Conservative Who Refused To Sign Up For Obamacare Is Going Blind And Broke ? And Blames Obama

[SuckOnThis]

A 49-year-old South Carolina conservative who refused to sign up for Obamacare is now going broke and blind, and of course, he blames Obama.





Luis Lang learned in late February that he had suffered a series of mini-strokes that left him with bleeding in his eyes and a partially detached retina caused by diabetes, reported the Charlotte Observer.

The 49-year-old Lang, a self-employed handyman and Republican who works with banks and the federal government to maintain foreclosed properties, has never purchased insurance and always prided himself on paying his own medical bills.

That never posed much of a problem when Lang and his wife ? who does not work ? were healthy, but he has already exhausted his savings paying for medical bills related to his eyes.

His vision has worsened so much that hasn?t worked since December, which could put the couple?s $300,000 Fort Hill home in jeopardy along with his health.

?He will lose his eyesight if he doesn?t get care ? he will go blind,? said Dr. Malcolm Edwards, an ophthalmologist who has given Lang injections at a discounted rate to control the bleeding.

Lang, a smoker who admits he has been inconsistent in controlling his diabetes, said he has sought help from charities but found he was either too young or too old for most agencies.

So he turned to the Affordable Health Care exchange ? which he had previously chosen not to do in violation of the law, believing help would be available in an emergency.

?(My husband) should be at the front of the line because he doesn?t work and because he has medical issues,? said his wife, Mary Lang. ?We call it the Not Fair Health Care Act.?

Lang found he was a month too late to enroll for 2015, and he now earns too little to get a federal subsidy to buy a private policy.

Lang and his wife blame President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats for passing a flawed law ? although not even private insurers allow people to forgo payments when they?re healthy and cash in benefits after they?re sick.

Obamacare was designed to cover those whose income falls below the poverty line through Medicaid, but South Carolina is among 21 Republican-led states that declined the federal government?s offer to pay 100 percent of the costs to expand coverage to low-income, able-bodied adults.

Lang has reached out to reporters to help publicize his case, and he has set up an online fundraiser ? but he doesn?t have enough money to pay for surgery to save his eyesight.

The doctor said he has offered to provide care at no cost, but he said Lang needs costly treatment beyond his expertise.

?He?s in a very bad situation,? Edwards said, with Lang?s consent. ?The longer he waits, the poorer his results will be.?

Conservative spurns Obamacare and insurance ? but blames Obama now that he?s going broke and blind

[beerptrol]

Of course it's Obama's fault and has nothing to do with his bad choices in life

[SuckOnThis]

[Bladewire]

All that going on and the wife still doesn't get off her ass and work. Amazing

[bronco67]

Priding yourself on paying your own medical bills is just stupid. That's what insurance is for. Fuck this guy. Hope you loved your eyesight while it lasted.

[dyna mo]

this guy made a poor choice based on his beliefs. welcome to life

i hope he gets the medical attention we all deserve.

[GregE]

Clearly this guy graduated from the Joe the Plumber school of logical thinking with flying colors.

And yeah, of course this is all Obama's fault. What isn't?

[2MuchMark]

That's too bad. It must be terrible to know you are going blind. Yes blind people can still do pretty well but personally going blind scares the hell out of me.

[Barry-xlovecam]

It's Obamageddon again.

Sorry for his suffering but it's his own fault in many ways.

[L-Pink]

The fact he had diabetes should have made him ecstatic Obama care was available.

[TheSquealer]

If anyone took time to actually read the article at the source (which none of you did), he tried to get health care through Obamacare and couldn't because he doesn't qualify.

But hey, who cares about facts when you can just mindlessly bash people for sport and to further an agenda?

[TheSquealer]

Originally Posted by L-Pink

The fact he had diabetes should have made him ecstatic Obama care was available.

Lang is a self-employed handyman who works with banks and the federal government on maintaining foreclosed properties. He has done well enough that his wife, Mary, hasn’t had to work. They live in a 3,300-square-foot home in the Legacy Park subdivision valued at more than $300,000.

But he has never bought insurance. Instead, he says, he prided himself on paying his own medical bills.

