Linda Ellis

Hi Leon the Lion,

Yes ehealthinsurance.com is a wonderful website, and one I have used often; especially when I lost my COBRA coverage back in 2010, and my next step was to apply for private health insurance coverage through the private insurance market.

I applied at carriers such as Medical Mutual, Anthem, Celtic, and Aetna via Ehealthinsurance -- as I say I think it is a great online resource offering legitimate health insurance (not scams like Corevalue and their like),

HOWEVER, due to my having some pre-existing health conditions like sinusitus, rotator cuff syndrome (I was due to have surgery for it two weeks prior to my COBRA running out), the fact I had just consulted about having the surgery, I was rejected by all of the private insurers who cited these conditions; and thus I could not obtain health insurance coverage through them. You have to be truthful with your answers or you could be convicted of fraud, by the way.

In fact I went through the whole application process twice with each carrier during 2010. It wasn't until the ACA was implemented did I learn that your rejection letter, which you need to submit to prove you had been turned down for coverage in the private insurance market and were not able to obtain health insurance through the private carriers, that your rejection letters needed to be dated within 6 months of your application. Most of my letters were dated 7 or 8 months prior to my eligibility date; which was December of 2010.

My one complaint of the framework of the ACA is its mandatory (speaking of mandates which is a popular topic these days) six month wait that a potential enrollee in the Ohio High Risk Pool (created because of the ACA) must have as an uninsured person. I was told that this was set up this way so people would not all at once 'jump ship' from their private insurers. I believe, and you can check it out, that Republicans favored the idea of making people put in the six months of being uninsured, if they weren't already, in order to qualify for acceptance into the Ohio High Risk Pool (and all of the other federal high risk pools, whether administered by the state or through HHS).

Before the ACA was passed and implemented, several states (about 27) were running their own high risk pools; however, Ohio was not one of them.

As I've mentioned earlier, for those who lost employer-sponsored plans, and who could not obtain health insurance any other way (no COBRA, spouse plan, Medicare, Medicaid, etc.) the only option was to enroll in the "Open - Enrollment" Plans where you and your pre-existing conditions would be accepted and covered (apply for coverage within a 63 day window after losing 18 months of creditable health insurance coverage.)

Here is a link to those "Open-Enrollment" Plans on the ODI website (as of January of 2012):

http://insurance.ohio.gov/Consumer/Documents/Ohio%20Open%20Enrollment%20Website%20Carrier%20List.pdf

Pick any carrier you want, do a mock quote for your sex and other requested criteria and see what your "Open-Enrollment" monthly premium costs would be if you were to enroll in one of these plans.

As an example. For my age, sex, non-smoker, living in the Cleveland area, for Medical Mutual (who by co-incidence also administers the Ohio High Risk Pool under the ACA) for Medical Mutual's "Open-Enrollment" plans for me (as of January, 2012),

For their Basic plan (both FEI and non-FEI): My monthly premium cost would be $1,048.62; and for their Traditional plan, my monthly premium cost would be $1,250.23.

And here is a link to that quote as well for my documentation, and hopefully it will show up correctly here:

https://onlineapp.supermedone.com/QuoteIndividualInfo.aspx

Traditional Basic ($1,048.62)
Traditional Standard ($1,250.23)

To sum up, Ehealthinsurance.com is a great site; and your determination for coverage 'letter' in many cases, will be sent to you via email from Ehealthinsurance.com itself.

However, Ehealthinsurance.com certainly cannot guarantee any of the private health insurers listed on their website will, in fact, offer you coverage. Only the insurers themselves can do that after you apply via their on-line application forms, which are on average 8 to 12 pages long.

It is so sad to realize that these "Open-Enrollment" plans were all Ohio had to offer those who needed health insurance and could not obtain it any other way but to enroll in these plans to still have their pre-existing health conditions covered; or understand that the reality is they would have to return to being an uninsured person.

