The insurance companies and big pharma love Trump and the so-called GOP.
23
No wonders the Republicans are so anxious to destroy ACA.
You would think they are actually citizens of another country, or perhaps even traitors.
They certainly don't care about the little people.
40
A big part of the problem, especially for a certain segment of the population, is continuing to refer to the Affordable Care Act as "Obamacare." Was Medicare ever known as "Johnsoncare?" There are way too many people out there who hate anything with Barack Obama's name attached to it.
56
Why don’t we just stop calling it Obamacare? Then Trump will leave it alone.
58
Many consumers don't understand that they are at risk of losing coverage because they don't understand that the coverage they have is being provided by their State in compliance with the Affordable Care Act. For example, there is no guarantee that "Covered California" will still exist if the Affordable Care Act is repealed. How many States will simply end their "affordable" health care coverage when they no longer have to comply with a Federal mandate to not discriminate against older people or those with pre-existing conditions?
48
Look out Republicans!! The sky is just about to fall on you.
21
I'm hoping they overturn it. It's time Trump voters faced consequences
23
Unless the Republicans also seek to repeal Reagan's Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act requiring hospitals to treat people regardless of ability to pay or legal status than everything they say about their wanting to end the ACA is a lie. Get rid of that so the alternative to insurance is cash or death on the door step than they can talk about ending the requirement for insurance for all. Because with that people can get the free treatment they claim everyone is getting with the ACA. Only we pay in the end with higher costs.
23
Along with that list of things, also add that medical bankruptcies would increase.
But of course, the nation should bend every effort to avoid taxing the wealthiest that little bit that helped benefit the country.
Kentucky voters would be happy - they keep voting in people who want to take away their healthcare insurance, despite being one of the states where people benefited the most from it.
57
Hmm, if a 133 million people with pre-existing conditions drop their health insurance because it no longer pays for them, that should cause insurance execs. some heartburn. Money, the real power to change things in D.C.
21
Unless I'm missing something, the law still has a mandate but the penalty is now zero.
When the law was written the penalty had an amount higher than zero so was able to be enforced.
When the Democrats take over next year they will make the penalty higher than zero so there will be an mandate that can be enforced.
Unless the law is changed the mandate is still there with penalty but whether it's zero or 1,000,000 it's still in the law and gives the government the power to tax.
That alone should keep the law constitutional. Tax rates go up and down all the time but it doesn't eliminate the right of the government to tax.
16
For those of you who haven't kept up with the twists and turns of the Republican Party's attacks on Obamacare, here's a quick recap.
Republican Party: Obamacare requires everyone to contribute funding to the medical care they are guaranteed. That's unconstitutional.
U.S. Supreme Court: No, it's just a tax, that's okay.
Republican Party: Well, now we've removed the tax, and based on our well known attitude toward taxation we feel that the same requirement without a tax is much worse and must be unconstitutional.
Planet Earth: Huh?
Republican Party: And since the unenforced "requirement" is unconstitutional, therefore Obamacare as a whole is unconstitutional, because despite what we said when we removed the tax in the Congress, as experts in making sure people have medical insurance we're informing you now that it can't work without the requirement, and everyone knows that laws that don't work are unconstitutional.
Republican Party judges: Whatever you say, boss.
Republican Party: But don't worry about the colossal damage that will result from striking down Obamacare, which doesn't work. We'll reenact it. And then it won't be unconstitutional.
57
The Republican base doesn’t understand the complexities of the Affordable Care Act/Obama Care so they just go along with the party leaders. Of course these leaders all have gold plated lifelong healthcare, so their motto is, “What me worry?”
47
@Nancy
nobody understands the complexities they are too complex
3
Yay Trumpers! Enjoy your fairy tale Republican lie about better and cheaper health care! I’ll get my health care outside of the US, thanks, where it’s actually both better and cheaper.
42
Kinda thinking that this needs to happen for all of us to see the results again. The pre-Recession healthcare fears, bankruptcies, meds, rent, or food decisions plus the "black market" enforcement costs as non-medical personnel setup shop that's affordable. Hate to say it, but most folks have to have their noses rubbed in something a few times before they understand what needs to be legalized, enforced, or removed.
26
The law was deemed constitutional with the provision that there was an individual mandate enforced by a tax penalty for those choosing to opt out. The healthy help pay for the sick. So the Republicans "fixed" that by invalidating the individual mandate by eliminating the penalty. No penalty, no financial viability, no law.
6
The Republican Party has never wanted ANY government involvement in healthcare and never will. Ironically their only foray into substantive policy was the birthing of the principles of the ACA by the far right Heritage Foundation. Of course after Obama embraced their creation, they disavowed it.
