Anti-'Obamacare' Congressman Doesn't Understand How Health Insurance Works
New Maryland Republican Representative Andy Harris won his seat on a platform of resisting the expansion of "government-run or government-mandated insurance." He also spent Monday demanding to know why he had to wait 28 days for his own government-run insurance.Because the House of Representatives is like a slightly less self-aware version of college, the government holds a series of orientation sessions where they play "Two Truths and a Lie" and learn how to put condoms on. Kidding! They learn important congress stuff like "How to Vote," and the nuts and bolts of things like their health care plans.
Which is where Andy Harris comes in. According to Politico's Glenn Thrush, who talked to an aide who was there, Harris, an anesthesiologist, was apparently pretty ticked that his (government-run) health-care plan wouldn't take effect until February 1, almost a full month after his January 3 swearing-in:
"He stood up and asked the two ladies who were answering questions why it had to take so long, what he would do without 28 days of health care," said a congressional staffer who saw the exchange. The benefits session, held behind closed doors, drew about 250 freshman members, staffers and family members to the Capitol Visitors Center auditorium late Monday morning,".It's hard to know where to start with this one! But, well, how about: Gosh, Dr. Harris, if you're wondering what to do during that 28-day period where you don't have health care, you might turn to one of the 50 million Americans who aren't currently insured. I bet they'd have some tips for you!
"Harris then asked if he could purchase insurance from the government to cover the gap," added the aide, who was struck by the similarity to Harris's request and the public option he denounced as a gateway to socialized medicine.
Or, maybe, Dr. Harris, you could consider that most businesses require employees to wait something like 90 days to provide comprehensive coverage, and 28 days is a pretty sweet deal? Haha, of course you couldn't, since, as you said, "this is the only employer I've ever worked for where you don't get coverage the first day you are employed." You might consider that you're pretty lucky, if that's the case, since these days, if an employer offers health insurance, offering it from the first day is pretty rare!
(Not to mention, dude, if you are desperate, you can just pay for an extension on COBRA to get that month of coverage.)
Because, really, doc, right now, you sound like the world's biggest asshole. And not even because of the hilariously outsized sense of entitlement! (Well, okay, sort of that.) But because you spent your campaign saying things like "In Washington... I will fight to repeal health-care reform," and apparently you have no clue how health insurance works for most Americans.
Why is there a sense of outrage in this reporting? He's a Republican...of course he's a moron. They all are. Do you get mad at your dog for not being able to talk? Reply
Seriously, I hope he breaks his leg during the 28 day gap and gets socked with the $14,000 it costs (on average) to get it treated without insurance.
There's nothing like dealing with free market healthcare to make you appreciate how unaffordable basic healthcare in America has become. Reply
There's nothing like dealing with free market healthcare to make you appreciate how unaffordable basic healthcare in America has become. Reply
ZOMG. You really can't make this shit up.
Walking the walk on Republican policy: you're doing it wrong. So very, very, wrong. Reply
Walking the walk on Republican policy: you're doing it wrong. So very, very, wrong. Reply
Call me naive but since I haven't come across the 90 day gap in about 8 years I thought it was gone. Maybe it is in California for all I know. However, he could do what I did back in my 20s. Ride it out. I did that for three weeks recently after I quit my job and refused to pay for Cobra. Really, if you can't survive 3 weeks without health insurance you aren't healthy enough to be in Congress. Reply
This is so that the scammy Americans don't get jobs for the free operations and then quit immediately. Reply
We would love to think that this will somehow open his eyes to the fact that e'one needs healthcare but the asshole is going to turn it into something about government not working. Makes me want to puke. Reply
You have to remember, that the GOP live in the world of the classic Eddy Murphy sketch where he dressed up as a white guy to see how white folk acted when there were no blacks around: "Slowly, I began to realize that when white people are alone, they give things to each other for free!" Reply
Why do I have to pay for any of these anti-government jerk's salaries? I didn't vote for them. I don't want to pay for health care that they don't think is good enough for me, but are perfectly willing to accept themselves. Every time I see a Republican whining about "spending, taxes or socialism," I replace their nonsense opinion in mind with the sound of a babies crying.
John Boehner--" Wahhhhhhhh." Rand Paul-- "Wahhhhhhh." Michelle Bachmann-- "[Crazy] Wahhhhhhhhh."
That's what this party is to me. A bunch of selfish fucking children. Reply
John Boehner--" Wahhhhhhhh." Rand Paul-- "Wahhhhhhh." Michelle Bachmann-- "[Crazy] Wahhhhhhhhh."
