When Health Care Costs Less People Demand More Of It

In the ongoing struggle between reality and the Reality-Based Community, reality strikes again!

Access to Health Care May Increase ER Visits, Study Suggests

By SABRINA TAVERNISE

Supporters of President Obama’s health care law had predicted that expanding insurance coverage for the poor would reduce costly emergency room visits as people sought care from primary care doctors. But a rigorous new study conducted in Oregon has flipped that assumption on its head, finding that the newly insured actually went to the emergency room more often.

The study, published in the journal Science, compared thousands of low-income people in the Portland area who were randomly selected in a 2008 lottery to get Medicaid coverage with people who entered the lottery but remained uninsured. Those who gained coverage made 40 percent more visits to the emergency room than their uninsured counterparts. The pattern was so strong that it held true across most demographic groups, times of day, and types of visits, including for conditions that were treatable in primary care settings.

The finding casts doubt on the hope that expanded insurance coverage will help rein in rising emergency room costs just as more than two million people are gaining coverage under the Affordable Care Act.

If that sounds familiar, it should:

Medicaid coverage also reduces the costs of going to a primary care doctor, and a previous analysis of data from the Oregon experiment found that such doctor visits also increased substantially. Researchers concluded that gaining health coverage led to an across-the-board rise in the use of health care.

Interestingly, the Times summary of the earlier study included this (my emphasis):

Those with Medicaid were 35 percent more likely to go to a clinic or see a doctor, 15 percent more likely to use prescription drugs and 30 percent more likely to be admitted to a hospital. Researchers were unable to detect a change in emergency room use.

The NBER web page dedicated to Oregon makes the same point about the original study:

Medicaid increased the likelihood of using outpatient care by 35 percent, using prescription drugs by 15 percent, but did not seem to have an effect on use of emergency departments.

I can't explain that seeming discrepancy and time does not permit me to dive in just now. Loose the stat hounds!

Comments

[Jack is Back!]

Colder than a well diggers ass here on Florida's First Coast. Woke to 40F but with the NE wind feels like 30F. But no snow. Could be some black ice on some roads because of all the rain.

Don't laugh, almost broke my wrist once in the driveway picking up the morning paper. Another reason I stopped reading that Red rag.

[JohnH]

JIB, -15 here in the people's republic of Madison. So cold politicians will have their hands in their own pockets today.

[daddy]

It's turtles all the way down,

When the turtles pee, do they pee north/south?

And speaking of reptiles...

I recall years back reading that some paleontologists believed that they had discovered the origin of a previously unexplained large ditch in dinosaur country---they believed that it was some Brontosaurus type relieving itself, and that the volume and force generated by his wang doodle from a couple meters high was the culprit:

Dr Bishop and Ms McCarville studied a depression - 3m by 1.5m - discovered among petrified trackways at Picketwire Canyonlands in southern Colorado, US.

The palaeontologists believe it was created when one of the many long-necked apatosaurs that left their prints in the muddy shore of a freshwater lake 150 million years ago relieved itself.

Ms McCarville said the depression seemed to be a back-filled fluid scour created by a release of liquid from several metres up. Experiments confirmed that such features could be made in this way.

But not so fast, because I now discover that there is some big Scientific argument going on as to whether Dinosaurs urinated in liquid form, or instead did it in some sticky form like birds do, which would preclude the proffered explanation of the meters long ditch.

My thought now is that it might be interesting to see if the hypothesized dino benjo ditch is oriented in a north south direction in regards to what we think might have been paleo-magnetic position of the poles in the Jurassic, thereby giving credence to the liquid pee bunch over their rivals. (Why stop at dogs?) But I feel that a link needs to be provided regarding the knock-down, drag-out battle going on between the "Liquid-pee faction" and the "sticky piss apostles."

Sticky or fluid? The great dinosaur pee debate offers experts no relief.

