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Some Angry Over Obamacare Rollout, Others Happy to Get Insurance; Bad Weather Ruins Travel Plans; Shining New Light on Mental Health; Omega House is Home to Washington Lawmakers.
Aired November 26, 2013 - 13:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JIM ACOSTA, CNN ANCHOR: Meanwhile, the Obama administration says health care reform is saving seniors money on prescription drugs by filling in the so-called doughnut hole according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Seniors with people - and people with disabilities have saved almost $9 billion on prescriptions since 2010.
The president touted progress toward getting the website running smoothly ahead of the deadline. He spoke yesterday in California where he said Obamacare is working better but still needs some fixes. Here's what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: So even as we're getting this darned website up to speed --
(LAUGHTER)
-- and it's getting better, states like California are proving the law, works.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ACOSTA: A lot of people are frustrated and angry over the way Obamacare is being implemented. But others, there is some relief for those who are finally getting insurance.
We're covering both sides in two reports, starting with Casey Wian.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM HARRIS, SELF EMPLOYED HANDY MAN: I thought it was a great idea.
CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Tom Harris is a 62-year- old self-employed handy man who had high hopes for Obamacare.
HARRIS: My expectations were that it would actually enhance my existing health care plan.
WIAN (voice-over): How has it worked out for you so far?
HARRIS: That wasn't the case. I was notified my plan would be ended at the end of this year in December. I was very surprised. WIAN: Harris suffers from debilitating allergies. He's seeing a specialist, Dr. Robert Eitches, at the prestigious Cedar Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles at least till January 1st when his bill would go up.
HARRIS: I know if I go see him, it's completely out of network and doesn't apply against my deductible. It's almost in another orbit.
WIAN: The new Obamacare compliant plan being offered by his currents health insurance company will actually cost him $5 a month less, but Eitches and four of Harris's five doctors are no longer in that network.
DR. ROBERT EITCHES, ALLERGIST AND IMMUNOLOGIST: I've had patients come to me saying, please do whatever you need to do because I don't know if I'll be able to come back to see you after December 31st.
WIAN: He says 10 percent of his patients now must either find new doctors or pay steep out of pocket costs.
THOMAS: It's mind numbing: It's mind numbing.
WIAN: Even for Dr. Eitches. Less than six weeks before Obamacare takes effect, he still doesn't know which if any insurance plans he will accept. He has already stopped taking Medicare.
EITCHES: I may think about not taking insurance at all. I have a lot of appreciates seeing me for over 20 years and we have a bond. It would be sad to lose those patients.
WIAN: For Harris, Obamacare has meant fewer choices and headaches, untreatable by presidential apologies.
HARRIS: It's just so beyond him. I certainly wish him well, but the situation that I find myself in, the dynamic I find myself in is a real struggle.
Casey Wian, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ACOSTA: Despite all the problems, there are success stories with Obamacare. In some cases, it's doing what it was designed to do, get people insured.
Miguel Marquez has that part of the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Today, Kate and Justin Leeper aren't insured. Come January 1st, that will change.
KATE LEEPER, NOT INSURED: I recently changed jobs so I took a contract position where I don't have benefits.
MARQUEZ: Keeping up that previous insurance would cost 1,500 bucks a month. Too much. She tried private insurers, but the application process onerous.
(on camera): You would have to fill out paperwork.
(LAUGHTER)
KATE LEEPER: Not just paperwork but trying to remember every doctor visit you had for the last year and every procedure or major issue you've had for the last 10 years.
MARQUEZ (voice-over): Another problem for the 35-year-olds who were healthy, her husband, Justin.
(on camera): You are a vegetarian.
JUSTIN LEEPER, NOT INSURED: No meat, no dairy. Never had coffee. Don't drink soda. No alcohol. No drugs. Work out four times a week.
MARQUEZ (voice-over): He's a bit of a medical mystery, suffering a condition doctors so far can't diagnose.
JUSTIN LEEPER: That it was usually enough for them to say no, we can't cover you.
MARQUEZ: So they logged on to Covered California.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NARRATOR: Welcome to Covered California.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARQUEZ: 10,000 Californians now signing up daily.
KATE LEEPER: I didn't have to know a whole lot. I just put in some basic information, our Social Security numbers and birth dates.
MARQUEZ: The website, working as advertised, presented them 30 insurance options.
(on camera): What's it going to cost you?
KATE LEEPER: About $500 a month less, than that.
MARQUEZ: For both of you?
KATE LEEPER: For both us.
MARQUEZ (voice-over): The actual quote, $467.
MARQUEZ (voice-over): What does it feel like to know you are covered?
KATE LEEPER: It's a relief.
MARQUEZ (voice-over): Now, waiting for their first bill, they say the real test for Obamacare, the day they'll need to use it.