That worked while he and his wife were relatively healthy. But after 10 days of an unrelenting headache, Lang went to the emergency room on Feb. 25. He says he was told he’d suffered several mini-strokes. He ran up $9,000 in bills and exhausted his savings. Meanwhile, his vision worsened and he can’t work, he says.

That’s when he turned to the Affordable Care Act exchange. Lang learned two things: First, 2015 enrollment had closed earlier that month. And second, because his income has dried up, he earns too little to get a federal subsidy to buy a private policy.

Read more here: Who should save sight of S.C. man who can’t afford surgery? | The Charlotte Observer The Charlotte Observer

[SuckOnThis]

Originally Posted by TheSquealer

If anyone took time to actually read the article at the source (which none of you did), he tried to get health care through Obamacare and couldn't because he doesn't qualify.

But hey, who cares about facts when you can just mindlessly bash people for sport and to further an agenda?

Don't let facts get in your way.....

That?s when he turned to the Affordable Care Act exchange. Lang learned two things: First, 2015 enrollment had closed earlier that month.

Lang, a Republican, says he knew the act required him to get coverage but he chose not to do so. But he thought help would be available in an emergency. He and his wife blame President.

[TheSquealer]

Everyone was told they'd be covered no matter what... that pre-existing conditions wouldn't result in denied coverage. Now he has no income and can't comply with the law if he wanted to. regardless, hence his complaint. The enrollment period is closed. There is no "ok, you can enroll now, but oyu need to pay a penalty for not doing it already"... you just get from the ACA "oops, no coverage for you! sorry".

I personally could care less if he goes blind. He made his choices. However, the entire argument and point of the article is not "democrats bad, republicans good" as you clowns want to see it as.

[beerptrol]

sucks to be him

[ilnjscb]

We found a guy who needs a thing he didn't like before!

[L-Pink]

Originally Posted by TheSquealer

Lang is a self-employed handyman who works with banks and the federal government on maintaining foreclosed properties. He has done well enough that his wife, Mary, hasn’t had to work. They live in a 3,300-square-foot home in the Legacy Park subdivision valued at more than $300,000.

But he has never bought insurance. Instead, he says, he prided himself on paying his own medical bills.

That worked while he and his wife were relatively healthy. But after 10 days of an unrelenting headache, Lang went to the emergency room on Feb. 25. He says he was told he’d suffered several mini-strokes. He ran up $9,000 in bills and exhausted his savings. Meanwhile, his vision worsened and he can’t work, he says.

That’s when he turned to the Affordable Care Act exchange. Lang learned two things: First, 2015 enrollment had closed earlier that month. And second, because his income has dried up, he earns too little to get a federal subsidy to buy a private policy.

Read more here: Who should save sight of S.C. man who can’t afford surgery? | The Charlotte Observer The Charlotte Observer

I would have thought the fact he had diabetes would have lit a fire under him to look for insurance. And since Obama care doesn't discriminate against pre-existing conditions he would have jumped at the chance to get insured.

Being prideful and paying your own bills is great ….. But having 9 grand, about to hit 50 years old with diabetes and a wife who also isn't insured isn't much of a plan.

.

[SuckOnThis]

Originally Posted by TheSquealer

Everyone was told they'd be covered no matter what... that pre-existing conditions wouldn't result in denied coverage. Now he has no income and can't comply with the law if he wanted to. regardless, hence his complaint. The enrollment period is closed. There is no "ok, you can enroll now, but oyu need to pay a penalty for not doing it already"... you just get from the ACA "oops, no coverage for you! sorry".

I personally could care less if he goes blind. He made his choices. However, the entire argument and point of the article is not "democrats bad, republicans good" as you clowns want to see it as.

What part of he knew are you not understanding?

Lang, a Republican, says he knew the act required him to get coverage but he chose not to do so. But he thought help would be available in an emergency. He and his wife blame President.

Yup, blame Obama.

[mozadek]

Obama haters will probably be the only ones to feel sympathy for this asshole who was too stupid to purchase health insurance and too stupid to sign up for Obamacare within the deadline. Now when times are tough and his conservative ideals are to be tested he acts like a shiftless Democrat and goes to the government for a handout.