I will be praying you never lose your health insurance; or need and want health insurance, but are not able to get it because you are rejected due to having pre-existing conditions. Be careful what you wish or vote for as you just might get it!

To the best of my knowledge most catastrophic health insurance plans (those I have checked in to during the past two years) do NOT honor and extend coverage for pre-existing conditions.

I worked for 42 years at various employers before my lay-off at age 60, and I'm quite sure some of my premiums I paid during those years helped with paying for those who were uninsured. I didn't lose sleep over it, I was just glad to have the insurance coverage and the job to be able to pay the premiums which were never higher than $99 a month for the health insurance part of the plan.

But, you simply can't have it both ways - complaining about how the uninsured are driving up the costs for those who have health insurance, yet purposely take away their only affordable option for health insurance -- which in Ohio is the Ohio High Risk Pool (created under the Affordable Care Act) which is in effect right now.

I paid $575 per month last year for a $1,500 deductible plan under the Ohio High Risk Pool (enrolled after the six months of being uninsured which is a stipulation for acceptance in the plan), and this year I am paying $428 per month for a $2,500 deductible plan. Both have $50 co-pays at specialists and $30 co-pays at primary care. $575 or $428 are still more affordable than the "Open-Enrollment" plans and their monthly premiums.

The Ohio Risk Pool will sunset in 2014 if the insurance exchanges become effective when adults can no longer be rejected for coverage due to having pre-existing condtions which could be for health issues like sinusitus, consulting for a surgery not yet peformed, or taking expensive medication like Celebrex.

I think many people don't realize that there is a lot elements of the Affordable Care Act already operative and in place now helping more people to have access to health insurance and therefore, better health care options, AND above all they are no longer among the ranks of the uninsured. Not everyone who is uninsured wants to be uninsured. Not everyone is able to work or be hired even if they have tried to get work. If that weren't true, there would be perpetual zero percent unemployment in America.

I have a challenge I'd like to issue to Mr. Romney.

I 'get it' that you would repeal the Affordable Care Act (called Obamacare by those against it) on 'day one of your presidency' but I'd like to hear the name and specific details of your health care insurance plan for America to replace it. You are the 'architect' of the health care laws in Massachusetts that your detractors like to call "Romneycare" and that "Obamacare" was modeled after it. However, and correct me if I'm wrong, you don't think "Obamacare" is right for the rest of America. But, you never state exactly the reasons for saying that. If the Affordable Care Act is repealed and nothing replaces it that prevents private insurers from denying people insurance coverage, then the number of those who are uninsured in America will rise.

Do you know, Mr. Romney, that in Ohio (since you're writing specifically about Ohio here -- I know you focused on the economy and jobs -- but there is more to living a better life isn't there. Health is Wealth.) before the ACA was passed in March of 2010, if you lost your job and after your COBRA ended in 18 months, AND further if you were turned down in the private insurance market for health insurance coverage because you have pre-existing conditions -- which don't necesarily have to be life-threatening -- AND you could not get health insurance any other way, the only option left in Ohio is a program called "Open-enrollment" (check it out on the ODI website!) and for people age 55 and older the monthly premiums are the highest.

"Open-enrollment" plans will cover pre-existing conditions if you apply within 63 days of losing your COBRA coverage. The big catch to these plans are the costs. The monthly premiums for someone in my age range was $800 to $2,100 premiums to pay every month with $1,000 deductibles. Not exactly affordable plans I would say. The Ohio Department of Insurance is still offering and promoting these plans that most cannot afford; especially someone not working or on a low wage. Were you aware of Ohio's Open-Enrollment Plans, Mr. Romney? I suppose not. It is sad that you want to take away the Affordable Care Act and not offer us anything better to replace it. Not everyone has an employer-sponsored health plan, nor is on Medicare or Medicaid. Please keep that fact in mind.

This is my challenge to you, Mr. Romeny, to first be up front and tell us your replacement plan for the Affordable Care Act, and explain in detail how it is going to work better, and that it will help those who need health insurance.