And over at Wiki, regarding the scene in "Walking With Dinosuars" of a Postosuchus doing number 1:
we get this:

Michael J. Benton, a consultant to the making of the series (and Professor of Vertebrate Palaeontology at Bristol University), notes that a group of critics gleefully pointed out that birds and crocodiles, the closest living relatives of the dinosaurs, do not urinate; they shed waste chemicals as more solid uric acid. In the first episode of Walking with Dinosaurs, Postosuchus urinates copiously. However, Benton notes that nobody can prove this was a real mistake: copious urination is the primitive state for tetrapods (seen in fish, amphibians, turtles, and mammals), and perhaps basal archosaurs did the same. He believes many other claims of "errors" identified in the first weeks fizzled out, as the critics had found points about which they disagreed, but they could not prove that their views were correct.

And don't even get me started on coprolites!

[Miss Marple]

heh, daddy, you said "coprolites."

I am sad that the brontosaurus name has gone away.

[daddy]

If you're just waking up, Watts Up With That? is another must read for today.

It looks like the Chinese Icebreaker that initially came to the rescue but failed, is now itself stuck in the ice, and asking the Aussie Rescue ship to stand by to help if things go wrong, but at the same time the Aussie rescue ship is not being clobbered by the ice and has ben reduced to a max forward speed of 1/4 Knot per hour. We should all be laughing if it wasn't so serious.

In addition, it now seems, (via reading a blog post from one of the Aussie Green Party politicians on the Expedition), that the reason the expedition ship got stuck in the first place was that the Climate passengers were late in coming back from their sightseeing near Mawson's 1912 huts:

The cause of the Akademik Shokalskiy getting stuck in Antarctica – delay from sightseeing mishaps and dawdling by the passengers getting back on ship

I'm not seing this getting any press at all on the TV or the regular news sources I skim over.

[daddy]

I am sad that the brontosaurus name has gone away

Me too Miss M:(

One of my favs from yesteryear.

[JIB]

daddy,

As soon as the resident dinosaur expert wakes up I will read him your post and get his opinion. Don't be surprised if he has a contrarian view.

[daddy]

JiB,

The little village is Roissy en France. I had to look up the hotel to see what village it was.

Here's the little park I sat in, and the puppy dog came out of that gated section of the remaining wall of whatever structure that is. I thought it was an old church.

[daddy]

So cold politicians will have their hands in their own pockets today.

LOL, JohnH.

[JIB]

daddy,

Roissy-en-France is where Parc Asterix is located. Great fun for kids.

Don't know if you are familiar with the Asterix the Gaul stories.

[JIB]

daddy,

Those ruins are an old church and an old castle adjacent to it.

[peter]

You know for all the quadrillions that will ultimately be wasted on Obamacare, they could have just lent money to capitalists willing to build more emergency rooms. My nephew works for an urgent care company which is private and is doing quite well.

[Miss Marple]

I am off to run a multitude of errands and serve at the food pantry.

Will check in this afternoon.

[daddy]

JiB,

Didn't know there was a Parc Asterix nearby. It seems like a very sleepy little town. From the hotel I just walk across the small street to that ruined Church park, and then beyond are 2 or 3 small quiet streets of a few restaurants and a couple markets. If we're only laying over for 24 hours or less they put us out there, but once we go over 24 hours they start sending us downtown.

I miss my little French puppy-dog. Hope he's being taken care of by the concierge.

Currently I'm in a hotel in Bercy for the next 3 days, unless they modify our trip again due to all the flight cancellations over in the Northeast.

[peter]

I apologize for posting this at the LUN, for those with weak stomachs, but in case anyone does not believe there is evil in the world, follow the link under name and read about North Korea. Will Obama shake Kim Jung Un's hand at the next world gathering?

[Marlene]

I imagine Jane and TC and Dave(in Ma) are buried in snow. We got a flurry of six inches,but the windchill is 40 below. The oil burner tech finally got here at about 6 o'clock last night to replace the thermostat.
Good times.

[pagar]

" Will Obama shake Kim Jung Un's hand at the next world gathering?"

Probably bow as well. What a vile act by the Korean dictator.

[Jeff Dobbs]

Stephanie:
Plus you can have your friends over for a pajama party (that's what we call the guests who over imbibe -that's pretty much all of them - stay the night).

Wait. What?

Did you just . . . I . . . I think you just did.

