FARK.com: (8137934) Illinois partners with The Onion to push Obamacare. No, this is not a story from The Onion

If you can read this, either the style sheet didn't load or you have an older browser that doesn't support style sheets. Try clearing your browser cache and refreshing the page.

		Illinois partners with The Onion to push Obamacare. No, this is not a story from The Onion ( chicagotribune.com)		39
		More: Cool, Onion Labs, obamacare, Illinois, voter registration, Illinois partners, second city

• • •

1400 clicks; posted to Politics » on 11 Feb 2014 at 9:11 AM (4 years ago) | Favorite | share:

Share this link:

URL:

https://fark.com/go/8137934

Bookmark:

Article Comments close

39 Comments (+0 »)

View Voting Results: Smartest and Funniest

dletter

2014-02-11 08:13:46 AM

"Don't Sell your action figures to pay for your medical bills"

So, when do we start to see those on Fark?

Il Douchey

2014-02-11 08:52:38 AM

"Obama announces an extension of the deferment of the revision of the previous modification of the rescheduling of the implementation of the exemption of the requirement to the previously extended employer mandate. Says he is confident that this will solve everything. Hope and change"

/Yes we kick the can!

mayIFark

2014-02-11 09:16:11 AM

This idea actually is not half bad.

Remember the article about MTV's 16 and pregnant having huge effect in curving teen pregnancy? If done right, this will have pretty much the same effect.

walktoanarcade

2014-02-11 09:18:58 AM

Rest In Peace, The Onion, I remember when you were funny.

I hate it when people completely sell out.

pkellmey

2014-02-11 09:26:34 AM

mayIFark: This idea actually is not half bad.

Remember the article about MTV's 16 and pregnant having huge effect in curving teen pregnancy? If done right, this will have pretty much the same effect.

As a half good idea, I'd really expect there would be a slightly better way to reach the target audience.

syberpud

2014-02-11 09:35:25 AM

walktoanarcade: Rest In Peace, The Onion, I remember when you were funny.

I hate it when people completely sell out.

They started to go downhill when they moved to NYC.

Phinn

2014-02-11 09:50:53 AM

In a push to enroll more "young invincibles,"

Oh, you mean the healthy people who are being forced to "buy" grossly inflated and overpriced "insurance policies"?

I wonder why they aren't more enthusiastic about being financially ass-raped.

mayIFark

2014-02-11 09:50:54 AM

pkellmey: mayIFark: This idea actually is not half bad.

Remember the article about MTV's 16 and pregnant having huge effect in curving teen pregnancy? If done right, this will have pretty much the same effect.

As a half good idea, I'd really expect there would be a slightly better way to reach the target audience.

Combine it with a vine, or a twerking video on youtube?

/I'm too old to know what else these target audience do

neomunk

2014-02-11 09:52:31 AM

walktoanarcade: Rest In Peace, The Onion, I remember when you were funny.

I hate it when people completely sell out.

Selling out? The ACA isn't a hip new product the boys in marketing thought we could get some dollars with, it's a massive change in healthcare laws and coverage. It's a beneficial change in the way the whole nation (not just customers) receives a service WE ALL USE, and not some product you buy as a customer from a G-Man with a credit-card swipe. Nor is the ACA some political football meant to be tossed aside when one team or another scores a point. For an American in the US it's more like air, something that you're just going to have to deal with so you should deal with it in the sane manner, taking it in and letting it do it's good work.

I'm not sure if it's a consumerist mindset or the politically competitive mindset at work here, but either way you're thinking about the ACA in unrealistic terms.

James!

2014-02-11 09:53:21 AM

Phinn: In a push to enroll more "young invincibles,"

Oh, you mean the healthy people who are being forced to "buy" grossly inflated and overpriced "insurance policies"?

I wonder why they aren't more enthusiastic about being financially ass-raped.

Are your quotes implying that they are not insurance policies?

walktoanarcade

2014-02-11 09:53:41 AM

neomunk: walktoanarcade: Rest In Peace, The Onion, I remember when you were funny.

I hate it when people completely sell out.

