Hobby Lobby vs. Free Birth Control: Jesus wins! (but the influx of unwanted babies will be His fault)

Posted: June 30, 2014 | Author: A. Bear | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 1st amendment, birth control, first amendment, HHS, Hobby Lobby, mandate, ObamaCare, religious freedom, religious liberty, SCOTUS, supreme court | Leave a comment

For all of my fellow Americans abhorred by today’s SCOTUS Hobby Lobby decision, here’s some input:

1. “People who work for Hobby Lobby and for-profits like Hobby Lobby are being denied their right to free birth control as mandated by HHS!”

FALSE. Hobby Lobby and other for profits are not completely exempt from covering birth control. In fact, Hobby Lobby did not file a suit requesting freedom from all birth control. The decision today (and the request by Hobby Lobby) was to be free from being forced by the government to cover at no charge to its employees abortifacient drugs (four specific drugs that will terminate a pregnancy AFTER conception).

In other words, because the owners have religious pro-life beliefs, Hobby Lobby doesn’t want to be forced to give free abortions to people who decide they don’t want a baby (after doing baby-making activities). This is an important distinction. However, if you want to prevent pregnancy, Hobby Lobby will still hook you up.

2. “But… free birth control means fewer unwanted pregnancies, you dumb Republicans and Christians. I mean, duh. You’re so dumb, Republicans and Christians. Think of all the unwanted babies that will be running around, like, in 9 months. Also, this ruling is actually BAD for Christians, because you just created millions of unwanted babies.“

FALSE, mostly. Again, Hobby Lobby (and other for-profits) will give you your birth control as mandated under Obamacare. Today’s ruling does not change that. But, here’s a thought: if you’re not okay with that much free birth control, go work somewhere that will give you all the free Morning After pills you want. Seriously, go for it (and by “it” I mean go have all the unprotected sex you want while working somewhere that will hook you up before or after you do…whatever it is you do).

And then let’s (just for fun) run some analysis a year from now and see how many of the influx of unwanted pregnancies that are sure to come as a result of today’s ruling are a direct result of Hobby Lobby not giving employees free Morning After pills.

3. Think of anything you believe in, strongly, as part of your faith (whatever that faith might be) and decide if you would agree with a government forcing you to do something that violates your faith. BAM! That’s why we have the 1st amendment. The Hobby Lobby ruling strengthens your right to your faith, and to act according to your faith, even if I don’t agree with it.

Y’all: It’s not really about birth control. Birth control is just the issue of the day.

So, if your faith leads you to strongly believe you have a right to get free Morning After pills from your employer, you have every right under the Constitution to go find an employer who will help you live out your faith in that way. I suggest seeking employment at places that are different than, say, Hobby Lobby, Mardel Christian bookstores, etc. You’ll have better luck living out your faith unencumbered.

4. “The Hobby Lobby ruling contributes to the war on women! I mean, Hobby Lobby didn’t file a suit to get out of providing vasectomies! Christians and Republicans hate women!”

SO FALSE. But, let me know, if anyone can find it, the last time a vasectomy killed an already-conceived unborn baby. That’s the difference, y’all. And again, Hobby Lobby is still providing the ladies with all the free preventive birth control they want. They just object, as is their religious right to do so, to the “existing baby killing” kind.

5. “But providing free birth control is now FEDERALLY MANDATED. If we grant an exception for RELIGIOUS NUTS who want to harm women, where will it end???? What about religions who don’t believe in doctors at all??? THEY WILL ALL WANT TO BE EXEMPT.”

Um, this is also FEDERALLY MANDATED, and came before Obamacare and the HHS mandate (I think):

” Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;…”

That’s the 1st Amendment, y’all. And also, there are already so many exemptions and deferments granted having nothing to do with religious beliefs, isn’t it faith’s turn for a win anyway? Or is it that because faith is involved, it’s not a valid case (compared to all of the other exemptions or deferments)?

Wait, hold up. Healthcare.gov already lists THIS is an exemption: “You’re a member of a recognized religious sect with religious objections to insurance, including Social Security and Medicare.” So yeah, religions that don’t believe in healthcare DO seem to be exempt. They probably hate women, too.

Also found on healthcare.gov are these completely legit valid reasons to qualify for hardship exemptions from Obamacare (and therefore not eligible to receive free birth control from any employers at all):

Being homeless
Recently experiencing domestic violence
Your old plan was cancelled and “you believe” new ones are too expensive (under this hardship, I would qualify for an exemption)
And my favorite is #14 – “You experienced another hardship in obtaining health insurance.”

So basically, if you are NOT exempt, you are part of a small, elite team who has never experienced a hardship in life, of any kind, ever (valid or otherwise).

I’m not proud to be part of that team.

In conclusion, these are my thoughts: Today’s SCOTUS decision is a win for religious freedom and I doubt it will result in millions of unwanted babies from Hobby Lobby employees.

A.Bear

Mommas, don’t let your kids grow up to be entitled.

Posted: March 6, 2014 | Author: A. Bear | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: affluenza, entitled, jobs, kid, parents, Rachel Canning, sue | Leave a comment

I want to tell you about my childhood. If you are 20 years of age or younger reading this, you will be shocked and appalled at my horrific upbringing. But I want to assure you that I’m okay today as a grown-up woman.

When I was young, I had chores. My parents started me working early. (Below, you can see I am on a very important conference call)

I remember having to clean my room. Clearly, I excelled at this.

Later in life I had to do even more horrible chore-ish things, like clean the bathroom, empty the dishwasher, do my own laundry, vacuum. Eventually, my dad even threw me outside and made me mow the yard. With the dirt and the bugs and the sweating.

I know.

Sure, I got a reasonable allowance. At the highest, I think it was not more than twenty whole dollars! But the idea that my parents actually dictated and expected me to . . . work around the house, of all things, is just appalling.

As I got older, I not only had to work around the house, I had to work outside of the house. Oh yes. THE NERVE of my parents, telling me to go out and find a job. Even worse, if I wanted stuff that came from malls or restaurants or stores . . . I HAD TO BUY IT MYSELF WITH MY OWN MONEY. My first job was at the age of 15. I would work after school, on weekends, and even during the summer. I mean, it’s just so cruel.

Did I like scooping ice cream at Braum’s in those brown Braum’s pants? Did I enjoy being a grocery store cashier and having to learn a 4-digit code for every vegetable in the Produce Department (I still have no idea what a bokchoy is)? Did I love being a cashier at Wal-Mart and arguing with a lady who insisted that I had rung up her folders incorrectly because they were supposed to be “five for a dollar” but they rang up as 20 cents each (wait for it . . . yep it’s the same thing. If only we had Common Core back then to teach that lady some “simple” math . . .).

No. I did not. But since my parents made me buy my own fun stuff, it was kind of nice to have cash that I could spend on stuff.

Yet . . . as if all of this is not horrible enough, it gets worse. On top of household chores and a part-time job, I was expected to do my homework and make good grades. I somehow, under all of this ridiculous pressure from my parents, managed to be an “A” student in the top ten-percent of my class.

And . . . (I’m not done yet), I had to keep up with extracurricular activities. After school. Marching band, tennis team . . . chores, good grades, part-time job . . . so many things!

For fun? (If you can believe there was room for fun in my tortured upbringing) . . . I had to be home by a curfew time set by my parents. Also, I was not given a car when I turned sixteen (my first car was a beat up old 1987 Ford Tempo that my dad and I bought together with that money I earned from my part-time job).

I also had limits on how much time I could spend on the phone (after homework was done), how much TV I could watch, how much time I could spend playing computer games (and this was before the internet even existed). And I had to go to church and behave myself in all situations.

It was a childhood that most kids can’t relate to anymore. And probably sounds like something from a horror movie if you’ve been a kid at any time in the last 20 years.

The worst thing of all was that we kids didn’t have lawyers that we could turn to to help us sue our parents for our rights. What rights? Well, our rights to not have to work, do chores, respect the rules of the house, of course. You know, like, generally our rights of entitlement as kids.

I’m sorry, WHAT?

This is my point. This kid, that I’m sure you’ve heard about over the past week, tried to sue her parents for their terrible treatment of her. This treatment included having to abide by house rules and a curfew. This kid felt like her parents owed her more than $600 a week in “child support” among other ridiculous things, including the legal fees she incurred for suing her own parents.

It’s a sad and ridiculous thing that happened. And while I don’t know of any other kids suing parents at the moment, the sentiment behind this lawsuit from this kid is a symptom of a generation of kids who think their lives should be easy, other people should pay for it, and they should get everything they ask for.

So, not being an expert on parenting (because I’m not a parent) I’m going to give you my perspective on this as an adult who lived through a childhood that involved chores and jobs and expectations and rules . . . and that taught me to be a responsible grown-up.

To all Kids: You don’t have rights. You are not entitled. And for the vast majority of you, your life is VERY easy.

Ok, fine. You have a few rights. Like, the right not to be abused, the right to be loved, the right to be cared for, the right to be healthy and happy.

You also have the right to behave.
You have the right to not be whiny little complainers when your cell phone gets taken away because you text your girlfriend all day instead of paying attention in class.
You have the right to learn life skills and do things for yourself.
You have the right to do more than the bare minimum.
You have the right to contribute meaningfully to your family, friends, schoolmates, teammates, workplace, and society in general.