As long as the private insurers are still allowed to deny health insurance coverage to adults in America today, people are left with no viable chioce but to be uninsured even if they want to be insured and have comparable health insurance like those who have employer-sponsored plans.

Many monument dealers place little plaques with their name and information on the rear of the stones they sell. I've seen some old white marble stones with inscriptions at the bottom on either the front or rear with the name of the monument company and the city it operated from. So, advertising in one form or another has been going on when it comes to grave markers. It also though is a way to tell us (especially on the older ones) who the maker was of the stone which may or may not now be out of business.

To JulioFranco, please share also with us the name of your new website when you can. I'm sure many readers will have an interest in it. I'm sure we can "Google" The Wendish Research Exchange and locate it.

You bring up another dimension here and that is needing foreign language gravestone inscriptions interpreted and translated into English. I have a cemetery preservation in Ohio blog and have recently been asked to post pictures of gravestones inscribed in Hungarian. The stones are older and the inscriptions are becoming so faint that it is much more challenging to see all of the words on the stone.

Wireless.phil does have some good points to ponder as well. Some people are more cautious about sharing information so publicly and I can understand that aspect; although unfortunately the internet has done that for us with Social Security numbers being made public for all to see and indexed online as they have been.

Yes, speaking to relatives now who can remember and are willing to share their life stories is the key. Once they are gone, and their information wasn't recorded in one form or another, the opportunity to obtain it first-hand just may be gone for good.

I feel an even more efficient idea might be to have this code placed next to the deceased's name on the cemetery records at the cemetery's office in their computer and also stored on back up media;even on hard copies.

Also, some dearly departed still simply do not have gravestones for one reason or another.

As we know, those of us who frequently visit older even inactive and abandoned cemeteries, gravestones -- no matter what their size or composition may be -- are 'sitting ducks' to such elements as the passage of time, ill effects of severe weather, varying degrees of vandalism; and don't forget the ravages of insects and pollution -- yes even on modern granite.

Unfortunately, also, the way technology can change over time, will there be a device to read these codes in say 50 to 100 years? We can only hope so.

The $300 (in today's estimations) will mean only those who can afford that extra amount will be able to purchase this extra option for their loves one's marker. If you can't afford it, please consider these options:

Make an 'information donation' about your ancestor to your local library or to the Ohio Genealogical Society if your ancestor has Ohio roots or connections. Most genealogists who check census records know where their ancestors ended up. If all else fails, they know that most local libraries, even public ones, often have a local history room and it is a great move to add the life history of your ancestor to their collection, which hopefully will be permanent.

Don't forget to post pedigree charts and family pictures you wish to share online with Rootsweb; which is a much used free website. Or Ancestry.com where at present, even if you don't have a paid subscription, you can post some of your family's information.

And, currently there is findagrave.com which offers much for sharing 'final destination information' about the deceased with photographs and biographical information including relationship links to parents, spouse and children. It is a free website as well.

It is important to know about these advancements, and they are significant, but I feel we need to keep in mind we can only evaluate what the future will hold based on what we see in the present.

I would like to know where the cemetery and church photograph was taken? The cemetery is well kept. Many of the stones are white marble so it could date back to the 1860s or even earlier. This picture of well groomed grounds and straight standing monuments tells us this cemetery and its markers have been well cared for over the years.

I wonder if Romney ever stepped foot in Lorain before. Nearby from where he was speaking in Lorain is the aging and often repaired Henderson (21st Street) Bridge that leads to an underpass below a 1939 B&O Railroad bridge not far from where the bridge ends on the west side which floods out quickly during heavy rain. People are at great risk for their lives if they drive through it and a flash flood occurs. An older couple in their car got caught in a storm and died there a few years ago during a flash flood.

That Gypsum plant closed before Pres. Obama was elected, and I'm sure it won't be opening any time soon no matter who is President. The unemployment woes in Lorain have been many and most are long-standing, unfortunately.