Selling out? The ACA isn't a hip new product the boys in marketing thought we could get some dollars with, it's a massive change in healthcare laws and coverage. It's a beneficial change in the way the whole nation (not just customers) receives a service WE ALL USE, and not some product you buy as a customer from a G-Man with a credit-card swipe. Nor is the ACA some political football meant to be tossed aside when one team or another scores a point. For an American in the US it's more like air, something that you're just going to have to deal with so you should deal with it in the sane manner, taking it in and letting it do it's good work.

I'm not sure if it's a consumerist mindset or the politically competitive mindset at work here, but either way you're thinking about the ACA in unrealistic terms.

CSB

Satan's Bunny Slippers

2014-02-11 09:57:10 AM

goorange: Il Douchey: "Obama announces an extension of the deferment of the revision of the previous modification of the rescheduling of the implementation of the exemption of the requirement to the previously extended employer mandate. Says he is confident that this will solve everything. Hope and change"

/Yes we kick the can!

fark Obama

Where is my dole, where is my handout, where is my free healthcare!

And my iPhone and lobster!!!!!

WHAR OBAMMY WHAR????

And ID is a realllly good parrot. Except for it isn't as pretty as a parrot. Or as talented, entertaining, and bright.

And I'm terrified of parrots.

Pumpernickel bread

2014-02-11 09:58:33 AM

I thought the Onion went out of print

karnal

2014-02-11 10:00:33 AM

"Humor is the great equalizer. It's a great way to get people to buy shiat they don't need"

A Cave Geek

2014-02-11 10:02:07 AM

So, Drew, You gonna jump on this bandwagon, too?

Satan's Bunny Slippers

2014-02-11 10:02:45 AM

Pumpernickel bread: I thought the Onion went out of print

FTA: "The Onion, which made its name as a hard-copy newspaper that skewered just about everything, printed its last newspapers in December, transforming into an all-digital media company. "

BlastYoBoots

2014-02-11 10:02:52 AM

You put insurance policies in scare quotes? Really?! ...4/10, I suppose it's a novel avenue of attack I haven't seen before.

It's a good thing "insurance policies" have been outlawed by the ACA in favor of insurance policies.

(Or at least not counted as excluding you from the fine.)

No Such Agency

2014-02-11 10:05:42 AM

James!: Phinn: In a push to enroll more "young invincibles,"

Oh, you mean the healthy people who are being forced to "buy" grossly inflated and overpriced "insurance policies"?

I wonder why they aren't more enthusiastic about being financially ass-raped.

Are your quotes implying that they are not insurance policies?

I think they "imply" his head is "lodged in his ass", but perhaps they just "imply" implausible trolling.

After all, young people get surprise cancer and accidental serious injuries all the time, it would be idiocy to think they don't need affordable health insurance.

BMulligan

2014-02-11 10:08:36 AM

Every so often, a thread comes along which attracts every Fark troll like fly paper attracts house flies. Apparently, this is that thread.

A Cave Geek

2014-02-11 10:15:35 AM

James!: Oh, you mean the healthy people who are being forced to "buy" grossly inflated and overpriced "insurance policies"?

I was actually on one of those 'catastrophic' plans that are getting cancelled because of the ACA. I can tell you from experience, they are cheap for a reason. That 'maximum annual out of pocket' thing? Yeah...it's a fungible term. As is 'pre-existing condition'. They're not legally allowed to deny coverage for pre-exiting conditions any more, but a lot of the 'cheaper' version would try, banking on the notion that most people don't have the time or financial wherewithal to fight them on it.

Those policies are cheap for a reason, and they're not good reasons. They're cheap because they take advantage of the risk that young people actually pose. Which is far more skewed to ER visits, and less skewed to long-term chronic conditions.

Look, risk is the foundation of insurance. You want to have an affordable and fair system for society? EVERYONE is going to have to join the risk pool. Period. Sorry, there's not 'freedom' way to sugar coat it. EVERYONE has to get on board for the same reason that EVERYONE pays taxes for roads, schools, the military, courts, and so on. we ALL use them at some point, and therefore ALL of us have a responsibility to contribute our part.