Wait, sorry. Those last few are not rights, they are obligations. As humans. In this world.

Parents, you also have obligations. To make sure your kids are doing all of the things above.

And here’s why: Because the kids today graduating college and entering the workforce are lightweights. And a drain on society.

That’s maybe a little harsh, but I mean it. (Yes there are exceptions to this. Some of you have really great kids. You, you, and you . . . but not you).

I’m sad that I’m old enough to have to say “kids these days” in that sad, condescending, disappointed way that my elders probably used to say about my generation. But seriously, kids these days are primarily useless.

I can’t tell you how many fresh-out-of-college kids that I’ve interviewed for entry level positions at the agencies where I’ve worked who are not qualified to have jobs. And the few that we did hire proved to be a poor choice of a hire.

They don’t understand that they can’t be on their phones all day at work . . . many of them have never held a job (like the many part-time jobs I held while in high-school). They can’t grasp that to be on time to work at 8:30am is a requirement, not an option. They think nothing of taking long lunches and leaving for errands in the middle of the afternoon without telling anyone . . . sometimes choosing not to come back until 9-ish the next morning.

They don’t know how to craft professional emails. They can’t carry a professional conversation with a client, or with a colleague. They don’t understand how to take direction or complete tasks. They request salaries way too high for entry level positions, then seem mad that they don’t earn a Vice President salary after working six months. They show up to work in skinny jeans as though that’s acceptable “business casual”. (Ok, that’s not really a downfall of society but I just find it really annoying).

It was so bad for us after we hired a few of these kids that we made a rule not to hire anyone straight out of college with no prior work experience (and no, sorority social chair doesn’t count as work experience).

Why is this a problem? Because it’s not my job to teach your kid how to have a job, or be responsible, or to stop texting their friends during the day. And also, these kids are our future. I was the future once, and still kinda am. But right now, I’m really scared that we will one day be dependent on these skinny-jean wearing, Instagramming, parent-suing kids to keep our country alive.

But . . . (here’s where I get real, y’all) . . . When kids are suing their parents because they don’t like rules, this isn’t actually the kid’s fault. It’s a parenting problem. It’s a society issue. We’ve successfully taught our kids that it’s okay to not take care of yourself and to bully others into doing it for you. We’ve made life so easy for most kids that they don’t understand having to compete, or excel, or that things have value and must be earned.

Parents, I beg of you, hold your kids accountable to rules, goals, and expectations. Don’t be mean, of course. But don’t be afraid of being the bad guy to keep your kids in line and teach them the value of, oh say . . . that iPad you gave them that goes with their iPhone.

[Old-school Sidebar]: Do you want to know how I got my first phone? I had to beg and plead, sometime in my early teens. Then I had to sign a Phone Contract with my dad that outlined the rules of the privilege of having a phone. (Yes, having a phone was a privilege in my day). Once I had agreed to the contract, my first phone was a rotary dial push-button phone (wrap your head around that for a minute), used, that my piano teacher didn’t need anymore. The cord did not stretch (having a maximum distance from the wall of about 10 feet) and it had teeth marks on it from her four cats.

But I digress . . .

Here’s A.Bear’s recommendation of How to Raise Children in Today’s Society. And remember, I’m not a parent, but I was raised by parents:

1. Kids, get a job. If you are 16 years old, you should have a part-time job. Babysitting, lawn-mowing, piercing kids’ ears at Claire’s at the mall, Best Buy . . . anything that gets you out of the house, around different people, requires you to perform a function well, arrive and leave on a schedule, and pays you at the end of the week. You will learn valuable life skills that can’t be taught by Googling “what’s it like to have a job” on the free internet using your iPad at the house your parents let you live in. Plus, you will have money to take your girlfriend out for frozen yogurt at the food court.

2. Parents, make your kids earn stuff. Since they’ll have a part-time job, they can pay for part of their cell phone bill. Or help pay for their own car. And put gas in the tank. What? Yes.

3. Parents and kids: It’s okay to fail. Why? Because we don’t get everything we want in life. We don’t always win. We have to work hard to achieve. And sometimes other people are better than you. THIS IS LIFE. If everyone gets a “participation” award and we are encouraged not to cheer too loudly for the kid that wins (because the kids that didn’t win might be sad), or no one is penalized for falling short, or no one has to work hard for anything, then when real life hits and you get fired because you can’t manage to get to work everyday on time, or someone gets promoted over you, or you don’t win everything all the time, you won’t be surprised and thrown into utter despair. You might, in turn, take that, learn from it, and grow into a more mature person who works harder to get what you want. And society will be better for it.

4. Parents and kids: Rules are good for you. Kids, don’t be brats. Your parents have earned the right to set rules and enforce them. Deal with it. Parents, your job is to make rules and teach your kids. Do it. Your kid doesn’t need a hip, cool, parent-friend. They need you to lead, to guide, to teach, to sometimes be the bad guy, and of course, to love them no matter how dumb they are and what they do. They should fear you sometimes. Not in a scary way, but in a healthy respectful way.

5. Parents, expect your kids to do chores around the house. Allowance or no allowance. Honestly, this is a no-brainer. Sure, I didn’t love doing my own laundry when I was in high-school. But when I got to college and wasn’t sad when all of my clothes were dirty due to knowing how to clean them myself, I was pretty glad. Thanks, mom!

6. Parents, your kids can multi-task: “But I don’t want my kid to have to worry about a job. I want him to focus on his schoolwork. And his violin lessons.” FALSE. Your kid can, and should, be able to handle a weekend job, getting good grades, and probably an after-school club of some sort, plus piano lessons (marching band, chess club, A/V club, whatever). I did it, and that was before the internet. (A/V club might no longer exist . . . I don’t really know, I’m kind of old now).

7. This is the most important: Kids, don’t sue your parents. This should really be a no-brainer, too. But I want to be really clear on this point. Don’t go find a lawyer, make a case that you had to take out the trash and you are emotionally traumatized, then take your parents to court. This is not the way to build relationships. This is not the way to be relieved of your trash-taking-out duties. Plus, you WILL get made fun of on the internet. And trust me, taking out the trash once a week will teach you valuable life lessons (not the least of which is how to find ways to make less trash so it doesn’t have to be taken out so often).

Bottom line: STOP BABYING KIDS and they will probably be less likely to sue you.

They can take it. I did, and I turned out okay. In fact, I turned out so well that my parents took me to Disney World for the first time . . . when I turned 33. I was entitled to it.

If you follow my recommendations above, there’s a good chance your kids will turn out well, too. And when you are old and they have to return the favor of taking care of you, you’ll be glad they know how to do your laundry, hold down a job that supports your nursing home bills, and drive so they can drive you to your 108 doctor appointments (after they take your car away because you keep running over trashcans on the side of the road).

Sincerely,

A.Bear

Straight Person Writes Blog

Posted: February 15, 2014 | Author: A. Bear | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Dale Hansen, Ellen Page, freedom, gay, Michael Sam, religion, tolerance | Leave a comment

Hi. My name is A.Bear.

And I am straight.

I am a straight woman. I like the dudes.

And I’m writing a blog.

Phew! What a relief to get that off of my chest, to be able to just come right out and say it. No more hiding. I just want to be authentic. To be who I am. To let the world know.

I expect to see this on CNN and TMZ any second now. The paparazzi are gathering in my yard, I just know it. Some famous celebrity is about to make a speech about how special I am to garner support for me and my different lifestyle. I’m pretty sure the Oscars are planning a group wedding of only man-to-woman weddings sung to that song from Frozen.

I mean, I just felt like there are so many announcements lately about people being gay — in football, Ellen Page, Olympic ice skaters — it was time to really be brave and announce my heterosexuality.

Or maybe I just wish that this stuff wasn’t news. Maybe one more headline of someone announcing they are gay just seems really ridiculous to me. Perhaps I long for a society where we don’t need to make these public announcements about these kinds of things to garner attention, or make a ridiculous statement about our choices for the sake of “authenticity” and “tolerance.”

I don’t think anyone cares that I’m straight. Well, hopefully my future husband will care . . . A LOT.

But, I don’t feel the need to be verbal about it. It doesn’t define who I am. It doesn’t affect my work one way or another. It isn’t something I need everyone to know about me when I walk in a room. So why must the other side of the fence feel like we all need to know?

This week, Dallas WFAA Sportscaster Dale Hansen made what has been heralded as a fantastic speech about celebrating our differences. You can view and read his message here:

http://www.wfaa.com/sports/dale-hansen/Dale-Hansen-Unplugged–244822291.html

While I agree with some of what Dale said in his speech, this thing has been hyped like it’s the old white guy’s version of “I Have a Dream.” Like he’s chartered new territory here. Like he’s a hero of some sort.

Really?

To Dale’s credit, I agree with his main point. I think we need to do a lot more in our society to embrace our differences. We need to make huge strides with tolerance for those who are not the same as our personal views of who is acceptable and who is not. We need to bridge gaps, reach out in our communities, and love one another better.

But even with that message contained in Hansen’s speech, I’ve been troubled by pieces of it and the crazy attention he received because of it. The attention is misplaced.