Miguel Marquez, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ACOSTA: Thanksgiving travel plans on hold. A major storm tearing across the country leaving rain, snow and misery. We'll check the forecast and the travel warnings next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ACOSTA: This week is normally packed tight with Thanksgiving travelers, but the weather is tearing down some of those travel plans. Snow, rain and high winds have snarled traffic on the highways and left thousands without a plane to catch. For some, things will be getting better for Thanksgiving for many of you, but millions more, it's going to get worse.
Chad Myers is in the CNN Severe Weather Center.
Chad, where is the storm headed and, potentially, how many people could be affected by it? Sounds like a lot.
CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: At least. We're only talking about the 43 million number that will travel 50 miles or more. That means another 100 million will travel 25 miles or so. Right? That's that number we focus on. 43 million will be traveling long distances.
Here's what we've got. We have a tornado watch in Florida with the system as this cold air wraps in here. And making tornadoes on the ground. At least I know of one so far today. Heavy rain across the southeast and mid-Atlantic. And snow north of there. So that's how it happens today. This low is still developing. The low is somewhere right about there. And so what's going to happen for the next couple days. We'll bring under the warm moist air here. It's going to be a rain front for I-95, all rain. So if you're in New York, you go, hey, this storm's a bust, it didn't snow. We don't expect it to snow. The snow is north into parts of Ohio.
I can move one more map farther up there. That's where it's snowing. Talking about I-80, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the New York through way, all having snow on it right now. The problem will be when it starts to get to sunset. Nothing's going to be -- going to be melting anymore. It's going to be sliding. We'll get snow sticking to the ground and hopefully there will already be barrels of salt there when you get there.
There are the plains. I'm not saying they're stopped, because they're not. There's 5,000 planes on that map. Ants on candy with this map, so many planes there. But many of them, I won't say most, but many can be delayed today because not going to get out of the gates on time. Here's Atlanta departures. All of these planes have come and departed. Let me scroll down a little bit here. Southwest plane to Orlando, that was one canceled. Delayed, delayed, delayed. I can go down this list.
(CROSSTALK)
MYERS: -- down this plane. 50, 60 planes delay, delayed, delayed. It goes on from here.
The best thing if you're going to an airport today or tomorrow is pack a bag you can carry on. You might not be able to get to your other bag under the plane or don't even pack that one that goes in the plane. Take your stuff with you so you can get to a different plane if you get diverted. At least you have all your stuff.
ACOSTA: Having traveled through a lot of airports, Chad, that is not the way you want the board to look making your way through the terminal.
Chad Myers, thanks very much for the update. We appreciate it.
MYERS: Thanks.
ACOSTA: More than three million people are flying for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Martin Savidge is at the world's busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta.
Chad Myers was just showing us his iPad version of the board and how things are looking. How do things stand where you are?
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Jim, we can show you the real version of the board. It's just right over here.
(LAUGHTER)
It has changed no doubt throughout this day. Started off this morning really good. Everybody was on time. No cancellations. The number of cancellations, we've only seen two, and can't blame that on the weather. But we are seeing an impact on the flights as far as delays. Not by a lot but it's now up to on average, I would say, half an hour. Again, not every flight. The vast majority are still on time. Half hour delays starting to creep in. If you're headed to LaGuardia or Kennedy, you start to see the delays are getting longer. It's a combination of weather and congestion.
Today is, of course, no the really the heaviest busy travel day. Only about a quart million people expected through this particular airport. Tomorrow is when the volume will increase. Unfortunately, as Chad pointed out, it's also when the weather begins to really kick in.
So not so bad today. Not many unhappy travelers. Give it time, unfortunately, Jim.
ACOSTA: Yeah, and I can see some folks behind you right there looking for their flight. And how are folks holding up as you're talking to people out here, Martin? Are people generally in a good mood? You know, people haven't come unglued I hope.
SAVIDGE: They are. Yeah. No, they haven't. The wheels haven't come off yet. Most people seem to be in a pretty good mind-set. And they're going to having to, as we say, pack extra patience. Only if it doesn't take up another suitcase because otherwise you'll likely be charged for that.
ACOSTA: A good point, yes. We can count on the airlines for that.
Martin Savidge, thank you very much. We appreciate it.
Travel is not the only thing in danger from the storm bearing down on the northeast. High winds could ground some of those big balloons in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Parish the thought. Yes. The balloons are allowed to fly if wind gusts are above -- are not allowed to fly above 34 miles per hour. The forecast calls for winds to be around that level on parade day.
