A FEW THOUGHTS:
About healthcare–
The Graham-Cassidy Bill may be dead (for now), but there is still a lot of confusion and lack of information about what healthcare is available, and the Republicans would like to keep it that way. Here are some facts you can spread around—use your social media expertise. Watch one less hilarious animal video and use that three minutes to tell people this:
- You can still sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. The enrollment period is Nov. 1 – Dec. 15. Outside that period, the only way you can sign up is if you qualify for a special enrollment period, due to a “qualified life event” (QLE) such as losing other coverage, getting married, or having a baby. You’ll have to investigate the details—you know it can’t be as easy as it sounds. The place to do that is: healthcare.gov/glossary/open-enrollment-period/
- Medicare has just sent out its updates about 2018 coverage. If you want to change your plan, you must do it before Dec. 7. There is no longer an open enrollment period from Jan. 1 – Mar. 31. Only under special circumstances can a Medicare beneficiary change a Medicare Advantage or prescription drug plan after Jan. 1, 2018.
- If you apply for health insurance under the ACA, your choices will be determined by your income. If your income is insufficient, you will be given Medicaid. Take it!
About the state of our struggle—
The opposition is counting on us to get exhausted from dodging grenades. We snuff one on a Tuesday, and there’s an incoming one the next morning. Yes, celebrate a victory, but then get right back on the case. Freedom isn’t free. Don’t think the Evil Empire’s attack on healthcare will stop—Congress just let the Children’s Healthcare Insurance Plan expire. That’s 9 million kids without healthcare.
There are many ways to stay in fighting shape, and one that works really well is to STAY PISSED OFF! Anger is a great energy source. Any time you feel like giving up, have a good cry (and maybe some ice cream), punch a punching bag (if you happen to have one around; even better if you have the orange dotard’s face painted on it), and then remember why you got into the ring in the first place.
About perspective—
To defeat this hydra-headed monster we’re facing, we need to have eagle vision: see the broader picture, and at the same time keep an eye on the little things. An eagle can see forward and to the side at the same time. It can see a rabbit a mile away (literally).
The Republicans are very good at getting people to focus on the rabbit—e.g., the NFL players—at the expense of vigilance in the larger space.
While this atrocious tax “reform” keeps us occupied, don’t lose sight of the investigation about Russia’s interference in our election, and its ongoing ties with Trump #notmypresident. It might be their fault we’re in this mess in the first place.
If you want to stop or change national policy, start at the top, because we don’t have time for incremental steps. As my Grandma used to say, “Let me speak to the manager!”
To potential contributors:
If you want to write a post, keep it clean (although sometimes a well-placed 4-letter word can be just the right word), and send it to our editor, Stella Maris, at nycd16.indivisible.group@gmail.com
Don’t take it personally if some of your verbiage gets trimmed. A lifelong professional writer is doing it, for the good of the piece and the readers. She’ll make you look good.
Note: Writers are responsible for their own fact checking! Please make sure you can back up anything you say with a reliable source for every statement. We are not FOX “News.” (Note: Wikipedia is not a reliable source.) Information on this blog needs to be thoughtful, helpful, and real. Funny is good, too.
Welcome aboard!
Stella Maris