What he said is not groundbreaking. He’s not even the first to say it (I think Jesus said, “Hey y’all, we need to love each other, big or small. I love you no matter what. We are all God’s creatures, made in His image and beautiful in His eyes. Yo.”.)

Hansen makes an excellent point that NFL locker rooms (and society in general) accept atrocities from celebrities and superstars that should not be okay, and are not okay for the Average Joe. Like me. Straight me.

Domestic violence, convicted felons, homicides by drunk driving, drugs, prostitutes — these are included in the behavior of many of our “star” athletes and rock stars today. We turn a blind eye. Because clearly, they are awesome, and we will make an exception for all of the debauchery because you wear gold chains, score touchdowns, make records about bitches and hos, and you have lots of money.

I get it. It’s hard out there for a pimp.

So why is being gay any different? Why should this matter? To this point, I agree with Hansen. Being gay should not be the one thing that society can’t tolerate in a world where the absolute worst acts possible are swept under a rug if your record has gone platinum and you can buy your way out of a felony.

What this really means is that our society is so far away from what is right and good, that just about any immoral or sinful behavior committed by our celebrated elite is acceptable. They are our idols. We worship them, so their behavior is just part of the package.

However, if you were to catch me with a fistful of drugs and drunk out of my mind while beating my husband and robbing a bank before hopping in my escape vehicle and killing a family after I run a red light on my way to rendezvous with my secret lesbian lover? I’m a plague on this nation and put away forever. These “differences” would not be tolerated from me.

And they shouldn’t be. Not from anyone.

If it shouldn’t matter (according to the Gospel of Dale) if someone is gay, then why does Michael Sam, a football player from Missouri, need to announce it? Before this week, Michael Sam was just a star college football player to many folks, and honestly I’d never heard of him. Now I can’t stop hearing about him, but not because of his mad football skills. Now he’s “that gay football guy hoping to get drafted into the NFL.”

Does being gay affect who he is as a football player? What does it have to do with his football skills? I fail to see the connection. Just like I fail to see the connection between Ellen Page’s lifestyle choice and the movies she makes. Why do we care? Be a lesbian and make movies. It’s not new territory.

Here’s the thing: We are so far away from God in this country that we can no longer decipher what is truly right and what is truly wrong. Society is dictating what is okay, and y’all. That’s scary.

Michael Sam announces to the world that he’s gay. And for some reason this is some big achievement that he would be the first openly gay man in the NFL. He is celebrated. Yet, he is also cautioned that this could affect his draft stock. The cautioners are then immediately labeled intolerant. We come together as a nation and support him, and we curse those who would dare not agree with his lifestyle choice and his bravery at making a public announcement that he’s gay.

But again, why do we care?

I’m still straight, by the way. Just felt like I needed to make another public announcement about it.

If we are really going to come together as a nation and stand behind this crusade for tolerance, we need to be sure we are living that out no matter the issue. Both sides. No matter the difference. And frankly, we should start with the freedoms we already have that are being thwarted by persecution daily.

In fact, let’s start with the very first freedom: Freedom of Religion.

I am expected to be “tolerant” of homosexuals. To celebrate their differences. But what if my religious beliefs do not support that lifestyle or even agree with it? Are homosexuals and their supporters being equally tolerant of what makes me different and my freedom to disagree?

Doesn’t feel like it. In fact, lately those who speak out against homosexuality are quickly attacked as having committed “hate speech”.

What?

If I don’t get excited that Juno is a lesbian and laud her courageous decision and announcement, I’m somehow intolerant.

Huh?

To be fair, Ellen Page has not offered me any congratulations on being straight since my announcement earlier in this blog. I’m hurt, guys.

I frankly don’t find it brave to make a big announcement about being gay. It’s the cool thing to do now. Really, in our culture today, the braver thing is to stand up for my conservative religious beliefs and not jump on the lesbionic support bandwagon.

I can’t NOT agree with homosexuality without being considered hateful. So I should keep quiet? Or be allowed to stand up for what I believe . . . just like you.

Religious freedoms are in jeopardy in this land we call free. (These are real examples):

Children can’t write about Jesus as their hero as a school assignment, but Michael Jackson is an acceptable substitute.
Religious businesses are being forced to provide contraceptive care to employees even it it violates their religious beliefs, or face oppressive fines.
Kids can’t send Christmas cards to veterans at a VA hospital if the handmade cards reference Jesus or any religious form of wishing a Merry Christmas. (I believe “Wishes of an Enjoyable Celebration of Your Choosing” might have passed muster)
City council meetings can’t begin in a time of prayer, even though it is open to all faiths and religions to participate.
A veterans’ memorial is being forced to remove religious symbols, including a large cross, as well as symbols of other religions, for “fear” of offending someone.
A girl writes a blog post about Phil Robertson and gets clobbered on her Facebook by a dissenter who thinks “idiots shouldn’t be allowed to speak.” (That blogger was me, by the way)
Right now, our soldiers at home and in combat are in fear of revealing that they are Christians. The freedom to believe in God, to speak openly of their faith, to turn to God in times of war or captivity, is in jeopardy.

I’m sorry, WHAT???

That’s seriously a list of things that aren’t okay in our society, today. Not in communist Russia or Nazi Germany or today’s countries of blatant Christian persecution.

Why are we not more offended and concerned about these kinds of things? These things are intolerant.

Our armed forces fight for our freedoms, including freedom of religion. I’m not talking “freedom of Christianity”. And I’m not talking freedom of “worship”, which is an inaccurate interpretation of the First Amendment. The First Amendment is the Freedom of Religion. You name the religion, your freedom to worship it is covered under that amendment. Fighting for that freedom is not fighting solely for Christianity. It’s fighting for Jews to be able to live our their Jewish faith. Muslims in this country to live out their Muslim faith. Atheists to live out, well, whatever they say they don’t believe.

If you can’t believe the religion of your choice in this country, and live it out freely, where then can you do this?

I’m tired of being labeled intolerant and attacked because I have a personal belief. Because I voice a different opinion. Because I’m Christian. Because I’m Conservative.

Oh wait. I need to make that a public announcement.

Hi. My name is A.Bear. I’m a Conservative, and today I went to the grocery store where I spurned the advances of yet more Girl Scouts and their cookies, but refrained from calling them liberals and throwing the Bible at them as I ran way.

Are the “Conservative Aid 2014” t-shirts being printed yet? Am I booked on the talk show circuit?

Liberals, gays, atheists, people who don’t live in the South — have not cornered the market on tolerance. In fact, I’d argue that they have created their own brand of intolerance under the guise of tolerance, acceptance, “one love.”

These are the latest buzz words to make everything acceptable . . . except not agreeing with what society is telling you is acceptable.

To quote the very wise Spaniard, Inigo Montoya: “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”

He later says, “You killed my father, prepare to die.” But that doesn’t really apply here.

I’m straight. I’m a Conservative.

Tolerate me.

Love me.

A.Bear

Ducking the Truth

Posted: December 19, 2013 | Author: A. Bear | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Christianity, Duck Dynasty, GLAAD, GQ, Phil, Reality television, Robertson | 10 Comments

By now, most everyone is likely aware of Duck Dynasty‘s Phil Roberton’s horrific comments about homosexuality in an article in GQ magazine. In case you haven’t, here the situation in a nutshell.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/18/duck-dynasty-phil-robertson-gay_n_4465564.html

And the actual GQ article:

http://www.gq.com/entertainment/television/201401/duck-dynasty-phil-robertson

Now, before I go further let me clarify a few things. I am a Christian. I am NOT a theologian. And I don’t approach any of this as a self-proclaimed expert in all-things Bible, Christian, behavior, sin or morality, except that I’m a sinner and in need of the Savior God sent for that very purpose.

I wasn’t planning a post in defense of Duck Dynasty today, and in reality (get it? Because he’s on reality TV) this brew-ha-ha over his comments isn’t about Phil. It’s about free speech, it’s about freedom of religion, it’s about misrepresentation in the media of someone who is bold about his Christian faith.

This is much bigger than just what Phil said. It’s a symptom of the moral decline of our nation and our need for a religious reality check.

First, can we all recognize that this is an article in GQ? It’s a puff piece. The interviewer spent part of a day with Phil and his family on Phil’s property, driving around in an ATV and shooting at ducks. This is not a Barbara Walters interview. He is not running for office. This is GQ’s attempt to jump on the Duck Dynasty bandwagon by creating some duck real estate in their magazine.

Other important articles in this same issue of GQ include:

The 25 Most Stylish Men in 2013 (discriminates against men #26 thru eleventy billion and men who can’t afford clothes)
The 10 Best Celeb Shirtless Selfies in 2013 (partial nudity!)
The GQ Gift Guide: For the 1% (blatant hate speech against poor people)
Cover Story: Bradley Cooper (because all of his Hangover movies are good, moral stories that don’t include offensive behavior or dialogue at all)

Incidentally, in Bradley Cooper’s article I stopped counting his use of the f-word after 10 instances and didn’t make it to the next page. He’s so cool and such a role model!

There’s certainly no double standards, even though the Human Rights Campaign said of Phil Robertson’s comments (in the same magazine as Bradley Cooper’s article):

Prior to A&E’s announcement, the Human Rights campaign said Robertson, as a public figure, “has a responsibility to set a positive example for young Americans . . .