The loss of the Ford Plant and American Ship Building Co. meant the loss of far more jobs than those lost from the closing of the Gypsum Plant.

Lorain needs a total make-over in many respects as it tries to survive in the shadows of Cleveland and Toledo -- the cities with casinos, etc.

I doubt if Mitt Romney or any national politician knows Lorain's unique history as there are so many American cities struggling and each has their own story to tell.

I'm still waiting to hear from those against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to outline in specifics the name and details of their replacment plan.

That should be simple since they already purport to know what is or isn't constitutional; so they can be sure their plan should be within constitutional guidelines. Also, since they already say they know the PPACA isn't working or won't work, etc. etc.; then based on all their knowledge of what is wrong with the PPACA, it shouldn't be that difficult to come up with a viable replacement plan that would meet the needs to ensure that all Americans can be insured with health insurance if they wish to. Still waiting......

Mr. Djordjevich's statements fail to explain in hard facts that detail the reasons to support his claim that "Obamacare" is unconstitutional. Just stating that 'nobody had time to read it' or 'along party lines' doesn't prove to me the statutes of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act are unconstitutional for those reasons.

One thing is a fact, however, and that is "Obamacare" -- a law with that title -- does not exist at all; there was never a law passed with Obamacare as its legal name, so those who refer to it that way are making it up on their own, most likely out of sarcasm.

Those who are advocating the shut down of the currently running federal high risk pools need to realize that those enrollees in them most likely would need to return to being uninsured through absolutely no choice of their own. In Ohio, our Ohio High Risk Pool is administered by Medical Mutual of Ohio - a legitimate private health insurance company licensed to do business in the state of Ohio, offering health insurance plans for the uninsured, which came about due to passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that offers more affordable monthly premiums compared to state run high risk pools.

If you are uninsured and wish to apply on your own first in the private health insurance market, log onto Ehealthinsurance.com:

http://www.ehealthinsurance.com/ and go through the process of applying for health insurance. You’ll have to reveal your medical issues, medications you take, surgeries you’ve had, etc. going back in some categories up to 10 years of time.

Whatever you report for health conditions -- literally from head to toe -- will be taken from that application and used against you to obtain coverage. You will see those pre-existing conditions; which could be conditions like having sinusitis, consulting for a surgery you had not yet had, typed in your rejection for coverage letter as reasons for denying you a policy.

Once you are rejected for coverage by one insurer, most likely you will be rejected by others. I was rejected by four of them.

Please do not fall for scams where you are not really signing up for actual health insurance at all. Ehealthinsurance.com is a legitimate site that is free and you can find your private health insurance carriers who operate legally in your state from their site for you to apply to without paying any fees to do it.

Here are the FAQs from the Ehealthinsurance.com website if you wish to check them out further: http://www.ehealthinsurance.com/ehi/core/faqs?faqId=F1&categoryId=HG1&entryId=1&selectedCategory=Q1

But, please know that currently, for adults, potential enrollees can still be denied health insurance coverage due to having pre-existing conditions. That part of the PPACA has not yet been implemented.

Taking away perhaps the only possibility for someone to obtain and keep health insurance and then turn around and feel it is appropriate to scold them for becoming uninsured shows just how uninformed about the facts those who have been against the PPACA really are.

I know what it is to be uinsured and turned away for health care because of it. Your statement is misleading.

I can certainly relate to how de-humanizing it is to be rejected for health insurance in the private market for a having a non-life threatening medical condition. Unless you have gone through it, you simply cannot relate. I had health insurance through employer-sponsored plans for 42 years until my lay off at age 60. I was not able to find a job with health benefits aftereward.

Medicare is guaranteed health insurance to those 65 and older. What about those who have not reached 65 yet and are not able to obtain or afford health insurance? Nothing is guaranteed for them. Some policies that do cover pre-existing conditions can have premiums over $2,000 per month (Open-Enrollment plans) in Ohio. Few people can afford rates that high for a sustained period of time. We are all human beings and very few of us stay 100% well from birthday to death day.