[Captain Hate]

I am sad that the brontosaurus name has gone away.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVaqMCUMkN8

[henry]

Weather dot com called this storm "Hercules". I blame them for all the snow and cold, they should use wimpier names... Winter Storm "Dana" would fizzle from all the hot air, though the winds would ruffle feathers.

[narciso]

You know, that might have been a much more successful campaign, they didn't do audience research?

[peter]

Death by ravenous dogs is bad, but this LUN is worse....you've been warned......

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Henry the Packers game will be played in -2F to -8F conditions. Hopw cold was the Giants NFC final a few years ago?

[Captain Hate]

Probably bow as well. What a vile act by the Korean dictator.

Remember when not-at-Albright was yucking it up and getting hammered with those turds? Smart diplomacy.

[narciso]

Yes, they did do something similar, but it was a hard sell, along with keg standing bros.

[Extraneus]

Obama’s Half-Brother ‘Floored’ About President’s Lying About Meeting Him

Mark Obama Ndesandjo said he was surprised to hear his half-brother President Barack Obama say they had only recently met for the first time.

“I was floored by it — I don’t know why he said it,” Ndesandjo said to Laura Ingraham, adding that he had met the president several times over the years and still isn’t sure what his motivation was for making the claim. “I think he was being president and was not being my brother,” Ndesandjo said.

Ho hum. So what? Any other president could have done it and the story would be similarly ignored.

[Jeff Dobbs]

“I think he was being president and was not being my brother,” Ndesandjo said.

"It is my fundamental belief that we should all be our brother's keeper. And when I say 'we', I mean you. I am my presidency's keeper."
--stuff Obama (almost) said.

[narciso]

And they gave her top gal, Sherman, the job to negotiate with the Mullahs,

He never did get the import of that passage, or maybe he did.

[henry]

Giants? play on a mere frozen rug. gotta have tundra to be real football. BTW tickets still available. Hint: wear extra socks if you go to Lambeau.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Henry-- I meant the NFC champ game in Lambeau a few years back, wasn't that -10F or thereabouts?

[Rob Crawford]

Healthcare.gov launched with no way to update info for change of life situations. If you signed up through it, you can't move, change jobs, have babies. They dropped the feature to try to hit the deadline.

I simply cannot believe how half-assed this thing is.

[henry]

NK, I don't know. I expect the announcers to whine about for the whole game while comparing it to all cold games ever.

[narciso]

Reality has caught up with Python;

http://vaviper.blogspot.com/2014/01/florida-man-accused-in-banana-assault.html

[JIB]

Last night at Milliken's Reef at Cape Canaveral, a large bus pulled up with a sign that said ThaiCom. Out poured about 30 asian looking folks some with professional cameras and reporting equipment. They had booked part of the restaurant for a private function.

I figured they were here for a Comm satellite launch and I was right. It was supposed to go at 6pm today but has now been delayed until Monday due, no doubt to our current cold spell.

Its a SpaceX launch from our old friend Elon Musk

[Marlene]

That North Korea story is gruesome. pagar,what is the temp in Panama? Our friends are enjoying their stay,they've decided on which town to live in. Jack,right now 40 degrees above zero is looking good. :)

[JIB]

You will know it is really cold at Lambeau when everyone is wearing their snowmachine outfits:)

[narciso]

This raises an ancillary question, how could Obama afford coke in the early 80s,

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/367473/high-life-kathryn-jean-lopez#comments

[henry]

JIB, there will be the usual bare chested drunken idiots no matter what. Fur lined cheese hats will be the giveaway.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Henry-- that Giants NFC champ game got down to -1F, this game will get colder than that, it will be the second coldest game ever at Lambeau, behind the 1/67 Ice Bowl when Jerry Kramer pushed Jethro Pugh out of the way.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Henry-- is there separate snow mobile parking at Lambeau?

[Jeff Dobbs]

Rob:
If you signed up through it, you can't move, change jobs, have babies.

Stuff Obama (almost) said...

"If you don't like your job, you have to keep your job. Period. Nobody's gonna let you leave."

