Trump country doesn't care. They believe he is sticking it to the liberals and elites. That's all that matters to them.
7
and they love it
So,"big insurance companies to stop selling policies or significantly raise premiums." Bad. Very bad. We can count on the GOP megaphone to bash the public like Kim Jong-un blares his propaganda into every North Korean nook and cranny that Obamacare is collapsing because of Obama's alleged failure.
The ACA is fixable, but not in a GOP-dominated government, because the GOP doesn't fix things; it blows them up and leaves ordinary Americans to mop up the mess.
The ACA is fixable, but not in a GOP-dominated government, because the GOP doesn't fix things; it blows them up and leaves ordinary Americans to mop up the mess.
5
Repulsive voters have short memories, just like our pretend president. If the repulsives don't foist the blame on Obama, like they have done with everything else, the electorate will not have received the word that their "comrade in chief" has done them a dirty. They don't read so they won't believe this.
5
Its very unfortunate, but a lot of folks, those of supported tRump and those who did not, are going to suffer when the GOP passes their "health care plan." But those same unfortunate folks have to realize how they were hood winked and conned.... and only then, when the pain and suffering, death and illness, has sunk in, will the tsunami start... with each stumble, with each lie, with each investigation, the water is going out, and it will come back in 2018...
2
The only sensible thing to do - even for Republicans - is to replace the ACA with "Medicare For All". As distasteful as Republicans might find this, it would give theme a huge win with many voters. But I doubt they can overcome their partisanship to see it.
3
Those who will be hurt most by this administration? Middle class and down who voted for him and those that didn't vote at all. Oh yea, and everyone else, the environment, civil liberties, etc...
3
The problem is that only recently have many voters become aware of how the ACA benefits them. Also, they don't read reports by the CBO or by Standard & Poor's and therefore don't know that companies did better in 2016. They also probably don't know f the threat to cut the subsidies or not enforce the penalty. FOX news won't tell them, Limbagh won't, Hannity won't, nor will conservative networks sch as Sinclair. Let's hope they do indeed identify the real culprits behind any increases and abandoned markets: the Trump administration.
3
Nice little hospital you have there. Be a shame if something happened to it.
How many hospitals and clinics were on the verge of closing before ACA? And, if they close due to the AHCA, how many jobs will be lost?
Oh, that's right, they're not manufacturing jobs.
How many hospitals and clinics were on the verge of closing before ACA? And, if they close due to the AHCA, how many jobs will be lost?
Oh, that's right, they're not manufacturing jobs.
4
This was all predictable. In the scramble to pass the ACA in the face of determined opposition by the GOP, the insurance industry had to be granted a heavy voice in the crafting of the law. That industry, though, seduced by the prospect of millions of new clients, seriously miscalculated the effect of pre-existing conditions among those who hadn't been able even to visit a clinic, much less see a worthwhile physician with specialized knowledge and training.
Now the insurers want out, and in my home -Central Florida - we're down to ONE insurer: Blue Cross/Blue Shield. I hope I don't need to tell anyone about the practices of that insurance company except to say that they're dismal. The rest - Aetna, Humana, Cigna, United Heatlhcare - have run for the tall timber. Gone.
For as long as the health insurance industry and "big Pharma" have a commanding voice in the crafting of national health insurance, it will fail - absent government subsidies that the GOP can't tolerate (without equivalent tax subsidies for the wealthy).
But GOP, be advised: a sensible national health policy is coming whether you like it or not. When "Trumpcare V.2. passed the House, do you think the Democrats singing "Hey, hey... goodbye" were just showboating? If so, you're delusional. The nation wants national health care. Its time has finally come, and all the "messaging" in the world won't change that.
Now the insurers want out, and in my home -Central Florida - we're down to ONE insurer: Blue Cross/Blue Shield. I hope I don't need to tell anyone about the practices of that insurance company except to say that they're dismal. The rest - Aetna, Humana, Cigna, United Heatlhcare - have run for the tall timber. Gone.
For as long as the health insurance industry and "big Pharma" have a commanding voice in the crafting of national health insurance, it will fail - absent government subsidies that the GOP can't tolerate (without equivalent tax subsidies for the wealthy).
But GOP, be advised: a sensible national health policy is coming whether you like it or not. When "Trumpcare V.2. passed the House, do you think the Democrats singing "Hey, hey... goodbye" were just showboating? If so, you're delusional. The nation wants national health care. Its time has finally come, and all the "messaging" in the world won't change that.
8
Trumpcare has not been passed and Obamacare is imploding not because of the threat of Trumpcare but as Bill Clinton said it is the craziest system in the world. It was never a sustainable system and a poor business model for insurance companies and a bad deal for the tax payers and worst of all for all Americans, not only from the Trump country who paid high premiums and deductibles. The senate needs to either repeal and replace Obamacare with a better option for those previously insured or prop up Obamacare as it is doing it now and add government managed health care component so that all Americans have optimal health care.
3
Once again, American votes act to cut their own throats. I find it hard to muster much sympathy for "Trump voters" who acted on their racial, ethnic, religious biases rather than thinking through the issues.
9
Will hardship break the spell?
1
Thank you, thank you, thank you Barack Hussein Obama. And, God bless you for what you accomplished, against all odds, for ALL Americans.
2
Trump is a habitual liar. Why should any reasonable person believe what he said prior to the election?
"Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?"
Matthew 7:16 (KJV)
"Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?"
Matthew 7:16 (KJV)
1
Trump mirrors his base, warts and all... plays to their fears and misconceptions... loves the poorly educated.
it's flattering and it's a con.
it's flattering and it's a con.
Love the artwork. Apropos of not just the GOP reworking of the ACA, but the state of healthcare in this country.
The unthinkable is apparently the unsayable. The political forces behind the relentless denial, constriction, and propaganda against Obamacare is actually a form of institutionalized genocide. "Let them eat cake" and die from diabetes, etc. This is intentional and malice aforethought. Historically, was this was the attitude of the robber barons in the early Industrial Age. Old ways of evil like the walking dead. This attitude formed the basis of the rise of unions to protect the common man. Since Reagan, unions have been weakened. Big money has compromised both parties (some more than others) to dislocate them from their constituents.
Let's be clear. This IS life or death for the masses. The people must speak. We already know what the GOP wants to do. Let's see if the Dems can get a clue. Trump country will obviously have to be saved from themselves and from destroying the rest of us. For the 1% it's extra cash, for the rest of us it's getting to live to see your grandkids.
Let's be clear. This IS life or death for the masses. The people must speak. We already know what the GOP wants to do. Let's see if the Dems can get a clue. Trump country will obviously have to be saved from themselves and from destroying the rest of us. For the 1% it's extra cash, for the rest of us it's getting to live to see your grandkids.
2
Let's go over the tax break for the wealthy part of Obamacare one more time.
Wealthy investors are now taxed 3.8% on dividends, capital gains, rental income after reduction for their management/broker expenses.
Wealthy investors are able to enroll in Medicare at age 65 and pay a modest monthly Medicare premium ($500 monthly) and receive virtually all of their doctor/hospital care free (paid by Medicare) while going to the same doctors/hospitals that they have been going to for years and years.
The Wealthy investor has NOT BEEN CONTRIBUTING to Medicare out of each and every one of their paychecks for the last 40+ years like you have been doing. And you working folks will still be paying monthly premiums to Medicare once you are 65 and covered.
Do you really think this is fair? A good idea? That is the "tax cut" for those making more than $450k per year on their investments that articles, anchors, etc. are referring to when they talk about repealing Obamacare.
Wealthy investors are now taxed 3.8% on dividends, capital gains, rental income after reduction for their management/broker expenses.
Wealthy investors are able to enroll in Medicare at age 65 and pay a modest monthly Medicare premium ($500 monthly) and receive virtually all of their doctor/hospital care free (paid by Medicare) while going to the same doctors/hospitals that they have been going to for years and years.
The Wealthy investor has NOT BEEN CONTRIBUTING to Medicare out of each and every one of their paychecks for the last 40+ years like you have been doing. And you working folks will still be paying monthly premiums to Medicare once you are 65 and covered.
Do you really think this is fair? A good idea? That is the "tax cut" for those making more than $450k per year on their investments that articles, anchors, etc. are referring to when they talk about repealing Obamacare.
2
If Americans truly want a healthcare system that provides coverage for all without fear of pointless faceless middle men, incomprehensible deductibles, co-pays, co-insurance, bankruptcy, rising drug costs, shifting provider/network plans, the legal corruption of politicians and physicians by the medical-industrial complex, unending medication advertising on all forms of media, and the political/social turmoil surrounding this issue, than simply look at every other industrialized/civilized country, where none of this exists (except for drug advertising in New Zealand) and where access is universal, costs are much lower, and outcomes are better, nearly across the board. Our healthcare system is completely broken, but with so many hands in the till reaping rewards, it will take a revolution to free us from this madness. Even in 2016, the Censorship Project listed as number 2 non-reported issue the fraudulent medical science perpetrated by drug manufactures to get non-essential expensive medications on the market.
3
I'm kind of wishful thinking that Trump and his revolting cortege ....just makes
the 10th stop on his tour....in Moscow....and just stays there for the rest of
his life.
the 10th stop on his tour....in Moscow....and just stays there for the rest of
his life.
I'm not under Obamacare, though I would be if I were still under 65, as I was self-employed.
But even under Medicare, we're subject to Part D, which goes through insurance. And every Part D can decide which medications, or not, it will cover.
I'll be having cataract surgery next month. I don't take any regular medications as a rule, but one eye antibiotic I've been Rx'd is not covered by my (very expensive) 5-star plan. Cost? $175, and that's with with the CostCo pharmacy discount.
You think that's bad? I just learned I'll need 4 of these tiny bottles! $700!
We live in a country where if you need healthcare or medicine, you are at the PREY of insurance companies.
But in other countries, sane countries, citizens get good healthcare without being preyed upon.
The Pharmacist assured me the antibiotic I'll be taking is the best on the market. And honestly my eyes are very important to me. But as I take my medication, I'll be doing it, knowing that many other Americans cannot afford these tiny bottles and in other countries you can likely get them for very little cost, as drugs costs there are both subsidized and regulated.
It is an abomination to live in a country where death is the best healthcare alternative if you're poor.
But even under Medicare, we're subject to Part D, which goes through insurance. And every Part D can decide which medications, or not, it will cover.
I'll be having cataract surgery next month. I don't take any regular medications as a rule, but one eye antibiotic I've been Rx'd is not covered by my (very expensive) 5-star plan. Cost? $175, and that's with with the CostCo pharmacy discount.
You think that's bad? I just learned I'll need 4 of these tiny bottles! $700!
We live in a country where if you need healthcare or medicine, you are at the PREY of insurance companies.
But in other countries, sane countries, citizens get good healthcare without being preyed upon.
The Pharmacist assured me the antibiotic I'll be taking is the best on the market. And honestly my eyes are very important to me. But as I take my medication, I'll be doing it, knowing that many other Americans cannot afford these tiny bottles and in other countries you can likely get them for very little cost, as drugs costs there are both subsidized and regulated.
It is an abomination to live in a country where death is the best healthcare alternative if you're poor.
2
Why is healthcare taking the GOP so long? Simple. Republicans continue to struggle with the mathematically impossible task of providing gigantic tax cuts for the rich, while hiding the devastating impact of those cuts from the rest of the country. The so-called party of business, once again demonstrates that it couldn't manage its way out of a paper bag.
6
Hopefully Jon Ossof will win the GA 6th, because everyone I know who lives in that district alone and is their 50's and 60's is on Obamacare. Or they used it as a stepping stone to Medicare. Tom Price's old District has 3 hospitals in it. 2 are level 2 and above trauma ER's. One has one of the largest Maternity and women's health centers in the country.
What so many folks I have talked to is you get laid off by the Fortune 500 companies when you turn 50-55. Conviently right before you have your 30 years for a pension. Sure they offer a one year consulting gig, but it doesn't come with health insurance. I have had people who worked for major companies in this district tutoring, answering ads for filing help. They are all members of the gig economy using Obamacare. They have all told me they are voting for Jon Ossoff.
What so many folks I have talked to is you get laid off by the Fortune 500 companies when you turn 50-55. Conviently right before you have your 30 years for a pension. Sure they offer a one year consulting gig, but it doesn't come with health insurance. I have had people who worked for major companies in this district tutoring, answering ads for filing help. They are all members of the gig economy using Obamacare. They have all told me they are voting for Jon Ossoff.
4
The insurance companies don't want to serve unless : 1) be selective in who is insured; 2) be able to false code to maximize profits (United Health Care); 3) do away with limits on gross profit margins.
We should oblige them with a public option.
We should oblige them with a public option.
2
I would like to welcome all of the new commenters who appeared yesterday to defend the policies of Mr. Trump and the Republicans. I hope to learn something from your points of view.
I hope you also learn something from the articles, opinion pieces, and other comments you read on the NY Times.
I hope you also learn something from the articles, opinion pieces, and other comments you read on the NY Times.
12
If you read various mainstream publications you will be quickly disabused of your hopeful idealism regarding "newcomers" here from the Republiverse.
