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Ted Cruz going on Obamacare

Thanks for pointing out that he hasn't yet purchased insurance.

As far as abiding by the law, he has the option of not purchasing any insurance and paying a penalty, which would cost him far less money than purchasing Obamacare. The law does not require him to buy a plan on the exchange.

not buying insurance and paying the penalty is probably not an option, its' pretty ignorant to argue as much... he's opposed to Obamacare, not health insurance itself.

if he goes with his employer offered healthcare insurance, he is required to go through the exchanges... well, except Congresscritters and their staffers go through a small business exchange in DC that no other federal employees can ( even if they work in DC).

his only other option would be to purchase on the open market and pay about 1000-1500 a month for a plan to cover his family.
taking this option would be indicative of him opposing employer based health insurance, not just Obamacare.. which is not a position he has chimed in on, but it's safe to say he probably isn't opposed to.

at the end of the day, he'll probably go with employer based healthcare insurance...which in the case of federal employees, must be through Obamacare exchanges.

all in all, it's a non-issue... except in terms of political theater.
 
In other words, he's getting insurance through his employer, and his employer made a law (that he didn't vote for) that said the employer-based insurance has to go through the Exchange.

He never advocated for the end of employer-based insurance, and he didn't vote to move the Federal plan to the Exchanges.

The "walk" and "talk" are only in your mind.

Nobody is calling him a hypocrite over employer-based insurance, he is being called a hypocrite for going on Obamacare. You can wrap the story up with a pretty bow if you want. Doesn't change the reality.
 
Perhaps I'm missing something, but please tell me what option he has that:

1. Gets him insurance
2. Does not interact with the ACA
3. Does not break the law

Here is what other Republicans have done.
 
not buying insurance and paying the penalty is probably not an option, its' pretty ignorant to argue as much... he's opposed to Obamacare, not health insurance itself.

Agreed. One would have to be pretty stupid to argue that going uncovered is a viable option for someone as wealthy as Cruz. Since neither you nor I (nor Cruz) is stupid, let's not even go there.

if he goes with his employer offered healthcare insurance, he is required to go through the exchanges... well, except Congresscritters and their staffers go through a small business exchange in DC that no other federal employees can ( even if they work in DC).

his only other option would be to purchase on the open market and pay about 1000-1500 a month for a plan to cover his family.
taking this option would be indicative of him opposing employer based health insurance, not just Obamacare.. which is not a position he has chimed in on, but it's safe to say he probably isn't opposed to.

at the end of the day, he'll probably go with employer based healthcare insurance...which in the case of federal employees, must be through Obamacare exchanges.

all in all, it's a non-issue... except in terms of political theater.

I disagree that purchasing his own insurance means he is opposed to employer based health care. I just don't see how one means the other.

The way I see it, Cruz's wealth and position provides him with a wide range of options for gaining coverage. And with all those options available to him, he is choosing one from the exchange. This comes after his numerous complaints about how awful it is that the law is "forcing" people to buy on the exchange.

If buying through the exchange is so bad, then why is he deliberately and voluntarily doing so?

Obviously,buying through an exchange is the best option for him - a man with a wealth of options (not to mention money). At the very least, it seems to counter his complaints about how terrible it is that so many people are being forced to buy through an exchange.
 
My guess is that Cruz is going the exchange route so he can get first hand experience about Obamacare...the same experience the voters are having. It should give him plenty of ammunition to shoot that crap down, show the voters he knows what he...and they...are talking about and show them that he is on their side.
 
My guess is that Cruz is going the exchange route so he can get first hand experience about Obamacare...the same experience the voters are having. It should give him plenty of ammunition to shoot that crap down, show the voters he knows what he...and they...are talking about and show them that he is on their side.

You do realize that is ridiculous, and obamacare enrollment continues to increase, and the ones talking down about it are mostly republicans who have never even used the plan, spreading conspiracy theories. Tens of millions are directly benefiting, and it is improving every day. It's not going to go away.
 
You do realize that is ridiculous, and obamacare enrollment continues to increase, and the ones talking down about it are mostly republicans who have never even used the plan, spreading conspiracy theories. Tens of millions are directly benefiting, and it is improving every day. It's not going to go away.

Take away the mandate and see what happens. ;)

It's pretty easy to get people to sign up for something when you FORCE them to do it.
 
My guess is that Cruz is going the exchange route so he can get first hand experience about Obamacare...the same experience the voters are having.

My guess is it's the best choice for his family. I applaud him!
 
Take away the mandate and see what happens. ;)

It's pretty easy to get people to sign up for something when you FORCE them to do it.

Oh, see what happens? The rate of uninsured rises, people with pre-existing conditions are screwed, millions lose health insurance, insurance companies scramble to readjust, screwing them over even more since they've begin to stabilize.
 
My guess is it's the best choice for his family. I applaud him!

for.... following the law?

Yes, and while we're at it, congratulations to everyone who filed tax returns this year!! :applaud
 
Agreed. One would have to be pretty stupid to argue that going uncovered is a viable option for someone as wealthy as Cruz. Since neither you nor I (nor Cruz) is stupid, let's not even go there.



I disagree that purchasing his own insurance means he is opposed to employer based health care. I just don't see how one means the other.

The way I see it, Cruz's wealth and position provides him with a wide range of options for gaining coverage. And with all those options available to him, he is choosing one from the exchange. This comes after his numerous complaints about how awful it is that the law is "forcing" people to buy on the exchange.

If buying through the exchange is so bad, then why is he deliberately and voluntarily doing so?