"There are those who scoffed when I said that I didn't want my daughters to be 'punished with a baby'. Well, look who's laughing now."

[henry]

NK, they use the motorcycle parking spaces when it's snowy out.

[Threadkiller]

http://www.cashill.com/memoir/sailor_finally_free.htm

[Account Deleted]

TM,

The NBER Oregon Study page has been updated to reflect both the Science and the NEJM findings. The full Science findings are paywalled but the NEJM complete study is available.

We now have more scientistic proof that progs are delusional fools. Not that additional proof was required.

[Dave (in MA)]

I imagine Jane and TC and Dave(in Ma) are buried in snow

Not too bad; we got about a foot. It was a record for the date, apparently. I guess I should get out there and start the Wovel.

[Captain Hate]

Kimberley cranks it up in the New Year: http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB20001424052702304325004579295030954653514

Consider: Maryland authorities last week launched an investigation into the shootings of two bald eagles in Montgomery County. It isn't clear if the federally protected birds were shot on purpose, or if some poor soul mistook them for vultures. No matter. The Maryland Natural Resources Police (there is such a thing) has gone full vice squad—publicizing a hotline number, dangling a reward, and reminding folks that the federal penalty is a fine of $5,000 per eagle and up to a year in prison.

This behavior contrasts with a very different headline, from a month ago. "U.S. to Allow Eagle Deaths—to Aid Wind Power," read a Dec. 6 Associated Press story about a new federal rule that allows wind companies favored by the Obama administration to avoid the law. These select companies can kill bald and golden eagles, free of prosecution, for 30 years.

and

In April, the IRS was outed for targeting conservative political groups. The Obama administration in December issued new rules that will institutionalize this silencing of conservative free speech under the guise of regulating 501(c)(4) organizations. Unions, which file under a different IRS nonprofit category, will continue unmolested.

The EPA this summer conducted an armed raid of a mining facility in Alaska, over putative violations of the Clean Water Act. The Federal Trade Commission harassed a nonprofit representing piano teachers, over ginned up antitrust violations. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration began cracking down on small, family farms, operations meant to be exempt from that agency's regulation. By contrast, the administration has yet to announce a single prosecution of a single individual at the IRS. Mr. Obama explained in December that IRS employees were simply victims of a "difficult law to interpret." Maybe like the Clean Water Act, or antitrust laws, or OSHA rules? Maybe not.

[Threadkiller]

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/01/02/Judicial-Watch-s-Ten-Most-Wanted-Corrupt-Politicians-for-2013

[Extraneus]

Does this look like someone running for president?

[Another Bob]

The cold isn't nearly as bad in the seats at Lambeau as you might think. They wedge 'em in so tight that body heat starts to help.

[Extraneus]

(h/t peter @ 9:10)

[Threadkiller]

http://illinoispaytoplay.com/2014/01/02/valerie-plame-lied-and-people-died/

[David Jonesy]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2013/12/30/bald-eagles-are-dying-in-utah-and-nobodys-quite-sure-why/

"A mystery disease appears to be killing off bald eagles in Utah, but the state’s wildlife experts aren’t quite sure why.
Sixteen birds have been either found dead or have died in rehabilitation from Dec. 1 through Friday morning, says Leslie McFarlane, the wildlife disease program coordinator for the state’s Division of Wildlife Resources. The symptoms are similar, she says: paralysis of the wings, weakness in the legs and feet making it difficult for the birds to stand, body tremors, and, ultimately, seizures.

“This is really concerning to us,” says McFarlane. She has been program coordinator for 10 years and describes the recent deaths as “very unusual.”

Baldies are like a canary in a coalmine

[Threadkiller]

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/12/31/looks-like-weimar-germany-the-viral-photo-out-of-connecticut-thats-giving-some-gun-owners-chills/

[pagar]

Marlene, I've got 82 degrees on my back patio right now. Nice Breeze. Some beautifuls Hawks circling out about a 100 ft from the patio. Haze over the ocean so can't see much there.

Just a beautiful day to read a late Christmas card from some old dear friends in Wisc, 18-20 inch of snow there and - 18 degrees on the day she wrote.