Phil Robertson agrees with the Bible and fails as a role model. What?

But I digress . . .

Second, the media has labeled Phil’s comments as “anti-gay” and “gay-bashing” and “homophobic”. (Really??). GLAAD said he was spreading “lies that fly in the face of what true Christians believe” and that his comments were “some of the most vilest and extreme” ever made about gays and lesbians. (Um again . . . really???). Pretty sure I could google more vile comments about gays and lesbians in about two seconds.

Hyperbole much? I guess that’s what it takes to pick a fight where there wasn’t one to begin with.

But, let’s take a look at some of this. Let’s start with the facts. Not the interpretation.

While I could have done without Phil’s comments about which, um, body hole he prefers (though not particularly lewd, or even too lewd to be printed in GQ), the comments he made were his personal beliefs. And while he was on his own property, no less. Not on behalf of Duck Dynasty, not on behalf of A&E, not during an episode of the show, not in connection with anything other than what he wanted to say in this interview.

Y’all, if we can’t speak our own beliefs on our property without getting punished or publicly flogged, we truly have a serious problem here in America (land of the free, home of the brave).

In fact (remember, we’re examining the facts), the GQ article explicitly confirms that Phil is out in the woods, no cameras, free to say what he wants:

Out here in these woods, without any cameras around, Phil is free to say what he wants. Maybe a little too free. He’s got lots of thoughts on modern immorality, and there’s no stopping them from rushing out.

So, if anyone was under the impression that Phil’s comments have anything to do with his TV show (I’m talking to you, A&E), they didn’t read the article.

And if anyone thinks Phil just went on a rant blasting gays (as the media is portraying) they didn’t read the article.

In the article, Phil talks first about his own sin, and repentance. He then makes this comment:

“Everything is blurred on what’s right and what’s wrong,” he says. “Sin becomes fine.”

I personally agree with that 100%. Folks, we are in a time when it is not popular to believe in what is good and right, and in fact, speaking up about truth and good gets you put in a category of “narrow-minded intolerance.” We lump sinful behavior into acceptable behavior. But let’s continue with the article.

The interviewer then asks Phil:

What, in your mind, is sinful?

And this is Phil’s response to a question he was asked (maybe this is what GLAAD feels are lies, gay-bashing, and extremely vile):

“Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men,” he says. Then he paraphrases Corinthians: “Don’t be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers—they won’t inherit the kingdom of God. Don’t deceive yourself. It’s not right.”

Where is the lie in that statement? I mean, it would be more accurate if he lumped in murder and theft and some other more politically correct sins. But that doesn’t make his statement a lie or untrue by any means.

I know it’s not popular to write this out loud, but y’all . . . homosexuality actually is a sin. And so are all of the other things Phil lists in his answer to the question “what, in your mind, is sinful.” Which pretty much throws all of us human beings into the pot of sinners in some way.

Not only are these things sins “in Phil’s mind” as the interviewer’s question is phrased, but the Bible says so. They are sins in God’s mind. Which, honestly, is more important than what Phil thinks.

What?? I know. Do we dare believe that part of the Bible??? In this day and age? In 2013???

I saw a Twitter post in response to this brew-ha-ha that because it’s 2013 we all need to get up to date on what we really should be believing and what is acceptable for today’s standards. Because there’s that Scripture in the Bible that says — and I quote from a very secret speech Jesus gave his moralciples, a secret group kind of like disciples but who were in charge of morals in society:

“And in the year 2013, thou shalt becomest more lenient and tolerant of the sins that the Lord your God abhors. Scripture shalt be selectively honored and followed, as it is thus convenient for you, so as not to offend the easily offended. What was wrong shalt then be right. What is evil shalt then be good. What is truth shalt then be condemned, publicly.”

Thus saith the Lord . . . never.

Well, let’s consult the Pope, Time magazine’s Person of the Year (again, emphasis mine below). He’s the next best thing to God. And he’s pretty popular these days for his approach to tolerance and loving all creatures great and small.

“We cannot insist only on issues related to abortion, gay marriage and the use of contraceptive methods. This is not possible. I have not spoken much about these things, and I was reprimanded for that. But when we speak about these issues, we have to talk about them in a context. The teaching of the church, for that matter, is clear and I am a son of the church, but it is not necessary to talk about these issues all the time.”

To the Pope’s credit, he has been very clear that “who is he to judge?” on the matter of homosexuality. And I agree with that. We are called to treat everyone with love and dignity, no matter their situation, lifestyle choice, etc. But it’s interesting what he also says above, that we have to talk in context and follow the teaching of the Church, which I believe is based on the Bible. And again, the Bible is clear that homosexuality and the other sins Phil mentions are sin.

So, if the Pope indicates homosexuality is a sin (and I say “indicates” because he has not come right out and said that he believes homosexuality is a sin in lieu of a more politically correct stance), why is that different than a reality TV star sharing the same personal belief? (I stole that thought from my Uncle, by the way. And he’s right.).

And about context . . . the media is taking pieces of Phil’s interview and blowing them out of proportion as “gay-bashing”. The GQ article is actually a three-page article. It focused mostly on family, and hunting. The few paragraphs that are causing such an uproar aren’t even the bulk of the article.

And about hate, I’ve read the entire article and I have yet to see anything in it that speaks hatefully of homosexuals, or adulterers or any of the other sin behavior Phil mentions . . . again in response to a question he is asked by the interviewer.

So let’s move on to the accuracy of the representation of Phil’s comments in the media. I intentionally chose the Huffington Post article that I referenced at the start of this post for the way it sets up the controversy. Bias, much? It says this about Phil’s comments (emphasis mine):

Not only does “Duck Dynasty” star Phil Robertson fail to understand what it’s like to be gay, but he also thinks homosexuality is a sin comparable to bestiality.

First, there’s no reason Phil should understand what it’s like to be gay. Why should he? Is that a requirement to be tolerant these days? I don’t understand what it’s like to be gay, either. I’m so intolerant, I know.

Second, Phil doesn’t exactly say “homosexuality is comparable to bestiality.” But, Huff Post actually is correct (even though that’s not what they intended by leading their article in this way). Sin is sin in the eyes of God. There’s no lesser sin or greater sin that is acceptable. All sin requires repentance. And y’all . . . we all sin.

What?? I know. I’m walking down a long road of narrow-minded, intolerant unpopularity right now.

The article concludes with this note from the interviewer:

But now, I’m afraid, I must get out of the ATV and go back to where I belong, back to the godless part of America that Phil is determined to save.

And that’s the whole point. Phil just wants to help people, this nation, revert back to God, or find Him if they’ve never known Him. And this is wrong in the eyes of the media, the liberals and those who choose which parts of the Bible they want to believe and obey (or what GLAAD believes are “true Christians”, I guess).

The start of the GQ article says this:

Phil calls himself a Bible-thumper, and holy s*!$, he thumps that Bible hard enough to ring the bell at a county-fair test of strength. If you watch Duck Dynasty, you can hear plenty of it in the nondenominational supper-table prayer the family recites at the end of every episode, and in the show’s no-cussing, no-blaspheming tone. But there are more things Phil would like to say—“controversial” things, as he puts it to me—that don’t make the cut.

Phil makes no mystery of who he is and what he stands for. Why is anyone shocked or offended that a Christian would support what the Bible says? Out loud! In public! We are afforded that right in this country, just like those who aren’t Christians and who don’t believe in the Bible are free to do so.

Who gets to decide who is a true Christian? GLAAD said that Phil’s comments aren’t what a “true Christian” believes. Since when is GLAAD an expert on “true” Christianity?GLAAD goes on to make the point that 56% of the residents of Louisiana (where the Robertson family lives) support some form of legal recognition of marriage equality.

Here’s the thing: Just because a majority of people in a poll want something, does not make it any less of a sin.

In fact, that’s Phil’s concern at the start of the GQ article and this post, and is something I agree with. We are in a very dangerous time where the lines of morality are blurred, making immoral things popular and cool and condemning those who are committed to standing for what is right in the eyes of God. Just because a majority is louder doesn’t mean it’s right.

Are Phil’s comments controversial? Yes.

Why? Because his comments don’t fit in to a liberal media world, or a world that wants to define their own truth and morality.

Are Phil’s comments off-color? Perhaps the “body hole” part.

But . . . was anyone under the impression that Phil is concerned with being politically correct? The guys is entitled to his opinion. Even if it’s not dinner table conversation.

Does A&E have the right to suspend him from the show? Yes. Of course.

If Phil had said what he said in an episode of the show, perhaps it would actually make sense for A&E to remove him from the show if they felt they didn’t agree with his beliefs (although his comments would never make it on air). But again, his comments had nothing to do with the show. A&E’s action is an attempt to censor thoughts that aren’t “open-minded” enough in the opinion of some.

Will A&E’s decision hurt Phil’s feelings, his career or his mission? Not at all.

See what Phil says in the same GQ article:

Phil knows it won’t last. He can already see that the end is near, and he’s prepared for it.“Let’s face it,” he says. “Three, four, five years, we’re out of here. You know what I’m saying? It’s a TV show. This thing ain’t gonna last forever. No way.”