They are nearly entirely a goon squad--organized by paid operatives and trained to spend a certain amount of time each day posting short, content-free expressions of hostility and/or lenghty exegeses based on the catechism of fictions perpetrated by the propagandameisters in the pay of the anonymized billionaires for whom the GOP rank and file are their useful idiots.
This is far less visible on the NYT because comments are moderated prior to being posted. Most publications rely on software to winnow out the most obscene postings, and reporting by readers to get others.
But the goal of this project by the Republican Ministry of Propaganda is not to engage in debate with you. It's to drown out not just liberal voices but any sort of discussion.
You can see it in full flower on non-pre-moderated comment threads such as those of the Washington Post. Go there and you'll see comments by right wing non-readers of the publication.
And yes, it's easy to spot the non-readers. For one thing, they frequently voice their total contempt for the publication. For another, they're often so ungrammatical and reason-free that the writer doesn't fit the literate demographic of publications like the NYT.
This is called "astroturfing"--organized propaganda operations posing as grassroots efforts by "concerned citizens."
Don't be fooled.
They are nearly entirely a goon squad--organized by paid operatives and trained to spend a certain amount of time each day posting short, content-free expressions of hostility and/or lenghty exegeses based on the catechism of fictions perpetrated by the propagandameisters in the pay of the anonymized billionaires for whom the GOP rank and file are their useful idiots.
This is far less visible on the NYT because comments are moderated prior to being posted. Most publications rely on software to winnow out the most obscene postings, and reporting by readers to get others.
But the goal of this project by the Republican Ministry of Propaganda is not to engage in debate with you. It's to drown out not just liberal voices but any sort of discussion.
You can see it in full flower on non-pre-moderated comment threads such as those of the Washington Post. Go there and you'll see comments by right wing non-readers of the publication.
And yes, it's easy to spot the non-readers. For one thing, they frequently voice their total contempt for the publication. For another, they're often so ungrammatical and reason-free that the writer doesn't fit the literate demographic of publications like the NYT.
This is called "astroturfing"--organized propaganda operations posing as grassroots efforts by "concerned citizens."
Don't be fooled.
1
The more the merrier. The commentariat benefits from diverse viewpoints.
Here's another- Trump may go into a meeting, say, in Saudi Arabia, in a tent perhaps, tell his security peeps that he's decided to bolt the country, and would they please walk away...I'm not sayin , I'm just askin, wouldn't this be a great move? He can send over a speech railing against his detractors and sadly portraying his former country as having missed out on his destiny to make America so great again that it would have made their collective heads spin...As I awake from this dream, I imagine Trump hearing this and thinking....I'll do it !!!
Here's another- Trump may go into a meeting, say, in Saudi Arabia, in a tent perhaps, tell his security peeps that he's decided to bolt the country, and would they please walk away...I'm not sayin , I'm just askin, wouldn't this be a great move? He can send over a speech railing against his detractors and sadly portraying his former country as having missed out on his destiny to make America so great again that it would have made their collective heads spin...As I awake from this dream, I imagine Trump hearing this and thinking....I'll do it !!!
Note to Trump supporters: This is the sort of thing that happens when a manifestly unfit man is elected president. Life really is too short to learn all your lessons the hard way.
19
Some will put the blame in the right place, Trump Inc. and themselves for voting for him, but many will put they blame on Obama, "liberals", 'whimps' in congress etc. - why wouldn't they? They're used to doing that.
10
The Republicans want to consider health care a concern for individuals or families not society as a whole, which would justify the assertion that all should be able to receive all the health care which they can afford depending upon their circumstances. It's clear that considering healthcare needs a concern for society means assuring that all are able to receive the health care that they need, which will result in a transfer of wealth from those who can afford to pay more to those who cannot pay for what they need. That is where Republicans find their objections. Most of them think that individuals are responsible for their healthcare needs, not society, but the A.C.A. has enabled so many to enjoy healthcare which they did not enjoy previously that these Republicans will have to support social supports for healthcare whether they like it or not.
2
It sounds so very heartless to say, but the uneducated, low income groups that voted for trump are going to get exactly what they deserve.
16
That's true. But the problem is people who didn't vote for Trump will also suffer.
This is the key thing most people miss in the health care debate. The 24 million aren't going to go without health care. They're going to wait till they get REALLY sick and then they'll end up in emergency rooms and run up gigantic hospital bills that they'll never be able to pay back. So.... think about it, who is going to pay for their health care? The cost will be passed on to everybody with insurance including employer-based policies.
The GOP is gift wrapping a trillion-dollar present for their billionaires, and everybody with health insurance is going to be paying for it for the next 20 years.
The GOP is gift wrapping a trillion-dollar present for their billionaires, and everybody with health insurance is going to be paying for it for the next 20 years.
23
They will go bankrupt after being hounded for payment by bill collectors the ER gives those bills to.
And they may get emergency ER treatment, but no one gives them the medication for the Rx they may may need.
And they may get emergency ER treatment, but no one gives them the medication for the Rx they may may need.
No, they won't blame it on Trump. As always with bad news, they will blame it on Obama and say it's evidence of their claim that Obamacare is "imploding." As far as I'm concerned, we don't need no stinkin' insurance companies; single payer and health care for all.
To afford that, let's start with negotiated pharmaceutical prices. The rest of the world does it, and we're subsidizing them! We need "most favors nation" status with our own drug companies.
And we need more medical schools. A generation ago, the AMA looked at the mushrooming number of law schools and the resulting glut of lawyers and decided not to expand. You can have too many lawyers; can't have too many doctors. And anybody qualified should be able to go without drowning in loans.
[While I'm dreaming, might as well throw in the German requirement that intern-level docs spend a year taking house calls, so they learn about the interaction between environment/sociology and medical needs.]
To afford that, let's start with negotiated pharmaceutical prices. The rest of the world does it, and we're subsidizing them! We need "most favors nation" status with our own drug companies.
And we need more medical schools. A generation ago, the AMA looked at the mushrooming number of law schools and the resulting glut of lawyers and decided not to expand. You can have too many lawyers; can't have too many doctors. And anybody qualified should be able to go without drowning in loans.
[While I'm dreaming, might as well throw in the German requirement that intern-level docs spend a year taking house calls, so they learn about the interaction between environment/sociology and medical needs.]
18
Trumpcare Is Already Hurting Trump Country, and they love him more than ever! Especially if it's hurting the blacks and browns.
15
Too bad.
1
Is healthcare a right or a privilege? This is the question that should be presented to everyone running for public office.
6
Is healthcare a right or a privilege the scope of the rationale for society assuring all receive it? Is healthcare a social good or just a personal good? That is more to the point. We do many things because not doing them has bad results for everyone. Having 18% of the GDP being devoted to healthcare means spending twice a much of our GDP on healthcare than any of the nations with single payer systems. That money is not creating more wealth, it's just being used up. Having a healthy population means a population which can contribute more to the common good, can be more productive, can be less dependent upon society to meet their material needs, can adapt more easily to challenges and changes than can people in less than optimal health.
9
Republican voters need to understand an important fact: the Republican leadership is not concerned with or motivated by the well being of the population. They are far more concerned about their notion of what is right, which is to have every activity be governed by unregulated, free market principles and no taxes. If one were to ask them where our society is headed and what our social priorities should be, they will not be able to answer directly, nor will they be able to provide a vision. Because in their heads, the answer is "wherever unregulated free market principles and a tax-free economy takes us". This is why their answer to every problem is to cut taxes and loosen the rules.
10
This is moronic, the pattern of insurers pulling out and raising rates was well established even before the election. This was a pre existing condition (no pun intended) and it's something Team Elephant doesn't deserve blame for. This isn't to say that they're good or that their plan is a good one, just that they aren't to blame for the failure of Team Donkey's plan.
3
Actually, I believe the GOP somehow passed a law that prevents the government from compensating (bailing out) insurance companies from ACA-related losses. This act of sabotage has led to the rise in rates.
Rubio brags about it.
Rubio brags about it.
13
I know that most people here want Medicare for all. Problem is, there's not enough doctors to service everyone. Moreover, doctor pay would have to be slashed to keep from bankrupting the country, further reducing the number of doctors and people choosing to go into medicine. Thus, rationing of care will be mandatory. Who will be rationed out of treatment. Not current Medicare recipients, since they've spent their working life paying into the system. Beyond that cohort, limited funds will be dolled out to whom? Productive, hardworking people or criminals and welfare parasites? Illegal immigrants or citizens? You get the picture.
The simplest solution is for the government to operate small health clinics within easy reach of most people, providing routine health care for free. Serious illnesses can be covered by relatively low cost catastrophic policies, with poor people getting partial subsidies, but required to also contribute their own money. No free loaders. No avoiding insurance until you get seriously ill. For these free riders, let them appeal to private charities or relatives, or else get last in line for treatment. And cut out malpractice lawsuits, which cost the system hundreds of billions. Standardized, reasonable payments for all but intended harm could be set.
The simplest solution is for the government to operate small health clinics within easy reach of most people, providing routine health care for free. Serious illnesses can be covered by relatively low cost catastrophic policies, with poor people getting partial subsidies, but required to also contribute their own money. No free loaders. No avoiding insurance until you get seriously ill. For these free riders, let them appeal to private charities or relatives, or else get last in line for treatment. And cut out malpractice lawsuits, which cost the system hundreds of billions. Standardized, reasonable payments for all but intended harm could be set.
4
Malpractice lawsuits account for 0.1% of healthcare costs, it's a red herring. And if your loved one was maimed for life I'm sure you want recourse.
Texas capped malpractice awards many years ago and they have the highest healthcare costs in the country.
Texas capped malpractice awards many years ago and they have the highest healthcare costs in the country.
10
Dogs eat dogs. How hilarious.
2
Well, they wanted to teach us snooty liberals with our fancy cities a lesson. Turns out the harshest lesson will be on them.
13
Let them eat cake!
4
Trump supporters don't read the NYT.
8
most don't read at all
1
Out there in out there land all the Trumpies have gotten what they voted for. I find it difficult to have any sympathy for those that vote against their own best interest. So stop crying in your beer, suck it up and don't get sick.
9
Excellent Op-Ed. It leads to the question, 'why is Trump's base so adamantly against dealing in reality?'
It's less than four months into the administration of the guy they hired, and he's fired one FBI director, is under criminal investigation, gave classified information to a sworn enemy of ours (and in the process, endangering the lives of our spies and spies of our allies), can't figure out how to properly staff jobs within his administration, is doing everything he can to screw his base's ability to get health care insurance, and is in the process of destroying relationships with every ally we have. On top of all of this, he is lurching forward to remove environmental protections across the board, sell off national parkland, and prevent workers from having health and safety on the job, and is crass, crude, and disrespectful to citizens and nations of the world, women, and his own staff. Of course, I'm missing a number of other mishaps this guy has caused; who can keep track of this mess?
And yet, the vast, vast majority of Trump's base absolutely adore him. Let's repeat that for clarity.... THE BASE ABSOLUTELY ADORES TRUMP!!
Please continue investigating and reporting why the base can't get enough of this guy.....
It's less than four months into the administration of the guy they hired, and he's fired one FBI director, is under criminal investigation, gave classified information to a sworn enemy of ours (and in the process, endangering the lives of our spies and spies of our allies), can't figure out how to properly staff jobs within his administration, is doing everything he can to screw his base's ability to get health care insurance, and is in the process of destroying relationships with every ally we have. On top of all of this, he is lurching forward to remove environmental protections across the board, sell off national parkland, and prevent workers from having health and safety on the job, and is crass, crude, and disrespectful to citizens and nations of the world, women, and his own staff. Of course, I'm missing a number of other mishaps this guy has caused; who can keep track of this mess?
And yet, the vast, vast majority of Trump's base absolutely adore him. Let's repeat that for clarity.... THE BASE ABSOLUTELY ADORES TRUMP!!
Please continue investigating and reporting why the base can't get enough of this guy.....
13
Read Brave New World.
1
Those voters in the red states and rural districts have no one to blame but themselves. It was no secret what would happen to the Affordable Healthcare Act is Trump got elected.
Now, they are going to have to fight like hell to save what they need and go out in droves and vote Democrat, it's that simple. Hillary Clinton was clear on Healthcare, and she really is a policy wonk unlike that lying phony Paul Ryan.
Hillary Clinton told everyone what would happen, and she made healthcare a priority, to make improvements to the Affordable Healthcare Act (Obama-care) and strengthen for all families. All Paul Ryan, has every whined about was repealing Obama-care for over 7years and never once tried to improve it, or even submit a plan that make it better.
Paul Ryan never made it a secret that he wanted to privatize Medicare and Social Security all of his career, he's never been concerned with the working middle class or elderly that would be hurt by his ideas, his only concern was limiting coverage, giving tax breaks to the 1% of the wealthiest Americans at the expense of the rest of the country that needs it.
It should be noted that as needy child Paul Ryan took advantage of every opportunity to use benefits from Social Security to make his own life livable, and go to educate himself, but it was good for him, but not anyone else.
Now, they are going to have to fight like hell to save what they need and go out in droves and vote Democrat, it's that simple. Hillary Clinton was clear on Healthcare, and she really is a policy wonk unlike that lying phony Paul Ryan.