45
It is not sufficient to claim, as republicans do, that availability of pre-existing protection will continue after they destroy the ACA, they must clearly state that such availability will not have a cost penalty for those having pre-existing conditions. If they do state it, it will be a lie.
19
Much as I detest Trump, he has only been in office 2 1/2 years. The GOP had eight years under Obama and plenty of time before that to come up with a viable health care plan. They didn't, and now they want to tear down the house when they don't even have a tent for shelter.
77
There are more reasons why Obamacare should not be overturned than there are to have it shelved. Just a tweak here and there would make more sense. Besides those republicans have yet to come up with a different plan. Please refer to it as The Affordable Care Act since our "fearless leader" has an aversion to the name Obama.
26
Don’t these Republicans realize how many registered Republican voters they’d lose to preexisting conditions?
They’d actually be killing their base!
24
@Andrea
All to the good. If you are suffering than you aren't one of the chosen and deserve your fate in the GOP.
11
They love the ACA but hate Obamacare. Are they informed enough to know the difference. My crystal ball says no.
12
Re name it Reagan Care. Problem solved!
22
...And nothing of value was lost.
1
If you like your plan you can keep it. If you like your doctor you can keep her. Obamacare was barely passed completely along party lines with lies and deception. We can and should do better. But any replacement must exclude illegal immigrants or is simply unsustainable. Grow up, Bernie bro’s....no free lunch.
2
Why do you want sick people preparing and handling your food, washing dishes, picking your produce, cleaning your hotel rooms, cleaning your house, etc.? Those sick people will also visit the emergency rooms causing jacked up insurance premiums. There's no savings to be had in denying people healthcare.
46
Is that you Ayn?
18
The Republican "plan" is simple. If you get sick, die quickly.
42
Why this again? Why now? Oh, yeah, because Trump owns the judges and - let's be honest - "that black guy" has his name it, despite the trumpists having put it there. (Please, NYT, print this - it's true.)
26
@CP
I agree.
5
Obamacare did very little if anything to change Health insurance as it relates to companies, other than smaller ones. Midsize to large companies do not buy insurance as someone does on the individual market. They instead hire a company to manage the amount of money that they set aside for insurance costs. The ACA screwed over individuals who purchased private insurance.
In my case my monthly insurance premium
in 1998 was $50 a month for a $5000 deductible. In 2012 the premium for the same policy was $275 for that same $5000 deductible. I considered this to be reasonable as there were no restrictions on doctors so long as they were in network and the network was huge.
That was the last year of good times as the last 7 years have been brutal. My insurance company exited the market in 2013 and I was forced to switch, but there were several choices for what were basically equivalent plans in terms of premiums, deductibles, and doctor choices so all seemed good. Fast forward to 2018 where my only option was $700 a month for a $6700 deductible/max out-of-pocket and a microscopic provider network which none of my doctors participate in. I took a risk in late 2018 and moved to Medi-Share for half the cost and half the deductible and a wide open doctors in network. It is not insurance but they do pay for my medical costs with the exception of pre-existing conditions, which they will pay after being with them for a few years.
1
Really, this crazy push to overturn Obamacare, when the pre-Obamacare system was so bad, is crazy and inept.
I wonder if anyone has ever said that before about the Trump administration.
( https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/07/world/europe/uk-ambassador-kim-darroch.html )
29
My Obamacare trashing friends don't care. You want to express breast milk? Do that on your own time, and at home. If the boss thinks you are worthwhile keeping, let him decide if a lactation room is doable. Not some government mandate
It's all about "personal responsibility" and "choices". God, guns, boot straps and society staying out of one's hair.
9
Unless I'm missing something, the law still has a mandate but the penalty is now zero.
When the law was written the penalty had an amount higher than zero so was able to be enforced.
When the Democrats take over next year they will make the penalty higher than zero so there will be an mandate that can be enforced.
Unless the law is changed the mandate is still there with penalty but whether it's zero or 1,000,000 it's still in the law and gives the government the power to tax.
That alone should keep the law constitutional. Tax rates go up and down all the time but it doesn't eliminate the right of the government to tax.
3
The pettiness and gross insecurity of our POTUS. Why does he have this thing with Obama, a man who doesn't even pay him much mind? Sheesh!
45
The people who will be hurt the most will turn around and vote for Trump and other republicans again. Unfortunately for the United States, no amount of health insurance can fix stupid.