Well, maybe the end of the show is closer since the article came out. But, the Robertsons’ don’t need A&E or the show.

Neither does the Robertson family’s message and hope for all of us. Says Phil in GQ:

“We’re Bible-thumpers who just happened to end up on television,” he tells me. “You put in your article that the Robertson family really believes strongly that if the human race loved each other and they loved God, we would just be better off. We ought to just be repentant, turn to God, and let’s get on with it, and everything will turn around.”

Such hate-speech!

Jesus loves us no matter what. Even though He will never agree with our sins. Not even in 2013.

Let the A.Bear bashing begin!

Love to all-

A.Bear

BONUS:

My thoughts on Phil’s civil rights” comments. Was he really racist, as some are claiming? Let’s take a look:

From the GQ article (emphasis mine):

Phil On Growing Up in Pre-Civil-Rights-Era Louisiana
“I never, with my eyes, saw the mistreatment of any black person. Not once. Where we lived was all farmers. The blacks worked for the farmers. I hoed cotton with them. I’m with the blacks, because we’re white trash. We’re going across the field…. They’re singing and happy. I never heard one of them, one black person, say, ‘I tell you what: These doggone white people’—not a word!… Pre-entitlement, pre-welfare, you say: Were they happy? They were godly; they were happy; no one was singing the blues.”

Is he making a blanket statement about the treatment of black people? Not at all. If anything, he makes very clear his own situation, being “white trash” and working alongside a race of people that society had deemed unworthy of basic human rights at that time.

He’s telling his story. Simple as that.

Must have been a really slow news day yesterday, y’all.

A Comparison: My canceled insurance plan vs. a New Obamacare Plan

Posted: November 6, 2013 | Author: A. Bear | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: exchange, health insurance, insurance broker, ObamaCare | 2 Comments

DISCLAIMER: This blog will not be dedicated to all Obamcare all the time. As I experience what millions of Americans are experiencing lately with this insurance thing, I’m doing a lot of homework and hoping that passing along my thoughts might help others. Plain English.

In my continued quest to navigate fact and fiction about my healthcare future, here’s some stuff to read (if you are so inclined).

Outside Help and Revelations: (don’t tell anyone . . . but you DON’T HAVE TO USE HEALTHCARE.GOV)

Yesterday, I met with an insurance broker. Third party. I found this extremely helpful. She is not pro-one plan or another. She’s not pro- or anti- Obamacare. She answered questions clearly and with no bias.

I spent 30 minutes with her and learned a lot (as opposed to days on healthcare.gov and other websites learning little to nothing). And, I’ll admit, I left feeling much, much better about my future healthcare under Obamacare.

That being said, here are a few things I learned from her:

You don’t have to use healthcare.gov to sign-up for new plans.
You can go straight to providers. They all have to offer the Obamacare plans. So, the prices and plans you see on healthcare.gov will be the same prices you find if you apply directly through Aetna or Blue Cross or any other provider that offers plans in your area.
The “benefit” of healthcare.gov is that it’s intended to provide all of the answers (from all available providers) in one place, and compare plans for you. However, we know this is a disaster so far. Her advice was to run away from the website and figure it out on your own. Or in my case, have her figure it out for me.
The premium costs you see on any of the websites are not the full cost.
She showed me a variety of plans and prices, then mentioned that there is an additional 4.3% tax that goes on top of the premiums. I asked what that tax was and she said “consider it the Obamacare tax.” Now, that’s not much in the grand scheme of things. But you should factor it in along with all other costs and variations between plans.
It’s possible that tax is noted clearly somewhere on healthcare.gov or other sites, I just hadn’t seen it. But, good to know.
Even if your employer offers a new plan under the new Obamacare requirements, you can opt-out of your employer’s insurance and choose your own individual plan.
I thought you were stuck with your employer, so this was good to know.
Because I’m not locked into an employer plan, I have the flexibility to change the plan more frequently if I want to.
This is a nice perk, I have to admit. If I pick a plan now, then six months down the road I’m not happy with it, I can choose a different plan.
Texas wasn’t hit as hard as other areas with higher premiums.
By luck, somehow our premiums in Texas didn’t rise as drastically (overall) as in other areas. I found this to be true when we looked at plans yesterday. In many cases, premiums do go down. But . . . that’s not the whole story. Keep reading.

Plans

Just in case you haven’t dug into any plan options, all plans are now described as Catastrophic, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum (low cost to high cost). These levels don’t refer to the “quality” of care you’ll receive (the quality is determined by the doctors you choose), but rather the actuarial ratios applied to each plan. Basically lower (Bronze) plans are cheaper but cover fewer services (more out-of-pocket costs to you) while Platinum plans are expensive but cover much more with less out-of-pocket.

But remember, all plans cover the 10 Essential Benefits in some form or fashion.

After my insurance broker showed me some plan options, I decided to do some additional homework myself to figure out the best option for me. I’m kind of in a health no-man’s land. I’m relatively healthy and have had a few good years with no major health issues. I don’t get sick very often. But, when I do get sick, I get SICK. And I’ve had a few major health things in my past. And I have maintenance asthma issues.

Also . . . I have the worst luck in the world. If I attempted to go without insurance, the very next day I’d immediately need major surgery for something. Probably a brain transplant for being dumb and choosing to go without insurance.

So, I’m not exactly young and healthy. But I’m not old and diseased yet, either. This is good, it actually gives me more options.

Next, let’s work through my research from asking basic questions about what all of this means for me, and what’s the best choice for me and my budget. I’m a researcher and will dig until I find answers. With my healthcare decisions and with everything we are hearing about Obamacare from endless versions and spins on truths and lies, I just want to find facts and let the data speak for itself.

Teri’s Recommendations For Your Obamacare Choice:

1. Dig below the surface. The premiums are not the full cost of an insurance plan.

2. Find someone and ask questions. (not an Obamacare or health.gov representative)

3. Read the FINE PRINT. Sometimes you have to dig for this. But there are key differences between plans that are not clearly displayed on the same pages where premiums are displayed.

4. Do your own math. Only you can determine what your real costs are and what fits your budget. No website summary page can tell you this.

5. Do get health insurance. Not to help the exchange, or because it’s now required. But because it’s a smart, responsible, grown-up thing to do.

Let’s explore some of the arguments vs. the realities.

Pro-Obamacare Argument #1: You will pay less for your plan.

Well . . . maybe. Depends on the plan you choose. True, you will pay less “for the plan” if you choose a cheaper plan. And in some cases, it’s possible a plan that is extremely close to your current plan might have lower premiums. Does that mean you will pay less overall for your healthcare on an annual basis? Not entirely.

My own example . . .

At the encouragement of my insurance broker, I entertained the thought of a Bronze level plan. In a nutshell, this has a low monthly premium (less than half of what I’m paying now), but no co-payments and a high deductible of $6,000. This means I’d pay full retail price for prescriptions and the negotiated retail rate for doctor visits (what the doctor charges the insurance company), but I’m saving money on lower premiums. However, if I had an emergency or a hospital stay, that would be pricey.

That’s probably really attractive to many people, and yes, can translate as paying less for your plan.

But, does this really balance out to savings for me? My insurance broker recommended that I call my pharmacy and find out the retail price for all of my prescriptions (not what I currently pay through my insurance), find out the cost of a doctor visit (not what I would pay as a co-pay), then do the math on an “average” year of usage.

Naturally, I made an Excel spreadsheet. And I found that even with a Bronze plan, due to one or two of my routine prescriptions, I’d be paying more for my healthcare costs on an annual basis than I would with a Silver plan with a higher monthly premium.

So, I’ve determined that a Silver PPO plan is likely the best for me. Let me be clear, a Bronze plan is not a bad plan and will be just fine for some folks.

Pro-Obamacare Argument #2: If your plan was canceled, your plan was sub-par.

But why?

For those of us with canceled plans, we are hearing that the reason for the cancellation is that our current/old/canceled plans are “sub-par”, and that the new plans under Obamacare are better than what we had before. Prior standards were not good enough, and thanks to Obamacare, they are raising everyone’s standards by the new mandates and requirements.

To the unsuspecting, this sounds pretty good. We’re getting better care!

To me, and many others, this is rather insulting. I heard James Carville describe it the other day that maybe you drive a bicycle, but what you really need is a car. You didn’t know you need a car, but you do. So, the new Obamacare plans are that car that you need because a bicycle isn’t good enough for you.

Doesn’t matter if you like your bicycle, or if you don’t need a car for your lifestyle (or budget). The government has now decided that everyone needs a car and you are now required to buy one.

So, to be fair to this argument, I’ve compared my current (canceled plan) to the new Obamacare plans. I have wondered what it was about my plan that was “sub-par” since it was canceled. I understood my plan to be a really, really good plan. But maybe that’s not the case. And I can’t find anything that explains to me what’s wrong with my plan under the new requirements.

So, I’ve pieced it together myself. (Catch that . . . I made these Excel graphics myself. You won’t find this type of comparisons available on the interweb. With that in mind, these comparisons are based on info I can find on my own, specific to each plan. I’m not an expert, and there are detailed nuances to each of these items that I’m not including here for the sake of brevity and simplicity. If you see something I’ve missed or misrepresented, leave a comment and I’ll look into it. )

Let’s start with the basics.