Hillary Clinton told everyone what would happen, and she made healthcare a priority, to make improvements to the Affordable Healthcare Act (Obama-care) and strengthen for all families. All Paul Ryan, has every whined about was repealing Obama-care for over 7years and never once tried to improve it, or even submit a plan that make it better.
Paul Ryan never made it a secret that he wanted to privatize Medicare and Social Security all of his career, he's never been concerned with the working middle class or elderly that would be hurt by his ideas, his only concern was limiting coverage, giving tax breaks to the 1% of the wealthiest Americans at the expense of the rest of the country that needs it.
It should be noted that as needy child Paul Ryan took advantage of every opportunity to use benefits from Social Security to make his own life livable, and go to educate himself, but it was good for him, but not anyone else.
42
"What’s bizarre about the Republican strategy is that it is likely to cause the most damage where many of Mr. Trump’s supporters live."
The Trump supporters bought his vague campaign promises to provide health care for everyone at lower premiums without even questioning how this would be done or the specifics of a policy. It may be hard to feel sympathy for insurance companies but it is even more difficult to feel sympathy for Trump supporters who will be faced with exorbitant costs and/or significantly reduced coverage. Bizarre, yes. Ironic, definitely.
The Trump supporters bought his vague campaign promises to provide health care for everyone at lower premiums without even questioning how this would be done or the specifics of a policy. It may be hard to feel sympathy for insurance companies but it is even more difficult to feel sympathy for Trump supporters who will be faced with exorbitant costs and/or significantly reduced coverage. Bizarre, yes. Ironic, definitely.
6
The problem with all of this, is for any of it to matter the people being hurt by this must be able to understand who is actually hurting them. I don't think I have to be Nostradamus to predict that the majority of the Trump voters who will be hurt by Trump's actions will be fed some story about how this is all Obama's fault, and with access to no other information, they will believe it.
4
The fundamental flaw with the ACA was letting people wait until they got sick to sign up for coverage. (And, the penalty was far too small to discourage this behavior.) It is like having someone wait until they die to purchase life insurance. It didn't work. It will never work.
Until there is a sufficient penalty for delaying purchase and/or an imposition of a waiting period, as in a year or two, for preexisting conditions for those who had the chance to sign up and didn't, the premiums will never be affordable, the insurance companies will lose money and, therefore, won't participate and it will simply be a program for the sick.
Until there is a sufficient penalty for delaying purchase and/or an imposition of a waiting period, as in a year or two, for preexisting conditions for those who had the chance to sign up and didn't, the premiums will never be affordable, the insurance companies will lose money and, therefore, won't participate and it will simply be a program for the sick.
"What’s bizarre about the Republican strategy is that it is likely to cause the most damage where many of Mr. Trump’s supporters live." Why does the Editorial Board find this so bizarre? For decades, the GOP have been treating their base with massive contempt and it has worked. Why? Because they know that these voters will fall for the cultural resentment card every single time.
17
Dear Editorial Board: Thank you for the sensible explanation of how insurance works and why it doesn't. We're contorting ourselves into complicated knots just so some people can make money on the side from our health care needs. It is an excellent case for single-payer. Meanwhile, back at the GOP Ranch: Republicans ought to be mindful of their constituents, but the awful fact is THEY DON'T CARE.
8
I have purchased health insurance with no subsidy, but with a ridiculously high deductible, for my college-aged daughter on the ACA exchange for the past three years. Over these three years, her rates have more than TRIPLED and she has received ZERO benefit for the cost - every expense has been paid out of pocket. Insurance companies have gone from three to one here. Who knows if we'll have an insurance provider in our area for 2018. Last year, we received a letter that BCBS was withdrawing for 2017 because the unforeseen costs of the new, sick enrollees made covering our area unsustainable. The ACA website has not functioned well in our experience. The help line is not very helpful and the insurance companies can't tell you much either. Each year, the enrollment process has been fraught with problems. ALL of this was BEFORE TRUMP! It's not looking like the Republicans can get their act together to make things a whole lot better, but it's a FACT that the ACA is sinking from its own weight - something many of us believed would happen from the beginning. I suspect that it was set up to fail so that national single payer healthcare could be ushered in. I do believe there are ways to provide adequate health care for the most needy and deserving while having everyone else share the cost, but the ACA was and is not it, nor is a national single payer system. Having lived a brief time in the UK I saw nationalized healthcare firsthand and would hate to see it happen here.
4
Your only good fortune here is that your daughter is likely in her twenties and not her sixties like my wife.
We do not receive a subsidy. Three years ago, the monthly premium to cover me, my wife and two children in their twenties was about $900/month. The plan had a $4,000 individual deductible, $8,000 for the family.
We could access any Doctor in the US who took Blue Cross.
Today, coverage for my wife alone costs just under $1,000/month. Her deductible is $8,000. She is restricted to a relatively tight and local network.
I think the ACHA is mean-spirited and unworkable, but how can anyone call the Obamacare numbers related above "affordable?"
We do not receive a subsidy. Three years ago, the monthly premium to cover me, my wife and two children in their twenties was about $900/month. The plan had a $4,000 individual deductible, $8,000 for the family.
We could access any Doctor in the US who took Blue Cross.
Today, coverage for my wife alone costs just under $1,000/month. Her deductible is $8,000. She is restricted to a relatively tight and local network.
I think the ACHA is mean-spirited and unworkable, but how can anyone call the Obamacare numbers related above "affordable?"
1
Tennessee did not accept the expanded Medicaid part of Obamacare. So you do not really have the Affordable Care Act in Tennessee. The ACA is a package. It works when you have all the pieces working together. But certain states like Tennessee and Florida did not, for ideological reasons, accept the expanded Medicaid. If Tennessee had accepted the expanded Medicaid, more people would be eligible for insurance in your state, making it a more desirable place for more insurance companies to do business. More companies competing for business tends to put downward pressure on prices (i.e. premiums). In fact, if your daughter is a full-time student, and if you are not taking her as a dependent on your tax return, she would probably be eligible for comprehensive medical care at no cost as part of the Medicaid expansion part of the ACA. So tell your local officials and your governor that you want them to accept the expanded Medicaid provision of the Affordable Care Act. If that goes against your grain, keep paying costly premiums for a high-deductible plan. And ask yourself what it would be like if Americans could wake up each morning, as people do in many other countries, and not think about how to pay for medical care or medical insurance. Here in New York State our Department of Health worked WITH the ACA and took on the expanded Medicaid. Consequently, many insurance companies offer affordable plans here in all configurations from Bronze to Platinum.
> There’s no new Affordable Care Act yet; the House passed a very bad bill, but the Senate has yet to act.
It turns out that the Senate can't act, at least not with respect to "the bill," because the bill has not actually left the House and been given to the Senate. Leadership is silently sitting on it, so that they can go through their own bill and make sure it satisfies Senate rules. Which they should have done before passing the bill, to be sure. House membership is just learning that their voted-on bill has not even left the House.
And so the House may actually have to vote, *again*, on the same bill with whatever repairs it needs, before the Senate ever sees the bill.
It turns out that the Senate can't act, at least not with respect to "the bill," because the bill has not actually left the House and been given to the Senate. Leadership is silently sitting on it, so that they can go through their own bill and make sure it satisfies Senate rules. Which they should have done before passing the bill, to be sure. House membership is just learning that their voted-on bill has not even left the House.
And so the House may actually have to vote, *again*, on the same bill with whatever repairs it needs, before the Senate ever sees the bill.
4
This is an open letter to all Americans regarding your retirement choices and health care choices.
After living 14 years as an American expatriate and immigrant to the wonderful and welcoming country of France I've finally given up on trying to use my California Anthem Blue Cross employment insurance and my Medicare retiree health insurance.
Blue Cross California provides almost no out of state coverage for retirees who leave the state and Medical provides no out of country coverage for American expatriates living outside the US. As a result I'm a new proud recipient of France's high rated national health plan, Carte Vitale.
As a non citizen and foreign residential on a long term visa, I'm required to pay 8% of my retired income per year to pay for Carte Vitale. Additionally, I've opted to purchase a supplemental insurance for those deductibles not covered by the primary plan. This total cost of 10,000 dollars per year is still less than most European private health plans for married couples.
For all Americans contemplating escaping Trump's America, please consider a retirement in another friendlier country. The decision to become an expatriate was the best in my life!
After living 14 years as an American expatriate and immigrant to the wonderful and welcoming country of France I've finally given up on trying to use my California Anthem Blue Cross employment insurance and my Medicare retiree health insurance.
Blue Cross California provides almost no out of state coverage for retirees who leave the state and Medical provides no out of country coverage for American expatriates living outside the US. As a result I'm a new proud recipient of France's high rated national health plan, Carte Vitale.
As a non citizen and foreign residential on a long term visa, I'm required to pay 8% of my retired income per year to pay for Carte Vitale. Additionally, I've opted to purchase a supplemental insurance for those deductibles not covered by the primary plan. This total cost of 10,000 dollars per year is still less than most European private health plans for married couples.
For all Americans contemplating escaping Trump's America, please consider a retirement in another friendlier country. The decision to become an expatriate was the best in my life!
5
Americans....I forgot to mention that as an expatriate you will be required to pay your American income tax for the rest of your life. If you are working in your newly adopted country, you may also have to pay income tax from your earned income from both countries.
Clearly, it makes the most sense to retire as an expatriate!
Clearly, it makes the most sense to retire as an expatriate!
1
I used Obamacare for two years. I live in a rural area in NY which has access to a local hospital and UVM in Vermont. It worked for me and I found the rates and increases comparable to a recent job I had left. ACA needs to be fixed but it does work for many people. The money saved would also be significant.
5
The Republicans have been sabotaging the ACA from the moment it was implemented, wounding it with a thousand cuts.
Villainizing the president who promoted it.
Demonizing their own idea - the individual nandate.
Refusing to even consider making the changes that would make it work better.
Doing everything they could to undermine its succes and let costs and premiums rising.
Refusing to expand medicaid in many states controlled by Republicans.
The list goes on.
Of course they blame the ACA and the Democrats for it all. But everyone except those who believe anything the anti-ACA partisans tell them, know who is responsible for depriving Americans of the only health care that many could afford, and good health care, at that.
The Republicans.
Villainizing the president who promoted it.
Demonizing their own idea - the individual nandate.
Refusing to even consider making the changes that would make it work better.
Doing everything they could to undermine its succes and let costs and premiums rising.
Refusing to expand medicaid in many states controlled by Republicans.
The list goes on.
Of course they blame the ACA and the Democrats for it all. But everyone except those who believe anything the anti-ACA partisans tell them, know who is responsible for depriving Americans of the only health care that many could afford, and good health care, at that.
The Republicans.
3
Insurers have stopped selling policies and/or raised rates because of the potential for new legislation and not due to the actual in place ACA? No one other than the choir you preach to will believe that absurd argument. Good talking point though.
1
I met a young heir to a gas/oil business who supports t rump because he seems to be friendlier to business that Clinton or the democrats are supposed to be. And that is a very common perception that some people have.
The reality though is far different: Commerce doesn't thrive during periods of chaos and uncertainty (except for the military industrial complex). Business people like to see that some stability will provide them with the ability to plan expansions and new products and services.
When t rump is flailing around, elbows and hands akimbo, his supporters see someone who is full of surprises, someone who will do the unexpected to achieve great results. I see someone about to fall of the cliff, flailing about trying to keep his balance.
I keep wondering about these supposed big business brains; if Obama was so unfriendly to corporations and businesses why did the stock market and the wealth of folks like the Kochs double during his terms?
The reality though is far different: Commerce doesn't thrive during periods of chaos and uncertainty (except for the military industrial complex). Business people like to see that some stability will provide them with the ability to plan expansions and new products and services.
When t rump is flailing around, elbows and hands akimbo, his supporters see someone who is full of surprises, someone who will do the unexpected to achieve great results. I see someone about to fall of the cliff, flailing about trying to keep his balance.
I keep wondering about these supposed big business brains; if Obama was so unfriendly to corporations and businesses why did the stock market and the wealth of folks like the Kochs double during his terms?
3
What’s bizarre about the Republican strategy is that it considers the health care of the People a commodity that can be used to make obscene profits from.
The problem with health care is the insurance companies strangle hold on the idea of health care for profit. We, the people can provide healthcare for everyone of us. Removing the for profit insurance companies from the equation will actually pay the providers of health care, doctors, nurses etcetera with better incomes when that "profit" is eliminated from the cost.
Also we need tens of thousands more doctors of all kinds whth everyone of them trained for free. People will not become doctors to become rich. They will become doctors because the are motivated by the profession.
Health, like education is a right. How much money one has or what color they are or who their parents are or were will soon not determine anything about either health care or Education. This is the unavoidable future into which this planet is evolving. The anomaly of self promoted exclusive and superior beings is a quaint left over from the pre-human stages. They are walking extinctions. At the rate we are evolving , I would give them another 20 years or so.
Remember, the dinosaurs!
