The Briefing Room

General Category => Health/Education => Topic started by: mystery-ak on January 28, 2014, 05:47:20 pm

Title: Obamacare: Tom Coburn loses cancer doctor
Post by: mystery-ak on January 28, 2014, 05:47:20 pm
http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=9F60A889-D4BA-4592-A65C-82288C29EC91 (http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=9F60A889-D4BA-4592-A65C-82288C29EC91)

 Obamacare: Tom Coburn loses cancer doctor
By: Tal Kopan
January 28, 2014 11:29 AM EST

Cancer-stricken Sen. Tom Coburn revealed Tuesday that his health insurance under Obamacare doesn’t cover his oncologist, but said he still is receiving excellent care.

“I’m doing well from a health standpoint, got great docs,” Coburn said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Tuesday when asked about his health. “Fortunately — even though my new coverage won’t cover my specialist — I’m going to have great care and I have a great prognosis.”

The Oklahoma Republican’s spokesman confirmed to POLITICO that since the senator enrolled in his health insurance plan under Obamacare, his coverage has been reduced and he lost coverage for his cancer specialist. Coburn will continue to pay out of his own pocket and see the oncologist, his office said.



Coburn made public in November that he had been diagnosed with a recurrence of prostate cancer. He also had prostate cancer surgery in 2011 and has survived colon cancer and melanoma. He also announced earlier this month he would not serve out his full Senate term, but denied it had to do with his health.

The Oklahoma Republican and physician has been a critic of Obamacare, unveiling on Monday a plan with two other senators to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.

His spokesman said Coburn’s struggles with his own doctor illustrate the need for a new policy, saying that not every American has the option to pay out of pocket for care.



“We hope the White House will work with us to make sure Americans who can’t afford to pay out of pocket don’t lose access to life-saving care,” spokesman John Hart said. “As Dr. Coburn’s experience shows, the American people are about to learn they’re going to lose access to not only their doctors and plans, but their specialists and treatments.”
Title: Re: Obamacare: Tom Coburn loses cancer doctor
Post by: Relic on January 28, 2014, 06:09:44 pm
And if he didn't get good care, he's wealthy enough to buy what he needs. An almost automatic result of going to CONgress.

I wish him well in his fight, but I also wish he'd go away. He's done enough.
Title: Re: Obamacare: Tom Coburn loses cancer doctor
Post by: sinkspur on January 28, 2014, 06:16:16 pm
And if he didn't get good care, he's wealthy enough to buy what he needs. An almost automatic result of going to CONgress.

I wish him well in his fight, but I also wish he'd go away. He's done enough.

He's a good solid Conservative Senator.  He will be missed.
Title: Re: Obamacare: Tom Coburn loses cancer doctor
Post by: truth_seeker on January 28, 2014, 06:38:40 pm
He's a good solid Conservative Senator.  He will be missed.

Apparently not by some peoples' definition of "conservative." Very, very few qualify.

Those who do qualify, couldn't get elected in 80% of the country. But they are oh, oh so loud on forums.

The risk is taking the opportunity to gain a majority in the Senate, but instead "primarying" many conservatives and losing states and districts to democrats; as with Akin, Angle, Buck, Cucinelli, Hayworth, Murdock, O'Donnell.

Hugging the right sideline won't win elections. The biggest vote pool is Independent, and they do not hold all the conservative views. Fiscal, yes. Social, no.   
Title: Re: Obamacare: Tom Coburn loses cancer doctor
Post by: Lando Lincoln on January 28, 2014, 06:44:20 pm
He's a good solid Conservative Senator.  He will be missed.

Yes. But it doesn't matter to those who who make the purity checklist.
Title: Re: Obamacare: Tom Coburn loses cancer doctor
Post by: Oceander on January 28, 2014, 07:14:40 pm
Apparently not by some peoples' definition of "conservative." Very, very few qualify.

Those who do qualify, couldn't get elected in 80% of the country. But they are oh, oh so loud on forums.

The risk is taking the opportunity to gain a majority in the Senate, but instead "primarying" many conservatives and losing states and districts to democrats; as with Akin, Angle, Buck, Cucinelli, Hayworth, Murdock, O'Donnell.

Hugging the right sideline won't win elections. The biggest vote pool is Independent, and they do not hold all the conservative views. Fiscal, yes. Social, no.   

Not a particularly on-point comment here.  The point is what Obamacare is doing to even the powerful and well-connected - and, of course, the fact that Obamacare gives greater privilege to the rich, not less, because they can still afford to pay out of pocket for the health care that is now denied to everyone under Obamacare.
Title: Re: Obamacare: Tom Coburn loses cancer doctor
Post by: PzLdr on January 28, 2014, 09:53:18 pm
Wasn't Coburn [and the rest of Congress and their flunkies] exempted from Obamacare?  :pondering:
Title: Re: Obamacare: Tom Coburn loses cancer doctor
Post by: Rapunzel on January 28, 2014, 10:05:31 pm
Wasn't Coburn [and the rest of Congress and their flunkies] exempted from Obamacare?  :pondering:

They all played some sort of shell game.. a few opted out and others opted in and we are  reimbursing them through some back door games.