[L-Pink]

Originally Posted by mozadek

Obama haters will probably be the only ones to feel sympathy for this asshole who was too stupid to purchase health insurance and too stupid to sign up for Obamacare within the deadline. Now when times are tough and his conservative ideals are to be tested he acts like a shiftless Democrat and goes to the government for a handout.

Let's take inventory of your post ?.

Obama hater, check
Someone stupid, check
Conservative, check
Shiftless Democrat, check

Very seldom do we have everyone covered so perfectly in just one paragraph ?..

Great post!

.

[dyna mo]

Originally Posted by mozadek

Obama haters will probably be the only ones to feel sympathy for this asshole who was too stupid to purchase health insurance and too stupid to sign up for Obamacare within the deadline. Now when times are tough and his conservative ideals are to be tested he acts like a shiftless Democrat and goes to the government for a handout.

i don't base my ability for compassion for others based on political affiliations. or perceived iq.

[mozadek]

Originally Posted by dyna mo

i don't base my ability for compassion for others based on political affiliations. or perceived iq.

Good for you.

[kane]

If you miss the deadline to enroll in Obamacare there are special circumstances that will allow you to enroll after that. I would imagine going blind and being diabetic might be on that list.

Still, let's look at the bigger picture here. He can't work and likely has little or no income so he should qualify for medicaid, "but South Carolina is among 21 Republican-led states that declined the federal government’s offer to pay 100 percent of the costs to expand coverage to low-income, able-bodied adults."

He should blame the leaders of his state and the members of his own party.

Of course, I imagine he might also be one of these guys that is all about "taking personal responsibility for your actions" until his actions led him down a bad road and now it is Obama's fault the government isn't bailing him out.

[Robbie]

Something I have wondered about since the beginning of The Affordable Health Care Act.
Why is there an "enrollment period"?

What the fuck is that about? Why can't people just buy insurance any day of the freakin' year like we always could in the past?

That part hasn't made any sense to me at all.
It's like if a guy just turned 18 and his parents are dead. He goes to get insurance...but the "enrollment period" is over.
So now he's screwed if anything happens to him before the next "enrollment period"?

For a law that was supposed to make insurance cheaper (mine has doubled in price) and was supposed to get everyone insured...why on Earth would they not have it available for people to sign up 365 days a year?

[MaDalton]

Originally Posted by Robbie

For a law that was supposed to make insurance cheaper (mine has doubled in price) and was supposed to get everyone insured...why on Earth would they not have it available for people to sign up 365 days a year?

i guess because then everyone would only buy it when they need it - and then the premiums would skyrocket

(even more than now)

here you can buy for example an extra dental insurance but you cannot use it for the first 6 or 12 months - for said reason

[crockett]

What an idiot.. Even if he doesn't like Obamacare he could have just bought his own insurance. Pretty stupid to think you will "pay your own way" when hospital bills can easily add up to 100s of thousands of dollars. I bet he is just a cheap ass that wouldn't pay for insurance no matter if Obamacare had come along or not.

It is really silly to seeing people whom are too stupid and stubborn for their own good. Any way you look at it, he had every opportunity to get insurance and declined to do so.. Now he needs it and wants to cry foul. Why is it he isn't taking responsibility for his actions?

Even if there was no Obamacare he would still be up shit creek with out a paddle. No insurance company would insurance him now that he has been diagnosed and has a serious ailment. In fact Obamacare would of been his only chance to get insurance in his situation because it's now illegal for insurance companies to deny people like him.. "had he signed up during the enrollment period".

[crockett]

Originally Posted by TheSquealer

If anyone took time to actually read the article at the source (which none of you did), he tried to get health care through Obamacare and couldn't because he doesn't qualify.

But hey, who cares about facts when you can just mindlessly bash people for sport and to further an agenda?

He didn't try until he got sick and stopped working. He had the opportunity to get insurance while he was working and "chose not to". He waited til he was out of work and sick then cries foul. Also WTF is wrong with his wife? She could get off her ass go work at Walmart and get insurance for both of them..

[kane]

Originally Posted by Robbie

Something I have wondered about since the beginning of The Affordable Health Care Act.
Why is there an "enrollment period"?