To Concerned Citizen - "brief needs of medical care"? Have you never visited a nursing home???

You are absolutely correct. However, those in the insurance industry will 'fight to the death' to defend their unfair system because of their obscene profits and heaven forbid they might end up out of work (CEOs) if the government took it over. Thank you for speaking up. You don't see this debate raging in other countries where it is their system.

Nice to hear that Progressive is hiring more people again. It's unfortunate, however, that Progressive, being as large of an employer as it is, does not provide health care benefits beyond COBRA to its former employees if they are laid off. COBRA ends in 18 months and is a Federal Program.

Nice to hear that Progressive is hiring more people again. It's unfortunate, however, that Progressive, being as large of an employer as it is, does not provide health care benefits beyond COBRA to its former employees if they are laid off. COBRA ends in 18 months and is a Federal Program.

Please contact the Cleveland Clinic's financial ombudsman and have them work on getting the insurance issues straightened out. Also, with the Cleveland Clinic they want their balances paid off in three months time or they send your bill to a collection company that sets you up with an interest-bearing loan where you end up paying the loan company off WITH INTEREST. I am doing my best to stay away from the Cleveland Clinic. There billing practices are atrocious and dealing with the billing department is a nightmare. Then, in 72 hours you are called to answer their survey questions.

We have competition now; and have had it for decades. So, do you think you have reasonable affordable premiums? Do you have co-pays, deductibles, co-insurance that the private insurer has imposed on you? If you can answer yes to any of these, then there is your result of what competition can do. The insurance industry did not need a bail out did they? They never will. They take on as little risk as they can get away with and force the enrollees to keep paying out of pocket all year long before they, the private insurer, pays enough to make a noticeable impact that benefits the enrollee.

And, where was the Plain Dealer's editorial to vote NO against Issue 3 months ago when voters really needed to read it? Nowhere to be found. It seems even those who voted against Issue 2 voted for Issue 3. It is sad that Issue 3 was so poorly and vaguely worded, and the opposition to it not nearly as organized as those who were against Issue 2 that Issue 3 passed. Only time will tell how much it will work against the citizens of Ohio. Some people worry about losing freedom, when others are worried about affording and keeping their health insurance and having limited or no choices because they are becoming uninsured from losing a job. People get what they vote for and never was anything more glaringly apparent than that than when those firefighters and policemen voted for John Kasich. More Ohioans should spend some time on the ODI website looking up the rates of the private health insurers on the Open-Enrollment plans because folks that is all the Ohio Department of Insurance has to offer if you lose your health insurance and are rejected in the private market for having pre-existing conditions, and you are too young for Medicare, don't qualify for Medicaid or have a spouse's plan to join. Open-Enrollment rates range on average from $800 to $2,100 per month. Trying affording those plans if you are unemployed.

This is really great news!!! I always enjoyed watching AJ's weather forecasts which have always been so accurate! And, he has a smooth and friendly delivery. Now, if only we could see Jeff Maynor again that would be wonderful too.

I am voting against Issue 3 as well.

"Obamacare" is not and never has been the legal, proper, or official name of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act signed into law on March 23, 2010.

Unfortunately, due to those who constantly refer to it as "Obamacare", that is how most people have come to know it.

For some perspective on the reasons for voting against Issue 3, please review what is offered on the website by the Universal Health Care Action Network of Ohio:
http://uhcanohio.org/content/issue-3-financial-headache-ohio-dressed-attack-health-care-reform.

Just so all Ohioans know, The Ohio High Risk Pool is a direct result of the ACA (shortened for PPACA) and it is in place (since September, 2010) until the exchanges come onboard in 2014.

From all I have read and heard (including in the PD story published on September 11, 2011), about 1800 people in Ohio now have health insurance coverage through the Ohio High Risk Pool.

I am voting against Issue 3. "Obamacare" is not and never has been the legal, proper, or official name of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act signed into law on March 23, 2010.

