Affordable Care Act

ObamaCare: Illinois enrollment numbers

By Naomi Lopez Bauman
11/13/2013
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services just released the much-anticipated enrollment numbers for the ObamaCare health insurance exchanges. But instead of reporting on actual enrollments, the administration is, instead, reporting on the number of people who have put a health plan in their checkout cart, but haven’t actually checked out. The distinction is...

TAGS: ACA: Affordable Care Act, Get Covered Illinois

Who counts as an ObamaCare enrollee?

By Naomi Lopez Bauman
11/12/2013
The federal government is expected to announce this week how many Illinoisans and Americans across the country have enrolled in the federal health care program known as ObamaCare. But instead of reporting on actual enrollments, media sources are predicting that the Obama administration will, instead, be reporting on the number of people who have put a health plan in their online shopping cart, but...

TAGS: ACA: Affordable Care Act

59% of Americans disapprove of Obama’s handling of health care policy

By Naomi Lopez Bauman
11/12/2013
According to a recent poll by Pew Research, President Barack Obama’s overall job approval rating is tanking. While the president is seeing better marks for his handling of the economy, he is facing growing disapproval in a number of areas, including health care. According to the report: Obama also gets negative ratings on health care...

TAGS: ACA: Affordable Care Act

Will County AFSCME workers file strike notice against county

By Paul Kersey
11/10/2013
The Herald-News is reporting that American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1028 have filed a strike notice against Will County. About 1,000 county employees could go on strike as early as Wednesday, Nov. 13. The union wants a larger cost-of-living pay raise than the county is offering, and the union is also...

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, strike

Unionization more prevalent in government than private sector

By Paul Kersey
11/01/2013
One of the biggest changes in the union movement has happened mostly under the radar, but it has big consequences for union officials, workers and the public at large. Unions used to be powerful in the private sector. But now, most union workers nationwide are government employees. It has been this way since 2009. Since...

ObamaCare: Congressional membership has its privileges

By Naomi Lopez Bauman
10/31/2013
While millions across the country are losing their health plans –  despite repeatedly being promised by the president that they could keep them – Congress and the Obama administration have been playing fast and loose with the rules to ensure that many on Capitol Hill won’t lose theirs. Under the Affordable Care Act, or ACA,...

TAGS: ACA: Affordable Care Act

UPDATE—ObamaCare in the Courts: King vs. Sebelius

By Naomi Lopez Bauman
10/31/2013
This week, the media and public have been sharply focused on congressional hearings on the calamitous ObamaCare rollout and glitch-ridden health exchange websites. But there may be a far more important ObamaCare venue this week: Richmond, Va. On Oct. 31, a federal judge will hear oral arguments in King vs. Sebelius, a case in which...

TAGS: ACA: Affordable Care Act, Halbig v. Sebelius, king v. sebelius, King vs. Sebelius

ObamaCare: Millions losing their health insurance plans

By Naomi Lopez Bauman
10/29/2013
President Barack Obama promised in 2009, “If you like your health plan, you will be able to keep your health plan.”  Yet Americans across the country are receiving notices that their health insurance plans in the individual market are being canceled as a result of ObamaCare. A recent Chicago Sun-Times article featured Sue Klinkhamer, a former...

TAGS: ACA: Affordable Care Act, Medicaid

Illinois Obamacare grant goes to California

By Jackson Adams
10/28/2013
A California group with a history of making political contributions to Illinois politicians and connections to the Obama administration was awarded a federal “navigator” grant from the Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, to help Illinoisans enroll in the Obamacare health insurance exchange. The East Los Angeles Community Union, or TELACU, was awarded...

TAGS: ACA: Affordable Care Act