The problem with health care is the insurance companies strangle hold on the idea of health care for profit. We, the people can provide healthcare for everyone of us. Removing the for profit insurance companies from the equation will actually pay the providers of health care, doctors, nurses etcetera with better incomes when that "profit" is eliminated from the cost.
Also we need tens of thousands more doctors of all kinds whth everyone of them trained for free. People will not become doctors to become rich. They will become doctors because the are motivated by the profession.
Health, like education is a right. How much money one has or what color they are or who their parents are or were will soon not determine anything about either health care or Education. This is the unavoidable future into which this planet is evolving. The anomaly of self promoted exclusive and superior beings is a quaint left over from the pre-human stages. They are walking extinctions. At the rate we are evolving , I would give them another 20 years or so.
Remember, the dinosaurs!
2
Nonsense. Healthcare and education, like food, shelter and clothing should be relative to your value to the free market as reflected by your wealth and income. Most people from Queens, say, should not expect anything in their lives to be even close to what is available to someone who grows up on Park Ave. Otherwise, what is the point of achievement? My boss has been very vocal on this subject for all of the more than three decades I've worked there. He makes a valid point when he says "You don't get to have the things I have because I'm the boss and you're not." Coupled with the fact that everything an employee has is paid out of their employers pockets, he's correct.
"Healthcare and education, like food, shelter and clothing should be relative to your value to the free market as reflected by your wealth and income."
Okay. So let's get rid of the other socialist programs, like the police and the fire department. (They are not in the Constitution.) You can pay for your own private security guards. And if your house catches on fire, pay your own bucket brigade. And then there are the civil courts. If you have a business dispute over a contract, you can just go break your counter-party's kneecaps.
Only then will America be great again.
Okay. So let's get rid of the other socialist programs, like the police and the fire department. (They are not in the Constitution.) You can pay for your own private security guards. And if your house catches on fire, pay your own bucket brigade. And then there are the civil courts. If you have a business dispute over a contract, you can just go break your counter-party's kneecaps.
Only then will America be great again.
2
Don't you feel any shame for enjoying benefits you haven't paid for in full, like a public school education, perhaps emergency medical care or even something as routine as using a public park. Unless you've paid $38,000,000 a year in federal taxes and additional millions in more local taxes, levies, fees and assessments (like a certain President) you are being subsidized by others.
And for some strange reason we're supposed to feel something for heartland voters who, with the help of rampant gerrymandering and our non-proportional, undemocratic electoral collage, laughed at their fellow citizens on our East and West coasts when out of shear ignorance they voted in djt. It's not like djt and his team of plutocrats didn't say exactly what they had in mind for TrumpCare, namely "pay or die, suckers". But then again, the heartland gets the healthcare they deserve when they thought 'repeal and replace' was a wonderful plan and just what they all needed.
I retired at 70 and am now 73. Together with my wife we pay over $11,000/year for healthcare and we are remarkably healthy. I expect if the Republicans ram through their healthcare insurance executive protection and enrichment law (aka 'TrumpCare) our cost for good healthcare will double in a decade or less. I don't think the average person who voted in djt has any real understanding of just how crazy and unnecessarily costly American healthcare is. We need single payer, and we need it now. Insurance companies can sell add on optional cosmetic, or private hospital room insurance.
I retired at 70 and am now 73. Together with my wife we pay over $11,000/year for healthcare and we are remarkably healthy. I expect if the Republicans ram through their healthcare insurance executive protection and enrichment law (aka 'TrumpCare) our cost for good healthcare will double in a decade or less. I don't think the average person who voted in djt has any real understanding of just how crazy and unnecessarily costly American healthcare is. We need single payer, and we need it now. Insurance companies can sell add on optional cosmetic, or private hospital room insurance.
4
Gerrymandering enables the GOP to take all with just over a third of popular support, so these polls won't phase them. All they need to worry about is that one-third. And that third only listens to Fox News, so they'll never know or understand that fading healthcare is anything other than Pres. Obama or the Democratic Party's fault.
If the DNC really cares, they need to work harder on effective outreach in the rural and blue collar working class areas.
If the DNC really cares, they need to work harder on effective outreach in the rural and blue collar working class areas.
3
Having listened to NPR interviews of Trump supporters who claim that they follow "their own versions of the facts," I am not optimistic that the core of Trump supporters, no matter how much they will suffer, have the cognitive ability to connect the dots and understand what is really going on. In many ways, the Republican health care initiatives are basically genocidal in their effect.
3
Two thoughts
1. Voting with your "gut" (Trump vote) will cause stomach ulcers. These will not be covered as they are considered "post-existing" conditions.
2. Health care is expensive because it costs too much. The reason it costs too much is Healthcare is too monopolized. It's time to break up "the big banks" and not allow doctors, hospitals, big pharma, and insurance companies to entwine their DNA together. All should be forced into completely separate entities. When your doctor is also your health insurance saleswoman, (I mean salesman, as only men are in charge of healthcare finances according to pre-existing GOP rules) and hospital financier - you'll have BIG ulcers and your wallet will hemorrhage.
1. Voting with your "gut" (Trump vote) will cause stomach ulcers. These will not be covered as they are considered "post-existing" conditions.
2. Health care is expensive because it costs too much. The reason it costs too much is Healthcare is too monopolized. It's time to break up "the big banks" and not allow doctors, hospitals, big pharma, and insurance companies to entwine their DNA together. All should be forced into completely separate entities. When your doctor is also your health insurance saleswoman, (I mean salesman, as only men are in charge of healthcare finances according to pre-existing GOP rules) and hospital financier - you'll have BIG ulcers and your wallet will hemorrhage.
So people again voted against their own economic interest and we should feel bad. Personally I hope that the Republicans repeal the ACA and cut Medicaid. Maybe people need to loose something for them to appreciate what they had.
1
We all know that the so-called "Trumpcare" proposal is literally nothing about healthcare, and everything about budget-cutting (cuts in Medicaid and Subsidies to providers) and the elimination of the 3.8% tax on the most wealthy tax-payers. The Proposal contains NO details on healthcare, because its objective is to minimize it!
The "healthcare" (Trumpcare) issue will end up eroding potential GOP votes in the 2018 mid-term elections and, if the Dems invest time and money in key Red States and properly target the "working class" 2016 Trump voters, big changes in Congress will occur in 2018 and 2020.
The "healthcare" (Trumpcare) issue will end up eroding potential GOP votes in the 2018 mid-term elections and, if the Dems invest time and money in key Red States and properly target the "working class" 2016 Trump voters, big changes in Congress will occur in 2018 and 2020.
1
This is not so befuddling when you realize that the plan is to blame the damage on Obama and the Democrats. Many of these voters have very limited news sources and buy into the myth that the coastal media are liberal tools. Republicans have toiled for decades to put these voters right where they want them: a devoted, almost masochistic, base who will tolerate all manner of hardships in support of ideology.
The ACA is not perfect and could have used a little bipartisan tweaking, but the Rs made sure that their "tweaks" were actually a massive gutting of healthcare for the poor, elderly, and working poor. As a consequence, the AHCA will devastate and is already devastating health care for many families. This is well-known among Americans and is opposed by a majority of us. But the Rs will never learn until they unlock a few little things: empathy, compassion, and common sense.
Don't hold your breath!
Don't hold your breath!
I can only think back to the Irish starvation where the neoliberals let one million Irish peasants starve to death and a million other live in dire stress to safeguard Ireland's food export economy.
Each year of the potato blight the landowner of Ireland exported enough food to feed the hungry for the entire duration of the blight. Today's neoliberals echoes the Whigs and some Tories of a previous generation "It is the economy, stupid."
Only Berrnie Sanders has stated what I thought was the America response. it is not the economy it is the people our morals and our principles, stupid.
Each year of the potato blight the landowner of Ireland exported enough food to feed the hungry for the entire duration of the blight. Today's neoliberals echoes the Whigs and some Tories of a previous generation "It is the economy, stupid."
Only Berrnie Sanders has stated what I thought was the America response. it is not the economy it is the people our morals and our principles, stupid.
It's hurting Trump Country? And why should I care? These people ENTHUSIASTICALLY wanted Trump and the end of Obamacare!
Republicans like to think they are the party of personal responsibility. Well, for all those Trump voters that bill is now due, demanding payment. And what is that payment? Their loss of health care, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, decent schools, clean air and jobs IS NOW THEIR FAULT!
Sorry, but the GOP has "won" and this is what their win means to the people who enthusiastically voted for them.
Republicans like to think they are the party of personal responsibility. Well, for all those Trump voters that bill is now due, demanding payment. And what is that payment? Their loss of health care, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, decent schools, clean air and jobs IS NOW THEIR FAULT!
Sorry, but the GOP has "won" and this is what their win means to the people who enthusiastically voted for them.
1
How sad is it that the Trump voters probably will blame Obama and the Democrats when the exchanges fail because Trump and the GOP destroyed them? In the words of Ray Collins in Citizen Kane, "You're going to need more than one lesson and you're going to get more than one lesson."
Single Payer paid for easily with tax increases, Eisenhower style, on those who don't worry about a roof over their heads, food on the table, employment which supports society, health care and poisons in their environment.
Who's fault is that if someone has such worries? What do Bill Gates, Mike Bloomberg, Warren Buffet or even Martin Shrekeli owe you or me?
This is pure propaganda and it amazes me that anyone would fall for it. "The mere threat that Obamacare will be dismantled or radically changed — either by Congress or by President Trump himself — has persuaded several big insurance companies to stop selling policies or significantly raise premiums. "
Does anyone own a calendar ? Aetna, United, Humana all announced they were pulling out of the Obamacare mess before Trump was even elected.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-08-17/obamacare-s-in-troubl...
And the $7 bn insurance bailout that the article refers to is not the result of Trump, but rather a Federal District Judge who ruled that such payments violated the Constitution since Congress had not authorized them.
The simple fact is that Obamacare is falling apart mainly because (like much of liberal orthodoxy), it rests on the premise that you can order or entice people to do things that would not be in their economic interest. For example, the young and healthy are ordered to buy insurance at much higher rates than they would otherwise get in order to subsidize the sick. Likewise, insurance companies are enticed to support Obamacare but simply cannot do so when they are losing money on the Exchanges and denied large premium increases. Instead, both healthy individuals and insurance companies are saying "thanks, but no thanks". And the Death Spiral worsens. That's on the Dems.
Does anyone own a calendar ? Aetna, United, Humana all announced they were pulling out of the Obamacare mess before Trump was even elected.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-08-17/obamacare-s-in-troubl...
And the $7 bn insurance bailout that the article refers to is not the result of Trump, but rather a Federal District Judge who ruled that such payments violated the Constitution since Congress had not authorized them.
The simple fact is that Obamacare is falling apart mainly because (like much of liberal orthodoxy), it rests on the premise that you can order or entice people to do things that would not be in their economic interest. For example, the young and healthy are ordered to buy insurance at much higher rates than they would otherwise get in order to subsidize the sick. Likewise, insurance companies are enticed to support Obamacare but simply cannot do so when they are losing money on the Exchanges and denied large premium increases. Instead, both healthy individuals and insurance companies are saying "thanks, but no thanks". And the Death Spiral worsens. That's on the Dems.
3
You are partly correct Princeton 2015 -- that the insurance markets were struggling before Trump. But that is because while insurance companies have need stability, the GOP gave them chaos. While they need the healthy need to sign up, the GOP has discouraged them. While insurance companies needed to be covered for unexpected losses, GOP Senator Marco Rubio quietly and proudly undermined that piece of the ACA. For years, the GOP has been kicking the legs out from under the ACA and then saying, "See! It doesn't work!"
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/10/us/politics/marco-rubio-obamacare-aff...
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/health/2017/04/03/wellmark-h...
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/10/us/politics/marco-rubio-obamacare-aff...
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/health/2017/04/03/wellmark-h...
1
You can run but you can't hide. The responsibility for Obamacare is right there in the name. "While they need the healthy need to sign up, the GOP has discouraged them. " It wasn't the GOP who created Obamacare and insisted that the young and healthy pay about twice their expected health costs. That was Dems. "While insurance companies needed to be covered for unexpected losses." What you call "unexpected losses" is a insurance company bailout. And I'm proud of Senator Rubio for preventing that. Haven't we had enough bailouts ? No Republican voted for Obamacare This is your mess. Own it.
What is always missing from these editorials is the timing. The reality is that those who will be hurt won't really feel it all until 2029, so the 2016 election may still go red. Better to end it tomorrow. And then let the GOP face the reality. By 2020 many (or in Trump speak many, very very many)will be either dead or on Medicare. Medicare receipiants are notorious in hating single payer for everyone else but them.
1
If insurers want a federal bailout, then let’s talk about terms and conditions.
1
Good. Fewer Trump voters is what America needs now. If they want to let Darwinian forces figure it out for us, that's fine with me.
Let insurers pull out. in fact, force them out with a true national health system. People don't need to pay any part of a CEO's outrageous compensation package to get a shot for the kids.
1
Such are the wages of sin.
But isn't that what they were already doing under Obamacare? I get the feeling they'll do whatever they can to avoid having to pay anything regardless of what plan they're invited to extort.
