Govt Workers Who Support Govt Run Healthcare Protest Over Premium Increase In NC

I wonder how many of these North Carolina state workers were around to vote for Barack Obama and Democrats in 2008, leading to Obamacare, even as they were told that it would increase premiums, deductibles, and costs?

‘It’s not fair’: Grassroots group gathers to support state employees after insurance premium hike

People gathered in downtown Raleigh on Saturday to advocate for affordable healthcare, just one day after the State Health Plan board approved new policies that would raise insurance premiums for state employees.

One Nation, Overcharged, a grassroots organization aiming to lower healthcare costs for U.S. citizens, was set up near the Marbles Kids Museum with their ‘Popsicles for a Purpose’ food truck offering free popsicles and asking people to speak out.

Cristina Galvan, one of the organization’s partners, said she hoped the event would spark conversations around rising healthcare costs.

“This is a nationwide issue,” Galvan said. “Our system is broken, and for far too long, profits have been made a priority over people. It’s just not a system that is sustainable. It’s not fair.”

“Our system is broken.” Well, thank Obama, because quite a bit of the cost increases can trace directly to the passage of Obamacare. Let’s dip back into one of my faves

But people with no pre-existing conditions like Vinson, a 60-year-old retired teacher, and Waschura, a 52-year-old self-employed engineer, are making up the difference.

“I was laughing at Boehner — until the mail came today,” Waschura said, referring to House Speaker John Boehner, who is leading the Republican charge to defund Obamacare.

“I really don’t like the Republican tactics, but at least now I can understand why they are so pissed about this. When you take $10,000 out of my family’s pocket each year, that’s otherwise disposable income or retirement savings that will not be going into our local economy.” (snip)

Both Vinson and Waschura have adjusted gross incomes greater than four times the federal poverty level — the cutoff for a tax credit. And while both said they anticipated their rates would go up, they didn’t realize they would rise so much.

“Of course, I want people to have health care,” Vinson said. “I just didn’t realize I would be the one who was going to pay for it personally.”

They were warned.

The event came just one day after the State Health Plan board announced that health insurance premiums for state employees would increase by 5%, a move that could see people paying anywhere from $1.76 to $32.28 extra per month, depending on which plan they have, what their salary is, and whether they also insure any family members through the state.

Mostly not a big deal compared to what other Americans are being hit with. Of course, they want a pay increase, which comes from the taxpayers, to cover it. Also of course

In response, Galvan says it will take a greater effort to make healthcare accessible across the board.

“It would be wonderful to have a single-payer healthcare system, where anybody, no matter where they live, where they come from, can go to the doctor and afford it,” Galvan said.

They just don’t get it. Where do they think the money would come from?