SCOTUS Refuses to Strike Down “Obamacare”

Why, yes, they are.

In a stunning display of not having entirely been bought out by old rich white dudes, the Supreme Court has upheld the Health Care Bill.  Now, many people will say, “Yes, but it’s still incredibly flawed, the weakest, most watered down version of the health care bill possible.”  And that’s true, but let us not allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good, or even the “little bit better than sucks like a Hoover.”

Would I prefer fully “socialized” medicine, like nearly every other rational, industrialized nation in the world has?  Yes.  But am I happy with the babystep that people cannot be refused insurance for pre-existing conditions?  YES!  I’m fucking ecstatic, because I’m a 41 year old woman with asthma, arthritis and a family history of breast and uterine cancer. I’ve put off being tested for the gene that predisposes you to breast cancer, because I don’t want an insurance company using that against me if it goes in my file, to deny me coverage.

Am I happy with the babystep that says we have to buy our own insurance, but that insurance companies also have to make it fucking affordable and that the government is going to help subsidize those who can’t afford it?  Yes, because I’ve lived without health insurance, and it sucks (see asthma and arthritis).  At that time my inhalers only ran about $120 a month, now without insurance they’re closer to $200, and while that isn’t the $700 and up that many people need, it’s $200 that would be out of my reach.

Am I delighted that insurance companies will no longer be able to cut people’s coverage if they get sick and need it, even after years of having paid in with minimal pay outs?  YES!

That last one especially.  That stupid asshole Sarah Palin has been bleating about “death panels” if “Obamacare” goes into effect.  But we already have death panels, and that’s those people in insurance companies who decide that “your treatment is too expensive, try this one even though it doesn’t work as well,” or who decide that giving you the coverage you’ve been paying into for years is too expensive and they cancel your policy.

“Obamacare” will put an end to that shit, hopefully.  I mean, insurance companies have platoons of lawyers dedicated to helping them weasel out of their responsibilities.  But it’s a step, a much needed first step.