Many Trump voters already know that he lied about his plans for healthcare. A recent article described the dismal state of dental care and disillusionment among people waiting in hours-long lines to get their rotten teeth pulled. “The country is way too divided between well-off people and people struggling for everything — even to see the dentist. And the worst part is, I don’t see a bridge to cross over to be one of those rich people," one woman said. She hadn't seen a dentist in about eight years after her husband lost his job with dental benefits, and she and her husband couldn't afford their own dental care after taking care of their children's. After voting for Barack Obama in 2008, she voted for Trump because he promised to work for “the forgotten men and women of our country, people who work hard but don’t have a voice," and because Trump promised to build a “beautiful” health-care system that would cover everyone for less. Now, she was hearing that people would lose their coverage. “Is Trump the wolf in grandma's clothes? My husband and I are are now saying to each other: ‘Did we really vote for him?' Was he just out to get our votes?”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/national/2017/05/13/the-painful-truth-a...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/national/2017/05/13/the-painful-truth-a...
The NYT may have turned a corner - this is not the first recent article that lays blame squarely on the GOP rather than on the orange-skinned clown puppet they keep in office! Donald Trump has been the chief distractor for the GOP since he was jockeyed into place and the media, including this, my favorite news source, has been complicit by rushing headlong to cover any fire that was started while ignoring the insidious dismantling of our country that GOP legislators have been engineering at the behest of their very rich benefactors. It is my sincere hope that at least the NYT will begin to focus on the people who are conspiring to turn our democracy into an autocracy - they've apparently been at it for some time (see today's column from Paul Krugman). Perhaps if the NYT leadS the way, other, more responsible journalists will follow. Let's hope so.
As far as I'm concerned they got exactly what they voted for so they have no right to complain.
2
And yet Trump country sticks with Trump.
So unusual.
So unusual.
Trump Country does not care if they all die - this is part of Making America Great Again. What stupid, stupid people. They really believe that the 1% care about them. Whenever I feel depressed, I think about this and, seriously, it's better than any comedy relief anywhere.
1
They bought it, they broke it, now they must live (or die) with it.
No tears here.
No tears here.
1
The 61% of Americans who "already know where the fault" of Obamacare properly lies are the core constituency of a single-payer system that Dems will bring to fruition in 2018.
Putting the name Trump with care is a complete absurdity since he has never cared about anyone but himself.
2
Whats bizarre about the Repub strategy...is it will hurt a large number of Teump voters... (paraphrased)
Whats most bizarre is the Repubs really dont have a strategy, at all. Unless slash and burn is what goes for real legislative policy these days. 8 years of whining and claiming they would do it better...and they have ungatz! Less then ungatz! Why? Becuase the Repubs havent had a credible domestic policy idea in decades...and when it comes the health, if they cant figure a means for a few Senators to get a new job on a Rx Inc. board, etc...they have no desire to do much of anything helpful.
Trump sold an impossible "product" idea, R&R. But he never believed he'd win. Sorta like a teenager making promises they cant keep (in return for a favor) and usually wont be agreed to...till they are, and the kid is doomed to fail.
And everyone complaining that the ACA shoulda been a singlepayer plan, especially those late to the game...really!? Did you support that in any shape or form? Did you write your congressperson, organize, etc, etc..? Or is it all now hindsight?
Whats most bizarre is the Repubs really dont have a strategy, at all. Unless slash and burn is what goes for real legislative policy these days. 8 years of whining and claiming they would do it better...and they have ungatz! Less then ungatz! Why? Becuase the Repubs havent had a credible domestic policy idea in decades...and when it comes the health, if they cant figure a means for a few Senators to get a new job on a Rx Inc. board, etc...they have no desire to do much of anything helpful.
Trump sold an impossible "product" idea, R&R. But he never believed he'd win. Sorta like a teenager making promises they cant keep (in return for a favor) and usually wont be agreed to...till they are, and the kid is doomed to fail.
And everyone complaining that the ACA shoulda been a singlepayer plan, especially those late to the game...really!? Did you support that in any shape or form? Did you write your congressperson, organize, etc, etc..? Or is it all now hindsight?
You think the ACA is failing now? Wait until the only policy you can afford from TrumpCare is a
Catastrophic policy that covers nothing and has such high deductibles and co pays and exclusions that it never covers anything. John Grisham's The rainmaker is coming to a hospital near you
You want healthcare? You may have to move to one of those coastal elite cities you hate so much that have State and sales taxes so that the citizenry can function
Catastrophic policy that covers nothing and has such high deductibles and co pays and exclusions that it never covers anything. John Grisham's The rainmaker is coming to a hospital near you
You want healthcare? You may have to move to one of those coastal elite cities you hate so much that have State and sales taxes so that the citizenry can function
1
“The Justice Department on Tuesday accused giant insurer UnitedHealth Group of overcharging the federal government by more than $1 billion through its Medicare Advantage plans.”
-- Kaiser Health News, May 19, 2017
http://khn.org/news/unitedhealth-doctored-medicare-records-overbilled-u-...
-- Kaiser Health News, May 19, 2017
http://khn.org/news/unitedhealth-doctored-medicare-records-overbilled-u-...
1
"Trumpcare Is Already Hurting Trump Country"
Good. Take the battle to the villages of Trumpistan...
Good. Take the battle to the villages of Trumpistan...
Insurance company executives had a choice when the ACA was being crafted and passed. They could have warned the public that Republican proposals would not, in fact, benefit those who were sick and in need of medical care. They could have made new Harry and Louise commercials explaining why a mandate was important, why Republican plans to allow competition across state lines was simply going to force insurers to go to the least regulated states, and why without regulations, insurers will always try to avoid insuring sick people.
It was obvious that Republicans didn't have real solutions and that the only thing they were interested in was extricating healthy and wealthy people from the burden of helping insurer sicker and poorer people.
If corporations are allowed to make campaign contributions, then don't they have a civic duty to speak up when politicians are lying?
Don't blame them for raising premiums. Blame them for refusing to warn people that this is what would happen.
It was obvious that Republicans didn't have real solutions and that the only thing they were interested in was extricating healthy and wealthy people from the burden of helping insurer sicker and poorer people.
If corporations are allowed to make campaign contributions, then don't they have a civic duty to speak up when politicians are lying?
Don't blame them for raising premiums. Blame them for refusing to warn people that this is what would happen.
17
@DebbieR: do I take then that you approve of the Big For Profit Health Insurance Industry that has been bled us dry for decades? The same industry that deep-sixed Hillary Clinton's 1993 health care bill? The same "Harry & Louise" commercials that ruined that effort?
YOU APPROVE of that stuff? so long as it suits YOUR needs?
Sorry but if you can think of a way to "sell" costly insurance mandates, for coverage that covers NOTHING and has high deductibles...you are an ad genius and in the wrong profession.
And this whole article is false and unfair. The insurance companies were raising rates LAST YEAR. They have been pulling out of markets BEFORE TRUMP WON. This has nothing to do with Republicans. It would be happening under a President Hillary.
YOU APPROVE of that stuff? so long as it suits YOUR needs?
Sorry but if you can think of a way to "sell" costly insurance mandates, for coverage that covers NOTHING and has high deductibles...you are an ad genius and in the wrong profession.
And this whole article is false and unfair. The insurance companies were raising rates LAST YEAR. They have been pulling out of markets BEFORE TRUMP WON. This has nothing to do with Republicans. It would be happening under a President Hillary.
Living in east Texas I personally know more than several people who, while benefiting from Obamacare, voted for Trump because they abhorred our previous President. When I asked them what they would do if Trump cancelled their health insurance they either approved of such a plan or ambivalently shrugged their shoulders. Therefore, I find it hard to muster much empathy for those in rural areas who voted for Trump and are going to lose their insurance for the reasons mentioned in the editorial. It is rather sad and more than a bit bizarre to see people literally vote against their better interests as well as the those of their children and grandchildren. Sociologists may be able to explain such a phenomenon but I surely cannot.
134
This has been going on as long as I can remember. I do believe it's a matter of believing a candidate is telling the truth, after this election things may slowly change. But this more wishful thinking.
Awhile back I read an article about the brains of right versus left leaning individuals. Right leaning individuals tend to like authority and rules. Yes they abhorred Obama and Clinton. But, I feel like one of the differences between the two voting blocks is how much "the gut" plays into decision making. Trump's supporters I believe were very visceral. They felt Trump in their 'gut." Clinton's proposals on her website meant nothing to them because Trump made them feel good. Clinton voters used logic: "Not my favorite person. Full of baggage. But she is proposing what I want. Easy choice."
That said - agree with you - I have no patience for the Trump voter worried about their ACA coverage. None. Get a job if you don't like it.
That said - agree with you - I have no patience for the Trump voter worried about their ACA coverage. None. Get a job if you don't like it.
1
Do you have any sympathy for the many people who didn't vote for Mr. Trump, but will lose their health insurance anyway?
Since day one of his presidency, Trump has done nothing but hurt his supporters! Mortgage insurance, student loans, for profit schools, etc. When is someone going to point this out to them? The media focuses on the major catastrophes in the Trump administration while, via executive orders, he is creating real financial and lifestyle hardships for his supporters as well as others.
24
And this rant relates to the content of the article how?
Do insurance companies ever reveal in detail their gains and losses? Isn't it possible that even if they lose in one area, their gains in another more than make up for the loss? I suspect that many corporate executives are not content with a 5 percent or 10 percent profit. They aren't satisfied unless their profits top 20 percent or more, so they're quick to slough off any sector that doesn't meet that goal.
3
Phase in Medicare for ALL over a 10 year period to allow our present healthcare, insurance, and employer systems adapt.
26
There is no excuse for the US to not have a sensible and stable HealthCare system now. It will only get worse dinking around with it endlessly. AHCA is
— How to make it even more complex, expensive and insecure than ever.
The US missed an opportunity to switch to the metric system in the sixties. Now it would cost billions and we screwed up bigly because we think short term.
— How to make it even more complex, expensive and insecure than ever.
The US missed an opportunity to switch to the metric system in the sixties. Now it would cost billions and we screwed up bigly because we think short term.
6
"Several big insurance companies" going to stop selling policies or significantly raise premiums because of the POTENTIAL of Trumpcare. NO THEY AREN'T.
They've reducing the sale of policies and raising premiums ever since Obamacare was implemented! This isn't anything new and it has nothing to do with Trumpcare, which hasn't even been written or implemented!
They've reducing the sale of policies and raising premiums ever since Obamacare was implemented! This isn't anything new and it has nothing to do with Trumpcare, which hasn't even been written or implemented!
6
If. as the Right claims, Obamacare is such a failure and the previous market-based healthcare economy was so great,
- Why don't the Republicans just repeal Obamacare?
- Why "replace" it with anything?
Cowards. And hypocrites.
- Why don't the Republicans just repeal Obamacare?
- Why "replace" it with anything?
Cowards. And hypocrites.
17
Because the Republican health care bill is really not about health but about tax cuts for the 1% and partisan ideology. From what I have read about the new bill, it is going to mess with even employer provided health care benefits for employees and their families, not just people on ACA (Obamacare). Not the employers who were forced to provide health care benefits by the ACA, but the big employers who have been doing it all along. This Republican bill is an attack on health care for the lower 99%. It is an attack on the quality of health care provided, an attack on what is covered, and basically should be viewed by everyone in the lower 99% as a health care cut bill and a 1% tax cut bill. It's a stinker.
GOP controlled congress GOP White House a majority of the governorships in GOP hands= GOP owns this!
Those are the facts!
All voters need to remember this every time we go to the polls in 2018, 2020 and beyond.
This is often made more complicated than it has to be. The Dems put a healthcare solution in place that has worked for millions of Americans.
The GOP, as the stewards of our democracy, are responsible for its well being- or its demise!
Those are the facts!
All voters need to remember this every time we go to the polls in 2018, 2020 and beyond.
This is often made more complicated than it has to be. The Dems put a healthcare solution in place that has worked for millions of Americans.
The GOP, as the stewards of our democracy, are responsible for its well being- or its demise!
9
Because the kind of people who voted for Trump are ideologues who cannot see beyond the end of their respectives noses, they will not remember this come the next election, no matter how much it hurts them financially and health wise.
They are willing to die and have the rest of us die too for their ideologies. What matters to them are the 2nd amendment (extended way beyond the original intent), white Christian fundamentalist laws, and the passage of tax cuts. In order to get the tax cuts they want, they are willing to sacrifice public schools, public libraries, municipal employees, street maintenance, police departments, public fire departments, parks, infrastructure repairs, and just about everything that government at all levels support. At the same time, they want to feed at the government trough.
I think they are irrational and short sightedly selfish. Whiny too. Even when they win, they whine.
They are willing to die and have the rest of us die too for their ideologies. What matters to them are the 2nd amendment (extended way beyond the original intent), white Christian fundamentalist laws, and the passage of tax cuts. In order to get the tax cuts they want, they are willing to sacrifice public schools, public libraries, municipal employees, street maintenance, police departments, public fire departments, parks, infrastructure repairs, and just about everything that government at all levels support. At the same time, they want to feed at the government trough.
I think they are irrational and short sightedly selfish. Whiny too. Even when they win, they whine.