That's what this party is to me. A bunch of selfish fucking children. Reply
There is certainly some irony to this situation, but what's more incredible to me is the amount of idiot liberals hanging around here. This congressman may be a dumb ass in certain aspects, but this health care bill your liberal buddies passed is going to be a nightmare. Look at all the groups (unions, mostly) that are getting exempted from the law. If it's so fucking good, make everyone take it. It's just more typical liberal bullshit, just like global warming. See, e.g., liberal, hypocritical blowhard, Al Gore; see also royal dork, Prince Charles. Reply
This asshole should man up, stick to some goddamn principles, and buy his own insurance. Let the free market work for him, since he thinks it works fine for everyone else! Reply
Hey, Doc: It's called the "Hippocratic Oath", not the "hypocritical oath". Obviously, you've taken the wrong one.
(this is too easy.) Reply
(this is too easy.) Reply
I was relieved that the GOP and tea party won the last election because situations like this (and there will be more) would inevitably occur. They can no longer sit on the sidelines second guessing everything that the President and Congress do or do not do, and pretend they are better/smarter than everyone else. Now that they are the government and have to deal with the day-to-day business, all that high falutin' rhetoric will go right out the window. Now that they have realized that a (truly symbolic gesture of a) moratorium on earmarks means that they won't be able to help their own chances for reelection by buying favors for their state/district. Now that the government is their employer, suddenly they demand better coverage than the private sector could provide.
This is the best thing that could have happened for Obama's chances for reelection in 2012.
Welcome to the party muthafukas. Sh*t's complicated, isn't it? Reply
This is the best thing that could have happened for Obama's chances for reelection in 2012.
Welcome to the party muthafukas. Sh*t's complicated, isn't it? Reply
I love these assholes in Congress who denied the public option to millions of Americans while they were were receiving their own excellent govt. issued health insurance. There should be a special place in Hell for all of them. BTW, Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) has refused his govt. health insurance until ALL Americans have access to the same high level, affordable health insurance. In the meantime (which at this rate will be until he qualifies for Medicare) he buys his own high deductible plan. Reply
"I gots mine; all y'all poor, non-bootstrappy government moochers can suck it, bitches! Wait...I don't gots mine? Well what the fuck, government? Where's my tax payer-funded insurance? I want-I want-I waaaaaaaant!" Reply
28 days? 90 days? Try 6 months at some companies!
These assholes used to be funny, with all their ill-informed rhetoric and nut-job ideas, but now that voters actually elected some of them they're just depressing. Reply
These assholes used to be funny, with all their ill-informed rhetoric and nut-job ideas, but now that voters actually elected some of them they're just depressing. Reply
There is an epidemic in this fair nation. An easily preventable and in fact easily curable disease is claiming one American life after another. That disease, my fellow Americans, is douchebaggery.
The symptoms are easy to identify, at least by outside observers. The first sign is an increased sense of entitlement, usually brought on by a lack of world perspective or some modicum of success. At this stage the disease can be treated with almost a 100% rate of effectiveness, BUT the patient's own lack of self-awareness makes it unlikely that they will realize the problem and seek treatment. To make matters worse, sufferers of douchebaggery often congregate in closed circles where they are even less likely to realize the disease is beginning to ravage their bodies and minds.
In the advanced stages of douchebaggery the victim becomes so bloated with self-importance and delusion that his organs fail. Andy Harris probably has 6 months to live at most. In the meantime he must be quarantined, far away from the microphones, TV cameras, and legal rights of the non-affected.
If you believe that someone you know is infected with douchebaggery, let them know before it's too late. Simply walk up to the infected party and say to them, "you're really being a douche right now". Reply
The symptoms are easy to identify, at least by outside observers. The first sign is an increased sense of entitlement, usually brought on by a lack of world perspective or some modicum of success. At this stage the disease can be treated with almost a 100% rate of effectiveness, BUT the patient's own lack of self-awareness makes it unlikely that they will realize the problem and seek treatment. To make matters worse, sufferers of douchebaggery often congregate in closed circles where they are even less likely to realize the disease is beginning to ravage their bodies and minds.
In the advanced stages of douchebaggery the victim becomes so bloated with self-importance and delusion that his organs fail. Andy Harris probably has 6 months to live at most. In the meantime he must be quarantined, far away from the microphones, TV cameras, and legal rights of the non-affected.
If you believe that someone you know is infected with douchebaggery, let them know before it's too late. Simply walk up to the infected party and say to them, "you're really being a douche right now". Reply
I was about to question how a medical professional could be so bewildered by health insurance, but then I remembered it's up to the lower tier people like my mother, a nurse case manager, to deal with insurance companies and not doctors. Boohoo, Harris. Reply
Honestly, I don't really understand why insurance wouldn't kick in on the first day for congressmen either. The "90 day" period or whatever for salaried employees is kind of a probationary period - private employers don't want to start paying benefits for you until they're pretty sure you're going to stay there. But it's pretty unlikely that a newly-elected congressman is going to quit within 28 days, so I highly doubt that's why they don't start coverage on day 1. What is the reasoning for this? Reply
This motherfucker - is my new congressman. Asshole! You shouldn't even ACCEPT health insurance after running on that platform.
Yes, I'm bitter. Reply
Yes, I'm bitter. Reply
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