Life After #Obamacare

Life for families of chronically ill kids in the post-Obamacare world is miserable. Aside from layoffs, doctors quitting or retiring, longer waits and decreased quality of care, many families are being bankrupted. Obamacare is causing employers, insurance companies and providers to cut costs in response to the exponentially increased costs imposed upon them because of Barack Obama's namesake law, Obamacare. These cost cuts most often affect the sick. While feminists are wailing that their $9 month birth control isn't "free", sick people are losing access to life-saving medications so that the companies can pay the extra millions required to give these women their "free" birth control. 

I refuse to call it the "Affordable Care Act" because it simply is NOT affordable. Our family's insurance premiums have increased over $2,000/year when the president promised the law would decrease premiums by $2,500/yr. Our deductibles, copays and out of pocket max limits have all increased. If one million women now get "free" $9 birth control. That's $9 million a month, $108 million a year the insurance company now has to pay out that it didn't have to pay before. Where do you think the insurance company gets the money to pay for that!? Increased premiums, copays, deductibles and out of pocket maxes. It's simple math. What about the free sterilization surgeries? Exponetially more than "free" birth control.  

What's even worse than all of that? It's not bad enough that we have to deal with two chronically ill kids, upcoming surgeries and medical procedures, we are facing losing coverage for their life-saving, life-changing medications. I keep getting notices that we need to refill the $700 medication I keep harping on. Trouble is that we don't have $700 to pay for it and we are STILL waiting for the pre-auth. 

Prior to Obamacare, ONE medication required a pre-auth. Their blood product, IGG. Now we have a total of 22 meds that require a pre-auth. Only two of which we know for sure will actually be covered, meaning we win the battle. We assume we will get the pre-auth for the $700 med eventually. The first time it took 2 1/2 years to get it. The pre-auth lasts for a year. So we have to go through this every year and never know if it will go through or how long it will take. 

I'm sitting here after a day of trying to plan my yougest son's next surgery and trying once again to get the proper per auth paperwork sent from the doctor to the insurance company for the other 20 meds. Doctors are overwhelmed by all of this additional paperwork and letter writing. It cuts into the time they have to see and take care of patients. It takes an incredible amount of time and, since I can't just write my own letters to the insurance company, I have to constantly be on top of it asking, calling and getting people to resubmit the proper paperwork.

Imagine trying to take care of your family with sick kids AND worrying about no longer being able to afford the medications they need. That's my post-Obamacare life. Well, that and worrying about losing employer benefits and being dumped to the exchanges which would mean losing all of our children's Shwachman-Diamond  and Mito specialists......and losing access to life saving treatments. Literally losing access to life saving treatments.

SDS kids who go to regular transplant centers have a 50% chance of survival. If they go to Cincy or Seattle, it goes above 90%. If dumped to the exchanges, we lose access to the latter. They aren't included in the networks offered. Even the $1700 a month plan- 

Obamacare is a nightmare. Obama's entire presidency is a nightmare. 

Fr. John's Speech at the Indianapolis Rally

Obama was right.... before he was wrong

Refuting Obama's 99%

This past week has been exciting, crazy and fun. I had the audacity to say that the Winston-Salem Journal was a liberal rag this week.... it upset one of the reporters and he sent me a message. I replied, "Any paper who quotes Obama for statistics on Women's health issues is a liberal rag." I invited him to debate the topic in public, he declined. Why not explain why you think I am wrong in public? I am not afraid and I have a backbone. I stick to my claim that the Winston-Salem Journal is a liberal rag. Here is a nice article refuting the paper's claim and Obama's claim that 99% of women have used contraception. The CDC says Obama is wrong. Why didn't the Winston-Salem Journal do a bit of research before quoting Obama's false statistic? It seems to me that 99% would be high given the population of UNDERAGE women..... but the CDC says 13.9% have never had sex. Obama clearly doesn't know what he is talking about. A point the paper and Obama seem to miss is this: it DOESN'T matter what percentage of women do or don't use contraception! The Catholic Church has always taught that contraception is wrong, and therefore, it does not matter. The Catholic Church should never be forced to pay for something it proclaims to be morally wrong. Keep in mind that the Catholic Church allows for and covers birth control pills used to treat DISEASE. We are not afraid of this battle. We will fight to stop the HHS mandate and to repeal Obamacare. Here comes the Catholic Church.

Deb's RallyPhoto Montage

Deb did a great job of documenting the Stand Up For Religious Freedom Rally on Friday. You can see the photos she took on her blog. I love her photos and her commentary! I think you will, too!

Enjoy!

The Truth About Obamacare

I've been saying it for a long time--

I Have a Say Catholic Moms Campaign

Fr. John started a blog in response to Planned Parenthood's Cecile Richards asking women to videotape themselves and "have their say" about the HHS mandate.  Cecile Richards doesn't speak for me.  Fr. John's blog: I Have A Say Because My Parents Didn't Abort Me or Use Contraception

A group of Catholic moms has decided to start a photo campaign of "I have a Say"  pictures.    We all have a say. Cecile doesn't speak for us. Visit Catholic Sistas, too! 