New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly says his men will be in place to help just in case.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RAY KELLY, NEW YORK CITY POLICY COMMISSIONER: We have a sergeant assigned to each of the balloons. They can be lowered all the way to the ground or if the determination is made not to fly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ACOSTA: Organizers say they will wait until Thursday morning to make their decision.
Shining a new light on mental health issues. Two high-profile stories are showing the challenges for families and communities. We'll take a closer look.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ACOSTA: Now, two stories linked by a common thread, the issue of mental health. I'm talking about the Newtown school shooting, where a new report on Adam Lanza was released yesterday, and the stabbing of Virginia State Senator Creigh Deeds by his son. Deeds is talking about that attack.
Our Brian Todd joins us to talk about this.
What are you learning about these cases, Brian? Obviously, we know Creigh Deeds really just shortly after this tragedy that occurred in his family had very choice words about the Virginia Mental Health System. But if you look at the situation in Connecticut, not an exactly identical case. But once again, this very critical issue of mental health is staring us in the face.
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is, Jim. A lot of questions being asked about how we treat the mentally ill and are we getting them the treatment they need. In some cases, it clearly shows we're not.
In the Lanza case, that's not as clear. This is pegged to the report that the Connecticut state investigators released yesterday. We have some pictures of that. You see Adam Lanza there. But there are also pictures in this report, some photos of the crime scene that we're seeing for the first time, the windows shot out in the school, chilling images there. There's a picture of the Bushmaster rifle he used to kill some of the children there and ammo clips and things like that. Some of these pictures we're seeing for the first time. That report does say that Adam Lanza, quote, "had significant mental health issues," but what contribution those made to the shooting is not known." Because the mental health professionals who saw him did not see anything that would have predicted his future behavior. And, of course, we don't know exactly what his mother might have done to get him some treatment. Thief apparently did have him see professionals but the extent of that we don't know.
In the Creigh Deeds case, very interesting because, last Monday, the 18th, the day before his son stabbed him, his son, Austin, was evaluated and then released because they couldn't find any beds according to the Rock Bridge Area Community Services Board that said they couldn't find any beds. CNN later learned that there were three hospitals that had psychiatric beds available. Now, Creigh Deeds has taken that information and has told a local newspaper in southern Virginia -- here's a quote from him, very strong quote from Creigh Deeds. Quote, "I cry a lot. I can't focus now and talk to anyone. I have very strong opinions about the CSB, and I feel like they are responsible."
He's pointing a finger. Again, CSB is the Rockbridge Area Community Services Board. They said there were no beds available. He said he feels like they're responsible. We've called and e-mailed that Community Services Board, and have not gotten a response yet. It is raising some questions about, you know, just how they might have connected the dots or not in this case.
ACOSTA: Right. Because one of the problems with our mental health system is it's a patchwork of systems that aren't talking to one another.
TODD: Absolutely.
ACOSTA: And we can't really say definitively what happened in this case, but it seems as if, perhaps, the board did not check with other nearby facilities to find out if there were beds available. We need to figure out whether or not that is definitely the case.
But it goes back to this issue. We've seen it, mass shooting after mass shooting, and this tragedy with the Deeds family, this issue of mental health is not being dealt with.
TODD: It's not being dealt with because -- and the experts will tell you that the shortage of beds is a huge problem in this country. Thousands of beds have been reduced. The resources have been cut for the treatment of mentally ill. I just spoke to one expert who said, you know why, it's because these are people who don't vote, they don't have political power, and the resources for them have been cut. They're the ones who are very often committing these violent acts because they're not getting the help they need. It is a huge problem in this country and we have to address it.
ACOSTA: And Brian's going to have more on this in a full report later today on in "The Situation Room." We hope you'll join us for that. Still ahead, if you have not seen it, there's a new show that takes a look at the behind-the-scenes lives of a group of fictitious lawmakers. Turns out, not so far removed from reality. It's based on a few real-life Senators and their home-away-from-home. We'll take a tour inside of that coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ACOSTA: Let's take a look at the markets right now. Trading is getting thin as Wall Street empties out for the Thanksgiving Day holiday. There you see the Dow is up about 32 points. A little extra money for the cranberry sauce on Thursday.
We did have some big housing news this morning. A new report says housing prices are up about 11 percent over last year. The pace of growth is leveling off, but this is the biggest single increase since the height of the housing bubble in 2006, 2007. So good news there for homeowners.
Members of Congress are known to rack up the Frequent Flyer Miles, so shifting gears here to our final story. Those lawmakers are always ferrying back and forth between their home districts and Washington. But did you ever wonder where or how they live when they're doing the nation's work here in the nation's capital?
Our Dana Bash was also curious. She dropped in on a few of them in their home. It's quite a sight to behold. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Paint peeling off the walls, sheets covering the windows, broken blinds, a mangled chair covered up with a wood board, an ancient stove with a giant hole -- and, yes, that's underwear in the living room. What looks and feels like the most rundown frat house on campus is actually the Capitol Hill home of some of the most powerful men in Washington.
