Sebelius: Some Could See Insurance Premiums Rise

[amandabeech]

11. When Roberta, at 50, has to stop working to help an aging relative

no one wants to hire her and she does project work only. She went without health insurance while caring for the elderly person because she could not work and could not afford health insurance.

However, project work is only available in certain cities where the cost of living is very high--probably because in today's America, cities with work are boom towns.

Boom towns have very high housing costs.

Roberta can't get a policy for less than $1400 because of her age. Even a small apartment in a safe neighborhood costs that much. If she makes less than the maximum to obtain a subsidy for her health care premium under the ACA, she can't afford a safe place to live. If she makes a little more, she loses the subsidy, and still can't afford housing and health insurance.

I'm glad that you will benefit from the ACA, but please keep in mind that not everyone will, and that those who won't benefit are those who are more likely to be older because insurance costs will be based on age, but incomes won't.

Frankly, I'm not too surprised, given that Obama wasn't interested in voters over 50 when he ran the first time. He didn't want their votes because he intended to make life increasingly difficult for them.