1
NYTimes please, I read your paper every day, I don't think you're fake news, but don't blame Wellmark for leaving the Iowa market due to uncertainty over AHCA when the article you link to cites the reason as higher universal costs under the ACA. That's dishonest, and demonstrative of the kind of slant my more ignorant friends point to when they say the liberal media has an agenda. Take your time reporting, get it right. We need you now more than ever
3
So explain to me why you think costs were rising under the ACA? You don't think that maybe it had something to do with the fact that Republicans REFUSED to allow for any adjustments in the ACA? Talk about dishonest.
3
Jackson,
I agree that the article may have ignored one reason for Wellmark's withdrawal from Iowa, but you do also. The CEO said that the uncertainty in the future market was a major reason to withdraw at this time.
It is also important to note the main reason for withdrawing from the market is that so many who have signed up for their coverage have serious (and I would expect, expensive health issues). Many people people in and out of Congress ignore the basic tenet of insurance: by spreading the risk through a large group of customers, insurers make a profit, and the costs to each individual is mitigated. When you make a system where the healthy (and wealthy) are taken out of the system, there is no way to spread the risk, and mitigate costs. Every major country on this planet have recognized this with few exceptions, the U.S. being the largest and richest of the exceptions. A single payer system, where everyone contributes, including the wealthy and all members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Congress, contribute is the only fair system. Right now it is repugnant that Congress passes rules on the rest of us, when we are bank-rolling their Uber-Cadillac health plan
I agree that the article may have ignored one reason for Wellmark's withdrawal from Iowa, but you do also. The CEO said that the uncertainty in the future market was a major reason to withdraw at this time.
It is also important to note the main reason for withdrawing from the market is that so many who have signed up for their coverage have serious (and I would expect, expensive health issues). Many people people in and out of Congress ignore the basic tenet of insurance: by spreading the risk through a large group of customers, insurers make a profit, and the costs to each individual is mitigated. When you make a system where the healthy (and wealthy) are taken out of the system, there is no way to spread the risk, and mitigate costs. Every major country on this planet have recognized this with few exceptions, the U.S. being the largest and richest of the exceptions. A single payer system, where everyone contributes, including the wealthy and all members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Congress, contribute is the only fair system. Right now it is repugnant that Congress passes rules on the rest of us, when we are bank-rolling their Uber-Cadillac health plan
1
Despite the fact that Republicans are directly responsible for the whole mess, they will point to this as another example of the ACA collapsing. It's like slashing your neighbor's tire then blaming him for all the air rushing out.
7
Yes, Jamaica Estates is the site of the early home of Donald, his actions regarding the healthcare is nothing less than sabotage. The insurance companies are only responding to the attack on the program by Donald and his Republican Death Squad Gang. As they permit access to healthcare to slip away while the journalists don't go to deep to understand the process and use language that almost supports Donald's claims of the plan deterioration as he withholds the support contemplated and required.
2
Surprisingly, blue collar and poor republicans will be hurt the worst. But, they still vote against their own best interest. Trump did say, he lives the poorly educated.
A sucker is born every minute and Trump seems to have cornered the market.
A sucker is born every minute and Trump seems to have cornered the market.
12
Republicans believe "corporations are people" and thus make laws benefiting businesses, not workers (people). Linking health insurance coverage to employment is a perverse benefit to businesses. Where do the private sector corporations then go for care when they get sick? Lucky for them they can go to the Really Big Corporation Emergency Department (US Treasury) and have the public bailout them out of their sickness.
5
The American people have short memories. At some point, constituents in red states will start to believe the Trump narrative that Obama caused this and will support whatever non-alternative Trump/Ryan come up with.
I say split the nation into European-style nation states. There is no, nor will there ever be, unity in the former USA.
I say split the nation into European-style nation states. There is no, nor will there ever be, unity in the former USA.
8
interesting suggestion---particularly when the red states ACTUALLY realize that the blue states subsidize them...sending more money to Washington than they get back, while the red states get more than they give
1
The obvious solution is to expand Medicaid and allow people with significant income to buy into it at a fair price. (The buy-in can be via insurance polices that include enhancements. Apparently some states already allow some forms of Medicaid/Insurance cooperation.)
If the insurance industry can't (or won't) be available, Medicaid is a good option.
Problem solved!
If the insurance industry can't (or won't) be available, Medicaid is a good option.
Problem solved!
5
You know what they say about karma.
4
I know in Maryland, insurers BCBS and others were already asking for increases of between 30-50% before the Republicans had anything in the works. I think this insurance/health thing needs to be fixed. The question is who knows how to do it. I don't have faith in either party right now. Partisanship is only going to hinder progress but that is the reality we are in.
14
Read the NYT article on expanding Medicaid.. Maybe it's Medicaid for all?
The new GOP health care plan eliminates coverage for anesthesia --- replaces it with a bottle of bourbon and a "bite stick."
7
Hopefully the insurance companies will send letters to their customers explaining the reasons for withdrawing from the market or raising premiums.
2
Schadenfreude
2
"What’s bizarre about the Republican strategy is that it is likely to cause the most damage where many of Mr. Trump’s supporters live."
Its not bizarre. This is what Republicans do everytime they get the power to do so. Afllict the afflicted and comfort the comfortable.
Its not bizarre. This is what Republicans do everytime they get the power to do so. Afllict the afflicted and comfort the comfortable.
12
They voted for Trump and he did exactly what he promised to do. I have zero sympathy for people who voted for Trump and complaining about loosing healthcare.
15
Even if the Trump voting population in these vast affected area's lose their insurance, see cost increases, and recognize that the Republican party is responsible, I'm not convinced that they will vote against the Republican party, or 'HOLD' them responsible in any reasonable manner. Too many times these same constituents have shown the inclination to vote against their self interest, or that of others. I'll wait to see, but it harks back to the story of the frog and the scorpion. It's built into their DNA. They just don't seem to be able to help themselves overcome the innate biases they hold so firmly. Trump and Co. know this, and have provided them with all the cover the need - Obamacare is imploding, Trump is trying to save it, but it's really bad. It's a weak argument for most,but adequate for those who want to believe, and can't bare to face the fact they they may have been wrong and/or mislead.
7
This, exactly. As in the movie, some are neck-deep in "the matrix" and will fight to the death to defend it. They are lost to us, and no amount of logic or reasoning will penetrate. The bright spot is that there are actually more of "us" than of "them." But it is going to take every single one of us to band together and do what needs to be done for the health of ALL citizens, Trumpers included.
2
Who will benefit from the proposed cuts in Obamacare benefits to the elderly and the poor? The beneficiaries will be individuals such as my wife and I.
Over the past 3 years, our s-corp income averaged 151,906 per year.
Basically this is the return from investments in privately held companies. President Trump has proposed capping the tax rate at 15% for this income stream.
This would generate additional income of about 22,000 per year for us.
S-corp income is easy money. It is not earned income. I do not need to go to work, fight the traffic, or pay for parking, lunches or nice clothes. There are no performance reviews.
My wife and I are retired and on social security. We do not need additional income.
My hope is that the nation will address the problems with Obamacare in 2 ways.
• Enroll individuals with pre-exiting conditions in Medicare, regardless of age. Let’s take care of our own.
• This will allow for a reduction of insurance rates for the healthy population.
And how will we pay for this?
There are people like my wife and I who are willing to pay more in taxes. Instead of a tax cut of 22,000, how about if we paid an additional 22,000 in taxes each year?
Over the past 3 years, our s-corp income averaged 151,906 per year.
Basically this is the return from investments in privately held companies. President Trump has proposed capping the tax rate at 15% for this income stream.
This would generate additional income of about 22,000 per year for us.
S-corp income is easy money. It is not earned income. I do not need to go to work, fight the traffic, or pay for parking, lunches or nice clothes. There are no performance reviews.
My wife and I are retired and on social security. We do not need additional income.
My hope is that the nation will address the problems with Obamacare in 2 ways.
• Enroll individuals with pre-exiting conditions in Medicare, regardless of age. Let’s take care of our own.
• This will allow for a reduction of insurance rates for the healthy population.
And how will we pay for this?
There are people like my wife and I who are willing to pay more in taxes. Instead of a tax cut of 22,000, how about if we paid an additional 22,000 in taxes each year?
12
What's stopping you? You're free to contribute as much money as you like to the government.
I'd venture a guess that you and your wife do not vote Republican...too much thinking about others and civic responsibility. Kudos to you!
It's funny, all I wanted in my support of Obamacare was for people like them to have decent healthcare -- some options. And they despise me for it. They would rather die than support a liberal initiative.
24
Everything trump touches dies.
14
This is honestly quite ridiculous. Allowing insurers to choose whether to participate in the exhanges is like telling the United States Postal Service or the telephone company that they don't have to deliver mail or provide phone service in areas where it is not profitable to do so. It's a manufactured problem. Universal public option or Medicare for all!
14
Allowing private companies to make there own decisions. Ridiculous!
Hard to die falling out of a cellar window.
2
Many of those who voted for Trump are so down in the dumps they don't care.
Their lives have slid so far down the slippery slope that they've decided to take the entire nation with them.
Trump is the disaster they've been hoping for.
He could do no wrong because they already feel wronged in so many ways that things could not possibly get any worse. Yes, there are a whole lot of despondent citizens of this country. The ones who got left behind, those we don't think or care about or if we do, it is not in a kind light. You KNOW who these folks are. They are the ones we ignore and overlook in our daily lives and pretend they don't exist. Well the the truth is that they are poorly educated, lowly paid, no safety nets, have no savings/retirement, live hand to mouth. And they just don't care anymore for they and their families are just barely surviving. They don't think that things could get possibly any worse.
Their lives have slid so far down the slippery slope that they've decided to take the entire nation with them.
Trump is the disaster they've been hoping for.
He could do no wrong because they already feel wronged in so many ways that things could not possibly get any worse. Yes, there are a whole lot of despondent citizens of this country. The ones who got left behind, those we don't think or care about or if we do, it is not in a kind light. You KNOW who these folks are. They are the ones we ignore and overlook in our daily lives and pretend they don't exist. Well the the truth is that they are poorly educated, lowly paid, no safety nets, have no savings/retirement, live hand to mouth. And they just don't care anymore for they and their families are just barely surviving. They don't think that things could get possibly any worse.
30
Trump is the disaster they've been hoping for.
You are so right misery doesn't just want company it wants more.
You are so right misery doesn't just want company it wants more.
1
There were millions of folks in that same predicament before before they ever felt their current discomfort. These current unfortunates readily denied people the right to vote, live among them, decent employment or education. Sometimes the ugly things you do to 'others' in life come back to haunt you. This situation now is of their own making as they voted for those in their own likeness.
1
Millions will likely die and millions more will go bankrupt. Trump and the Republicans will try to blame it all on Obama and the Democrats. I don't think they'll succeed and then they will have to face the music.
5
Re: Republican strategy is that it is likely to cause the most damage where many of Mr. Trump’s supporters live.
Well - at least they can buy as many guns as they want! Yay guns!
Well - at least they can buy as many guns as they want! Yay guns!
10
AETNA has pulled out of all exchanges after being denied acquisition approval by the Obama Administration.
I would hope all AETNA employees are brushing up their resumes because one day, hopefully sooner rather than later, we Democrats will make Medicare for all happen to protect the citizens from the greed of the insurers.
In fact, Medicare expansion would have happened sooner had it not been for the disgraceful actions of a Hartford Connecticut Senator who voted against it to protect one of his many lords and masters. That senator, Joe Lieberman, Trump lawyer and one of the leading candidates for the FBI Director's job.
They are all compromised as they come... anyone near Trump's orbit.
I would hope all AETNA employees are brushing up their resumes because one day, hopefully sooner rather than later, we Democrats will make Medicare for all happen to protect the citizens from the greed of the insurers.
In fact, Medicare expansion would have happened sooner had it not been for the disgraceful actions of a Hartford Connecticut Senator who voted against it to protect one of his many lords and masters. That senator, Joe Lieberman, Trump lawyer and one of the leading candidates for the FBI Director's job.
They are all compromised as they come... anyone near Trump's orbit.
17
While Trump and his minions cost his core supporters more and more money they can't afford, it'll be interesting to see how long they continue to worship their idol.
I'm hoping they'll wake up when Trump policies have driven them to poverty, bankruptcy, homelessness and even death as they struggle with their health costs.
If not, then a new definition of stupidity would simply be 'Trump supporter'.
I'm hoping they'll wake up when Trump policies have driven them to poverty, bankruptcy, homelessness and even death as they struggle with their health costs.
If not, then a new definition of stupidity would simply be 'Trump supporter'.
8
So, which of the editors actually thinks that it is "bizarre" that Republicans are quite happily trying to shaft the voters who elected Trump? What is new or different about the strategy - which essentially consisted of repealing Obamacare? And letting insurers do what they want? And I fear that all that the Tump diehards will take away from the current stalemate is NOT that the GOP House failed to act to authorize funds or to set up replacement coverage, but that "Obamacare failed."
I hope that we do get to a place where there is strength enough on the Democratic side to push a single payer option.
