People really think they can sign up for free health care!

People are starting to contact insurance companies asking how they can sign up for Obama’s free health care plan. Do you think they will freak out when they find out they have to pay for it, and if they don’t, the IRS will ensure they do?

This story is from Margaret Talev at the McClatchy Newspapers, her article is titled Health care overhaul spawns mass confusion for public, with my emphasis in bold.

Questions reflecting confusion have flooded insurance companies, doctors’ offices, human resources departments and business groups.

“They’re saying, ‘Where do we get the free Obama care, and how do I sign up for that?’ ” said Carrie McLean, a licensed agent for eHealthInsurance.com. The California-based company sells coverage from 185 health insurance carriers in 50 states.

McLean said the call center had been inundated by uninsured consumers who were hoping that the overhaul would translate into instant, affordable coverage. That widespread misconception may have originated in part from distorted rhetoric about the legislation bubbling up from the hyper-partisan debate about it in Washington and some media outlets, such as when opponents denounced it as socialism.

“We tell them it’s not free, that there are going to be things in place that help people who are low-income, but that ultimately most of that is not going to be taking place until 2014,” McLean said.

Adults with pre-existing conditions are frustrated to learn that insurers won’t have to cover them until 2014 (though those under 18 will be protected in late September); then they become both hopeful and confused upon learning that a federal high-risk pool for them will be established in the next few months. “Health insurance is so confusing. You add this on top of it and it makes it even more confusing,” McLean said.

I’m not quite certain how wide-spread this phenomena is, but the article does use the word inundated. Maybe they have not read our posts on the subject. We’ve got quite a few ya know?

Does this article represent how misinformed the public is about the health care legislation, how complicated the bill is or a combination of both?

Update: A relevant post from Ed Morrissey as he points to a New York Times article – after the passage of the health care legislation of course – that discusses the real problem government employees will have when it comes to implementing the legislation and providing care … the reality they will have to say no to people.

Death panels anyone?

Update2: AP at Hot Air comments.

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Steve McGough

Steve's a part-time conservative blogger. Steve grew up in Connecticut and has lived in Washington, D.C. and the Bahamas. He resides in Connecticut, where he’s comfortable six months of the year.

2 Comments

  1. Dimsdale on April 7, 2010 at 1:13 pm

    People stupid enough to believe Obama's bloviating are, well, stupid enough to believe him.  They just aren't smart enough to read between the lines, which is sort of analogous to our "representatives" (and president) being unable to read the lines….

     

    I bet if you polled these people, they would all be Democrats.



  2. roc52 on April 9, 2010 at 4:52 am

    This confirms what I have long suspected about healthcare reform polls.  Those opposed understand what's in the bill, those who support it think they're getting free healthcare coverage.  The same is true with the public option.  Those who support it think it means free healthcare for all.

    Watch support for the law continue to plummet as reality sets in.



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