Here

CST's analysis is generally correct.  It's a blurry line between the "free" preventive screenings that are written into the law and when a doctor has to treat something at the same time.  That's where bills kick in that many people weren't anticipating.

Should insurance now pay for aspirin? Aspirin to prevent heart disease and stroke is one of the covered services for older patients. But it's unclear whether insurers are supposed to pay only for doctors to tell older patients about aspirin -- or whether they're supposed to pay for the aspirin itself, said Dr. Jason Spangler, chief medical officer for the nonpartisan Partnership for Prevention.

Stop-smoking interventions are also supposed to be free. "But what does that mean?" Spangler asked. "Does it mean counseling? Nicotine replacement therapy? What about drugs (that can help smokers quit) like Wellbutrin or Chantix? That hasn't been clearly laid out."

But the greatest source of confusion is colonoscopies, a test for the nation's second leading cancer killer. Doctors use a thin, flexible tube to scan the colon and they can remove precancerous growths called polyps at the same time. The test gets credit for lowering colorectal cancer rates. It's one of several colon cancer screening methods highly recommended for adults ages 50 to 75.

But when a doctor screens and treats at the same time, the patient could get a surprise bill.

SNIP

Doctors and prevention advocates are asking Congress to revise the law to waive patient costs -- including Medicare copays, which can run up to $230 -- for a screening colonoscopy where polyps are removed. The American Gastroenterological Association and the American Cancer Society are pushing Congress fix the problem because of the confusion it's causing for patients and doctors.

At least one state is taking action. After complaints piled up in Oregon, insurance regulators now are working with doctors and insurers to make sure patients aren't getting surprise charges when polyps are removed.

Florida's consumer services office also reports complaints about colonoscopies and other preventive care. California insurance broker Bonnie Milani said she's lost count of the complaints she's had about bills clients have received for preventive services.

It's basically talking about the stuff others here have also mentioned, that a colonoscopy is only preventative if they don't do other fairly routine "diagnostic" things as well once they are in there.

So doctors/hospitals are telling people they will get "free care" and then stick them with $1000 medical bills because of things that happen once they are already out of it - under anesthesia, so it's not like they can say yes or no.  And the same thing is happening to some degree with mammograms.

Forgot about that, but don't know how much "legs" the story has. Hardly hear about it any more, and it doesn't seem to have hurt him that badly.

I also saw it as a lack of common sense/problem solving issue, and sheer stupidity. I mean really, "Gee, I know, let's put the dog on the car roof!", how stupid can you be?

In my view, Obama has already failed to do the job.  But by "the job" I mean, you know, the actual Presidency, as opposed to campaigning for it.