I worked in a Union 76 Service station in Pacific Palisades when I was in college. I left my sheltered existence in Idaho with a friend to find a summer job and a bit of an adventure. I lucked out and got the late shift in the station, pumping gas, changing oil and tires, and washing car windows. I worked with a sixty something guy named Art, a rough looking but actually a kind Italian guy. After my initial hazing he tried to teach me the business and he did delight in updating my swearing skills into another language. “Vaffanculo” he would shout when he was amused, angered, or frustrated. I always heard the word as ‘bassamacola” and thought his translation was “kiss my ass.” It just dawned on me that Art provided me with a word that best describes almost everything the Orange Wanker and his henchmen are doing to our country, the word is roughly equivalent to “f@@@@ you or f@@@@ off.” Thank you Art, I was nearly out of words to express my angst.
Hank and his buddy got in the golf cart for a ride home from school on Wednesday. I had heard about the expression that is in vogue with younger folks; 6 7. I asked them what it meant and do their friends use it. They both started to laugh, “as they were sitting in the last class of the day a student walked through the halls shouting 6 7 so loudly most everyone could hear.” Funny huh? What does it mean-absolutely nothing. It is said with a certain hand gesture and its origin was a song called “doot doot” ( 6 7) by Skrilla, that went viral with a meme. The fabulous basketball player, LaMelo Ball who happens to be 6 foot 7 promoted the song. The rest is urban legend. Hank and Jack did attribute some positive vibe to the expression—something you might say when you think someone or something is cool.
I got an education this week on health insurance and the changing landscape we all face. The One Awful Bill passed to cut taxes for the wealthy and presumptively to help the low and middle income earners is a pending disaster. Turns out one way to pay for that tax slashing for the wealthy was to gut the Medicare, Medicaid and Affordable Care act Subsidies. Don’t be fooled that these changes are about fraud and abuse and No—Illegal immigrants do not qualify for any of these funds. Karen and I got a notice from our Medicare Advantage carrier that our plan was no longer offered. We can move to a similar plan but it will cost us $1416 more per year and we have not seen the coverage or deductible parameters yet. We fortunately can afford that increase on top of the funds we pay from Social Security for the Medicare coverage. Imagine if you could not afford the insurance increase on your family budget.
The premium tax credit supports over 100,000 Idahoans who purchase a health plan through Your Health Idaho. The annual premium for an individual, mid 40’s making $31,300 will go up $1344 per year. The annual premium for a couple in their 60’s earning $90,000 per year will increase by $19,864. Pat Kelly, Executive Director of Your Health Idaho expects that without the subsidies 25,000 Idahoans will have to cancel coverage. We are long past Indigent Care funds at the County level and Medical Disaster funds at the State Level. How will we take care of the medical emergencies for those who no longer have coverage—-your local hospitals will be the last resort.
So how is the new law helping health care providers like hospitals in Idaho. The Big Disastrous Bill, includes Medicaid reductions in Idaho of $4.3 billion over the next decade. Some estimate up to 75,000 Idahoans could lose health care coverage, driving up uncompensated care costs for the hospital. There is a loss of supplemental payments in the federal law should allow Idaho to be compensated for chronic underpayments from government programs. Add to that the Medicaid reductions necessitated by the Idaho budget short fall estimated at 4%. There are other losses of funding for home health care, and the already mentioned loss of ACA Subsidies for Your Health Idaho. The hospitals must provide care in their Emergency rooms regardless.
There are multiple Rural hospitals in Idaho who will face significant financial challenges over the coming months and years. Rural hospitals will be forced to reduce services and potentially face financially insolvency. Thanks to the Big Untenable Bill Idahoans face a darkening health access future not to mention financial instability.
Please invest the time this week to call or text your Legislators to support the re opening of the Government with a compromise on Affordable Care Act subsidies. I hope you can turn out for the NoKings rally near you, together we will overcome.
The picture is what and where we should enjoy the beautiful orange color created by nature.
Mike