What the fuck is that about? Why can't people just buy insurance any day of the freakin' year like we always could in the past?

That part hasn't made any sense to me at all.
It's like if a guy just turned 18 and his parents are dead. He goes to get insurance...but the "enrollment period" is over.
So now he's screwed if anything happens to him before the next "enrollment period"?

For a law that was supposed to make insurance cheaper (mine has doubled in price) and was supposed to get everyone insured...why on Earth would they not have it available for people to sign up 365 days a year?

There are actually a lot of insurance companies that have open enrollment periods and if you miss them you have to qualify for a special enrollment. There are also many that don't. What I read a little while back is that the time when the enrollment is closed is used to process claims etc and that information is used to set the costs for the next year. I'm not sure why they can't do that while still letting people enroll, but I guess, like MaDalton said, people would just not buy it until the day they needed it.

There are special enrollment options for Obamacare. An 18-year-old kids whose parents died and now he needs insurance would likely qualify for special enrollment.

[crockett]

Originally Posted by kane

There are actually a lot of insurance companies that have open enrollment periods and if you miss them you have to qualify for a special enrollment. There are also many that don't. What I read a little while back is that the time when the enrollment is closed is used to process claims etc and that information is used to set the costs for the next year. I'm not sure why they can't do that while still letting people enroll, but I guess, like MaDalton said, people would just not buy it until the day they needed it.

There are special enrollment options for Obamacare. An 18-year-old kids whose parents died and now he needs insurance would likely qualify for special enrollment.

Most companies whom offer insurance have the same kind of enrollment periods. New hires can get special enrollment just like if this guy took a temp job or if his wife took a job they could get insurance.. This whole thing is just a typical right wing boohoo blame Obama story to rile up the base..

[Robbie]

I've had health insurance since 2002.

I simply walked into Blue Cross/Blue Shield and bought it. No "enrollment period" that I knew of.

And when I used State Farm (14 years ago) and now Farmers (starting 2008) to insure my homes...both companies tried to get me to switch over all my insurance.

Is this something that is new? I always used to see health insurance companies advertising all the time. And I never heard the ads say: "But you can only give us your money during a certain time period."

Anyway...it seems to go against the idea of getting everyone insured, and creates a window of time where some people will be uninsured. Kinda dumb.

[MaDalton]

Originally Posted by Robbie

I've had health insurance since 2002.

I simply walked into Blue Cross/Blue Shield and bought it. No "enrollment period" that I knew of.

And when I used State Farm (14 year ago) and now Farmers (starting 2008) to insure my homes...both companies tried to get me to switch over all my insurance.

Is this something that is new? I always used to see health insurance companies advertising all the time. And I never heard the ads say: "But you can only give us your money during a certain time period."

Anyway...it seems to go against the idea of getting everyone insured, and creates a window of time where some people will be uninsured. Kinda dumb.

if only one joins it's a drop in the ocean, when millions join at the same time and you have no idea how much costs they generate...

i would think that after a couple of years they would open it up - would make sense

[kane]

Originally Posted by Robbie

I've had health insurance since 2002.

I simply walked into Blue Cross/Blue Shield and bought it. No "enrollment period" that I knew of.

And when I used State Farm (14 years ago) and now Farmers (starting 2008) to insure my homes...both companies tried to get me to switch over all my insurance.

Is this something that is new? I always used to see health insurance companies advertising all the time. And I never heard the ads say: "But you can only give us your money during a certain time period."

Anyway...it seems to go against the idea of getting everyone insured, and creates a window of time where some people will be uninsured. Kinda dumb.

Some of it may be what you are buying into. For example, since becoming self-employed in 1999 I have bought insurance whenever I wanted and had no enrollment period. However, in the past when I had jobs that offered health insurance I usually could enroll in it when I was a new hire, but I couldn't make changes to it or add people to my policy until the annual open enrollment period. I imagine those companies had some kind of group policy that had specific enrollment dates.

[epitome]

Originally Posted by TheSquealer

If anyone took time to actually read the article at the source (which none of you did), he tried to get health care through Obamacare and couldn't because he doesn't qualify.

But hey, who cares about facts when you can just mindlessly bash people for sport and to further an agenda?