Obviously,buying through an exchange is the best option for him - a man with a wealth of options (not to mention money). At the very least, it seems to counter his complaints about how terrible it is that so many people are being forced to buy through an exchange.

buying on the open market would mean no employer contribution... he'd be paying 100% of the premiums
or he'd run with the employer-based insurance and pay 25% of his premiums....

I know his opposition will give him hell over it...and that's fine.
the dude should cover his family in the most economically responsible way available to him...which is exactly what the people who are giving him hell do.

at the end of the day, there's nothing wrong with opposing something and still taking part in it when it is the best option available.... it does, however, make for great political theater.
 
for.... following the law?

Yes, and while we're at it, congratulations to everyone who filed tax returns this year!! :applaud:

For not letting ideology get in the way of an affordable, high-quality option that benefits his family. I may have partially misjudged him.
 
Oh, see what happens? The rate of uninsured rises, people with pre-existing conditions are screwed, millions lose health insurance, insurance companies scramble to readjust, screwing them over even more since they've begin to stabilize.

...you realize you are describing the last couple of years?
 
Oh, see what happens? The rate of uninsured rises, people with pre-existing conditions are screwed, millions lose health insurance, insurance companies scramble to readjust, screwing them over even more since they've begin to stabilize.

Yes if we took away the mandate the entire bill and all your wish list goes up in flames. Funny how the law is built on servitude isn't it, mister socialist.
 
For not letting ideology get in the way of an affordable, high-quality option that benefits his family. I may have partially misjudged him.

:shrug: the law requires that congresscritters purchase through the exchanges. I realize that this might be difficult for defenders of the current administration to really 'get', but people in leadership positions of government are supposed to follow the law. Prior to this, he was on his wife's insurance. She's taken a leave of absence due to the campaign, and so he has to get it for the family instead.


I realize it's cute, but ya'll do realize you are trying to make this into something it's not?
 
...you realize you are describing the last couple of years?

You realize it's the private insurance companies fault that people lost there health insurance? Insurance companies did have to readjust at first, but right now it is stable, and I'm describing what will happen if we get rid of a way for millions to get health insurance that is affordable, and hep those with pre-existing conditions.
 
You do realize that is ridiculous, and obamacare enrollment continues to increase, and the ones talking down about it are mostly republicans who have never even used the plan, spreading conspiracy theories. Tens of millions are directly benefiting, and it is improving every day. It's not going to go away.

Didn't you check out that link Geoist provided? Congressmen are using Obamacare...even Republican Congressmen...as well as their staff. They know what they are talking about.

The only way you'll keep Obamacare from getting tossed in the dumpster...assuming the Supremes don't do it first...is by preventing Republicans from getting full control of the government next year. Good luck with that.
 
:shrug: the law requires that congresscritters purchase through the exchanges. Prior to this, he was on his wife's insurance. She's taken a leave of absence due to the campaign, and so he has to get it for the family instead.


I realize it's cute, but ya'll do realize you are trying to make this into something it's not?

He could get on his wife's insurance plan, believe it or not.
 
Didn't you check out that link Geoist provided? Congressmen are using Obamacare...even Republican Congressmen...as well as their staff. They know what they are talking about.

The only way you'll keep Obamacare from getting tossed in the dumpster...assuming the Supremes don't do it first...is by preventing Republicans from getting full control of the government next year. Good luck with that.

Oh yes, the republican congressmen who obviously care about helping poor families who can't get health insurance. You can't just "toss it in the dumpster"
 
:shrug: the law requires that congresscritters purchase through the exchanges. Prior to this, he was on his wife's insurance. She's taken a leave of absence due to the campaign, and so he has to get it for the family instead.

Federal law allows him to still be on his wife's insurance for many, many more months. He has instead chosen what he deemed to be the better option for his family (potentially at a small personal political cost, given the persona he's cultivated). Like I said, I'm mildly impressed.
 
Yes if we took away the mandate the entire bill and all your wish list goes up in flames. Funny how the law is built on servitude isn't it, mister socialist.

My wish list? I assume you mean universal healthcare? Yes, I would love that.
 
You realize it's the private insurance companies fault that people lost there health insurance?

Quite the contrary - it was Obamacare's fault. That was the change that threw them all off their plans.

My aunt, for example, was able to retire at 60 (I think she's 62 now), with a deal from her company that she gets to keep her health plan for the next five years until she hits Medicare. Huzzah!

Oh. But then it turned out her plan didn't have pediatric dental coverage.... for a 60 year old single woman with no children.... so the plan was cancelled and she lost coverage.

Now... what? She has no income, and she didn't plan of having to pick up 5 years solo when she ran the numbers for retirement.

I am pretty sure she was an Obama voter, too. A bit bitter.
 
Quite the contrary - it was Obamacare's fault. That was the change that threw them all off their plans.

My aunt, for example, was able to retire at 60 (I think she's 62 now), with a deal from her company that she gets to keep her health plan for the next five years until she hits Medicare. Huzzah!

Oh. But then it turned out her plan didn't have pediatric dental coverage.... for a 60 year old single woman with no children.... so the plan was cancelled and she lost coverage.

Now... what? She has no income, and she didn't plan of having to pick up 5 years solo when she ran the numbers for retirement.

I am pretty sure she was an Obama voter, too. A bit bitter.

That's a real shame, maybe the insurance companies should have followed the requirements and adjusted there plans to follow the requirements. Again, it's the insurance companies refusing to comply.
 
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