Unfortunately, due to those who constantly refer to it as "Obamacare", that is how most people have come to know it.

For some perspective on the reasons for voting against Issue 3, please review what is offered on the website by the Universal Health Care Action Network of Ohio: http://uhcanohio.org/content/issue-3-financial-headache-ohio-dressed-attack-health-care-reform.

Thank you for printing this wonderful and true story. I wish to offer a larger perspective on the Ohio High Risk Pool.

I am voting against Issue 3. "Obamacare" is not and never has been the legal, proper, or official name of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act signed into law on March 23, 2010.

Unfortunately, due to those who constantly refer to it as "Obamacare", that is how most people have come to know it.

For some perspective on the reasons for voting against Issue 3, please review what is offered on the website by the Universal Health Care Action Network of Ohio: http://uhcanohio.org/content/issue-3-financial-headache-ohio-dressed-attack-health-care-reform.

Just so all Ohioans know, The Ohio High Risk Pool is a direct result of the ACA (shortened for PPACA) and it is in place (since September, 2010) until the exchanges come onboard in 2014.

From all I have read and heard (including in the PD story published on September 11, 2011), about 1800 people in Ohio now have health insurance coverage through the Ohio High Risk Pool. They are paying their way, folks, it is not a free hand-out by any means. I should know since I've been enrolled on the Ohio High Risk Pool since December, 2010. My monthly contributions (as they are called by Medical Mutual who administers the Ohio High Risk Pool) have been $575 per month for a $1,500 deductible, 80/20 plan with $50 co-pays to specialists and $30 co-pays to primary care. My monthly rate in November was recently lowered to $512 per month for people in my age group, non-smokers, living in Cuyahoga County.

Isn't it good news to those who are arguing that they are tired of always 'paying for the uninsured' to know that thanks to the ACA ("Obamacare" that they know it by just so there is no misunderstanding) that 1800 Ohioans are currently insured who would not be otherwise (due to their circumstances which is primarily that they have pre-existing conditions and were rejected totally for health insurance coverage in the private market) and are taking advantage of the fact that it is available to them? I would think so. You can't have it both ways -- taking away the 'dreaded Obamacare' with no viable plan to replace it would translate into an increase in uninsured individuals.

To those people who are employed with good health care insurance plans, I say be thankful, but keep in mind that 'there for the grace of God go you' if you are laid off and your employer, who then becomes your ex-employer, does not offer you health insurance beyond the 18 month Federal COBRA, and you have no spouse plan to sign onto, are too young for Medicare, not poor enough for Medicaid, and find you are uninsurable in the private market due to having pre-existing conditions, which may or may not be life threatening, you will become uninsured when your COBRA coverage ends after 18 months. It would be a fact of life for you.

The one big drawback to the Ohio High Risk Pool is the stipulation you must be uninsured for a full six months before being accepted into the Ohio High Risk Pool, but if you are able to remain uninsured for six months, you are all but guaranteed to be accepted for health insurance in the Ohio High Risk Pool (check out OhioHighRiskPool.com).

I hear so much against the ACA, but I am still sitting here waiting to hear any details of a proposed replacement plan should it be repealed.

Come on Republicans, 'pony up' and tell us the details including the name of your plan to replace your erroneously called ACA of 2010 "Obamacare"??? Will it be "TaylorCare" (ie after Mary Taylor), or maybe just the same old "No Care" that it has been because maybe you don't care? It is past time for your "Republican Care" details to be spelled out to us. Or were you lying all along about the "Repeal and Replace" when you really only meant "Repeal"????

I am glad to see Progressive is hiring people. I hope the new hires realize, however, should they become laid off from the company they will be offered COBRA health insurance for 18 months only. Progressive does not, itself, offer health insurance to ex-employees beyond the federal COBRA.

I am glad to see Progressive is hiring people. I hope the new hires realize, however, should they become laid off from the company they will be offered COBRA health insurance for 18 months only. Progressive does not, itself, offer health insurance to ex-employees beyond the federal COBRA.

