It's Easy to 'Forget About the Price Tag' When You're a 26-Year-Old on Medicaid

This disturbing video (h/t Naked DC) won the government’s “Let’s sing praises to Obamacare” video contest. You can watch it, but don’t blame me for the psychological after effects. The singer, Erin McDonald, used lots of chorus on her voice, making it sound a bit trippy. And the song feels more than a bit culty-creepy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpRNAkG-Nx0

In her award-winning video, McDonald sings “Affordable Care Act — Don’t worry about the price tag.”

First, if the care is now affordable as the act claims, doesn’t that impact the price tag? Isn’t the price tag part of the point of the whole thing? I seem to remember a certain young president selling his plan by saying it would make healthcare more affordable. Did I dream that?

Second, Healthcare.gov cost hundreds of millions of dollars and didn’t work when it was launched and doesn’t work now. That’s a price tag worth worrying about, well, if you’re among the taxpayers who paid for it.

Millions of Americans are worrying about the price tag. Obamacare has forced about 5 million cancellations so far, and many of those who have gone onto Healthcare.gov to shop for a new plan have experienced sticker shock — more expensive plans, higher deductibles. Many others have just been slapped with higher prices to keep the insurance that they had. Obamacare’s price tag is forcing millions who did nothing wrong to pay more, in many cases a whole lot more, for their healthcare. Millions who haven’t experienced the Affordable Care Act’s impact on the price tag yet, will next year once the illegally delayed mandates start kicking in.

But not young Erin McDonald. She’s 26 and, according to National Journal, on Medicaid.

The Health and Human Services Department launched the Healthy Young America video contest in August, seeking to raise awareness about the new health-insurance options available to youth on the Affordable Care Act exchanges. More than 19 million Americans ages 18 to 34 are uninsured, according to HHS numbers. The contest received more than 100 submissions in its three categories: “You Are Not Invincible,” original song performance, and animation. McDonald received the $2,000 grand prize and a $3,000 prize for having the top song. McDonald, a resident of Chicago, signed up for Cook County’s Medicaid program. She has type 1 diabetes.

I’m sorry to hear about her diabetes, but, she’s 26, attractive, and getting her healthcare paid for by the rest of us. That’s why she doesn’t have to “worry about the price tag.” Everyone else is picking up her tab.

You’re welcome for the prize money, too.

h/t Rick Moran