[Gmax]

Apparently the current version of Packer fans is a little softer than the ones of my f-I-l days. Neither wind, nor snow nor death would have kept Packer Backers from Landrieu Field ( thanks JFingK for that brilliant talking point!).

[Another Bob]

David Jonesy | January 03, 2014 at 10:28 AM:

Was unaware that eagles are "canaries"? How so?

Any speculation?

[David Jonesy]

Very sensitive to toxins. Any recent untoward toxins in the atmosphere?

[Ignatz]

--Does this look like someone running for president?--

The guy on the left? Yeah.
That growth on his arm doesn't look too enthusiastic about the prospect though.

[Rob Crawford]

Hillary looks like she's trying out for the role of Bernie in a remake of "Weekend at Bernie's".

[Captain Hate]

Apparently the current version of Packer fans is a little softer than the ones of my f-I-l days. Neither wind, nor snow nor death would have kept Packer Backers from Landrieu Field ( thanks JFingK for that brilliant talking point!).

Hasn't it only been recently that Goodell's crew of retards and dunces have had them playing at night in those hellish conditions, like the OT game where Coughlin's face looked like it was frozen in place before #666 threw his last interception as a Packer and set the Ginats up so deep that even their choking dog place kicker couldn't blow it? Pro football was meant to be played at one and four oclock on Sundays.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Ex/CaptH-- OK you've convinced me, HildaBeast won't run in '16. OMG, she looks like some sickly 80yo pasty faced dude in a wig... a cheap bad wig. The Dem Civil War is over, the Obamaniacs have won, because the Clintonistas have left the field... they've taken their hundreds of millions in loot and they're heading for panama or costa rica (lower taxes and better healthcare services.) The Dem Party now is run by the leninist/Alinskyites. If Conservatives are smart, we will get the persuadable votes in all but the bluest hells. The Blue Hells? (Cal., Ill, NYC/NYS,Ct, Md, RI, Ma., NH, Vt and Me) are DONE... D-E-D dead, because they will be run by Alinskites like Obummer, Gov Moonbeam, deBlasio and other Marxists, in a FEDERAL republic where there is freedom of movement of human and financial capital.

[Account Deleted]

"Very sensitive to toxins.

Pure Pitzer bullshit.

Rachel Carsons Lies That Will Never Die has killed more people than even the progressive baby butchers. Progressive liars and murderers just can't stand the light, no matter the subject.

[MarkO]

No. Hillary looks like a 70 year old lesbian.

I wonder what else in someone's home Connecticut believes can constitute a felony unless registered? Books?

These are dangerous days.

[Janet - It's not cheating, it's allowed,...& it's free!]

If your kid has an earache or possibly strep you don't want to wait two weeks for a doctor's appointment to get a prescription for an antibiotic.

That is true nowadays even if a person has great insurance (we do). It doesn't do ya any good if you can't see a doctor.
Insurance for normal doctor visits is what clogged up the system.
The other day my daughter couldn't get a doctor appt. so we just went to a new medical service storefront thing in Mclean. Name & signature...cash on the barrel ($50) & walk out with the prescription. That's how it should be.

And with the emergency room...well, kid's sports had us going more than normal. If it's a weekend & ya think something is broken...that's where you have to go. The minor emergency clinics even send you there.

[narciso]

Jacobsen's link about Carlos Slim's arguing for Snowden, points out the Pentagon Papers don't even say what the Times wanted them to say, Halberstam was as much a fool as Flatfield, and David 'Abbott' Kirkpatrick is aspiring to be, (he could do the part in one of those Road films.

[henry]

Well, the TV news excuse for remaining tickets is that nobody expected Rogers to return and put the Packers in the playoffs, so the season ticket holders didn't bother to mail back their requests for tickets.

[Threadkiller]

NBC can scratch Diane Lane from the list if they resurrect their Hillary movie. They need to call Kathy Bates.

[Captain Hate]

Perfect casting, TK.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Kathy Bates?

To me it looked more like Ernest Bourgnine in a bad wig.

[Captain Hate]

Was that picture taken during the ceremony where Slick swore in DeBlasio? Nice "centrist" move that was...

