Stories by Tony Bartelme

I just read a NY Times story about how anti-Obamacare forces are gathering horror stories to try to shoot down the Affordable Care Act. This is how the act affected me: Because I'm taking a sabbatical to write a book, I had to get my own health insurance. I went to Blue Cross/Blue Shield out of habit and because the company has insured me for 25-plus years. I applied for a pre-Obamacare plan so I could get off my expensive COBRA coverage. A few days later, I received a letter from Blue Cross advising me that they would not cover me now and in the future because of pre-existing conditions. These included a running injury and some trips to a chiropractor (BC identified my condition as a pelvic dysfunction!) Please see story in The Onion below to see how I felt. So I went onto the Healthcare.gov site last night, applied for coverage that's $400 a month less than my current coverage under COBRA. I get a small subsidy because, well, I'm a journalist and we don'...

My new ebook is available on Amazon and Nook for $2.99.  Coming soon to Itunes and in paperback. Second Chance: The Mark Sanford Story takes a deep dive into the story of one of the nation’s most riveting political dramas. Mark Sanford seemed to have it all: A beautiful wife and family, wealth, and promising career that put him at the center of the nation’s debate over spending and the deficit. And then in 2009, he threw it all away. In a public meltdown more vivid than any reality show, he confessed to having an affair with his “soul mate” in Argentina. In 2013, he took a chance and threw himself back into the public arena with a run for Congress– and a chance for redemption. Based on in-depth interviews and new unpublished documents, two-time Pulitzer finalist Tony Bartelme tells a saga of success, deceit and a man’s quest to discover the roots of his failure. While the spotlight has shined brightly on Sanford’s triumphs and failures, Second Chance: The Mark ...