Speaking of agenda, what's yours?

South Carolina opted out of Medicaid expansion. He would qualify for expanded Medicaid (a component of ObamaCare) if his state did not decide to not participate.

Guess why his state does not have Medicaid expansion? Because of a Republican governor and legislators.

So, no, it is not ObamaCare's fault. It is 100% the fault of his state legislators.

If his state would have bought into ObamaCare, he could be covered 100% under Medicaid, even if it were not open enrollment. Why? Because it would be a workaround to what his state tried.

In fact, even with being in a shitty state that doesn't care about their citizens health, he can still qualify for ObamaCare if his wife goes to work and makes more than $15k a year. He can even signup outside of open enrollment due to his condition.

So ObamaCare is there to protect people just like him. His state isn't.

You should get your facts straight before spewing shit. It's people like you that end up like him. Think you have it all figured out, but do not know shit.

[epitome]

Originally Posted by Robbie

I've had health insurance since 2002.

I simply walked into Blue Cross/Blue Shield and bought it. No "enrollment period" that I knew of.

And when I used State Farm (14 years ago) and now Farmers (starting 2008) to insure my homes...both companies tried to get me to switch over all my insurance.

Is this something that is new? I always used to see health insurance companies advertising all the time. And I never heard the ads say: "But you can only give us your money during a certain time period."

Anyway...it seems to go against the idea of getting everyone insured, and creates a window of time where some people will be uninsured. Kinda dumb.

You've been self-employed. Open enrollment has always been a thing for all but a small percentage of the population. You can get around it for certain life events (marriage, death, divorce, job loss, new kids, etc.).

This guy could even get around open enrollment if his lazy ass wife would get a job that pays more than $15k.

You have to play by certain (and simple) rules if you want it subsidized by taxpayers.

[epitome]

Originally Posted by dyna mo

i don't base my ability for compassion for others based on political affiliations. or perceived iq.

Oh good, you donated to his GoFundMe? That was kind of you.

When I donated a few hours ago, the only other people I saw contributing were liberals.

[Bladewire]

Originally Posted by dyna mo

i don't base my ability for compassion for others based on political affiliations. or perceived iq.

I don't either.

He's in a tough spot, but because of his own actions. I still have compassion.

It's when he goes publicly blaming everyone else, and not taking personal responsibility that I say tough luck. Those are the people that can't be helped. I'll be damned if I'm going to donate to a couple where they're publicly begging for money and the able bodied partner refuses to work. Not going to happen

[dyna mo]

Originally Posted by epitome

Oh good, you donated to his GoFundMe? That was kind of you.

When I donated a few hours ago, the only other people I saw contributing were liberals.

your post reveals your lack of understanding and compassion, congrats on the 2-fer.

[Joshua G]

Originally Posted by TheSquealer

Everyone was told they'd be covered no matter what... that pre-existing conditions wouldn't result in denied coverage. Now he has no income and can't comply with the law if he wanted to. regardless, hence his complaint. The enrollment period is closed. There is no "ok, you can enroll now, but oyu need to pay a penalty for not doing it already"... you just get from the ACA "oops, no coverage for you! sorry".

nice job attacking obamacare for flaws created by the private insurance markets the ACA preserved. but i agree with you, we should have single payer instead so this dumbass can get his healthcare without a private for-profit corporation saying too-bad, so-sad when people miss enrollment/payment deadlines. Even people in the ACA can lose their coverage if they miss their payment by 1 day & get in a car wreck. too bad, so sad. gotta love capitalist healthcare.

[2MuchMark]

Originally Posted by Robbie

Something I have wondered about since the beginning of The Affordable Health Care Act.
Why is there an "enrollment period"?

What the fuck is that about? Why can't people just buy insurance any day of the freakin' year like we always could in the past?

That part hasn't made any sense to me at all.
It's like if a guy just turned 18 and his parents are dead. He goes to get insurance...but the "enrollment period" is over.
So now he's screwed if anything happens to him before the next "enrollment period"?

For a law that was supposed to make insurance cheaper (mine has doubled in price) and was supposed to get everyone insured...why on Earth would they not have it available for people to sign up 365 days a year?

Maybe this will help?