Making Rally Signs

Here are a few slogan ideas we have so far for the signs:

• We will not be ignored
• Repeal Obamacare
• Keep your government out of my religion
• We will not comply
•  Conscientious objectors
• I stand with the Catholic Church
• I am a Conscientious Objector
• I Stand With the Catholic Church
• Life-Liberty-Pursuit of Happiness
• “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
  The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified December 15, 1791
• I have a Conscience and I object!
• Reverse the anti-religious freedom mandate! 
• I am Catholic, I do not use contraception and I object to the mandate!
• First amendment, heard of it? 
• Cecile doesn't speak for me!

Today we have a TSFL meeting at our house to make signs for the rally.  I'm ready! These are a few slogan ideas friends and I have come up with.  J and I should make it back in time from the podiatrist.  Yesterday, his toe was still looking pretty infected after being on antibiotics all week.  I talked to the ped and she agreed that we likely need to remove a bit of nail again (did this two weeks ago) to allow the infection to drain.  The infection can't go away completely if is can't drain.  So... we head there late this afternoon.  Hopefully, the third time of draining is the charm!   In the scheme of life, this is just a small annoyance and nothing major.

I have a radio interview scheduled for Monday and I'd really like to be over this darn cold!  I ran a fever all day yesterday and hope by Monday that I'll be 100%.  I'm praying for the Holy Spirit to guide my tongue.  I hope to articulate the message well.

Litmus Test

I'm not thrilled that Republicans are trying to tack on a bill that protects religious conscience to an Transportation bill.  It is ridiculous!  Why do we need a new law to protect what is already protected in the first amendment?


If we have to get Congress to try and pass a law every time an Obamacare mandate is wrong, unconstitutional or displeasing to the American people, what does that say about Obamacare? I think it is a litmus test and means it is a bad piece of legislation. It places people in power that WE THE PEOPLE cannot vote out of office. We need to repeal Obamacare.

Harry Reid may allow a vote, it may not pass... if it does, the House will need to pass it, and ultimately King Obama can veto it-- the entire bill or a line item veto. This is absolutely ridiculous that we'd even have to try and make laws to uphold our first amendment rights. Obamacare needs to be repealed in its entirety! Otherwise these unconstitutional violations will continue to happen and WE THE PEOPLE will be fighting tooth and nail for our GOD GIVEN rights protected from government by our Constitution.

The reality is: the mandate is unconstitutional, so no further law making is required! WHY would we make a freaking law that protects our freedom of religion and conscience when it already exists under the FIRST AMENDMENT. I wish Congress would wake the freak up. This really bothers me. Do people even read the Constitution any longer?????? It is pretty darn clear.

The first amendment is clear:   Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances

Thomas Jefferson was clear that the Constitution already protected our conscience rights:

Rally Planning

Things seem to be going smoothly with the Stand Up For Religious Freedom Rally in Winston-Salem.  I love exercising my first amendment rights and even got a little second amendment practice in before baseball yesterday!  Each day during Lent, I am trying to contact at least 2 or 3 people to tel them about the rally.  Even people I'm not sure would support the rally. 

Please check out our ad on the Winston-Salem Journal website here.  I'd really be glad if you liked it, too!  (The FB tab pops up on the right)

The Hillsdale College Constitution 101 class is amazing.  The boys watched the lecture on The Declaration of Independence with me this morning. It was great. They even paid attention enough to pass the on-line quiz. 

Day three of antibiotics and soaking have made a difference on J's toe.  Life is good and we have no plans today.  M works and I'm going to run to get supplies for the sign making TSFL meeting Friday. Join us if you are able!  We'd love to have you!  

Stand Up For Religious Freedom Rally Winston-Salem, NC

I just uploaded a second flyer that can be accessed and downloaded here: 

https://files.me.com/catholicmomof3/saxs7e

The original flyer can be downloaded here:  

https://files.me.com/catholicmomof3/5ep54t

Please help spread the word! 

Obamacare Cartoon

An Awesome HHS Mandate Homily

President Obama, let us be Catholics! Amen. This priest details everything you need to know about the HHS mandate and its history. His homily will give you goosebumps and chills.

Contraception mandate should concern all Americans, Cardinal says :: EWTN News

Contraception mandate should concern all Americans, Cardinal says :: EWTN News

"The federal contraception mandate should be of “grave concern” to all Americans and not just Catholics, says Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
Cardinal DiNardo, who heads the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities, said that the new mandate and its “compromise” will force Catholic institutions to either abandon their mission of serving people regardless of their faith or violate basic teachings of the Catholic Church on birth control and abortion.
“To be coerced by the federal government into choosing one of these options is wrong,” Cardinal DiNado said in a Feb. 17 column for the Houston Chronicle."

