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Think Progress: Saturday marks the three year anniversary of President Obama signing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the most sweeping overhaul of the U.S. health care system since the enactment of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965. While some the law’s most significant provisions won’t go into full effect until next year, many of its important reforms have already taken hold — and have already changed the lives of real Americans for the better. Here are just a few ways that the Affordable Care Act has bolstered the health and financial security of Americans from all around the country:
Refusing coverage and treatments for sick Americans due to their “pre-existing medical conditions” has always ranked among the insurance industry’s most reviled practices. For decades, Americans have recounted horror stories about battling insurance companies while loved ones suffered — like 4-month-old Alex Lange, who was turned away by an insurer for being born “obese.” Thanks to Obamacare, that’s no longer legal, as the consumer protection for Americans with pre-existing conditions has already gone into effect for children.
More here:
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Statement by the President on the Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act
Three years ago today, I signed into law the principle that in the wealthiest nation on Earth, no one should go broke just because they get sick. The Affordable Care Act will give hard-working, middle class families the health care security they deserve and protect every American from the worst insurance company abuses. Already, millions of seniors are saving $600 a year on their prescription drugs. Millions of young people have been able to stay on their family’s health plan until age 26. Preventive care, like mammograms for women and wellness visits for seniors, is covered free of charge. Most importantly, for the sake of our fiscal future, the growth of health care costs is beginning to slow. In fact, last year, Medicaid costs fell for the first time in decades.
Because of the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies will no longer have unchecked power to cancel your policy, deny you coverage, or charge women more than men. And soon, no American will ever again be denied care or charged more due to a pre-existing condition, like cancer or even asthma.
Later this year, millions of Americans will finally have the opportunity to buy the same kind of health care Members of Congress give themselves. Beginning in October, you’ll be able to sign up for new private health care plans through a new health insurance marketplace where private plans will compete to save middle class families money. Through these marketplaces, Americans and small business owners will be able to choose from a menu of health plans that fit their budget and provide quality coverage they can count on when they need it most. If you like the plan you have, you can keep it. If you cannot afford a plan, you or your small business may get financial assistance to make it affordable.
There’s more work to do to implement this law, and I look forward to working with leaders of both parties to help Americans save money on health care and extend the security of coverage to every family.
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They made it happen!
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Howdy
I see “leave a comment” and my computer freezes? That ain’t good.
Oh, well, congrats Carol!
You are trying too hard. Give it a blink of an eye. It’s happened to me.
I never actually try, this is why “that close” was not good!! Ha! I’ll get over it.
Congrats!
Thank for the high five UT!
UT is on it! Great, great photo. One of the best.
GM and congrats on first Carol.
Thank you JO & COS
Thank you for ObamaCares! Thank you UT for the new thread. It’s great, a BFd!
Congrats Carol on #1
Thank you Hopefruit
Whoopee-tee-yi-yo. Get along little dogies.
¿♭♮♯♫♪? ¡♭♮♯♫♪! “How-w-w-DEE-E-E-E! I’m jes’ so proud to be here!” ¿♭♮♯♫♪? ¡♭♮♯♫♪!
11th?!
Thank you MIGHTY UT!!!!!!!!
Oi, you calling me a slowcoach?????
Ahem. /in proper British diction?/ I am too mature and dignified to participate in name calling
But, a turtle (or slug) picture here would have been so …. perfect!
Okay, okay, here I am:
And I shut up!
What CAN I say except that I’m outclassed.
Congratulations Chips!
Thanks very much UT. I was going to demand a pic, but I’d probably get a semi-naked Juan Mata, or someone. So, I’ll just bask in the picture-less glory of my 11th.
Or worse: (mankini) … best just behave and be careful, rather than very very sorry, eh?
Here you go.
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Ahhh…..go on then…
I almost
with fear.
And then I almost
when I saw the ridiculously gorgeous pic!!!
Thank you UT!!!!
Oh dear, CC, don’t say your fainting spells have returned! That’s not a good sign, you know. I recommend you get back on whatever food choice or medication helped you to conquer them in the past, since we can’t afford to have you passing out.
Eighth and climbing?
Good Day Tod’s
You go!!! UTA Thank you…Thank you! What a wonderful Rise & Shine…and then some to wake up to:-)
Beautiful pics…Our Madam Chips has her own OFA…going on:-) “ObamaTods For America” hehehe…loving every second!!
Luv ya!
Helloooooooo Kasai!! As I said to UT earlier, I’m just sitting here sipping cocktails while she does all today’s work, it’s a luxurious life!!!!
Waiter? Another cocktail please – right now. Thank you.