SEN. DICK DURBIN, (D), ILLINOIS: Welcome to Omega House.
BASH (on camera): I love what you've done with the place.
SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER, (D), NEW YORK: Thank you.
BASH (voice-over): Dick Durbin and Chuck Schumer, the second and third-ranking Senate Democrats live here together.
REP. GEORGE MILLER, (D), CALIFORNIA: You guys got the rent?
BASH: Their landlord and third roommate is Democratic Congressman George Miller. The House is so legendary, it inspired a new TV series, "Alpha House." Except the Senate roommates in the amazon.com show are Republicans.
(CROSSTALK)
MILLER: They are nothing like us. Don't even begin to think so. BASH (on camera): When people see this house, they're going to know because in the show it's a little nicer.
(LAUGHTER)
They have a thing where in the --
MILLER: Wait a minute.
BASH: Miller, the owner, started taking in tenants more than 30 years ago. The house hasn't been updated since.
MILLER: When we stopped buying L.P.s, that was when the music stopped.
(CROSSTALK)
BASH: But you have a record player here.
SCHUMER: Yes, the same exact records are there now as the day I moved in, in 1982.
BASH: The best part about it are the products that are on the cassette player.
SCHUMER: This is my medicine cabinet right here.
BASH: I didn't know you were a metro sexual.
(LAUGHTER)
SCHUMER: Smooth as could be.
BASH: Whose closet is this?
DURBIN: It's mine.
SCHUMER: Oh, Mr. Neat's. Mr. Neat's closet.
(LAUGHTER)
BASH (voice-over): Schumer's stuff is strewn all over the living room.
(on camera): Seriously, this is where you sleep every night?
SCHUMER: Every night.
BASH: And you wake up to Barack Obama staring at you in the face?
SCHUMER: Exactly.
BASH: Senator Durbin did out you a little bit. He said this is the most you've ever made your bed.
SCHUMER: Just for you. (LAUGHTER)
BASH: Well, thank you.
And the blinds are particularly beautiful.
SCHUMER: Oh, yes. Well, a guy can see the weather --
(LAUGHTER)
-- without having to get out of bed. It's a special effect.
BASH: The phone is still plugged in but hasn't worked in years.
SCHUMER: 547-2513, I still remember the number.
(LAUGHTER)
BASH: You don't use a phone? No? What's the point?
SCHUMER: He's always saving money.
BASH: Their couch was a money saver too.
DURBIN: My son wanted to throw that away, put it out in the trash. And it had to be 12, 14 years ago. I said, it's better than anything we have.
BASH: Their refrigerator, well, it's a scary sight.
That baguette, it looks a little aged.
SCHUMER: It's a lethal weapon.
(LAUGHTER)
BASH: No wonder they have a problem with rats.
MILLER: The rats may have done that.
BASH: Wow. How many rats did you have?
SCHUMER: Don't ask.
(CROSSTALK)
SCHUMER: I had a dream literally two nights ago that the rats were back. I thought the rats were in the Senate. I didn't know they came to the house.
BASH: And what year is this from, Congressman?
SCHUMER: Well, Ben Franklin gave that to us.
BASH: Since this is not a kitchen fit for cooking, the congressional roomies take the easy route, cold cereal. They buy it in bulk. You're the Raisin Bran, Senator.
And which one are you?
MILLER: Oh, I prefer Raisin Bran. But I like the Mini Wheats.
BASH (voice-over): The fictitious lawmakers in "Alpha House" have breakfast together, watch sports at night. Not so much here.
SCHUMER: I come in about midnight from my office usually.
DURBIN: And we leave while he's sleeping.
SCHUMER: And they leave while I'm sleeping.
(LAUGHTER)
DURBIN: We do it by design.
BASH: An opening scene of "Alpha House" shows a bowl of flag pins on the counter. This is what they have on their counter --
(on camera): -- screws and a random pill. And a pen in case you need one.
SCHUMER: It's very -- it's modern art.
BASH (voice-over): It's hard to believe such prominent politicians live in these conditions.
SCHUMER: When my wife comes, she will not stay here.
BASH: But they're only in Washington about three nights a week.
(on camera): What makes it work?
MILLER: Your friends. Your friends. We love it. It's home.
BASH (voice-over): Dana Bash, CNN, at the real Alpha House near Capitol Hill.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ACOSTA: And I'm sure their flacks (ph) are thrilled with that story.
That's it for me. I'll be back at 5:00 eastern on "The Situation Room."
The NEWSROOM continues right now with Brooke Baldwin.