Read more: http://www.ewtnnews.com/catholic-news/US.php?id=4925#.T0Uaob_LDiA.facebook#ixzz1n8IPbPPP

Ash Wednesday

One of my goals for the Lenten season is to get as many people to the Stand Up For Religious Freedom Rally in Winston-Salem, NC. I believe that it is very important for all of us to stand up for religious freedom and the first amendment! The HHS mandate is unconstitutional and we must stand up against this attack on religious liberty. It may sound like a strange Lenten sacrifice-- to spend extra time getting people to protest the government.

The left is trying to say that this is about women's rights. No, it isn't. It is about forcing the Catholic Church to pay for birth control and abortion drugs. If the Obama administration can win this one, then our Constitution is gone and he will have successfully transformed America, just as he said he would do. We on the right called it. I was on Fox & Friends in August 2010 and I talked about government approved insurance meaning the government tells us what is and is not covered. See the interview here. I was also on Neil Cavuto and that interview can be seen here.

I've posted links to all of the free contraception and sterilization sites to prove a point: this is not about women's rights or access to birth control. WalMart and Target sell birth control for $9 a month. Clinics give it away for free and there is the county health department, too. Women have access to birth control. The Catholic Church isn't telling doctors to stop writing prescriptions for the pill. The Catholic Church isn't telling pharmacies they can't dispense the pill. Women have access to the free clinics. This is about religious freedom. This is about the government mandating things it has no right to mandate. The right saw it coming, heck, I'm even on record saying this was going to happen. We didn't know how the Obama administration would do it, or what would be the first instance, but we said that the government would begin mandating and that WE THE PEOPLE would have no recourse.  We can't fire Kathleen Sebelius, can we?  These are the unelected officials I speak of in my interviews and my confrontation with Kay Hagan. 

I've shared with you many times that we have high cost medications for my boys. Some not covered by insurance (portions of the mito cocktail). A life-saving medication that protects my son's kidneys from damage costs us $343 for a three month supply (we use mail order to save money). I want readers to ponder something: should I have to pay increased premiums and deductibles again because of Obamacare's mandate for free birth control to all women? The money had to come from somewhere-- Should the government force insurance companies to give medications for free? They will cost shift-- and life saving medications will cost us more to make up the difference. We've already had the largest jump in premiums, deductibles and out of pocket maximums in 6 years! Our deductibles and OOPs stayed the same for 4 years.  After Obamacare was passed, they went up the first year.  This second year, our premiums went up, our deductible went up from $250 to $650 and our OOPs are up dramatically.  It is directly correlated to Obamacare.

Obama's compromise was not a compromise. Practicing Catholics like me, should not have the money we put into the collection plate at Mass going to pay for things we believe are morally wrong. Not one penny of our money should go toward this! After all, the Church runs on the donations, right? Even if a number of the people use birth control and disagree with Church teachings, they give knowing what those teachings are. The Church doesn't do a birth control check before you enter and all the women are free to go out and use contraception. The Church won't pay for it. The Church teaches that it is wrong.

Whether the government tells the Church it has to buy insurance that covers birth control and abortion drugs or the government tells insurance companies they all have to cover these things and then tells the Church they must buy that insurance, the Catholic Church is paying for birth control coverage.  Obama can sugar coat it, change a few nouns and change a few vowels on his teleprompter, but it is the same mandate.  We are not stupid, Mr. Obama.

I'm making it my job this Lent to get people out to the rally. If our Church caves, who is going to be next? The Baptists? Methodists? It will be something. It will be someone. Funny thing is that Obama said if we liked the healthcare plan we had now, we could keep it..... they all lied when we pointed out this open ended piece of legislation would bring about these government mandates and WE THE PEOPLE would have no recourse to fire these unelected officials. Ultimately, Obamacare needs to be repealed. Remember when I told Kay Hagan that this would happen? That unelected officials would change our healthcare and we would have no recourse to fire them? http://youtu.be/j4hBXBHOjqA

I linked this post to Catholic Icing for the first time. Check the blog out!

Poor Barack Doesn't Understand

The New Bill of Rights

Priests for Life Sue Obama Administration

Father Frank Pavone rejected the Obama Administration's revised mandate (aka compromise) and Priests for Life is suing the Obama Administration.

What the left fails to understand is that Obama's compromise changed nothing.  The Catholic Church is still expected to purchase insurance that covers birth control and abortion drugs. The president thinks Catholics are stupid. 

Understanding Opposition to the HHS mandate

Great article: Understanding Opposition to the HHS Mandate

First They Came for the Catholics

Gotta love this article; First they Came for the Catholics.

"As always, tolerance is a one-way street in the Age of Obama. “Choice” is in the eye (and iron fist) of the First Amendment usurper."

Carney came out and said the Obama Administration didn't see any Constitutional issues with the HHS mandate. He had to read from his notes. I think that means he wasn't sure if it was Constitutional or not.  What a joke.