“It’s time to do away with workplace policies that belong in a Mad Men episode.” That Mad Men reference in President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address, underscoring the need for equal pay, was one of the high points of the address and has since gone viral. But as for the section devoted to healthcare, his comments weren’t nearly as powerful as the guests who served as important reminders for the successes (and shortcomings) of the Affordable Care Act.
Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear represented the achievements of the Obamacare health insurance reforms more effectively than the speech. Kentucky’s health insurance exchange has been one of the success stories since enrollment began in October. It was one of 17 states that decided to create its own health insurance marketplace. As of the end of December, more than 116,000 people had signed up for health insurance through its exchange, Kynect.
Another guest who underscored what healthcare reform was intended to do was Amanda Shelley, a physician assistant who had been unable to get insurance due to a pre-existing condition. After enrolling through Obamacare changes, she required emergency abdominal surgery. Her healthcare costs were much lower than what she might otherwise have faced.
When Investment Rhymes with Canada
Canada has a proud history of achievement in the areas of science and technology, and the field of biomanufacturing and life sciences is no exception.
Democratic members of Congress also brought guests such as cancer survivors who were presented as winners in the Affordable Care Act.
Some guests offered a reminder of the administration’s shortcomings. Republicans brought constituents who have had their plans canceled because the plans no longer qualified under the new requirements included in the Affordable Care Act. Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.), brought Diane Iser, a breast cancer survivor whose plan was also cancelled under Obamacare. Although her plan was since reinstated for one year, her healthcare costs are set to increase.
Although wounded veteran Cory Remsburg received a standing ovation from both sides of the aisle, he served as a reminder of the massive backlog of disability claims that the Department of Veterans Affairs has struggled to reduce.