"I love paying my taxes. With them, I buy civilization"
"Taxes are the price of civilization"
"Only the savage pays no taxes"
"Taxes are a down payment on future prosperity"
"Taxes are a way for people to help their neighbor without ever having to meet them"

Vodka Zombie

2014-02-11 10:16:20 AM

BMulligan: Every so often, a thread comes along which attracts every Fark troll like fly paper attracts house flies. Apparently, this is that thread.

I think it's a perfect storm of their hatred for The Onion and their ignorance over Obamacare. They feel they need to have an opinion on it, but they just can't figure out what that opinion should really be.

It's fun.

James!

2014-02-11 10:16:59 AM

A Cave Geek: James!: Oh, you mean the healthy people who are being forced to "buy" grossly inflated and overpriced "insurance policies"?

I was actually on one of those 'catastrophic' plans that are getting cancelled because of the ACA. I can tell you from experience, they are cheap for a reason. That 'maximum annual out of pocket' thing? Yeah...it's a fungible term. As is 'pre-existing condition'. They're not legally allowed to deny coverage for pre-exiting conditions any more, but a lot of the 'cheaper' version would try, banking on the notion that most people don't have the time or financial wherewithal to fight them on it.

Those policies are cheap for a reason, and they're not good reasons. They're cheap because they take advantage of the risk that young people actually pose. Which is far more skewed to ER visits, and less skewed to long-term chronic conditions.

Look, risk is the foundation of insurance. You want to have an affordable and fair system for society? EVERYONE is going to have to join the risk pool. Period. Sorry, there's not 'freedom' way to sugar coat it. EVERYONE has to get on board for the same reason that EVERYONE pays taxes for roads, schools, the military, courts, and so on. we ALL use them at some point, and therefore ALL of us have a responsibility to contribute our part.

"I love paying my taxes. With them, I buy civilization"
"Taxes are the price of civilization"
"Only the savage pays no taxes"
"Taxes are a down payment on future prosperity"
"Taxes are a way for people to help their neighbor without ever having to meet them"

I did not make the comment that you are replying to.

Jackson Herring

2014-02-11 10:20:03 AM

"buy"

A Cave Geek

2014-02-11 10:20:27 AM

James!: A Cave Geek: James!: Oh, you mean the healthy people who are being forced to "buy" grossly inflated and overpriced "insurance policies"?

I was actually on one of those 'catastrophic' plans that are getting cancelled because of the ACA. I can tell you from experience, they are cheap for a reason. That 'maximum annual out of pocket' thing? Yeah...it's a fungible term. As is 'pre-existing condition'. They're not legally allowed to deny coverage for pre-exiting conditions any more, but a lot of the 'cheaper' version would try, banking on the notion that most people don't have the time or financial wherewithal to fight them on it.

Those policies are cheap for a reason, and they're not good reasons. They're cheap because they take advantage of the risk that young people actually pose. Which is far more skewed to ER visits, and less skewed to long-term chronic conditions.

Look, risk is the foundation of insurance. You want to have an affordable and fair system for society? EVERYONE is going to have to join the risk pool. Period. Sorry, there's not 'freedom' way to sugar coat it. EVERYONE has to get on board for the same reason that EVERYONE pays taxes for roads, schools, the military, courts, and so on. we ALL use them at some point, and therefore ALL of us have a responsibility to contribute our part.

"I love paying my taxes. With them, I buy civilization"
"Taxes are the price of civilization"
"Only the savage pays no taxes"
"Taxes are a down payment on future prosperity"
"Taxes are a way for people to help their neighbor without ever having to meet them"

I did not make the comment that you are replying to.

dammit...sorry. That's twice inside a month I've done that....*hangs head and shuffles away*

Satan's Bunny Slippers

2014-02-11 10:25:02 AM

goorange: Satan's Bunny Slippers: goorange: Il Douchey: "Obama announces an extension of the deferment of the revision of the previous modification of the rescheduling of the implementation of the exemption of the requirement to the previously extended employer mandate. Says he is confident that this will solve everything. Hope and change"

/Yes we kick the can!

fark Obama

Where is my dole, where is my handout, where is my free healthcare!

And my iPhone and lobster!!!!!

WHAR OBAMMY WHAR????