137
I've got a friend anxiously watching this decision. He's insured under the ACA -- a self-employed father, it was the only policy he can afford. He's currently awaiting a heart valve replacement due to a congenital condition. I doubt the fact that his surgery now hangs on the whim of two conservative appointees is doing his heart any good.
80
The Democrats should not fight the repeal.
Then run the election on the "Wonderful Health Insurance Plan" Trump has been keeping from us for all this time.
15
This is one more way the Republicans want to keep the poor and middle class down. If this court strikes down Obama Care, an employee will not be able to change jobs because their new insurance may not cover pre-existing conditions. Healthcare is a basic human right. It is unbelievable to me, that this Country is not protesting in the streets. This administration is just plain evil.
62
@Bonnie Aren't the Republicans redefining human rights?
9
The health care industries and their political lackeys want ACA abolished so they can make MORE money off the backs of middle and lower America.
20
Do not worry. If the courts declared that the ACA is ultra vires. President Trump is setting up a "terrific plan" for you. The only problem is health care is such a "complicated issue" and this is not ready yet. But if he is re elected in November 2020, he will have four more years to put in place the "best health plan" that we have ever seen.
27
If the headline were changed to " Why do you want to overturn Obamacare ? " it would prove that people don't even know why it has been trashed akin to Ebola .
2
The consequences of gutting Obamacare are deep, broad and death-dealing. They make Americans more vulnerable to catastrophic illness and threaten the national public health.
Just as the Republican Party, with the chronically mendacious President Trump at its head, is now trying to claim the center ground as environmental protector, the President himself has declared his intention to make the GOP the "Party of health care."
The whole exercise is absurd, shameless and obscene. It is on us, however, that we fall for such brazen hypocrisy.
43
It would be unconstitutional to eliminate the military and to make laws that violate the Bill of Rights. It would be unconstitutional to segregate public schools even though there is no specific constitutional amendment that addresses that matter directly. There is no specific amendment to justify the idea that a person's body is their private property. A "Right" is based on the government's duty not to abuse us. How can we say that the government isn't abusing us by not having universal healthcare, now? The nation has the right to defend itself with the military and the individual seems to have the right to bear arms. Our bodies have the inalienable right to age, become injured, and get sick. We have the right to defend ourselves so we can be the individuals and the nation we are. That there is no healthcare for all is as unconstitutional as there being no public education for all or no military to protect us all. If the private insurance companies are fighting a national healthcare system for all then they, like the segregationists, are arguing for something fundamentally at odds with the Constitution. It's that simple.
8
The article neglected to mention the elimination death panels.
2
@Ken
That's because the Republican party IS the death panel.
16
That’s because they never existed. I think the Times has a policy about not deliberately making stuff up.
13
@Ken, seriously? Anyone in 2019 still using the term "death panels" when they clearly don't exist is not to be believed. Step into the current day....
13
...Black lung payments to retired miners and their widows. $600 a month.
10
These judges, if they are to overturn the ACA, are the 2019 version of "death panels." People will die without health insurance, period.
46
The litigation and this article highlights the fact that the USA remains an "advanced" wealthy country without a national health policy focused on optimizing health, curing disease, and relieving pain and suffering. Even as the ACA's expanded health insurance increased access to medical care - and many other health supporting inputs - it does not provide financial security to most Americans when faced with the cost of illness.
ACA does make many incremental improvements though and it is bizarre that whatever remnants we have of our nationally legislated health policy depend on courtly legalistic and procedural debates grandly held in isolation from their potential negative effects on actual human beings.
10
Your article needs to be more explicit about the fact that, without the ACA, insurance companies will again begin “limiting the total amount of financial protection” available to consumers. In blunt terms, the lifetime or yearly caps of coverage would return and, with that, a return of the leading cause of personal bankruptcy in this country: uninsured or underinsured medical costs. If your child is born with serious birth defects or prematurely, odds are that he or she will exceed their lifetime insured limits in the first year of life, decreasing access to vital medical care and increasing the odds of financial ruin for the parents. If you have any chronic health condition or are unlucky enough to suffer a catastrophic injury as a young or middle-aged person, you will exceed annual or lifetime caps, and have to do without care unless you are wealthy or until you can get Medicare at 65.
To Republicans fighting to destroy Obamacare with no viable replacement that comports with basic principles of insurance or pooling of risk, remember the old saying, “Be careful what you wish for.”
52
Yes, polling shows that the public does not support Medicare for All, or whatever the more progressive proposals are named at the moment. However, the 2018 election showed us that the public overwhelmingly does not want to go back to "Sorry, but that's not covered... see footnote #12 on page 263 of the addendum to the contract."
