I live in Maine (one of those 23 states) and when I initially tried to apply for insurance under the ACA, I was told I made too little money and would have to file for Mainecare. The Mainecare program has been a favorite for budget cuts under this current Governor's administration - and many, many people have lost their insurance. Even college students, who suddenly find work.
I'm all for saving money and insuring people... but, you know, as someone who would have to pay expenses out of pocket... I don't think I'll ever really be satisfied until EVERYONE has access to care, whether it be dental, physical, or mental health related. If you visit the ER uninsured, or require a test, whether it's an x-ray, MRI, Pet scan, cat scan, whatever... you will be charged in the thousands of dollars. For someone like me, already buried under student loan debt, it's a damn good reason not to go to the hospital, no matter how sick I may be. It's a good reason not to get an eye exam, or to get dental work done, or to visit a therapist when I struggle with depression.
It's the simple fact that I can't afford it - any of it. I work almost forty hours a week, which pays for the car to get to work, car insurance, food and basic necessities. At 8.50 an hour, the idea of having to pay 500 bucks for an initial evaluation for a health issue... is really kind of bizarre. Mind boggling. I'd have to save about two weeks pay, just for that, and pay for nothing else in the meantime. Can't do it.
The real sickness with our health care system is the profit motive. Until we can eliminate that, thousands, even millions of people who need help will not get it.
Great that someone is saving money, great that some people are insured. The rest of us though, we're still kind of wondering how the fuck we could ever justify a 400 dollar appointment with a physician, or a test costing thousands of dollars to tell us if a couple ribs are cracked.
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