Hehehe…Glad to hear Madam:-)
May I refresh your drink??
Yes please, Kasai – and please do NOT forget the cherry. Thank you.
Coming right up Madam:-)
Thank you kindly.
Oh my Lord:-) Just dropped your drink…Please forgive me…going to clean my face…Phewwwww!!!
Sheeeeeeeesh, you just can’t get the staff these days.
hehehe…all you fault..
Beautiful post from smartypants:
“Since those days I’ve often thought about the healing power of trust. It is a powerful elixir that most of us are too fearful to extend to others – much less ourselves. We are so broken inside from our disappointments that we spend enormous amounts of energy protecting our vulnerability.
I have also come to believe that much of the fearless soul-searching work that Barack Obama did in his young adulthood (as was written about in Dreams From My Father) must have involved a reckoning with this brokenness and vulnerability because he reminds me of Professor Anderson in his willingness to trust people so fearlessly.”
She continues to connect this to his speech to the young people in Israel.
http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-audacity-of-trust.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FlpjFg+%28Smartypants%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher
TY, Maryl, I haven’t dropped in there yet today so your recommendation is added incentive. I really enjoy reading SP ’cause she often forces me to use the ole brain (rather than just spouting off with negativity).
She is always a refreshing and almost always positive point of view, but I’d hardly call you a negativity-spouter!
I don’t think I am, Maryl. Although, I confess I sometimes get frustrated at how often we repeat the negativity or get dragged in to the pointlessness of the negative arguments spouted by the other side, and at some of those moments I am tempted.
Are you enjoying your spring break yet?
Not yet! My break starts on Friday next week. However my mind keeps thinking it should be break, so it’s a little hard to concentrate!
I don’t know why I thought all states had spring break at the same time. Well, hang in there as this is a shortened week anyway.
About five years ago all the schools in our county chose to separate spring break from Easter to regularize the school calendar. So spring break now is always in this week. Sometimes it falls at the traditional time, sometimes the week before, and sometimes not with Easter at all. It’s not state wide though.
maryl1–I was thinking about the way that all of us exercise trust when we comment on TOD. We put ourselves out there with opinions ,secure in the knowledge that we won’t be met with cruelty and insults. And that makes each of us grow in confidence so that when we’re out in the world talking to neighbors, friends and fellow voters, we feel secure in sharing fact-based, tested, opinions. Chips created a safe haven here where we could become informed, learn to be better communicator, and grow in mutual trust . In the process she took all of the burden of the insults and cruelty on herself. This place is growing by leaps and bounds because it’s a place of trust. We are, in every sense of the word, a community.
So true!
One of the commenters on SP’s article said some people see the President as naive because of his trust, but this commenter sees it the way we do: incredible internal strength and patience. He actually does trust the American people.
Jackie, that beautiful thought, beautifully expressed, belongs at the top of the thread!
#TrustChipsticks!
Jacqueline and COS tied for 2nd place so here you go!
Awww. Thank you so much for “that kiss” from our favorite couple who’s ever been in the White House photo album.
JackieG, your wise words of wisdom brought tears to my eyes. So beautifully stated.
((((((((Love you dearly)))))))HZ
Love you back, HZ !!!!
I am contemplating amks’ question on honor and dignity, the phone rings, a new post pops up; do I answer the phone or say howdy to my friends at TOD?
No question – answer the phone. Your ‘friends at TOD’ don’t mind waiting.
ObamaCares:-) He sure does! It is “The Law of the Land” Get over it GOP!
Thanks for this thread Utal, and for the R & S! Your post is certainly a good way to celebrate #ACA’s anniversary.
Michele Bachmann is still at the terrible 2 stage that she failed to notice that at 3 yrs old, ACA is getting quite sophisticated, by 4yrs after all the implementation is done, well ACA would be
doubly a BFD.
It would be so nice if Marcus Bachmann would show how he is the man of the house and tell his nutty ass wife it’s time to come home and stop making a dam fool of herself.
Anniebella, maybe he likes her being away from home.
Marcus is the One, per Bachmann that gets direct talks from Jehovah, God. Then Marcus tells her. According to Michele Bachmann in the 2000s, Jehovah, God talks to Marcus, the man. It was through Marcus that she was informed to run for Congress, state senate, school board post in her town. And the mighty Marcus was told by Jehovah God, to tell Michele to take correspondence class at Oral Roberts to obtain a law degree. ALA doesn’t recognize this degree and she Never took a Law License exam.
Oh yeah, women are supposed to be submissive to men. Yet she contradicts herself when she trashes pres Obama.
Both Bachmann were Jimmy Carter’s supporters over Reagan. Now go figure how they are as they are today.