I am voting against Issue 3. "Obamacare" is not and never has been the legal, proper, or official name of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act signed into law on March 23, 2010.

Unfortunately, due to those who constantly refer to it as "Obamacare", that is how most people have come to know it.

For some perspective on the reasons for voting against Issue 3, please review what is offered on the website by the Universal Health Care Action Network of Ohio: http://uhcanohio.org/content/issue-3-financial-headache-ohio-dressed-attack-health-care-reform.

Just so all Ohioans know, The Ohio High Risk Pool is a direct result of the ACA (shortened for PPACA) and it is in place (since September, 2010) until the exchanges come onboard in 2014.

From all I have read and heard (including in the PD story published on September 11, 2011), about 1800 people in Ohio now have health insurance coverage through the Ohio High Risk Pool. They are paying their way, folks, it is not a free hand-out by any means. I should know since I've been enrolled on the Ohio High Risk Pool since December, 2010. My monthly contributions (as they are called by Medical Mutual who administers the Ohio High Risk Pool) have been $575 per month for a $1,500 deductible, 80/20 plan with $50 co-pays to specialists and $30 co-pays to primary care. My monthly rate in November was recently lowered to $512 per month for people in my age group, non-smokers, living in Cuyahoga County.

Isn't it good news to those who are arguing that they are tired of always 'paying for the uninsured' to know that thanks to the ACA ("Obamacare" that they know it by just so there is no misunderstanding) that 1800 Ohioans are currently insured who would not be otherwise (due to their circumstances which is primarily that they have pre-existing conditions and were rejected totally for health insurance coverage in the private market) and are taking advantage of the fact that it is available to them? I would think so. You can't have it both ways -- taking away the 'dreaded Obamacare' with no viable plan to replace it would translate into an increase in uninsured individuals.

To those people who are employed with good health care insurance plans, I say be thankful, but keep in mind that 'there for the grace of God go you' if you are laid off and your employer, who then becomes your ex-employer, does not offer you health insurance beyond the 18 month Federal COBRA, and you have no spouse plan to sign onto, are too young for Medicare, not poor enough for Medicaid, and find you are uninsurable in the private market due to having pre-existing conditions, which may or may not be life threatening, you will become uninsured when your COBRA coverage ends after 18 months. It would be a fact of life for you.

The one big drawback to the Ohio High Risk Pool is the stipulation you must be uninsured for a full six months before being accepted into the Ohio High Risk Pool, but if you are able to remain uninsured for six months, you are all but guaranteed to be accepted for health insurance in the Ohio High Risk Pool (check out OhioHighRiskPool.com).

I hear so much against the ACA, but I am still sitting here waiting to hear any details of a proposed replacement plan should it be repealed.

Come on Republicans, 'pony up' and tell us the details including the name of your plan to replace your erroneously called ACA of 2010 "Obamacare"??? Will it be "TaylorCare" (ie after Mary Taylor), or maybe just the same old "No Care" that it has been because maybe you don't care? It is past time for your "Republican Care" details to be spelled out to us. Or were you lying all along about the "Repeal and Replace" when you really only meant "Repeal"????

I am voting against Issue 3. "Obamacare" is not and never has been the legal, proper, or official name of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act signed into law on March 23, 2010.

Unfortunately, due to those who constantly refer to it as "Obamacare", that is how most people have come to know it.

For some perspective on the reasons for voting against Issue 3, please review what is offered on the website by the Universal Health Care Action Network of Ohio: http://uhcanohio.org/content/issue-3-financial-headache-ohio-dressed-attack-health-care-reform.

Just so all Ohioans know, The Ohio High Risk Pool is a direct result of the ACA (shortened for PPACA) and it is in place (since September, 2010) until the exchanges come onboard in 2014.