In many ways, I am more frightened of Donald Trump than I am of cancer. With cancer I die, but with Trump the entire country dies.
If total chaos in the health care system is what it takes to motivate my fellows to finally reject the Donnie and the Oligarchs, I will accept THAT pre-existing condition.
63
@ImagineMoments, many in the public also decried Obamacare but were in full support of the Affordable Care Act. Many in the public are mis- and ill informed and are being "led" by those who don't give a rat's patoot about them other than their campaign contributions (getting less and less important with Citizen's United and dark money) and their vote.
15
@ImagineMoments
It's actually more a matter of packaging. When asked if they supported a single-payer system, a majority said yes, but when asked if they supported Medicare for all, they said no.
Compare that to similar surveys taken about Medicare itself. When asked if they supported a government run, tax payer supported system, they said 'No', but were adamant that government should keep its hands off their Medicare.
The problem however is that it's a lot easier to tear something down than to build it, and it's a lot easy to destroy a reputation before it's known. I've spent years lamenting about what I call 'Bumper Sticker Logic' and how the dumbing down of ideas (in order to fit them on a bumper sticker) was killing long term solutions in the U.S. due to the necessary of explaining complicated (and usually long term) solutions requiring significantly longer text than would comfortably fit in 4-5 words. The inevitable result of Bumper Stick Logic is that those seeking to destroy something have a much easier time of it than those trying to solve problems. Consider Trump's slogan. When I saw it, I thought 3 things:
1) Was it great before and when was that?
2) What is wrong with our nation today that supposedly makes it not great?
3) Why is he making the assumption that he can make it great when it's a nation thing, not a Trump thing?
I saw it as arrogant and self-aggrandizing. (precisely BECAUSE I ask questions) Sadly, not everyone read it that way.
18
The Republicans' goal is gutting the ACA but they are still unable/unwilling to come up with any viable replacement.
But that is the point. Insurers want to go back to the good old days.
Too many people forget the ACA was passed to try and fix the problems with many aspects of healthcare. They simply have a reflex response to "Obamacare" without understanding what they have gained.
It is very helpful for people to see all the real benefits they would lose. [maybe print again in an easy chart, and compare what cost would be under pre-ACA.]
30
@pseg The reason why the Republican can not provide and alternative to Obamacare is very simple. Obamacare come from Romneycare which comme from the Heritage Foundation, a Conservative think thank. So the question is how you replace a conservative plan, with a more conservative plan?
19
Using a lifesaving healthcare delivery advance to satisfy a personal vendetta against a perceived political enemy should be considered a national emergency.
The advantages in the ACA for Americans are not even given a second thought by these Republicans in the mad rush to undo it’s protections.
It should not be forgotten that the only legislative success they’ve had since they gave us Donald Trump is a major tax heist for those who already had obscene wealth. Now I guess it’s time to start paying for their largesse by bankrupting average Americans who struggle with the cost of living here.
35
What about free birth control, free physicals, and free routine mammograms? I thought those were also ACA provisions.
40
@Vern These are by law supposed to be free. But try getting a preventive care checkup without paying anything when your doc says they only do those together with acute care checkups -we end up paying anyway since you have to follow the rules to the letter not to pay copays or for tests. Doctors don't check the law and believe the incorrect info the insurer tells them and try to find ways of charging patients anyway.
5
This might of worked before the ACA was implemented. But now the untruth to generate fear being thrown against the program has hit the wall of real experience. Fear usually only works in the jungle of ignorance. People now now the truth. This is going to backfire bigly on the GOP and Trump.
12
This just shows intrusive the law is. If restaurants don’t want to post calories, then that should be up them as private businesses. As long as the taxes imposed to fund Obamacare are also repealed, then let’s get rid of this atrocity once and for all!
3
@DRS
Yes and no. I am very health conscious and "aware" of what I eat, and have been shocked by the calorie counts of restaurant food items. With so many American's eating out, they need someway to be aware.
For example, the banana bread. I'd look at Starbucks banana bread and estimate 200 -250 calories per slice (I make banana bread and that's roughly what mine comes out to). I'd have no idea it was double the calories. Or salads, I look at salads on menus and see that calorie wise, a sandwich is a better bet.
Obesity is a huge issue and if people are not aware how much they are eating, it makes it near impossible to lose the weight. As a dedicated calorie tracker (I've maintained an over 100lb weight loss for 10 years), I have found that restaurant foods are always higher in calories than home cooked, and often times it's a near doubling of calories.