Obama's ACA effort treated the insurance industry as a vital part of the economy, a large employer which it didn't want to disrupt. It might push and pull, and set some basic coverage requirements, but it wasn't going after the core business. Given that insurers have chosen ( logically, I agree) to exit any iffy regions where they can't make a profit, they and the GOP have accomplished a disruption. What we do not need is some strategy which lets them cherry pick the healthiest, with the really ill and fragile population priced out or dependent on government.
I hope that we do get to a place where there is strength enough on the Democratic side to push a single payer option.
Obama's ACA effort treated the insurance industry as a vital part of the economy, a large employer which it didn't want to disrupt. It might push and pull, and set some basic coverage requirements, but it wasn't going after the core business. Given that insurers have chosen ( logically, I agree) to exit any iffy regions where they can't make a profit, they and the GOP have accomplished a disruption. What we do not need is some strategy which lets them cherry pick the healthiest, with the really ill and fragile population priced out or dependent on government.
5
Question: Where is the CBO report on the 'American Health Care Act,' a/k/a 'Tax Relief for the Rich Act,' that was hastily passed in the House before it had been read, much less thoroughly vetted?
Our system of health insurance and health care delivery appears to be descending into the same chaos as everything else the Trump White House touches.
Are we sure this isn't exactly the kind of chaos Stephen Bannon has had in mind all along? Odd, is it not, that he has become the silent, invisible man behind the curtain during all these months of Trumpian turmoil.
Our system of health insurance and health care delivery appears to be descending into the same chaos as everything else the Trump White House touches.
Are we sure this isn't exactly the kind of chaos Stephen Bannon has had in mind all along? Odd, is it not, that he has become the silent, invisible man behind the curtain during all these months of Trumpian turmoil.
6
CBO scoring is in news today, as it is due next week, Ryan is getting ready for another vote in house on AHCA.
Trump has nothing but contempt for the "little people" who so readily fall victim to his cons.
7
Miss your healthcare? Long for the days of "no drama Obama?" Bring back the Democrats.
9
Donald J Trump is what they voted for in Trump Country and Trump is what we got as a result. Until he resigns or is removed in disgrace, because Donald J Trump is and always was totally unqualified to be President, the results of this election will be felt hardest by Trump's supporters. Unfortunately, lots of other innocent Americans will also be hurt by Trump's presidency.
6
Excellent editorial.....the democrats should be plastering these states with the stats in this editorial instead of putting gender or race or sexual identity politics on the front of their agenda.
4
Cry all you want, but Trump is not going anywhere. He's not going to be impeached or forced from office. The people who voted for him in the states most affect by his policies will just have to learn to live with or die with the consequences of their choice for President.
3
As someone who wil retire after working 30 years in the health insurance business, finally some one with a clue. Someone who knows how the republicans have slowly undermined ACA to make it fail. When Mitch McConnell said to not let anything Obama wanted to fail and make him a one term president but did not, they now jump on him post term. Lies, lies and more lies and the complete destruction of anything he did. ESPECIALLY ACA!! They cut funding that kept premiums, down. They are slowly undermining the payments and then do what so many people like them do. BLAME THE BLACK MAN! Because they know their base, don't they??
9
What is happening now is exactly what was predicted 8 years ago - long before Trump started trying to save the country's healthcare system that Obamacare is destroying.
My premiums, deductibles, and out of pocket expenses started skyrocketing long before Trump was even running for president. The NYT love of Obama and hatred of Trump is so great that they just can't bring themselves to be honest about it. Obama ruined our healthcare system. He and the democrats did that all by themselves - along with the help of lying liberal media like this.
My premiums, deductibles, and out of pocket expenses started skyrocketing long before Trump was even running for president. The NYT love of Obama and hatred of Trump is so great that they just can't bring themselves to be honest about it. Obama ruined our healthcare system. He and the democrats did that all by themselves - along with the help of lying liberal media like this.
8
Or maybe it's your preferred media that is and has been lying to you.
7
Or maybe you live in a state that did not expand Medicaid and that is the reason insurers raised rates to cover the costs of so many folks still clogging emergency rooms.
You know what? So long as his supporters think he's doing a great job, well, they'll get what they deserve. And if this angry racist misogynist white mostly male mob of his undereducated uninformed base continues to think he's great, well, Trump says it so it must be true and why should I care if they have no insurance and can't afford their insulin or oxygen tanks. Explain the rationale for my caring when this outspoken hateful underbelly surged to elect this administration with the help of the Russians and who knows what else. Seriously! They wanted this man. Explain to me why I should care.
5
Wow. So now Trump is being blamed for the abject failure of Obamacare? How precious. Next you'll tie him to the woeful state of the Knicks franchise...
3
By now it should be clear to everyone that the only reason Obamacare is in trouble because of sabotage by the Trump administration and Republicans. Unfortunately, the people most hurt are Trumpsters along with the sick, the elderly and the poor. No wonder Paul Ryan is being called the "Irish Undertaker."
3
Expose, expose, expose! Keep shining the brightest media spotlights on Trump and his benighted party's true agenda, the plunder of America's middle and working class to further fatten the already well-off. We see the results as Americans protest and call out Republicans who dare behave like elected leaders and face their constituents in person. Drive these people into the public square to demand accountability. Punish them in humiliating defeat in 2018. Then maybe we can finally get to putting America, rather than the Republican Party, first.
3
I wake up in the morning and the first thing I see is Trump in the news defending his RIGHTS. During the day I see many people working very hard for very little money. I see many people living in row homes in nice communities trying to deal with rodent and insect infestations, I see employers trying to make barter deals as payment for overtime instead of paying for services rendered. I also see many people having health care for the first time and this seems to be a universal stress reducer for families. I see young women getting IUD's hoping their birth control will outlast this administration, Mothers and Fathers attending to their surgical need while they still can. I also know that some of these people supported Trump and still do. In my state of Pennsylvania, we are the third largest carbon producing state in the USA and produce 1% of the world's carbon pollution.
To tie affordable health care for all to economy and labor is wrong.
To tie clean air to economy and labor is wrong.
To tie clean water to economy and labor is wrong.
It seems as if USSR 1986 is USA 2017.
Will Trump follow Russia's lead from Chernobyl and tell us to 'breath less so that we may live longer?'
Regardless a Trump supporter or Democrat these are human conditions which I want to see become Citizen's rights. The right to affordable health care, the right to clean air, the right to clean water, the right to have a healthy footing under our feet for generations to come.
Trump cares for no thing.
To tie affordable health care for all to economy and labor is wrong.
To tie clean air to economy and labor is wrong.
To tie clean water to economy and labor is wrong.
It seems as if USSR 1986 is USA 2017.
Will Trump follow Russia's lead from Chernobyl and tell us to 'breath less so that we may live longer?'
Regardless a Trump supporter or Democrat these are human conditions which I want to see become Citizen's rights. The right to affordable health care, the right to clean air, the right to clean water, the right to have a healthy footing under our feet for generations to come.
Trump cares for no thing.
60
Cherry picking at its best
1)The so called 24 millions of people left without "insurance" would occur over a decade, not jut in the next few months
2) little attention given to this article "Scheme Tied to UnitedHealth Overbilled Medicare for Years, Suit Says" NYT 2/16/2017
3) the main success of the ACA was expansion of medicaid. Expansion of medicaid benefits for some has led to elimination of medicaid services for many others, at least in NYS. I guess this is not worth reporting
Both Bush and Obama administrations have allowed insurers to fatten their pockets, and done little to go after blatant fraud. I guess the media is so busy trashing Trump that there is no space to inform the public about the corrupt medical industrial complex (it includes insurers, hospitals, doctors, pharma and the million "agencies" that have proliferated to cater to "consumers" needs)
1)The so called 24 millions of people left without "insurance" would occur over a decade, not jut in the next few months
2) little attention given to this article "Scheme Tied to UnitedHealth Overbilled Medicare for Years, Suit Says" NYT 2/16/2017
3) the main success of the ACA was expansion of medicaid. Expansion of medicaid benefits for some has led to elimination of medicaid services for many others, at least in NYS. I guess this is not worth reporting
Both Bush and Obama administrations have allowed insurers to fatten their pockets, and done little to go after blatant fraud. I guess the media is so busy trashing Trump that there is no space to inform the public about the corrupt medical industrial complex (it includes insurers, hospitals, doctors, pharma and the million "agencies" that have proliferated to cater to "consumers" needs)
4
Thank you, claudia, for pointing this out.
The NYT is johnny on the spot to attack Trump for "lying" -- but they engage in a lot of "fantasy truthiness" themselves.
Obamacare was in a death spiral BEFORE TRUMP and this was widely reported in the media while Obama was still in office.
The NYT is johnny on the spot to attack Trump for "lying" -- but they engage in a lot of "fantasy truthiness" themselves.
Obamacare was in a death spiral BEFORE TRUMP and this was widely reported in the media while Obama was still in office.
1
The GOP hopes to place the blame for the collapse of the ACA on the backs of Democrates -- and with the Republican base that will work. It remains to be seen whether or not it will work with any one else. The best hope for health care in this country is a continued push for a transition into single coverage.
3
King Trump believes that he is the state. So did George III of England, Louis XVI of France Hitler. George III went insane, Hitler shot himself in a bunker and countless others like him be hung, shot, dragged through the streets. This is the 21st century and pitchforks, tax and feathers does not work against machine guns, pepper spray, gas water cannon, shutting down the social media and closing newspapers and taking over TV and radio stations.
Yet the people are not powerless. There is the general strike, The selective strike. The refusal to pay taxes. All to make it clear that injuring million with impunity and malice means public rage and a true resistance movement which will sweep those who protect King Trump form power.
Yet the people are not powerless. There is the general strike, The selective strike. The refusal to pay taxes. All to make it clear that injuring million with impunity and malice means public rage and a true resistance movement which will sweep those who protect King Trump form power.
5
Obamacare never covered more than 20 million at its peak, and 13 million of those were on 100% FREE Medicaid welfare.
That's 20 million out of 330 million Americans.
So if you are waiting for a general strike over this.....well, you are naive beyond all hope.
That's 20 million out of 330 million Americans.
So if you are waiting for a general strike over this.....well, you are naive beyond all hope.
1
What happened to all of Trump's assertions that everyone in the country would have insurance with lower premiums and all pre-existing conditions covered.? More of the same specious rhetoric from the Liar-in-Chief - yes Donald healthcare is complicated, duuuh. More tot he point, I wonder how all those members of the Senate and Congress would feel if suddenly those incredibly generous and comprehensive health care benefits just disappeared and they had to foot the bill in states like Tennessee and Nebraska. Maybe then there would be some concerted and positive action to help people out. Obamacare wasn't perfect but the scenario so far is worse for too many who feel prey to the mantra that helped propel this idiot into office.
3
Is that snake biting itself in the butt, like Trump voters did?
4
I had routine blood work done this week, and the lab did not charge me anything nor even refer to a future payment. Meanwhile, in the next lab booth, an elderly man was on the phone with his insurance company, working through the speech-recognition menus in a loud voice ("MEMBER". "BILLING QUESTION".) trying to find out why his routine test involving prostate cancer was not covered. I don't believe he found out, at least not while I was there.
I am waiting for a serious discussion about health care to take place where people recognize and have some empathy around the unfair and unconscionable chaos that exists in the current system. Such a discussion is not even on the radar with the GOP plan and was not fully addressed even by the ACA. Health care, and insurance coverage, are matters of life and death. It is not at all the same as buying car insurance, or buying ANY product for that matter. People's need to not be sick and to not be bankrupt and to not have to worry about either one kick this whole topic into an area not addressed under standard capitalist dogma. The system is still crazy and we need to rethink the entire discussion.
I am waiting for a serious discussion about health care to take place where people recognize and have some empathy around the unfair and unconscionable chaos that exists in the current system. Such a discussion is not even on the radar with the GOP plan and was not fully addressed even by the ACA. Health care, and insurance coverage, are matters of life and death. It is not at all the same as buying car insurance, or buying ANY product for that matter. People's need to not be sick and to not be bankrupt and to not have to worry about either one kick this whole topic into an area not addressed under standard capitalist dogma. The system is still crazy and we need to rethink the entire discussion.
59
that's all very nice, but who is going to pay for it ?
you ?
you ?
2
G: You are right, someone has to pay. And that someone is all of us. Everyone gets sick at some point, some more severely than others, some early, some later in life. If we are all in the pool, this will be expensive, but manageable. After all, we are the richest country in the world, right?
The choice is pretty clear: either we decide that decent health care is something all Americans deserve, something that benefits us all by making our country strong and productive, or we decide we can't afford this, and people will have to suffer — and maybe die.
The choice is pretty clear: either we decide that decent health care is something all Americans deserve, something that benefits us all by making our country strong and productive, or we decide we can't afford this, and people will have to suffer — and maybe die.
2
I am sure like the poorly educated he will also love the poorly insured.
6
No sympathy for Trumpers who are affected. None. I'm done caring about them and hope they fully and truly find out what it's like to get exactly what they wanted because they blindly followed, with unquestioning loyalty, a loathsome individual who they actually think gives a damn about them.