[Captain Hate]

To me it looked more like Ernest Bourgnine in a bad wig.

Muffer's Navy: Follow the exploits of a madcap crew of inebriated lesbians on a PT boat. What could go wrong?

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

CaptH-- I am trying to stick to my resolution to not comment about deBlasio, I don't think anyone here wants to read my swear words. But I honestly think this 'inauguration' (in truth it is a funeral for NYC which is now the next Detroit/Camden/Gary) was a surrender ceremony, with BillyC trying to stay relevant, even though Hildabeast is not running to get him back in the WH, and the Dem Party is now run by the Alinskyites.

[Extraneus]

Yep, that was at the Deblasio inauguration.

[Jeff Dobbs]

Where has Bill's left hand been that he is putting his glove back on?

[Captain Hate]

Ya know, NK, nobody was happier that when my oldest Hatette was attending Hunter, Rudy was mayor and the rot of the Dinkins era, and before, was just a vague memory.

[Extraneus]

Americans Spent $7.45B in 3 Years Helping Other Countries Deal With ‘Climate Change’

Seems way low.

[Ignatz]

In the row behind him?
Certainly not to his left.

[Extraneus]

MSNBC's Chris Hayes is tired of conservatives snarking about global warming every time it gets cold.

During his show Thursday evening, Hayes complained of the "strange bizarre underworld of climate trolls" that came to life when Matt Drudge ironically linked an article on the Drudge Report about cold weather.

"Of course, no one ever said that climate change meant it wouldn't ever be cold," Hayes said defensively, calling the annual tradition "willful stupidity" of conservatives "who delight being on the wrong side of history."

[Extraneus]

From the looks on their faces, it appears it was the blonde.

[dublindave]

Revised ACA numbers:the number of people covered under the Obamacare is now closer to 9 million people. The Red states refusing to expand medicaid are beginning to crack and expanding the programme will literally blow the ACA's numbers off the freaking charts.

Day by day state and federal exchange sign up numbers are exploding.

So the A.C.A is here to stay. We won.If it falters in the future we'll simply fix it (like every other large government programe) The thing to remember is that your grandchildren will be giving thanks to Democrats and President Obama for fixing the broken healthcare system.

And Republican obstructionism has been carefully recorded and will be entered into the history books.

[daddy]

More unsettled Science:

Antarctic ice shelf melt 'lowest EVER recorded, global warming is NOT eroding it'

Scientists at the British Antarctic Survey say that the melting of the Pine Island Glacier ice shelf in Antarctica has suddenly slowed right down in the last few years, confirming earlier research which suggested that the shelf's melt does not result from human-driven global warming.

[Ignatz]

Blaming blizzards and record cold on global warming is perfectly fine, though.

[Extraneus]

Butt hurt.

Hayes mused that conservative media outlets like Fox News and pundits like Rush Limbaugh actually enjoyed making fun of global warming believers, which made it harder for liberal news outlets to cover the issue in a responsible way.

"It is sexier and more fun to mock and to say, 'Oh, look at this!' than to be like, 'We are so screwed, America!' " he said. "I don't want to start the show that way."

Hayes also expressed frustration at conservatives for mocking global warming scientists after their ship froze in the ice in Antarctica.

"The right wing had a field day, pointing and laughing at the global warming believers, who just to be clear, are only a group of scientists risking their lives for no monetary gain and little glory in order to help save the planet," he said defensively.

[Icesheet? Whale or penguin?]

Heh. As long as conservatives have ice in the icemaker, they will snark about warm weather.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

CaptH/OL/JimmyK-- what is about to happen to NYC will be breathtakingly fast and horrific. David Dinkins was an inept club house politician, whose worst trait was that he believed was the next Dem in line and believed he was entitled to be the first Black Mayor, as in his view by 1989 the Jews had to turn over the NYC Dem party to the blacks (like the Irish had done 25 years earlier). Incompetent, hopelessly liberal and feckless, but a decent man who wanted good things for the City. deBlasio is a very different thing... think Coleman Young and Che combined, who will run NYC like Chavez in single party Venezuela.