I do suppose I could just eat at home or skip places where calorie counts aren't published, but then again, people like you can just ignore the calorie counts. Does it hurt sales? Maybe, but in my case, I usually just make a better choice- for example, I'd choose the eggwhite sandwich at Starbucks- they still get money, you can still eat banana bread and I can make a choice that helps me maintain my weight, because I'm more informed.
14
@DRS I'd bet my retirement savings that you either have employer provided health insurance or Medicare.
17
@DRS
I am curious - that price sticker you see on your car - that you take for granted. How intrusive is that? Or the information on it? Want to do away with that?
The nutrition labels on the food you buy. Intrusive? Do away with those too?
The labels on your clothing that tells you what is made of, where it came from, how to take care of it. Do away with them for being too intrusive?
18
My supervisor, another physician, and clinical director of a large department at a major teaching hospital (also a man younger than me, father of 3 young kids:)
“I just don’t ever want to hear the word lactation” again. Can you do that for me?”
Legal protections are essential.
36
Republicans better hope the ACA doesn't get overturned. Imagine their celebration amid millions losing their health benefits...
Oh, but since they've gerrymandered and suppressed the vote, they are clearly not worried.
Why do Republicans enjoy human suffering?
69
@Jordan
They just want the rich to get richer-the rest of us can jump off a cliff for all they care
15
Considering all of the negative changes if Obamacare is repealed, I wonder why almost all Democrats who are running for President want to get rid of it. They have broad ideas of something to replace it but few details. Where have I heard “repeal and replace before”?
1
@Richard Winchester
We need to get rid of insurance company middlemen that are siphoning money from private insurance and employer-based plans. That money should cover healthcare, not insurance execs.
12
Yet another attempt to overturn the ACA especially if successful would be political suicide for the Republicans. It would give the Democrats a powerful talking point (again) and could mean Sen. McConnell would be knocked off his perch as Majority Leader and we might even get our first female president.
The main victims would be heavily represented by Mr. Trump's base who might awaken from their Rip van Winkle torpor and actually vote their interests. Finally.
22
Many of the Trump supporters will only realize that that had "Obamacare" when their doctor refuses to treat them any further.
20
Let’s dump Obamacare and adopt the new extremely radical Republican healthcare plan.
1) Health insurance is complete controlled by unregulated, for profit insurance companies.
2) Sick people are denied health care because they are sick and that cuts into profits. It’s not sustainable.
3) Prescription drugs are produced by for profit drug companies with patents that eliminate low cost generic alternatives for decades. Intellectual property must be protected
4) Healthcare is offered as an employment benefit unless you are poor or working in the gig economy. If you lose your job and get seriously ill, you lose your coverage, and when you get a new job, see 2 above.
5) Women’s reproductive health will not be covered in those states where a majority of voters have strong religious objections to a woman’s right to choose because we are a Christian nation and the Bible says a zygote is a person.
This plan is so extreme there is nothing like it in any developed country. C’mon let’s make American healthcare great again. We’ll be the envy of all those countries with boring less expensive, quasi socialist systems that provide low cost medications and cover everybody whether or not they are employed or sick. And, big political bonus, this plan will greatly appeal to moderate voters who want freedom of choice.
47
@Richard Frank And of course that's exactly the system we had before Obamacare.
16
@Richard Frank
Or much more simply: Get sick and die unless you can afford to be healed at "what is your life worth?" prices.
12
Good government is essential. Republican politicians have embraced “no government” while benefiting from its largesse. It is a huge con. Vote them out.
24
Three weeks ago the Condo Salesman said he'd have a "beautiful" new health plan ready to go "in a month."
7 days to go. Has he scheduled the press conference yet?
(Didn't think so.)
37
Certainly the loss of obamacare would mean things worse than the loss of lactation rooms and dietary information from fast food restaurants.
11
I wonder what the insurance industry’s plan b is if Obamacare is overturned? They would lose millions of customers, have to rewrite the terms of their group and individual policies, get back into heated competition with each other over the terms of coverage, and face enormous consumer backlash. I also wonder what the republican party’s plan be is? If it happens before the election, they’re doomed at all levels of government. Hopefully the courts will use some common sense and avoid starting a second American revolution. And if so, then maybe republicans can put the word ‘Obamacare’ behind them (every time they hear, see, or say that word it reminds them of that black president we once had) and instead start referring to it as ACA or the Affordable Care Act. Let bygones be bygones - like social security, it’s the law of the land and valued by the vast majority of Americans.
7
I know two people who claim to be alive because of the ACA. One of those people is my sister. They both live in Iowa. I hope they're paying attention. Maybe give Senator Grassley a dose of realty.