Assessment:

An Aetna OAMC plan is nothing to sneeze at. In fact, it the government requires us to have a car, I had a mid-priced Cadillac.
We keep hearing that the plans being canceled are individual plans. But my plan is an employer plan.
While my new plan will save money on the premium, the deductible is twice as much.

Ok. Some savings there. But what about those 10 Essential Benefits? Obamacare has determined these are benefits that all plans are now required to have. If your plan didn’t cover these before, your plan was canceled. Let’s compare my current plan to the new Silver plan.

Assessment:

That said, all of the 10 Essential Benefits were covered under my current (canceled) plan. At least as far as I can tell. In many cases, the coverage is better under my current plan. CATCH THAT. Obamacare didn’t invent these essentials or come up with anything your current/old plan likely didn’t cover, unless you had a really bare bones plan.
I will experience savings on Prescriptions. I appreciate that.
However, most other benefits will be an increase in out-of-pocket costs for me.
A few benefits are the same (or aren’t a factor for me).
So again, while I’m saving money on premiums, most of the 10 Essential Benefits will be more expensive for me.

So. . . why was my plan canceled? One possible reason (that I won’t be able to confirm) is that the costs to continue coverage for these services changed too much to keep the plan exactly the same. Only the insurance company will know that. Under Obamacare, if the cost of a current plan changes more than a few dollars to meet the new requirements, it won’t fly.

Another possible reason (perhaps in addition to the reason above) is found in the fine print. You won’t see this detail on a webpage that summarizes basic coverage and costs. Depending on the site you are using, you’ll want to find a link to “Outline of Coverage” or something similarly named. This goes into detail about what’s included in your plan (in my case, I clicked the link below and found 16 pages of fine print for each of the plans I’m comparing).

And the fine print is a big issue for me with this Obamacare mess.

Contraceptive Services are covered in the new plans, where it’s not covered in my current plan. And this is grounds for canceling a plan. I am not going to get into an abortion debate here on my blog, but regardless of how you feel about this subject, it’s a choice.

Because of my Christian faith, I personally choose life. Millions of Americans choose life. To make this a required part of any healthcare plan is a violation of religious liberties. And this gets into the bigger, deeper issues of why I’m opposed to Obamacare all together.

So, is my plan sub-par?

The numbers (and the required coverage) dispute that.

But, I have no choice but to choose a new plan and move on. And honestly, I feel like I’ve chosen good coverage. It’s not a bad plan. But, neither was the canceled plan.

What if I went for the Gold?

What if I chose a plan that is the closest to what I have right now? Let’s take a look at a Gold plan compared to my current plan.

Assessment:

Would I save money on the plan closest to what I have now, considering what I’m currently paying vs. the new plan costs? Even with the lower premium ($391 vs. $466) the savings would be minimal on annual expenses, if any at all, if you look at each item covered in each plan.
Since the savings aren’t obvious or big, I’m choosing the Silver plan to lower my monthly costs enough to make a difference in my cash flow, while gambling a bit that I won’t have any major health issues in the next year.
Again, I can review my plan and make a change in six months or a year or whenever my life circumstances change.

In Conclusion: For Me

I lost my plan. After a lot of work, I have a solution. And I will admit, it’s solid insurance coverage.

Is it a “better” plan than what I had? No.

I get to keep my doctors, so that’s a perk. This is due to choosing a plan that includes my doctors in the network. However, not everyone will be able to do this either due to finances or available plans in their areas.

Am I saving money? Not really.

Am I paying more? I don’t think so.

My fine print

Again, this is just my experience . . . so far. Others might be saving tons of money, while others might be experiencing huge increases in costs. I hear some serious horror stories, no longer speculation as people are beginning to deal with the realities of Obamacare. Also note that I haven’t actually enrolled yet, but I plan to do so either this week or next so that I’m covered before my current insurance ends.

Find out what all of this means to you . . . and good health to you all.

A. Bear

My Interpretation of the 10 Essential Benefits

Posted: November 4, 2013 | Author: A. Bear | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Essential Healthcare, Joey Tribbiani, Lifestyle Lift, ObamaCare, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Prescription drug | Leave a comment

As I work through losing my current insurance coverage and trying to understand why my plan was considered “subpar” and canceled, rather than take offense to this I’ve decided to be the bigger person and embrace the 10 Essential Benefits that I will soon be blessed with in my new Obamacare plan . . . whenever I’m able to sign-up.

Because these benefits are “essential” and insurance companies are now required to provide them, I understand this to mean that I am required to use them. It’s illegal for me not to choose to accept them, or face a fine. I certainly have never been in trouble with the law, and I’m not about to start now.

So I’m going to use these services to the fullest extent of the law. They are:

1. Ambulatory patient services

This includes out-patient surgery, clinics, and the like. I assume this includes the Lifestyle Lift facial procedure that I can take care of over my lunch break. I’ve been waiting for the right time for a little touch-up. Now that the government is telling me that it’s essential, I’ll stop waiting and get this taken care of right away.

2. Emergency services

Thanks to this essential benefit, I can’t be penalized for going out of network with as many ambulance rides as I need to take care of “sudden” illnesses and “emergencies”. I used to avoid the emergency room as a last resort, since it’s expensive and all. But now that it’s essential, and there’s a Starbucks in the hospital down the street, I’m assuming the ambulances are available to transport me back and forth for my morning grande Americano.

You have NO idea the emergency that will ensue if I don’t get my morning coffee . . . STAT.

3. Hospitalization (such as surgery)

If I ever learned anything from Joey Tribbiani, this essential benefit must mean that I can get all the free hernia operations I want. And I don’t even have to have my mom take me to the hospital or bring me home after my week-long stay (see Essential Benefit #2).

4. Maternity and newborn care (care before and after your baby is born)

Let me be clear, I am not pregnant now. Nor have I ever been.

But, now that it’s required to take care of me before I get pregnant (so . . . now), as well as after my baby is born (or babies are born, rather), I’m thinking it’s time I start cranking out some babies. I mean, let’s face it, I’m not getting any younger. My parents would love ten or twenty grandkids. And never before has it been required of me to have this essential healthcare service.

Therefore, if I’m understanding this correctly, it’s essential for me to have maternity care. I’d better comply.

Plus . . . I don’t know if everyone realizes this, but the more kids you have, the more subsidies you qualify for under Obamacare. I KNOW!! It’s RIGHT THERE on the healthcare.gov website. What a perk!!

Right now, I have no kids. And I make too much money. So while I get all of these ten great essential benefits, I don’t get any subsidies.

But THANK GOODNESS for Benefit #4 because as soon as I pop out five kids, I’m IN. I get a discount! I’m hoping for quintuplets so I can get to the subsidy faster.

5. Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment (this includes counseling and psychotherapy)

I tell you what, I thought I was feeling pretty good about my life. Happy. Fulfilled. I have a good job. I have a house. I have a car. I have food. I love my family and friends. I live like a responsible grown-up should live. But now that it’s essential for me to have mental health and substance abuse care . . . I’m not so sure about life anymore.

I mean, am I not doing enough drugs? Should I be abusing alcohol more regularly? Did Walter White really have it all figured out? I wouldn’t even begin to know how to smoke crystal meth (do you even smoke it???).

I tell you, now I’m suddenly stressed out. I’m feeling some anxiety. Now that I think about it, I’m not married. And as we’ve already covered, I have no kids and I’m not getting any younger. Come to think of it . . . who would want this aging spinster . . . sitting at home, alone on a Monday night . . . blogging . . . when I’m sure all the cool, loved people are out living it up with their subsidies and free health insurance and extra hour of sleep from the weekend when we turned out clocks back.

You know what I did with that extra hour?? Laundry. LAUNDRY. I’m such a loser . . .

Y’all . . . I have a beer in my fridge that’s been there since May . . . and I’m strongly considering drinking some of it . . . alone. I mean, my insurance was just canceled. I tried in vain to get on healthcare.gov to find some answers. I’m only halfway through the essential benefits and I’m feeling like I’m letting the government down because I don’t qualify for any subsidies and I’m too old to stay on my parents’ insurance. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME AND MY LIFE???

Good thing the government now finds it essential for me to go to rehab. I’ll call an ambulance and go tomorrow . . . before I spiral any more out of control.

6. Prescription drugs

This is a no-brainer. I’ve always had this as part of my insurance, and I’m really glad the government still considers this an essential benefit. I have a few maintenance prescriptions, so this benefit will really come in handy.

Of course, I assume this means if I didn’t have any prescriptions, it’s essential that I get some prescription drugs to make use of this essential benefit. In fact, I just read this on Forbes.com:

At least one prescription drug must be covered for each category and classification of federally approved drugs.

Does that seem like a lot of drugs to anyone else? I mean, I’m only one person and I’m not sure I need one drug for each category. But, if the government says I do, I’d better start stocking up.

Also, if I’m understanding all of this correctly, my birth control is free. They won’t even take my money for it if I leave it on the counter and run. But since I’m trying to comply with Benefit #4 (see above), I’ll just give my free birth control to someone else who is bucking the system and not complying with Benefit #4.

7. Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices (services and devices to help people with injuries, disabilities, or chronic conditions gain or recover mental and physical skills)

So, this isn’t drug rehab (see Benefit #5). This is getting-over-an-injury-and-need-to-re-learn-how-to-walk rehab. Serious stuff that really is a great benefit.

I mean, I didn’t really think my slightly longer left leg due to a miniscule touch of life-long scoliosis in my spine was noticeable to anyone. I certainly don’t walk in circles or anything. But, sometimes one pants leg is longer than the other. And frankly, that’s just unacceptable. And often annoying. To me.

I better get to rehab before the government finds out I’m not taking care of this.

8. Laboratory services

So let me just clarify here (more for me than anyone else). This does NOT, I repeat NOT, cover meth labs. I was WAY off on this one.

But it does cover blood tests, disease tests, screenings and stuff like that. I mean, I feel fine. Or I thought I did . . . until just now. Actually, I feel like I might have lupus (if George Costanza can think he had it, I probably should think I have it, too). Or Jumping Frenchmen of Maine disease (it’s real, look it up). Or that swine flu that’s killing everyone on The Walking Dead and turning them into zombies.

I really don’t want to be a zombie, y’all.

There are blood tests for these diseases, right? I mean, if they had Obamacare in the post-zombie-apocalyptic world, think of all of the people that would still be alive in that prison. They would be required to use laboratory services and quite frankly, it would save us all.

Better call an ambulance tomorrow to get to the clinic for my essential lab work.

9. Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management

This is another great idea. I mean, I already had this with my current, sub-par insurance (that was canceled). But again, I’m relieved to know that the government agrees this is still a good idea.

Now, where do I go to get all of my free inhalers and monthly well-woman exams? I mean, I want to be sure I comply, like, the best of everyone. Ever. So, why stop at one annual well-woman exam? Let’s do it monthly, just to be sure I’m in compliance and preventing, like, EVERYTHING. Ever.

10. Pediatric services

This is truly a godsend. For all of the babies I’m going to have while complying with Benefit #4. But I assume that I need to be complying with this one from Day 1 of coverage. Since it’s essential. NOW.

So, does anyone have any kids they can loan me until I pop out a few of my own? Just on a part-time basis. To be sure I comply with the government. I assume “pediatric services” includes food, water and clothes. And I promise, I’ll give your kids back just as soon as I start getting discounts off of my own kids.

I hope you find my example of civil obedience helpful. I just think we need to embrace our new “benefits” and just be the best Obamacare “benefactors” we can be.

Good health to you all,

A.Bear

ObamaCare: What does it mean for me?

Posted: October 8, 2013 | Author: A. Bear | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: America, Care, COBRA, exchange, glitch, health care, healthcare, Insurance, Obama, ObamaCare, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, United States, Whoops | 7 Comments

Over the past two days, I’ve been spending some quality time on the ObamaCare open exchange website, trying to investigate my options for healthcare into 2014 and beyond.

The website is healthcare.gov. This is the site that has experienced all of the glitches you’ve probably heard about since enrollment began October 1. But, rather than believe the hype, I’m trying this thing for myself. Because I’m a good American citizen doing what my President has told me to do.

Here’s my situation and experience so far, step-by-step:

1. My current plan will change.
Just yesterday, I received a letter from my current employer-based insurance company saying they can no longer continue my plan as-is due to the Affordable Care Act requirements.

So, even though Obama is on record and explicitly said “If you like your plan, you can keep it” that won’t be true for me. It’s also stated clearly on the healthcare.gov site:

So, for the record, I like my plan, I want to keep it. But the new requirements make that impossible in my situation.

I also note that according to the letter from my insurance company, when they provide new plan options to my employer they “can” purchase it. This indicates they can also choose not to purchase it. Of course, then they will face fines and I will have to find a plan on my own anyway.

2. So, depending on what happens with situation #1 above, let’s explore my individual plan options.
If my employer-based insurance doesn’t offer what I need (or want), what are my options for an individual plan?

Technically, my current plan is covered under COBRA through my former employer. I was laid-off back in June and my new employer isn’t set-up with insurance just yet (we’re waiting for the exchange to open — thank goodness it’s here!).

So right now, I’m paying full premiums anyway. And my COBRA benefits could continue for over a year. It sure would be nice to pay less on my premiums. I wonder if I’ll save any money through the exchange options?

I’d better check into a non-COBRA option IN CASE my old employer (and current provider) is forced into a plan that isn’t what I need and it’s better for my situation to cancel that, and IN CASE my new employer isn’t able to offer what I need and we decide to fend for ourselves. We are well under 50 employees and would not likely be subject to the fines larger companies would incur for choosing not to offer healthcare.

About COBRA, Healthcare.gov says:

Good news! I can choose my own plan. I’m not forced to live with what my employer might provide.

So, let’s see if I qualify for any of the lower-cost premiums mentioned on the web-page above. It will really help my budget to not pay full premiums (like when I was employed with my previous employer a few months ago). Healthcare.gov says:

Whoops. This page indicates that I won’t qualify for savings as an individual because I make too much money as an individual. Let the record show that my income today would need to be what I was making ten years ago OR I would need to have five or more children by now with my current salary to qualify for any discounts under the exchange. In fact, the site promises (highlighted above): “The lower your income within these ranges, the more you’ll save.”

Take that however you want, but to me this comes through as a penalty for financially exceeding in life, and for failing to have a family at my age. And . . . it makes me curious as to what research developed these income levels for a plan that is touted as designed to help the masses. Do the majority of people in America who make $158,000 have 8 kids? Or WORSE, do the majority of people who make $39,000 have 8 kids??? Is this savings “perk” intended to encourage more of this kind of . . . life circumstances?

Anyway . . . since I’m too much of an individual overachiever in life, let’s use the Kaiser Family Foundation tool to estimate what my costs will be (link is provided through healthcare.gov).

So, Kaiser tells me that since I’m one of the special people who does have an employer-based insurance option, I’m not eligible for any subsidized exchanges. Translation: NO DISCOUNTS FOR YOU, you job-having, income-exceeding, no-child-bearing OVERACHIEVER.

To many, this might be a dead end. For me, I tend to keep digging. Just for grins and for the sake of still trying to get some info, let’s pretend I don’t have a COBRA or employer-based option (which could be a reality by the end of the year) and see what Kaiser says. I need to get an idea of some costs and options.

So, once again, because I’m apparently an overachiever in life, I make too much money to qualify for any subsidies or discounts. That means my only options will be full-fare. Not much hope for saving any money on my future healthcare.

The option above is for a Silver plan. Monthly premiums are actually pretty reasonable (about $211.25 per month). Out-of-pocket can’t exceed $6,350 per year.

Hmmmm. Not actually terrible.

Ok, but what is covered under a Silver plan? Would I be getting anything comparable to the plan I currently have (AND LIKE)? I can downgrade to a Bronze, or upgrade to a Gold. But the Kaiser site doesn’t give that kind of comparison info. So, back to healthcare.gov to hopefully find more answer about how a Silver plan compares to my current plan . . . that I like . . . but cannot keep.

After a few clicks and attempts to search for things like “what is covered under a Silver Plan?” I get no information or clear way to compare basic coverage options or benefits of Gold, Silver, Bronze (maybe it’s there, I just can’t find the right search string or link to get to it).

Looks like I need to actually start the enrollment process to get more info and actually compare any real plans and costs. Let’s try that.

3. Start the Enrollment process.
Easy enough to get through the first few screens. Just basic info, security questions, username. We’re just setting up the account at this point.

Whoops. Not gonna happen first try. “Account couldn’t be created.”

Well, ok I’ll try again. It’s a busy system, this is nothing out of the ordinary.

Wait, what? “Username already exists?”
Does this mean someone, in the past 60 seconds, took my unique Username?? Impossible, it’s really creative and sneaky. Or . . . did the first error message lie to me and my account really WAS created?

So maybe I’ll try to login and see if the system accepted my account (but just didn’t know it).

After watching the page spin around a good five minutes while letting me know it was “logging in”, I was taken to this page:

Yes. It’s blank.

Refreshing the page gets me to this:

Ok, so let me try setting up an account again. I’ll change my Username (since someone clearly already took it . . . even though it’s super sneaky and original).

Oh wait! Success! I’m one step closer to having healthcare!

I follow the link to verify my account. I’ve logged in. And now I’m ready to explore all of my options.

I’m not even kidding. This is the next page, my “User Profile”.

Completely blank. No amount of “refreshing” the page gets me anywhere. No links for help. Nothing.

I’ve hit the Dead End before I even got any real options. And what have I learned? I make too much money and don’t have enough kids.

So, after a largely unfruitful amount of time on the ObamaCare healthcare.gov site, this concludes the first part of my attempt to get to ObamaCare. Since I’m now required to have insurance, I’ll obviously have to keep trying to figure out the best solution for my healthcare, which means I’ll have to come back to the site (like millions of other obedient Americans).

I guess this buys me some time to make less money and have some babies.

Sincerely (and better luck to you on this thing),
A.Bear

A Healthcare Soliloquy (bearreality.wordpress.com)

A Healthcare Soliloquy

Posted: October 2, 2013 | Author: A. Bear | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Affordable Care Act, Congress, Democrats, healthcare, monument, Obama, ObamaCare, poo-poo head, Republicans, stalemate, veterans, WWII | 1 Comment

Hi. I’m a Republican. A very conservative one.