It would also be nice, anniebella, if the people of her district woke up from their coma and booted her out. She just squeaked through the last time. Maybe we just need one more push from a good candidate to exile her back to the funny farm.
IMO Michele and her GOP buds create their own reality. What bothers me is that it poisons ours because the idjits in their districts won’t/can’t wake up.
VC, happy belated birthday to you! I see you were pretty well behaved
TY, GG. I tried really hard.
I hope the president is having a birthday cake, or at least cupcakes, aboard AF1 right now, celebrating this third birthday. Thanks to the fact that all Republicans refused to take the trip, it should be a lively and supportive group on board so there won’t be any naysayers at the party.
I strongly doubt this is an anniversary PBO would forget, JG, or one his admin would allow him to forget. I’d bet they had/are having a little #ACA party on that long flight.
Yes! Obama & Biden truly cares!!!
Thanks ut
Someone is fianlly getting a clue? Or is this a fleeting illusion from?
SO a Beyotch……Finally.
Good one
Dratz. Draft post vanished into thin air.
Happy ACA anniv folks.
Gunnite.
Oh flip, Amk! Fear not – I can see the empty post there and the toons you uploaded, will put them in the post and leave it in ‘Drafts’ for you, so it’ll be fixed. Thanks a gazillion blog tyrant, post it whenever you like!
It’s a MAJOR pain in the bottom when that happens, which is probably why I have punch-holes in my screen.
I now obsessively click ‘save draft’ after every teeny thing I add to the post while I’m working on it. And even then it ocassionally disappears. Grr.
Thank you blog tyrant!!
Chipsticks, I think you’re having a lot of fun with these Substitute Tyrants filling in for you!
I completely am GGail, sitting back filing my nails, supping cocktails, this is the life!!! Have a perfect weekend GGail!
Good for you! We are very fortunate to have such gifted and talented people on our wonderful TOD “family” blog. And who knew amk could be so……human??
“Who knew amk could be so……human??”
GGail, you completely forgot to add “so far”.
He’s threatening all sorts of rascalness
And.. huhm! Having Kasai running around filling her drinks…in between her pedicure…I see Life is Grand for Madam Chips…Keep it up AMK, UTA, LL, LLP…she may take a whole year off….lol!!!! I am sweating already..
Actually Kasai, I’ve had an exhausting day – trying to decide which cocktail to sip first has me completely worn out.
Hahahah!!! You ain’t right Chips….LOL!!!
But you know We Like to spoil you:-)
Cheer!!
P.S. Hopefully I can have one..When you give me a day off.
Kasai, good to see you. You are so right” We Love To Spoil our Chips.” I love both cocktails. The colors are so delicious looking. Hold on Chips, entering now are the warm towels carriers, the smooth cocoa butter hands, and the nice hot stones to warm the soothing oils of the cocoa butter; with the beautiful ‘TOD Spa of Pampering Musicians’ playing their instruments of smooth sounds of relaxation just for you, our dear special angel.
Everything allright? Enjoy our beautiful princess. We love you, Chips.(((((Your TOD Family.)))))HZ
I am doing well HZ..Thanks for asking. Wishing you Love, Peace and a Joyous weekend..
(Hugs)
Thanks JER. Added it to the post.
UT, you are a treasure. We are all enriched by your contributions and support of TOD. You pitched in without skipping a beat and helped to keep things running smoothly while Chips took a well deserved break. Thank you for helping take the load off of our dear, delicious and wonderful Chips. I can’t believe how lucky I am to be a part of this amazing TOD family.
Thanks for the kind words LH. Here’s a prize for you. Have a great Saturday!
Thank you my dear, this is one of my favorite photos. POTUS and FLOTUS look like teenagers out on a date. And I love the way everyone is trying to avert their eyes from the private moment.
Hi Chips, Hi TOD!
You’re doing a wonderful job, UTAL!
I’m catching up on posts from the last few days — it looks like our President was spectacular in Israel and Jordan, as usual. I want to travel so badly……
Happy Birthday to ObamaCare…I am reminded of it everyday by my I ♥ ObamaCare sticker on my fridge
. Long may it live!
Hellooooooooooooo PJ, great to see ya, hope all’s good!
All is well, Chipster, thank you! Wonderful to see you too! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Great to hear PJ! A gazillion ♥s back at ya!!
http://www.balloon-juice.com/2013/03/23/tweetys-ugly-story/ I posted a link with a video the other day, hope some of you got to see it. Very enlightening….
I am going to a third anniversary celebration of the passing of the ACA or Obamacare. I wonder how that youngman is doing today three years later.