17
The law is also responsible for closing the ‘donut hole’ in the Medicare prescription drug plans.
15
If this law was always know by its real name, The Affordable Care Act, would people still be so interested in its destruction?
14
@CEM It should have been know as the "Available" Care Act, as it does not focus on "Affordable". I'm glad we have it, but it has fallen far short of the promise of affordability.
3
@CEM
Doesn't matter. The Repubs want it out and nothing stops them. Not the will of the people, not morality, not ethics, nothing.
7
@CEM
An interesting study was made in 2015, about a year after the ACA became active. A narrow majority said they didn't like Obamcare (citing government overreach, a president attempting to be a dictator, and other right-wing talking points), but those same people (literally the same people) were in favor (and quite excitedly so) about the Affordable Care Act.
10
Republicans have been trying to get rid of the ACA for years.
Could someone kindly explain how exactly that would lower my health care costs?
Currently we have to buy our own insurance and I don't see how the elimination of Obamacare would reduce my premiums and co-pays.
11
Last I checked Chuck Grassley was a Republican, and yet one of his priorities is part of the ACA. This certainly validates Speaker Pelosi ‘s statement from 9 years ago that the ACA contained many GOP amendments.
And here we are re-litigating GOP vindictiveness. I can only hope the 5th Circuit engages in judicial restraint and sends this case packing. The legislative and executive branches have spoken.
11
Don’t forget contraception. Before the aca, most insurance didn’t cover long acting contraceptives like the iud and so few women used them. Now they are covered with no co-pay, as are annual GYN exams and prenatal care. If the requirements go away, all that will evaporate because, hey, women use health care to take care of their reproductive systems, and nothing is worse for an insurer’s bottom line than people using their insurance.
20
Everyone keeps focus on the small details of lost coverage and specific services and we forget that there are laws that require medical providers to treat people regardless of their ability to pay. Well, somebody has to pay that bill and that somebody, if the patient doesn't have resources or insurance is you - the taxpayer.
Yeah - YOU! It is done both directly by governments paying part of the bills from taxpayer money and providers up their rates as do insurance companies to cover the cost. The bill gets higher when you realize that sick people who cannot get medical care are part of the society that will contact you and possibly transmit a communicable disease that could be treated, if only...
Of course, few people have a problem with "The Affordable Care Act" but go ballistic at the contrived term: "Obamacare."
8
The ACA protects primarily vulnerable populations -- the poor, those with pre-existing conditions who may not have access to insurance coverage, those for whom high deductibles and low coverage caps make obtaining health care unaffordable, and others.
The bad news, of course, is that they will suffer from the loss of ACA protections which the Republicans have no plan or intention to replace. Remember, they're still whining about Medicare.
The good news is that if the Republicans and their fat cat supporters prevail, none of them will be adversely affected. The absurdly advantaged will still be able to pay for their health care and Congress, of course, will continue to have their own lifetime coverage.
So who'll be hurt? Just most of us.
9
It's one thing to criticize something but when you're actually trying to eliminate it and thousands of people's lives depend on it surely you have to have an alternative? I could criticize the levees protecting New Orleans but bulldozing them away with no replacement is madness.
So Donald; where is the replacement plan we were promised? You know, the one you claimed would cover everyone, would be better, cheaper, etc.
11
Great article! I had no idea how many innovative changes would be jeopardized!
2
I am not sure if Mr. Trump's base would be deterred because of what is listed in this article.
Expansion of Medicaid is the biggest benefit derived from ACA. Some states never expanded so they would not even know what they lost.
The democrats should be vocal about this fight instead they are fighting between themselves.
The democrats in congress with huge twitter followers need to stand up and fight.
11
I have a Medicare Advantage plan; I am 86 now and am very glad and grateful I have it. I pay NO monthly premium. My prior health insurance was with a major health insurer which I had to stop as could no longer afford their monthly premiums. How does any rational person think a senior who lives ONLY on Social Security can pay premiums that do not fit into their budget and seniors who do not have extra money. That is "la la land" thinking. The longer you live the less money you have unless you earned a great deal while employed. I worked nearly 66 years as a secretary; my yearly salary before I moved to the Bay Area was LESS than $30,000 a year. I have no complaints. I want 2020 candidates and Congress to pay attention to those who are living with a low income and not put us and our health in jeopardy. I had cancer in 2016; am now in remission, and my current insurance has a yearly cap on costs. Congress needs to pay attention to what they are doing and what impact they make in people's lives and health. But voters must demand that candidates health care plans are spelled out in detail so all can understand what impact there will be on their lives and health.