[Specter]

Sheesh....Chris Hayes should spend just 2 days reading WUWT and see real science in action. 'Course we know that won't happen.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Ex-- the 'blond' is Cynthia Nixon; she wasn't there for gross hetero Bill, she was there to attend to HildaBeast after the events.

[Captain Hate]

Chris Hayes: MSNBC sooper jeanyus

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

well at least one troll is drunk this morning.

[Jeff Dobbs]

"Of course, no one ever said that climate change meant it wouldn't ever be cold," Hayes said defensively, calling the annual tradition "willful stupidity" of conservatives "who delight being on the wrong side of history."

Recently arrived residents in the northern suburbs, accustomed to today's anemic winters, might find it astonishing to learn that there were once ski runs on Ballantrae Hill in McLean, with a rope tow and local ski club. Snow is so scarce today that most Virginia children probably don't own a sled. But neighbors came to our home at Hickory Hill nearly every winter weekend to ride saucers and Flexible Flyers.
...
On weekend afternoons, we commonly joined hundreds of Georgetown residents for ice skating on Washington's C&O Canal, which these days rarely freezes enough to safely skate.

--stuff Robert F'n Kennedy, Jr said

H/T Clarice

[Specter]

9Mil signed up? Well...let's do some basic math, shall we? Obamacare was supposedly needed to cover the 40M people without insurance. We know that 5M (or thereabouts so far) had their policies canceled. So - net difference is that 4M people have signed up from the 40M. 10%. And, when you start to add in the idea that "signed up" does not necessarily mean "insured"...Just sayin....

[sbwaters]

"Don't know if you are familiar with the Asterix the Gaul stories."

You bet. Love 'em.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

ObamaCare = millions of more MediCaid parasites, MANY of them forced into MediCaid servitude by 'Exchanges' after they lost their catastrophic care policies and they searched for new insurance. That's the biggest scandal of all, people FORCED on to Medicaid servitude because the fascists banned the insurance they freely wanted to buy.

[Ignatz]

--So - net difference is that 4M people have signed up from the 40M. 10%.--

As NK points out we as yet have no idea what number of Barrycare enrollees were uninsured previously.
Even if we accept SadWeeDavey's numbers we could very easily still be at a net negative number.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

The final numbers? My guess--

5M LOST insurance
3M enrolled in ExchangeCare insurance (bumped up by a big NYS number, wher NYS regulations were WORSE tha ObummerCare)
6+M added to Medicaid

So 2 million FEWER people have insurance
6+MILLION more Medicaid hostages with 'access' to Third World healthcare.

Any other guesses?

[Danube on iPad]

That North Korea story is horrifying.

[Captain Hate]

"The right wing had a field day, pointing and laughing at the global warming believers, who just to be clear, are only a group of scientists risking their lives for no monetary gain and little glory in order to help save the planet," he said defensively.

How can you not laugh at anybody saying that?

[Specter]

Agreed Ignatz...was just pointing out the ridiculousness (is that even a word) of a previous post.

BTW - Wouldn't it have been cheaper in the long run to simply buy all 40M uninsured 1 year policies, renewable until they get insurance?

[Extraneus]

March, 2000: Snowfalls are now just a thing of the past

Global warming, the heating of the atmosphere by increased amounts of industrial gases, is now accepted as a reality by the international community. Average temperatures in Britain were nearly 0.6°C higher in the Nineties than in 1960-90, and it is estimated that they will increase by 0.2C every decade over the coming century. Eight of the 10 hottest years on record occurred in the Nineties.

However, the warming is so far manifesting itself more in winters which are less cold than in much hotter summers. According to Dr David Viner, a senior research scientist at the climatic research unit (CRU) of the University of East Anglia,within a few years winter snowfall will become "a very rare and exciting event".

"Children just aren't going to know what snow is," he said.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

BTW-- my 'final' numbers relate to the 'individual mandate' numbers. The number of people who lost insurance will explode this summer-autumn as employers dump people out of employer group plans, and they will not afford or otherwise choose not to buy ExchangeCare.

ObummerCare is not the political holy grail for Dems, it is a poisoned chalice.