Dear Journal,
It’s Spring, right? Okay, so we’re having snow tonight, snow tomorrow, snow the next day, here at North Pole, Illinois. Does that sound like Spring? Santa should be swingin’ on back, any day now. Sorry, Santa, just ate the cookies and drank the milk, to keep myself amused during “their” idea of “Spring.” Maybe next year, big guy.
Love,
Snow Goddess
Oh, JOB, it’s the cold, too. I just want to have one warm, sunny day, so I don”t have to bundle against the cold with a parka, scarf, hat and mittens. It’s almost Easter and we’re still hibernating.
Yes – and, I don’t know about you, but nothing more annoying than having a son visit who’s said twice in the last few days, “Hmmm. It was 80 degrees here, this time last year.” Go away with those reminders, son! Ha!
Well, Florida won’t help you in that. A miserable, dark, chilly weekend, and a following week of temperatures 39-63. This is Spring Break in my area, but someone forgot to inform the season.
I never knew there was a President Obama and the African American Community at WH.GOV
Article = Blcak Men: Here’s your Wake-up Call
Have you received a wake-up call yet?
//…
According to the Office of Minority Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, black men are 30 percent more likely to die from heart disease and 60 percent more likely to die from a stroke than white men. And unfortunately, the list goes on — black men still suffer from higher rates of disease and chronic illness such as prostate cancer, diabetes and heart disease.
Unless we act now, these disparities will continue to affect generations to come. Their existence should be a wake-up call for all black men. It’s time to invest not only in our own health, but in the health of our communities.
That starts by putting ourselves in the driver’s seat when it comes to our own care. The health care law signed by President Obama in 2010 is removing many of the obstacles to health care we’ve faced in the past. It provides access to preventive services – like screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes – at no cost to us.
….//
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/03/22/black-men-here-s-your-wake-call
Hey there, was it your birthday recently? If so, happy birthday from a fellow March Birthday Girl!
*~*~*~*~*Woop*~*~*~*~*
Yeah, PJ, I noticed you missed my party yesterday. Humphfff. So when is/was yours?
Perhaps some have seen this.
A Bio Youtube video on Pres Barack Obama
Haven’t seen this video, but the screen shot is obviously one of my favorite photos of Barack Obama: all my favorite elements: a daddy, with his girls, in the water. Love it, love them! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
WOW – thanks Nena. I hadn’t seen this. Just watched the whole thing. A very riveting and prescient biography!
Honest I stumbled into it. I used to have that channel when I lived in a different town. Bio Channel. I watched it for about 3mins and had to post it here. Then I went back and watched the whole thing. This was way before the presidency. I am sure that they must have an updated one. I have not searched for it yet.
I am very glad that you enjoyed it
O Nena, not now! You know I’m going to want to watch it even though I’m not completely caught up on this link. I ignored it for a minute, then decided to peek, and now I’m 8 minutes along and can’t seem to leave it till later even though I know most of the story. You ‘drug’ dealer, you!
I know how you feel VC.
After this viewing pleasure, I will be waiting for my pay
This Drug has No side effects. Just endless 
I’m still there, hesitating between going to eat (I haven’t had lunch yet) or finishing first. If I pass out from too much drug and excessive hunger, that will be considered by my lawyer as a side effect. Be on guard, Ms N.
Please VC, please pause
then grab a drink 
a cup of Apple Juice. That will give some sustenance to the body. Then please, proceed with the video.
That was what I did. It helped me. I promise, no side effects.
Made it to the end, with a few rewinds.
Hibernating to go eat something sensible. THANKS!! 
Thank you Nena! How did I miss this?
Ok——-Just a little pep talk to those of us who may be frustrated that the true goodness of ACA has been buried under the usual GOP/TP/MSM propaganda avalanche, hang on to your hats
Starting late in 2013 and flowering in 2014 is the best thing since sliced bread
Not too many folks know it yet
But they will
Just in time for the 2014 mid-term elections!
And to complete my cliche fest: How you like them apples?
I think so, I’ll be Baaack!
I don’t know if CBS will permit the sharing but here is a “slightly longer” version
“Obama Visits Perta in Jordan”
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50143450n
Mark..never quits with his own spin..SMH!
The man is truly sick.
I love visuals – less for me to read
Good Saturday Evening TOD. Sitting here watching The Mummy with Bredan Frasier as if I’ve never seen it & didn’t already own it on DVD. I do love Bredan Frasier.
President Obama World Class Hunk
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/03/miss-israel-obama-world-class-hunk-89241.html?hp=l4_b3
New post!
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/03/23/president-obama-the-week-ahead/
SWOON!!