28
excellent article highlighting things associated with the law that are typically not reported. Thanks!
I'd love a similar article showing the list of things the associated with the law that don't necessarily have widespread public appeal or benefit.
5
I think we need to keep the calorie counts on the menus. That "low fat" banana bread at 380 calories is about 25% of my daily calorie allowance when I'm sedentary. Think about it- that bread is pure sugar if they packed in 380 calories without using fat.
Fixing the garbage eating habits of our society would definitely help lower insurance costs and part of that is education and awareness.
17
@MC We need to keep all of the law.
7
@MC There's nothing in the law to encourage people to be less sedentary. That part of the law has been in effect for years, and there is no evidence that obesity is decreasing.
This has happened before in our country, ie powerful forces looking to double down and eliminate progress no matter how fledgling it may be.
Just before backwards prohibition was eliminated circa 1930s, the Congress passed draconian laws doubling down on the enforcement of prohibition laws.
It could happen here, whether or not ACA is upheld, a universal, affordable, quality health system that almost all of our peer countries have is coming.
The only question is when. As Churchill said and I am paraphrasing him, America always gets it wrong but in the end they get it right.
17
@Paul
I agree, but the Churchill quote is wrong. (the original is a bit more cynical)
He said, "You can always count on America to get it right, after they've tried everything else."
31
@JustJeff-thank you for your reply. Well after they've tried everything else means they got it wrong!
4
@JustJeff
I don’t think he would agree anymore. Our moral compass is in the sewer and points to greed and making rich people richer. Because someday I might be rich and can be above the law and live like that too!
12
"Obamacare included benefits for breastfeeding mothers, ...If Obamacare were invalidated, the thousands of employers who have changed offices and policies could drop those benefits, but would presumably risk complaints from workers."
And the babies and mothers would have long term deleterious health effects from not breastfeeding.
10
This is why Medicare for all is so important. labeling of calories can be enforced in a separate law. All other problems vanish and we save trillions. It's a win-win for everyone except the bloated monopolistic medical insurance industry.
19
@Joe
" Medicare For All " is a political symbol that sounds good to the public that is not needed and risks interfering with one of the most successful Government Programs .
The foundations for improving health care and health insurance already exist between the ACA , Private Insurance , and Medicaid which can all be tweaked and or improved .
5
@VB
What "foundations" are those? Have you read any actuarial reports at all about the ACA and its long term effects on premiums?
The only "tweak" available is the continually increasing subsidies to insurance companies. That's what kept premiums low at first, getting people to like it.
Funneling public dollars to private insurance companies to pad their profits is not a sustainable or feasible long term plan.
7
@Joe,
Yes, so easy. We’ll just go right from market and insurance based healthcare straight to Medicare for all as soon as the judges rule ACA invalid- where is that eye roll emoji?
Are you aware of who is president and leader of the senate? And the one party who actually believes you should have healthcare has a precarious grip of the house.
I suggest working hard as heck on getting Dems in the White House and taking senate and keeping the house first and then we’ll talk single payer. In the meantime, there will be chaos for a long time to come.
10
"It’s not just that 21 million people would probably lose health insurance, or that 133 million Americans with pre-existing conditions would lose their protection. " That says a lot. At our local hospital and clinic, unrecovered costs went down 40% with the mandatory insurance and medicaid expansion. Since the insurance penalty was rescinded, the number of uninsured is starting to rise along with unrecovered costs.
105
@tom
How much of those "unrecovered costs" were for actual complete treatments of health issues versus obscenely ancillary services that have nothing to do with the patients health?
1
@Viv
Because people go to the hospital for the fun of it and insurance never over charges in order to collect higher margins.
Your argument in no way shows that we are saving money. And who cares when we have spent over a hundred million on golf for this president and billions by design misery at our border. Never mind the added budget for the military they even said they didn’t need or want after massive tax cuts.
Budgets only matter to republicans for political reasons. When at they are at the helm every single time it deficits don’t matter.
The free market doesn’t function in health care. The only way to walk away is death and costs still go up.
19
@Viv treatment costs.
7
“Cheaper and better health insurance with more people covered.” I guess not. The Republicans still do not have an alternative to the ACA, but they are fine with imploding the ACA.
A President does not build a legacy by trying to destroy someone else’s accomplishments. One builds a legacy by coming up with constructive solutions to tough problems, not pulling out of deals with no replacement deal, or just tweaking something that someone else built from scratch. And you certainly don’t build a legacy by undermining a law that helps so many people as the ACA does.