ObamaCare Open Enrollment

[JFK]

Originally Posted by beerptrol

Of course it's Obama's fault and has nothing to do with his bad choices in life

[ruff]

Boo fucking hoo. Stupid fucking Republican.

[Bladewire]

His story is bullshit anyway. He can enroll in Obamacare until the end of the month.


"For 2015 only. From now until April 30th 2015 there is a one time extended enrollment period for a tax season 2015. If you were confused about open enrollment, and owe the fee from last year, you may qualify." Source: Front page of Obamacare website. Hahaha suckers! :D

Oh wait, it's May now huh? :cheers

So enrollment ended 12 days ago, this guy was so blind that he stopped working in December, but miraculously this story comes out 12 days past the extended enrollment. Hahahahahaha not suspicious at all

[Joshua G]

Originally Posted by Robbie

I've had health insurance since 2002.

I simply walked into Blue Cross/Blue Shield and bought it. No "enrollment period" that I knew of.

And when I used State Farm (14 years ago) and now Farmers (starting 2008) to insure my homes...both companies tried to get me to switch over all my insurance.

Is this something that is new? I always used to see health insurance companies advertising all the time. And I never heard the ads say: "But you can only give us your money during a certain time period."

Anyway...it seems to go against the idea of getting everyone insured, and creates a window of time where some people will be uninsured. Kinda dumb.

hello sir. prior to the ACA, you could buy a policy any day of the year. but the insurers would say no-way-jose if you were sick. As the ACA bans denying clients who are sick, enrollment periods are the only means to ensure the actuaries can calculate a profit for the capitalist insurance companies who do nothing but add a 50% markup for healthcare services.

if people can enroll any day of the year, insurance would be nonviable & either most people would go bankrupt saving their lives, or we would need a national healthcare program like the VA or medicare.

so the choice is price gouging insurers, or medicare for all. Obamacare is a hybrid. medicare for the poor(at least for the blue states LOL), & subsidies to pay the insurers the price gouging part of their fees so its affordable to the middle class.

[DTK]

Originally Posted by L-Pink

The fact he had diabetes should have made him ecstatic Obama care was available.

But instead he believed the lies Right Wing Legislators and Bloviators spewed ad nauseam. How those amoral pieces of shit live with themselves is beyond me.

[TTI-Rich]

Originally Posted by L-Pink

The fact he had diabetes should have made him ecstatic Obama care was available.

Yup. Diabetes can be a very expensive disease. Dumbass.

[kane]

If you go to his Gofundme page there area lot of people donating $5 with notes that say things like, "I'm a liberal and you brought this on yourself. I'm donating a little because I think everyone should healthcare. I hope this experience changes your politics."

And of course there are those bashing those who are donating and calling him an idiot who brought this on himself.

[dyna mo]

Originally Posted by TTI-Rich

Yup. Diabetes can be a very expensive disease. Dumbass.

Diabetes is also a very sneaky disease. it's not the disease that harms and kills, it's the complications from it that do. combined with the difficulty of accepting that you have a disease, it's a difficult process to come to grips with having it and realizing you need to completely change your lifestyle to deal with something that may or may not happen later on down the road.

[tony286]

its funny a shitload of liberals are giving money to his gofundme account. Need help to save my eye sight by Luis Lang - GoFundMe

[crockett]

Originally Posted by tony286

its funny a shitload of liberals are giving money to his gofundme account. Need help to save my eye sight by Luis Lang - GoFundMe

Saw this one which was pretty much spot on..

Let's re-cap shall we? You have diabetes, yet you continue to smoke. You let two open enrollment periods for the ACA go by without signing up for insurance. You were gainfully employed, yet chose to not purchase health insurance for yourself or your family. Now that you have reaped what you have sown, you expect other people to GIVE you to thousands of dollars you need for your medical procedures, preferably while you keep your $300k house. And on top of that, you want to blame Obama for your troubles. How's that "personal responsibility" thing working out for you?

[dyna mo]

i'm glad none of y'all are first responders/ambulance drivers. you get to a crash scene and don't provide first aid to the driver that caused the accident, because of,..you know, on account of him causing the accident and therefor not deserving help.

jtfc.