I don’t hate people with pre-existing conditions (I’m one myself — life-long asthma sufferer) or lower-income Americans (I’ve been one of those, too, and could possibly aspire to be one again someday as we head toward a Socialist economy day-by-day). I don’t find anyone inferior and undeserving of healthcare. Shocking, I know.

Yes, I have been blessed with continuing coverage of healthcare throughout my working life thanks to my employers. I realize many Americans have not had this blessing. I work hard to keep a job, though. That’s key.

I believe everyone deserves good, affordable healthcare. Is the pre-ObamaCare system perfect? No. It has TONS of issues (remember — asthma sufferer, many rounds with insurance providers about care in my 37-years of breathing).

Is ObamaCare the right answer to providing healthcare to the masses? Nothing about it so far tells me that it is. I fully support defunding it and repealing it and finding a better solution (perhaps one of the eleventy-billion solutions the Republicans have proposed would be a good starting place for discussion).

Just because Obama made it, (then changed it eleventy-billion times, and gives special exceptions to Congress and corporations and probably anyone who has an Obama sticker on their car) doesn’t mean it’s the ONLY solution for a better healthcare system.

Replacing a broken system with another broken system is never the answer. Refusing to compromise….also not the answer.

I fully expect my healthcare costs to rise. I’ll deal with it if that happens (although… selling one of my damaged lungs is probably out of the question. But I assume this amazing ObamaCare would give me free lung-removal surgery, right?).

Conveniently, I make too much money now to qualify for lower premiums under ObamaCare (perhaps I should ask my boss for an un-raise so I can afford better healthcare — healthcare.gov boasts: “The lower your income within these ranges, the more you’ll save.”). I’m suddenly demotivated to be a VP, but oddly motivated to cut my income in half and have 8 kids so I can get better healthcare for myself.

I’m thankful to still have a full-time job while many others are losing theirs or suffering reduced hours for the sake of “healthcare for all.” Possibly making it harder for them to afford even the lowest level of Obamacare….or the fine that will be imposed because they can’t afford it….

But guys… because I believe what I believe (or Republicans in general) doesn’t mean we hate others who don’t agree. Or can’t afford it. Or have pre-existing conditions. Or are Democrats.

Republicans aren’t the bad guys. A crappy healthcare system and a refusal to compromise is the bad guy.

I will even go out on a limb and say… I think Republicans and Democrats alike would like the best system for everyone. We all want everyone to get good care. I prefer that to come without taxing the system or paying for someone else’s care (along with my own). But maybe that’s just me…

Stereo-typing and slinging hate (both ways) is about as mature as 10-year olds calling each other poo-poo heads and believing the other kids’ heads are really made of poo, therefore making the poo-headed kids wrong.

The accusations aren’t helping, boys and girls. And in the meantime, veterans can’t get to WWII monuments without breaking in like criminals and Congress is getting paid to ….stalemate.

This is America. Let’s act like it, y’all.

Sincerely,
A. Bear

The English Language. Srsly, y’all.

Posted: August 28, 2013 | Author: A. Bear | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Dictionary, English language, Miley Cyrus, Oxford, Oxford English Dictionary, pop culture, Scrabble, Twerk, Word With Friends | Leave a comment

“Hey mom, what’s a ‘twerk’?”

“I don’t know. Go look it up in the dictionary.”

Upon looking in the Oxford dictionary, this youngster would find the following:

“Twerk, v.: dance to popular music in a sexually provocative manner involving thrusting hip movements and a low, squatting stance.”

Yes, twerking has not only infected pop culture and Miley Cyrus’s rump, it has now officially made it into the official English language with the latest update to the Oxford dictionary.

Now, I am not here to debate the merits of twerking. Or Miley Cyrus. There is no debate to be had. Merits = 0.

What concerns me more than 15 minutes of misplaced attention on a public display of bad booty behavior is this: Why do we keep making up words and declaring them “real” words?

Also added to the dictionary in this latest update includes such prose as “badassery” (pardon my french), “food baby”, “srsly” (that’s not even a word!), and “digital detox” (that is TWO words, people).

I just can’t see myself, years ago, playing Scrabble with my grandmother, slapping down “badassery” for 108 points and not getting slapped in the face for such language. Even now, I type “srsly” and Microsoft Word tries to correct it to a real word.

BECAUSE IT’S NOT A WORD.

Now, before you think me completely old-fashioned and unreasonable, I do approve of some of the new additions: “jorts” (I’ve used this in my everyday lexicon for years), “selfie” (I mean, this was only a matter of time), and “fauxhawk”.

But being old-fashioned again, let me say that the more made-up, text-appropriate “words” and abbreviations we add to the English language, I fear our youth will not understand things like . . . books. With full sentences. Made up of words longer than four letters. And many, many pages.

They will speak in a language that makes no sense to anyone other than 14-year old girls. Do we really need to make it okay to shorten “congratulations” to “grats”? Didn’t we already do that with . . . “congrats”?

There may be no turning back at this point. But at least, thanks to Oxford, people over the age of 35 now have a handy guide to interpreting conversations from and communicating with the youth of America:

Raising taxes is bad. Derp.

Translation: Raising taxes is bad. Duh.

That lady totes has a food baby.

Translation: That lady totally has a protruding stomach caused by eating a large quantity of food and supposedly resembling that of a woman in the early stages of pregnancy

NSync reunion! Squee!

Translation: NSync reunion! Squeal in delight or excitement!

Sigh. I make no apols that I think this whole thing is totes dappy omnishambles. Emojji = unlike face.

A. Bear

blog.oxforddictionaries.com
FOXNews: ‘Twerk,’ ‘selfie’ added to Oxford dictionary
Oxford Dictionary Online adds ‘selfie’ and ‘twerk’ to new list of words (standard.co.uk)

Inaugural Post (and the new NFL Clear Bag Controversy)

Posted: August 26, 2013 | Author: A. Bear | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: bag, bear, clear, Gary Busey, nfl, NSync | Leave a comment

Hello, and I’m back to blogging again. For those of you who never new I blogged, well, then for you I’m just blogging . . . now.

For my inaugural post, I wanted to tackle the super-hot, super controversial issue of the new NFL regulations about what can be brought into the stadium and the carrying device in which these items can be brought-en.

I’m talking (of course) about the new clear bag policy. I’m sure by now we’ve all seen this:

This new requirement has sent panic and discomfort through the hearts of women nationwide who fear hoards of football fans and security personnel will see every embarrassing thing in our purses.

But ladies, I say this:

Do not be ashamed. Do not be embarrassed. Do not stuff your pockets with tampons and phones and chewing gum in an attempt to avoid carrying the new clear bag.
If the NFL wants to know what we ladies carry with us, let’s show them. Explicitly. In fact, I would go one step further and recommend that we be extra helpful. If we are not ashamed to put it on Facebook, we should not be ashamed to carry it in our clear bags to football games.

What do I mean by being unashamed? Flaunt what you’ve got, sisters.

In addition to your standards (wallet, lipstick, hairbrush, tampons, mints, coupons to DSW and Bed, Bath and Beyond) the contents of my purse at any given time could also include (now for all to see in my clear NFL bag):

Embarrassing childhood photos. Not embarrassing for me, but perhaps for an NFL security person.
A treasure map to hidden pirate gold.
Extra pairs (or 10) of underwear. Always be prepared.
Various ointments for odd toe fungus ailments or infections I may already have, or just in case I contract a fungus or infection (at a football game, for instance).
40 or 50 pictures shirtless pics of my boyfriends (Ryan Reynolds, Christian Bale, NSync circa 1990s – don’t judge)
Diarrhea medicine. Safety first, y’all.
My gun (I will leave this at home for football games, don’t worry).
Gary Busey.

What do I mean by being extra helpful? Let’s go above and beyond just a see-through bag and perhaps add helpful directions and descriptions so that NFL security helpers know exactly what they are seeing at just a glance. Safety first at top speed.

For example, I live in Cowboys territory and have therefore chosen a Redskins bag for my prototype. Your bag may include some or all of these similar items, which I’ve helpfully described on my bag so that everyone knows what each item is . . . and that each item is safe:

This new rule is, after all, intended to improve the safety of attending a football game, as well as expedite the security process.

Together, we can ensure that no dangerous (or poorly labeled) paraphernalia enters an NFL stadium for a safe and fun football season.

Safety First. All the time.

–A. Bear

	Charity on Ducking the Truth
	Phil Robertson quote… on Ducking the Truth
	Blake on Ducking the Truth
	Diane on Ducking the Truth
	Theseus on Ducking the Truth

A. Bear's Reality

Just me, writing stuffs.

Hobby Lobby vs. Free Birth Control: Jesus wins! (but the influx of unwanted babies will be His fault)

Mommas, don’t let your kids grow up to be entitled.

Straight Person Writes Blog

Ducking the Truth

A Comparison: My canceled insurance plan vs. a New Obamacare Plan

My Interpretation of the 10 Essential Benefits

ObamaCare: What does it mean for me?

A Healthcare Soliloquy

The English Language. Srsly, y’all.

Inaugural Post (and the new NFL Clear Bag Controversy)

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