177
@Al, you're preaching to the tone deaf. The person who currently occupies the oval office has no intention of building or leaving a legacy that at all coincides with what you described. You might as well ask him to do what is kind, humane and just.
20
@Al
The only bright side to the truth you have stated is that if we can vote Trump out, the Democratic president will be able to build a great legacy restoring what he has trashed.
17
@Al
McConnell told Trump to drop the medical. They will never do anything if value with medical without poison pills or having an escape button to shut it off easily. If Americans truly want health care vote in progressives. Not moderates, progressives.
16
I sometimes feel like much of the population just doesn’t get the health care math. If per capita spending in this country is in excess of $10,000/year, there is no logical way to have less expensive insurance premiums and co-pays unless we bring down the average per-capita spending. In no way does repealing Obamacare make sense as a way to rein in spending - it merely seeks to return us to the mercy of the for-profit insurance and health care industry. We need real leadership to move beyond this mess, and, in a strange way, I think the repeal of Obamacare and the disruption of insurance coverage for many people might be the catalyst to do it. It will certainly give the Democrats opportunity, if they are capable of selling a realistic plan to Americans in 2020.
60
@MK How do you think we do it in Europe ?
In France we have health insurance for everybody since 1949.
14
@MK
Twix the subsidy which was one of the first GOP' efforts to gut in the new plan as well as doing same to Medicare and Medicare; the latter two being their original and long term plan of heartless immorality in a venal plan to give the wealthy most of the American pie. Who needs a devil with conservative players around?
6
@JPH
(Fox watching republican)
Socialism always fails! *bark* *bark*
Look at Venezuela! *bark* *bark*
Bernie is a communist! *bark* *bark*
Government death panels!
Deep state wants to control you!
8
This would, of course, be enormously disruptive. Millions would lose coverage, and millions more would, as the piece explains, lose well-considered benefits. One potential long-term outcome is that we would return to the death spiral of higher costs causing fewer covered lives causing yet higher costs, etc. This, in turn, could conceivably hasten the necessity of a more effective single-payer or truly universal coverage strategy. But that outcome would come at a profound and brutal cost of human suffering in the meantime.
71
@Dr. H Totally agreed plus I'm thinking many deaths. However, those pushing this repeal don't/won't think of that. They only think something Obama did we need to end.
13
The same blue collar Families that voted for Mr Trump are going to suffer the loss of Insurance and increase in Health care costs.The Emergency Rooms will be used for primary care.
Removing ACA may gain traction politically but it is a very bad idea for the Health of our nation.
128
@Vineet And all of us, whether we have insurance or not, pay for those high-cost ER visits. This is an unsustainable way of delivering health care.
19
Obama care, Medicare and Medicaid have been around awhile. If anybody was really interested in making health care better they'd ask the care givers and patients what works and what doesn't and look at the numbers and fix the parts that don't and keep what does. And it's not like there aren't various models around the world to look at for comparison. But if your goal is to just obscure the issue and make political hay, you'd do what is happening now. The republicans have had numerous chances to do the right thing and even make some political points in the process, but that might involve having to admit BHO did anything right and they'd much rather scare people and do nothing. The democrats, as seems to be their new strategy, are all in the other way with "Medicare for all" which will play into the rights hand. In the meantime they all keep their good insurance and regular people get crushed by premiums.
48
As a health Insurance Planner involved in introducing Obamacare in NYC and on the MD , and National Exchanges I am saddened to know the truth is that the pilloring of the ACA before it was even implemented was entirely political and had nothing to do with the urgent and critical needs that motivated reform and its benefits .
I don't know if there is an earlier example , but the Republicans lied so much and so often about Obamacare that before it started in January 2014 a large percentage of the public imagined it to be a disease before they even understood it . So, today without even understanding why we see that if Politicians keep telling a prodigious lie the public will believe it like it's true .
The demand for the ACA was the high cost of health insurance for employees and employers that had been accelerating and onerous more than ten years ago and its passage has been a godsend providing access to health care for tens of millions who could not afford insurance otherwise and those whose health prevented coverage .
It is a very sad day when a lie can harm something so important and needed because of politics , but alas that is where we are today the perfect environment for Trump as President .
251
@VB Those who sit in judgement to remove insurance for millions have great insurance themselves. 'I've got mine don't care about others' is their mentality.
24
@VB
Does that include the lie "If you like your doctor, you can keep him?"
3
@VB /yes . Lies and manipulations for profit. The typical American culture for everything : violence, justice, incarceration, death penalty, weapons and the second amendment, the electoral college, international fiscal fraud, etc..
Everything that makes America great .
11