The Good, The Bad and The Infuriating Aspects of Ted Cruz Signing Up for Obamacare

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Deanie Mills ?@deaniemills
Republicans claim "It's the law," like Cruz had no choice. NOT TRUE. Show them THIS: http://thedailybanter.com/2015/03/the-good-the-bad-and-the-infuriating-aspects-of-ted-cruz-signing-up-for-obamacare/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter …


On one hand, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) signing up for an Obamacare health insurance policy is fantastic news. As we discussed yesterday, Cruz had a number of options at his disposal after losing his health insurance coverage due to his wife taking a leave of absence from Goldman Sachs. And no, he isn’t required to buy an Obamacare policy, so he absolutely had options...

If Cruz doesn’t have to sign up for an Obamacare plan, what were Cruz’s other non-Obamacare options?

He could’ve immediately enrolled in COBRA, which would’ve allowed Cruz and his wife to keep their existing policy. He could’ve signed up for an Obamacare policy as an individual, like some members of Congress are doing to sidestep the so-called “illegal” premium sharing plan implemented by the OPM (continuing the policy of premium sharing from Congress’ previous health insurance program). Or he could’ve simply enrolled directly with an insurance provider in his state.

And what did Cruz choose instead of all of these alternatives? He chose his arch-nemesis: Obamacare. Why? Because none of the above options would’ve included the 72 percent premium sharing from the government. And the plans offers, probably one of the Gold-level plans is likely comparable to his wife’s Goldman Sachs plan. So, not only did Cruz basically endorse the Obamacare option, but he did so in part because of Obama’s allegedly impeachment-worthy decision to continue the premium sharing plan for Congress.

All told, this was almost a de facto endorsement of Obamacare. Ted Cruz, of all people, thinks Obamacare is the best deal for his family. The hypocrisy angle is almost a sideshow compared with this. Cruz filibustered Obamacare. He helped force a government shutdown over Obamacare. He’s lied dozens of times about Obamacare. And now he’s basically saying, “Hey, this Obamacare thing and the employer premium thing that I’m opposed to — really great deal!” So, again, for a rabid Obamacare enemy to pull off an inadvertent Nixon-to-China moment is a huge endorsement of the law.

On the other hand, it should also infuriate anyone who has an insurance policy due to or via Obamacare...


read more: http://thedailybanter.com/2015/03/the-good-the-bad-and-the-infuriating-aspects-of-ted-cruz-signing-up-for-obamacare/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[CanonRay]

1. Something fishy here...

He is a Federal Employee and so has the Fed health care. His wife losing her job would, I believe, constitute an event allowing him to sign her up as a dependent even though it is not open season. So why is he opting for Obama care instead of FEHB? I don't trust this lunatic.

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2. read the article

...Obamacare happens to be his best option; namely, the 72% premium sharing from the government. It's that simple, and it highlights his own particular hypocrisy.

There's an assumption that this man is super crafty, or something. To me, he's just another lying republican buffoon who loves to hear himself talk and doesn't believe half the bullshit he spouts.

[Orsino]

5. Senator Cruz' anti-ACA talk was bullshit for the rubes, and he just proved it.

Would be fun to keep chalkenging him on this point until he's forced to change his plan again.

[Nay]

4. I don't get this either. He's a Senator. He can sign her up under his good federal insurance

because of her 'life event' of quitting her job. Isn't anybody asking these questions?

[SickOfTheOnePct]

9. Congress and their staff are no longer in FEHB n/t

[SickOfTheOnePct]

8. Congress and their staff are no longer in FEHB n/t

[Kalidurga]

3. Should be a fun topic in the debates.

Unfortunately you know it will be Republicans hammering him on this and Democrats won't get the chance.

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6. »

[SickOfTheOnePct]

7. He said he's not taking the premium share

He's paying 100% of the premium..

[bigtree]

10. so they must be purchasing it in Texas

...buy it in D.C. and they're eligible for the subsidy.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

11. Eligible, but they don't have to take the subsidy

There are a number of members of Congress that aren't taking the subsidies.

[bigtree]

12. wel, they don't need them

...but they would deny those who do need them

[SickOfTheOnePct]

13. Not saying they do

just pointing out that the premise that Cruz signed up for the ACA to get the subsidy doesn't really hold water if he isn't taking the subsidy.

[bigtree]

14. point taken

...he's still getting a good deal, paying less than he otherwise would. I suspect that's the reason he and his wife signed up, not some ingenious plan to turn the tables by pointing to some non-existent flaw and exploiting it in some sort of cynical kabuki theater.

Reports are that he's 'likely' to or 'might' enroll in Texas. We'll see. If he does enroll in Texas, it takes away the excuse he and fellow conservatives have been making that Obamacare 'wiped out' the individual market. He can choose to purchase insurance choosing from dozens of Texas plans.

[Rex]

15. Ted Cruz...

What a lying sack of shit!

"The Affordable Care Act does not compel members of Congress to enroll in DC’s health care exchange; it simply cuts off the government contribution to their insurance plans if they buy their policies elsewhere. “The final rule extends a Government contribution towards health benefits plans for Members of Congress and designated congressional staff so long as the health benefits plans are purchased via the appropriate SHOP as determined by the Director,” a summary of the final rule says. “Nothing in the final rule or the law prevents a Member of Congress or designated congressional staff from declining a Government contribution for him or herself by choosing a different option for their health insurance coverage.”

In other words, Cruz “could purchase coverage in the outside market but would get no subsidy from the FEHBP program,” Tim Jost clarified for ThinkProgress, referring to the acronym for the federal health care program. “It seems like the primary other option he would have is to take advantage of COBRA through his wife, though he’d be forgoing the employer contribution. He could also buy non-group coverage,” Larry Levitt, Senior Vice President at the Kaiser Family Foundation, said. Cruz could also potentially purchased insurance through his presidential campaign’s presumptive health care insurance. In those instances, however, he would have had to give up his employer’s contribution and likely pay more for insurance than he is now being charged under Obamacare.

Despite initially telling CNN’s Dana Bash that Cruz didn’t pursue other alternatives because “Obamacare has wiped out the individual market, leaving Cruz with few options,” his staff is now explaining to reporters that Cruz might skip the DC exchange and sign up for coverage in Texas, through that state’s federal exchange. “As it happens, Cruz appears likely to forego the 75 percent employer contribution he could get as a member of Congress and instead access Obamacare from Texas, which doesn’t have a state exchange,” The Daily Caller reports, adding, “That means Cruz would use HealthCare.gov to get health insurance, at the same time the Supreme Court is considering ruling taxpayer [subsidies] for federal exchange customers illegal.”

http://thinkprogress.org/election/2015/03/25/3638697/ted-cruz-wants-believe-hes-legally-required-sign-obamacare-hes-totally-wrong/