And ID is a realllly good parrot. Except for it isn't as pretty as a parrot. Or as talented, entertaining, and bright.

And I'm terrified of parrots.

It's bullshiat, I want what I was promised, Obama and his supporters told me the world would get better and there would be free money and welfare and jobs

Where is my farking hand out!

*favs you as "parrot?"*

James!

2014-02-11 10:25:34 AM

A Cave Geek: James!: A Cave Geek: James!: Oh, you mean the healthy people who are being forced to "buy" grossly inflated and overpriced "insurance policies"?

I was actually on one of those 'catastrophic' plans that are getting cancelled because of the ACA. I can tell you from experience, they are cheap for a reason. That 'maximum annual out of pocket' thing? Yeah...it's a fungible term. As is 'pre-existing condition'. They're not legally allowed to deny coverage for pre-exiting conditions any more, but a lot of the 'cheaper' version would try, banking on the notion that most people don't have the time or financial wherewithal to fight them on it.

Those policies are cheap for a reason, and they're not good reasons. They're cheap because they take advantage of the risk that young people actually pose. Which is far more skewed to ER visits, and less skewed to long-term chronic conditions.

Look, risk is the foundation of insurance. You want to have an affordable and fair system for society? EVERYONE is going to have to join the risk pool. Period. Sorry, there's not 'freedom' way to sugar coat it. EVERYONE has to get on board for the same reason that EVERYONE pays taxes for roads, schools, the military, courts, and so on. we ALL use them at some point, and therefore ALL of us have a responsibility to contribute our part.

"I love paying my taxes. With them, I buy civilization"
"Taxes are the price of civilization"
"Only the savage pays no taxes"
"Taxes are a down payment on future prosperity"
"Taxes are a way for people to help their neighbor without ever having to meet them"

I did not make the comment that you are replying to.

dammit...sorry. That's twice inside a month I've done that....*hangs head and shuffles away*

No worries, I just don't want to be associated with that sentiment which I personally think is dumb.

oryx

2014-02-11 10:43:57 AM

That's it for the Onion, then. They've sold out.

Zeb Hesselgresser

2014-02-11 10:56:27 AM

goorange: fark Obama

Where is my dole, where is my handout, where is my free healthcare!

You can have them, once you hand over all your money and possessions.

It's a need based system.

jso2897

2014-02-11 10:57:29 AM

You know what? I'm going to approach this like a Republican:
I got my insurance through the ACA - it's good, and it's cheap.
I got mine, and f**k the rest of you.
If you don't have what I have - sucks to be you.

Beyond that, I'm fresh out of shiat to blather about this issue.
You kids have fun - I'm out.

Onkel Buck

2014-02-11 11:47:50 AM

The whole thing surrounding the ACA has been funny enough to be in The Onion. This turd has been polished so much that people can read their cancellation notices by its gleaming glow.

Phinn

2014-02-11 11:51:23 AM

It's not even insurance. Insurance is where you pay a premium that's been determined by the underwriting process to determine your risk level. A functioning insurance market doesn't even require anyone to pay more in premiums than he gets in benefits -- an insurance company can make a profit merely by investing the float, which is the use of your premium money between the time you pay it and the time they pay out benefits. That allows them to actually pay out more in benefits than they take in as premiums. True insurance operates like an investment club, with accurate risk assessment (i.e., underwriting).

In contrast, ObamaTax requires young healthy people to grossly overpay, so as to subsidize the costs of expensive, self-abusing, unhealthy older people.

This is just a tax.

Health taxes are now similar to the way that Social Security and Medicare collect taxes (falsely called "premiums") based on a formula that has virtually no bearing on the "benefits" that are paid later on. They're just taxes on the front end, and welfare payments on the back end.

The government uses the language of insurance, but it's not insurance.

Satan's Bunny Slippers

2014-02-11 11:51:40 AM

Onkel Buck: The whole thing surrounding the ACA has been funny enough to be in The Onion. This turd has been polished so much that people can read their cancellation notices by its gleaming glow.

You sound concerned.

Onkel Buck

2014-02-11 11:57:17 AM

Satan's Bunny Slippers: Onkel Buck: The whole thing surrounding the ACA has been funny enough to be in The Onion. This turd has been polished so much that people can read their cancellation notices by its gleaming glow.

