good, just doesn’t seem to be working out very well in the real world, considering the wealth gap is greater than ever before in history. Should be interesting to see if any of our politicians can solve that one.[/quote]

Flyer, the concept of winner and loser is dominant. If one loses, it means that one deserves to lose. Hence the wealth gap.

Democratic Socialism maybe trendy among millennials and some groups but it’s still niche thinking.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=FlyerInHi]BG, It’s boarding school and the Czech upbringing.

http://wapo.st/1quCBI7
[/quote]FIH, I just read your article posted on my “CA university” thread. Thanks for sharing! I have yet to order a book on the history of the Trumps (when Donald was growing up and before). Yes, his two (formerly “eastern bloc”) spouses were/are strict with their kid(s) and did NOT raise them with a “silver spoon” . . . that’s now plain for all to see. His 4th kid grew up undoubtedly surrounded by the same “pop culture” of the typical millenial growing up in SoCal … with an American mom, so she turned out a little different than his first 3 kids (not “wild,” per se, but different). However, she apparently looks up to her half-sister, Ivanka, for guidance, whose knowledge and demeanor seem to be rubbing off on her. Nonetheless, she looks, acts and dresses beautifully (while on her father’s campaign trail) and speaks intelligently to the MSM. It’s clear that her mother, a former “beauty queen” and “southern belle” must have taught her a few important things re: how to navigate the MSM, etc. I believe she will also be a success in life given the wonderful family network she has to envelop her as a young adult who is just starting out in life.

I’m going to have to take umbrage with the author’s quoting rags and unauthorized bios railing against Donald for “not spend enough time with his children.” Actually, he probably spent as much time as he could, considering the fact that he had 3-4 kids at the time to send to private school and college. Somebody had to work for a living if the other parent was at home, holding down the fort and that was the agreement between the parents (while married). Each of them had an agreed-upon important (but different) role in raising their children.

IIRC, Donald’s first spouse, Ivana, worked her a$$ off FT for more than a decade managing their various projects in NY and NJ. She deserves everything she got in her divorce settlement. Their kids’ statements from the rags the author is quoting, such as, “choosing not to see their dad” after he remarried (or choosing not to attend his wedding) were very likely perpetuated by the mom and maternal grandmother’s manipulation of them. This type of psychological manipulation of children (temporary or permanent) has a name. It is called parental-alienation syndrome or “PAS.” It is common among children of divorcing parents and is usually perpetuated by the parent who feels they were “wronged” by the other parent. PAS is very real and very damaging to children and its effects can last a lifetime, depriving the other parent of the love (or even contact with) his/her children well into adulthood and even forever (if they were lied to consistently and successfully enough by the other parent). I note that Donald’s kids have (fortunately) outgrown it and the boys attending private boarding schools for JH/HS probably helped them grow up . . . . a lot (well out of parental influence and strife). That’s how Donald grew up as well and it was a good choice for him and well as his sons.

We all know that nothing is “free” in life, including sending five kids to private school and college which probably cost the Donald a bundle … exclusive of paying out settlements, divvying up extremely valuable RE and possibly paying child support as well. If he wanted/needed to continue to make the kind of income (and civic impact) he had been making in the business world, he had no choice but to give up physical custody of his kids to their moms for the stability of their home life … and he did the right thing by doing so, IMO, in spite of the fact that his first 3 kids were obviously somewhat “manipulated” by their mom and grandmother when they were pre-teens. He’s now almost 70 years old and is still not anywhere near done raising children (HIS choice …. no “gold-digger jabs,” please). At the end of the day, he paid it all and couldn’t be 2-3 places at once while doing so I don’t understand why the author of this article didn’t give him a break on this issue, especially since one of his kids lived ~3000 miles away. We all know that kids cost a lot of $$ and the more one has, the more they cost.

I note that BOTH of Donald’s “exes” are currently publicly supporting his candidacy. Go figure.

Regardless of all his bluster and campaign rhetoric so far, I believe Donald is truly a good person and always tried to do the right thing by his family members, however difficult that was for him … whether HE was personally “at fault” …. or not. I think he is a natural leader and an “expert people-handler” and thus, would make a great president.

If we want to compare all those “Trump half-stories” now streaming out of the MSM to the lo-o-o-ng record of the “Hill/Bill tag team” who will ostensibly be running for the ticket on the Dem side (yes, if Hill is elected Prez, we will have a “pkg deal” for a president, which includes the likes of our “old friend,” Bill at front and center of the melee :=0), then we don’t have to look too far to find the Clinton’s embroiled in scandalous business dealings whilst rolling in the sheets with spurious partners (both literally and figuratively), numerous examples of their unmitigated greed (both overt and covert) as well as gross incompetence (in Hill’s SoS post). And this is coming from a longtime DEM with an even longer memory :=0

Choose wisely in this very important election year, folks.

[FlyerInHi]

BG, Marla Maples don’t seem as smart as Ivanna and Melania, who grew up in poor communist countries.

Tiffanie is not a pretty and polished as Ivanka who’s the smartest.

Despite everything you said, I don’t believe trump would make a good president.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=FlyerInHi]BG, Marla Maples don’t seem as smart as Ivanna and Melania, who grew up in poor communist countries.

Tiffanie is not a pretty and polished as Ivanka who’s the smartest.. . . [/quote]Agree with both of these statements except that Tiffany is pretty in a different way than Ivanka but of course, not as polished. She is also at least 12 years younger than Ivanka so she has time to develop that polish. She presents very well for her age.

I agree that Maples is not as educated as Ivana and Melania in that she never attended college. However, that doesn’t make her a bad or incompetent mom. She’s still active in show biz and has other things going for her that the others don’t.

Ivana has a Master’s Degree in physical education from her home country, was an Olympic-calibur skier and studied English at McGill University in Montreal, acc to her Wiki page.

Melania dropped out of university in her home country after one year but is an accomplished international model and apparently speaks five languages, acc to her Wiki page.

All of them are very attractive, poised and accomplished women who obviously have been taking care of themselves over the years. There is something to be said for that.

[Author]

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