From all I have read and heard (including in the PD story published on September 11, 2011), about 1800 people in Ohio now have health insurance coverage through the Ohio High Risk Pool. They are paying their way, folks, it is not a free hand-out by any means. I should know since I've been enrolled on the Ohio High Risk Pool since December, 2010. My monthly contributions (as they are called by Medical Mutual who administers the Ohio High Risk Pool) have been $575 per month for a $1,500 deductible, 80/20 plan with $50 co-pays to specialists and $30 co-pays to primary care. My monthly rate in November was recently lowered to $512 per month for people in my age group, non-smokers, living in Cuyahoga County.

Isn't it good news to those who are arguing that they are tired of always 'paying for the uninsured' to know that thanks to the ACA ("Obamacare" that they know it by just so there is no misunderstanding) that 1800 Ohioans are currently insured who would not be otherwise (due to their circumstances which is primarily that they have pre-existing conditions and were rejected totally for health insurance coverage in the private market) and are taking advantage of the fact that it is available to them? I would think so. You can't have it both ways -- taking away the 'dreaded Obamacare' with no viable plan to replace it would translate into an increase in uninsured individuals.

To those people who are employed with good health care insurance plans, I say be thankful, but keep in mind that 'there for the grace of God go you' if you are laid off and your employer, who then becomes your ex-employer, does not offer you health insurance beyond the 18 month Federal COBRA, and you have no spouse plan to sign onto, are too young for Medicare, not poor enough for Medicaid, and find you are uninsurable in the private market due to having pre-existing conditions, which may or may not be life threatening, you will become uninsured when your COBRA coverage ends after 18 months. It would be a fact of life for you.

The one big drawback to the Ohio High Risk Pool is the stipulation you must be uninsured for a full six months before being accepted into the Ohio High Risk Pool, but if you are able to remain uninsured for six months, you are all but guaranteed to be accepted for health insurance in the Ohio High Risk Pool (check out OhioHighRiskPool.com).

I hear so much against the ACA, but I am still sitting here waiting to hear any details of a proposed replacement plan should it be repealed.

Come on Republicans, 'pony up' and tell us the details including the name of your plan to replace your erroneously called ACA of 2010 "Obamacare"??? Will it be "TaylorCare" (ie after Mary Taylor), or maybe just the same old "No Care" that it has been because maybe you don't care? It is past time for your "Republican Care" details to be spelled out to us. Or were you lying all along about the "Repeal and Replace" when you really only meant "Repeal"????

I would only add that if I were considering open-enrollment plans to call the carrier being considered prior to applying to learn if they are still accepting applicants, and if not, would you be placed on a waiting list which is my understanding that is what is normally done by most of insurers.

Open-enrollment plans can and do fill up. Quoting from United Heath One (Golden Rule) for their open-enrollment plans: "If we have not yet met our enrollment quota, we will offer you the Ohio health care Basic and Standard benefit plans for purchase. We are not required to accept applicants who at the time of enrollment, are confined to a health care facility due to chronic illness or permanent injury."

To Helmilch:

Remember "Repeal and Replace" by the Republicans?? What did we hear for details about the "Replace" part? I know I haven't heard anything. We are still waiting. Why are the Republicans silent? Even for what we have heard or read doesn't address the issues of covering all pre-existing conditions for everyone (not just people who have had recent creditable coverage), and also what about the premium costs? Deductible and co-pay ranges? I don't see anything better being proposed in the short or long term to replace the high risk pools and the exchanges in 2014. The piecemeal approach seems to be better than nothing and that is sad because we as Americans deserve better.

To dmccullough: I do not know your age, but I assume you may be over 50.

We have to hope Medicare will be there for us as it is for current enrollees.

I signed onto Social Security at age 62 and took a 25% reduction to do it.

The private health insurance market has in place outrageous prices even for those who can get health insurance coverage. Just check out ehealthinsurance.com and run through some of the insurers' individual and family plans. Take a look at the quotes for your age and other pertinent criteria. Yes, for many of us who suffered job losses during the height of the "Great Recession" those times have never left.