You sound concerned.

Nope. And neither do you, you didnt even care that you were lied to about it. As long as you got yours right? If this thing was so awesome why the lie?

James!

2014-02-11 12:07:45 PM

Phinn: James!: Phinn: In a push to enroll more "young invincibles,"

Oh, you mean the healthy people who are being forced to "buy" grossly inflated and overpriced "insurance policies"?

I wonder why they aren't more enthusiastic about being financially ass-raped.

Are your quotes implying that they are not insurance policies?

It's not even insurance. Insurance is where you pay a premium that's been determined by the underwriting process to determine your risk level. A functioning insurance market doesn't even require anyone to pay more in premiums than he gets in benefits -- an insurance company can make a profit merely by investing the float, which is the use of your premium money between the time you pay it and the time they pay out benefits. That allows them to actually pay out more in benefits than they take in as premiums. True insurance operates like an investment club, with accurate risk assessment (i.e., underwriting).

In contrast, ObamaTax requires young healthy people to grossly overpay, so as to subsidize the costs of expensive, self-abusing, unhealthy older people.

This is just a tax.

Health taxes are now similar to the way that Social Security and Medicare collect taxes (falsely called "premiums") based on a formula that has virtually no bearing on the "benefits" that are paid later on. They're just taxes on the front end, and welfare payments on the back end.

The government uses the language of insurance, but it's not insurance.

Wow, from changing the definition of insurance to self abusing old people... with a spice of ObamaTax. It's insane but beautiful.

Satan's Bunny Slippers

2014-02-11 12:18:42 PM

Onkel Buck: Satan's Bunny Slippers: Onkel Buck: The whole thing surrounding the ACA has been funny enough to be in The Onion. This turd has been polished so much that people can read their cancellation notices by its gleaming glow.

You sound concerned.

Nope. And neither do you, you didnt even care that you were lied to about it. As long as you got yours right? If this thing was so awesome why the lie?

Yes, yes, idiots who have no comprehension skills interpret everything from the current administration as a lie.

I know. You're just repeating what you've been told to say, like a good little drone bot.

The personal attack was just an expected shot from you.

A Cave Geek

2014-02-11 12:49:18 PM

Phinn: (falsely called "premiums")

Not sure you understand how Social Security really works. Look, you want to have "the best healthcare in the world" right? OK, so someone is going to have to foot the bill for it. The VAST majority of the health care dollars you will consume in your lifetime are in the final two years of your life, statistically speaking.

So who's going to pay for it all? Those that get sick are in the worst possible position to pay for their own care, because by their very status, they can't work. The old have already worked, and are in a (hopefully) decent position to pay for their own care. However, Who wants to drain their nest egg to zero just to stay alive? Haven't they put in their time? Shouldn't their 'golden years' be a reward for all that hard work? And what about the ones who make it to their golden years without having saved a dime? (They are the "me" generation, after all) So that leaves the young and the relatively young, who are currently working. (or those that "should be" working)

So let's say the GOP get their panacea, meaning you only get insurance/care if you're working...or can pay a HUGE cost for it in the private market. Who's going to have coverage and get care? Those who are working, who by definition need it the least. The ones who will be excluded from getting care / coverage are going to be those that need it the most, and are in the worst possible position to pay for it.

The ACA is the first step toward decoupling work from health care. Which is, IMHO, a VERY good thing.

Phinn

2014-02-11 12:53:49 PM

James!: Phinn: James!: Phinn: In a push to enroll more "young invincibles,"

Oh, you mean the healthy people who are being forced to "buy" grossly inflated and overpriced "insurance policies"?

I wonder why they aren't more enthusiastic about being financially ass-raped.

Are your quotes implying that they are not insurance policies?

It's not even insurance. Insurance is where you pay a premium that's been determined by the underwriting process to determine your risk level. A functioning insurance market doesn't even require anyone to pay more in premiums than he gets in benefits -- an insurance company can make a profit merely by investing the float, which is the use of your premium money between the time you pay it and the time they pay out benefits. That allows them to actually pay out more in benefits than they take in as premiums. True insurance operates like an investment club, with accurate risk assessment (i.e., underwriting).

