Discussion for article #247659
Ummm, it’s here to stay, for good, literally for good.
A better version of Obamacare is the only fix and even a universal plan would be spun from the underpinnings of Obamacare.
Complaints can be made about what Obamacare is for sure but not about what it has a realistic chance of becoming. These early iterations of the law are just the painful and unfortunately necessary introductory phase.
It will get better.
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All the big federal programs (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid) started off much more limited in scope than they are now. They all were extended over time to cover more people. The same will happen with Obamacare…one day a state will put forward a universal care program that works, and that will become a model for all the states that choose to go that direction. It’s frustrating that it can’t happen now, but there are just too many factors (not all of them selfish Republicans) keeping it down. Patience is required, and dedication to chipping away to improve things over time.
The alternative the Republicans present is to repeal Obamacare without any kind of replacement, and a Republican president will do that in their first week in office. They don’t care that people will lose insurance, or that the costs will increase, it’s a religious point they have to make with their angry supporters.
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In other breaking news, oxygen necessary to support human life.
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Ummm, wasn’t this painfully obvious? Who is contesting that the 13 million Americans who signed up for ACA or expanded ACA-Medicaid did so solely because of an expanding economy (which technically Obama deserves credit for)?
The health care law has been difficult to navigate for consumers, and its skinny policies can expose patients to high medical bills.
What the hell are you talking about AP? Where to start where to start…
A) The ACA does not mandate “skinny policies” - insurers can offer a wide range of coverages and deductibles; ever hear of “Cadillac plans”?
B) The “skinniest” policy allowed by the ACA - the so-called “bronze plans” - are a significant improvement over the crappy decapitation-only coverage that was available before and which left many people under-insured (and fooled/confused about the level of coverage they really had)
C) There is now a lifetime cap on medical expenditures as well as guaranteed coverage for preventative care and a ban on bans for pre-existing conditions. You think a person with a bronze plan is exposed to “high medical bills”? Then what the hell did they have before?
I guess other than that you did a good job, AP, of “covering both sides” of the issue. Fuckwits.
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And sometime during the upcoming Clinton Administration, I’d like to see a move to offer people one more option. If they’re entitled to subsidized private insurance, give them the option of paying into Medicare instead, regardless of age. Step by step…
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The ACA is here to stay…at least partly due to the fact the other side has put forth no other option. Imagine if all the red states had gotten on board Medicaid expansion. The numbers would be that much better.
The next phase. as someone already pointed out, is to improve upon what we have. Reducing prescription drug costs would be a great place to start.
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Really, the whole system would probably work better if there were provisions for lowering drug costs. As those are big out of pocket for many people, even after insurance. Be it from government actions or allowing a more united front from the private side. Even though medicare would work better.