In contrast, ObamaTax requires young healthy people to grossly overpay, so as to subsidize the costs of expensive, self-abusing, unhealthy older people.

This is just a tax.

Health taxes are now similar to the way that Social Security and Medicare collect taxes (falsely called "premiums") based on a formula that has virtually no bearing on the "benefits" that are paid later on. They're just taxes on the front end, and welfare payments on the back end.

The government uses the language of insurance, but it's not insurance.

Wow, from changing the definition of insurance to self abusing old people... with a spice of ObamaTax. It's insane but beautiful.

Most medical costs in the US are caused by chronic obesity, inactivity, smoking and drug abuse.

Like the term "social contract," the Obama government has coopted the language of commerce to exploit its credibity. State programs mimic insurance, but economically they operate nothing like insurance.

ObamaCare is a tax. The SCOTUS explicitly upheld it on that basis, particularly as to the problem referenced in this article -- getting young people to pay for something they do not need or want.

Offering a desirable product is apparently too much to ask. The individual mandate tax won't work. Cajoling and joking through the Onion won't work. It will only be done by escalating use of penalties and force.

Because Obama is such a uniter or something.

James!

2014-02-11 01:08:09 PM

Phinn: James!: Phinn: James!: Phinn: In a push to enroll more "young invincibles,"

Oh, you mean the healthy people who are being forced to "buy" grossly inflated and overpriced "insurance policies"?

I wonder why they aren't more enthusiastic about being financially ass-raped.

Are your quotes implying that they are not insurance policies?

It's not even insurance. Insurance is where you pay a premium that's been determined by the underwriting process to determine your risk level. A functioning insurance market doesn't even require anyone to pay more in premiums than he gets in benefits -- an insurance company can make a profit merely by investing the float, which is the use of your premium money between the time you pay it and the time they pay out benefits. That allows them to actually pay out more in benefits than they take in as premiums. True insurance operates like an investment club, with accurate risk assessment (i.e., underwriting).

In contrast, ObamaTax requires young healthy people to grossly overpay, so as to subsidize the costs of expensive, self-abusing, unhealthy older people.

This is just a tax.

Health taxes are now similar to the way that Social Security and Medicare collect taxes (falsely called "premiums") based on a formula that has virtually no bearing on the "benefits" that are paid later on. They're just taxes on the front end, and welfare payments on the back end.

The government uses the language of insurance, but it's not insurance.

Wow, from changing the definition of insurance to self abusing old people... with a spice of ObamaTax. It's insane but beautiful.

Most medical costs in the US are caused by chronic obesity, inactivity, smoking and drug abuse.

Like the term "social contract," the Obama government has coopted the language of commerce to exploit its credibity. State programs mimic insurance, but economically they operate nothing like insurance.

ObamaCare is a tax. The SCOTUS explicitly upheld it on that basis, particularly a ...

There are going to be plenty of people along to have the same old argument with you, but I just want to say you are out of your damn mind and it's hilarious.

A Cave Geek

2014-02-11 01:14:57 PM

Phinn: Offering a desirable product is apparently too much to ask.

I don't think those that are opposing having to get insurance are entirely aware of exactly how badly they were getting bent over the sawhorse and cluster-banged sideways with a rusty chainsaw under the old system.

Displayed 39 of 39 comments

View Voting Results: Smartest and Funniest

Redisplay/refresh comments

This thread is archived, and closed to new comments.

Want more news before we break it? Try

See what's behind the green door
and help keep the tap flowing

learn more | sign up

Report

Advertise on Fark

learn more

Like Fark!

Follow @Fark On Twitter

Headlines of the Week
Fark NotNewsletter

Report

Fark.com

Top Commented

Top Commented ▼

Top Commented
Top Clicked
Top Voted
My Recent Commented
Recent Mentions

Javascript is required to view headlines in widget.

Links are submitted by members of the Fark community.
When community members submit a link, they also write a custom headline for the story.
Other Farkers comment on the links. This is the number of comments. Click here to read them.
You need to create an account to submit links or post comments.
Click here to submit a link.