7
The problem with this, though, is that Fox and Breitbart and InfoWars and Limbaugh and Hannity will tell the kool-aid drinkers that it's the fault of Obama and Liberals. And we'll go back to cheap insurance policies (yeah--save money!) that DO NOTHING. And folks still aren't covered.
Give it up. These people never learn and we on the left can't find a spokesperson who doesn't talk in 10-syllable words.
Give it up. These people never learn and we on the left can't find a spokesperson who doesn't talk in 10-syllable words.
2
The effected voters will die, and it will have little electoral impact. The GOP strategy here is quite cunning.
1
When Trump said, ”I will be the greatest president for jobs that God ever created. That I can tell you," he was simply mispronouncing the name of the original pious peon, Job (long "O").
There are those who believe in Belief,
And like Job they're in need of relief.
They could use single payer,
But instead say a Prayer,
Pinning Hope on their Deceiver-in-Chief.
There are those who believe in Belief,
And like Job they're in need of relief.
They could use single payer,
But instead say a Prayer,
Pinning Hope on their Deceiver-in-Chief.
7
It is very sad that none of his supporters will learn these facts.
Where is the CBO scoring on what pasted the House? I won't call it a healthcare bill as it had nothing to do with healthcare.
Why has not the CBO scored that bill? Trump will just say fake facts.
Where is the CBO scoring on what pasted the House? I won't call it a healthcare bill as it had nothing to do with healthcare.
Why has not the CBO scored that bill? Trump will just say fake facts.
2
So let me try to understand this; Trump is the reason Obamacare is failing?
Wow!
Wow!
3
Yikes - that would take way too long to educate you as why.
Did you read the article ???? Obama care is not failing - the insurance companies in 2016 had their best year under the ACA.
Did you read the article ???? Obama care is not failing - the insurance companies in 2016 had their best year under the ACA.
2
Hopefully fox news and limbaugh & co. can't blunt this truth. But growing up in Louisiana and seeing my white middle and working class never figured things out and vote to improve their own lives I'm not holding my breath on this. The Koch brothers and allies have done a good job of distracting a significant group of voters away from what really matters for themselves and their families.
2
When insurance companies stop selling insurance and leave that business to others, you can tell that the failure is because of government.
Leprous politicians and bureaucrats unable to keep their diseased fingers out of a free market and trying to get something for nothing have destroyed more wealth and more entrepreneurial spirit than anything else can.
Remember: Government only destroys, it never creates.
Leprous politicians and bureaucrats unable to keep their diseased fingers out of a free market and trying to get something for nothing have destroyed more wealth and more entrepreneurial spirit than anything else can.
Remember: Government only destroys, it never creates.
2
Clearly this is Obama's fault. Or at least that's how it will be sold.
2
Trump is an unmitigated "disaster," to use one of his favorite projective criticisms. (Wait--that was redundant. All his criticisms of other people are projections of his own myriad flaws.)
What we need is a single-payer healthcare system. The sooner the better.
What we need is a single-payer healthcare system. The sooner the better.
82
Thank You! And this comment from an M.D. speaks volumes.
1
You got that right, Doc. As an American emigrant to Canada, I couldn't agree with you more. I see the problems with single-payer, and they do exist. However, they pale in comparison to what my friends and family in the USA have to deal with. Medicare for All is the only hope.
1
The Affordable Care Act is much more popular than Obamacare, so STOP calling it Obamacare!
4
Trumpcare is also hurting progressive Democrats like me and my daughter-in-law. I spent much of last December getting my son who has a pre-existing condition on a Medicaid subsidized health plan that now will end with Trumpcare. My daughter-in-law has a severely autistic brother who will lose his health care insurance and his ability to stay in a residential care facility as well as a mother on Medicaid. This is a national disaster that knows no party affiliation. Meanwhile, the President is whining that he's the victim of a "witch hunt." Well, all I can say is stop the self'pity Mr. Trump as we're the real victims of you and your Congressional Republicans vampire economics that draining the life-blood of our ability to stay alive and healthy.
4
Perhaps the authors of this article didn't read the previous excellent NYT articles which identified costs as the major problem in US health care. Obamacare is the opposite of what the country needs, which is to rein in the exorbitant costs of medical tests and procedures. Obamacare perpetuates the problem of costs, as illustrated by rapidly escalating premiums, deductibles, and co-pays for working middle class Americans who don't qualify for taxpayer subsidies. A sustainable solution to health care financing in the US will eventually have to be based on addressing costs.
2
RC, high costs are a separate issue. This piece is about Republicans doing intentional damage to the existing system which mostly stable, then braying about how it's failing.
4
NYT: "It can be hard to feel sympathy for bureaucratic and faceless insurance companies. After all, they often deny people access to medical procedures and drugs."
The more important underlying issue is that for-profit insurance companies make and report huge net incomes -- in the billions -- to meet business models and to satisfy investors / shareholders. See any insurance company's annual report.
The capitalistic nature of for-profit insurance needs to be recognized and understood and stated as such as we debate healthcare. I am increasingly frustrated and perplexed that this is not more regularly stated in plain terms.
The more important underlying issue is that for-profit insurance companies make and report huge net incomes -- in the billions -- to meet business models and to satisfy investors / shareholders. See any insurance company's annual report.
The capitalistic nature of for-profit insurance needs to be recognized and understood and stated as such as we debate healthcare. I am increasingly frustrated and perplexed that this is not more regularly stated in plain terms.
3
When William McGuire, CEO of United Healthcare Group, retired in 2006, he had been awarded stock options worth $1.7 billion. This is unfettered, free market healthcare that Republicans want. Not good for Americans who want affordable healthcare.
6
Obamacare (including its Medicaid expansion) will eventually die in some parts of the country because the Trump administration and the Republican Congress are constantly provoking uncertainty in healthcare markets by intentionally undermining it. If they ever tried to do the same to Medicare, they’d be run out of town so fast their heads would spin.
If Trumpcare ever comes to pass, it will take the least care of those in Trump country. But those folks won’t realize it until it becomes a reality. So until then hard core Trump supporters vacuously support “repeal and replace” of Obamacare because they are persistently lied to regarding its features, benefits and costs.
If Trumpcare ever comes to pass, it will take the least care of those in Trump country. But those folks won’t realize it until it becomes a reality. So until then hard core Trump supporters vacuously support “repeal and replace” of Obamacare because they are persistently lied to regarding its features, benefits and costs.
2
The heartlessness of the GOP knows no bounds.
Representative Cathy McMorris Rogers (R-WA, US House Republican leadership) claimed in a recent Washington Post opion piece that she voted for AHCA, because she has a son with Down syndrome.
A couple days ago, the Post printed a rebuttal written by Allison Wohl, executive director of the Association of People Supporting Employment First, which advocates for employment and career opportunities for people with disabilities. Wohl has a son with Down syndrome, and is an activist who has worked with Rogers.
See “My son has Down syndrome. The GOP’s health-care bill scares me to death.”
http://wapo.st/2qsGIbc
Representative Cathy McMorris Rogers (R-WA, US House Republican leadership) claimed in a recent Washington Post opion piece that she voted for AHCA, because she has a son with Down syndrome.
A couple days ago, the Post printed a rebuttal written by Allison Wohl, executive director of the Association of People Supporting Employment First, which advocates for employment and career opportunities for people with disabilities. Wohl has a son with Down syndrome, and is an activist who has worked with Rogers.
See “My son has Down syndrome. The GOP’s health-care bill scares me to death.”
http://wapo.st/2qsGIbc
2
Politcal Darwinism.....extinction rate goes up for the species in Iowa, Nebraska and Tennessee. Either they get smarter or watch their families pass away.
Sooner or later they will realize that "Prayer" is the actual Republican healthcare plan, and it doesn't work.
Sooner or later they will realize that "Prayer" is the actual Republican healthcare plan, and it doesn't work.
6
We've tried the Democrat's healthcare law, and now we see how awful the GOP's plan will be.
How about trying the plan that works well in most developed countries, costs much less, and provides better outcomes? Single-payer or Medicare-for-all has proven itself over and over again.
How about trying the plan that works well in most developed countries, costs much less, and provides better outcomes? Single-payer or Medicare-for-all has proven itself over and over again.
5
The people in "Trump Country" who will suffer the most are the very people who saw their fate tied to Obamacare subsidies, who did not want to be forced to get insurance or pay a penalty, who hoped naively - perhaps - that Republicans could and would enact a better health care plan, at least for them (which is exactly what Trump promised) and were willing to role the dice, vote for change and chaos in hopes of better service for all. "A beautiful health care plan where all are covered and premiums are lower." Their problem at this point is that their "voice", their power at the polling place, is mute until 2018, or 2020. In the interim they have no recourse. It matters not to Trump that they will suffer. Trump feels he could shoot someone in Times Square and his supporters will still vote for him. Even if all the Trump voters were to abandon Trump today, what can they do when they see premiums rise, subsidies disappear, and Medicade dissipate over the next two years? Other than be vocal, nothing. They have been "Trumped".
1
If you like your pre existing condition, you can keep it.
51
A little gallows humor to reflect the times, eh? Now I know the democracy will survive!
Even if you don't.
This editorial points out three reasons why premiums are going up and insurers are pulling out of the exchanges, and all are blamed on Trump and the Republicans. But premiums were skyrocketing under the Obama administration , and insurance companies were bailing on Obamacare before November as well.
President Obama and Jonathan Gruber knew full well when they started on Obamacare that the economics didn't work. But they also believed (rightly) that once an entitlement is granted, it is virtually impossible to revert.
So they cynically bought into a program that everyone knew would eventually crash, figuring that soaking the rich would be the obvious solution down the road.
It is a shame that Obama didn't just say we need to raise taxes to pay for a new entitlement, and fight for what he thought was right in 2009. Instead, by being a very smart politician but a moral coward, he kicked the can down the road, until it was undone by the election of 2016, leaving just about everyone unhappy and confused.
President Obama and Jonathan Gruber knew full well when they started on Obamacare that the economics didn't work. But they also believed (rightly) that once an entitlement is granted, it is virtually impossible to revert.
So they cynically bought into a program that everyone knew would eventually crash, figuring that soaking the rich would be the obvious solution down the road.
It is a shame that Obama didn't just say we need to raise taxes to pay for a new entitlement, and fight for what he thought was right in 2009. Instead, by being a very smart politician but a moral coward, he kicked the can down the road, until it was undone by the election of 2016, leaving just about everyone unhappy and confused.
4
It's beyond shocking that Trump's supporters, including those are or will be hurt the most from Trumpcare and other policies like trade and social programs, are still fervently with him and refuse, in the face of evidence, to believe that Trump's policies will make their economic situation worsen. However, let's not blame Trump's supporters for they are the victims of the perfect storm of indifferent and neglected government policies, of globalization, of politicians working for special interests, of the mainstream media focusing on the sensational and failing to inform, of stagnant wages. The list is long but one thing is clear and that is there is a spreading cancer with the American democracy and its political institutions. Can this cancer be cured or excised? American political history does not offer much hope.
I realize that my own experience can only be described as extremely anecdotal but, at the same time, I can't be alone. When the Republicans swept the last election I took actions that I thought would be beneficial to my future. I took my money out of the stock market, took early social security benefits, investigated relocating to Costa Rica and investigated Obmacare so that I could retire early. I was happily surprised to find that the government subsidy would be enough to allow me to make my decision based on reason and math instead of fear and luck. Then Trumpcare changed everything. I now have to rely on Republicans to act in the public interest while caring for the most needy and the most likely to access healthcare. Needless to say, Trumpcare is already hurting this reluctant resident of Trump country.
34
"and investigated Obmacare so that I could retire early. I was happily surprised to find that the government subsidy would be enough to allow me to make my decision based on reason and math instead of fear and luck'
why do you think you should be getting a subsidy ?
You are clearly able to work ("retire early"), so why should someone else have to work and pay taxes so you could retire early ?
just another case of the "Obama special" at McDonalds....you order anything on the menu you want, and the guy behind you pays for it.....
why do you think you should be getting a subsidy ?
You are clearly able to work ("retire early"), so why should someone else have to work and pay taxes so you could retire early ?
just another case of the "Obama special" at McDonalds....you order anything on the menu you want, and the guy behind you pays for it.....
3
@g, I consider the government subsidy the only alternative I have to the public option that was blocked because the insurance lobby was far more powerful than any ordinary citizen. I could also go without insurance and save thousands a year but I'm trying to work within the system as laid out by our lawmakers. The fact that I am an old man doing a young man's job shouldn't bother you but it does bother most of my, still working, parts. Stay in school kids.
The Editorial Board thinks it's "bizarre" that a Republican strategy ends up hurting their own rank-and-file supporters? That's not a bug, it's a feature.
3
Get rid of health insurance companies and their premiums and create a single payer system. The only losers would be the shareholders of those companies and every one else wins.
6
Many on the left keep saying that republican office holders are damaging the interests of their own constituency but, while this is true, it is far from the whole story. In my conversations with right-wingers it has become clear that they don't care that much about the consequences, they care more about the ideology. Now that might strike some as bizarre; why would you cut off your own nose? It's a different way of looking at the world, for sure, yet it can certainly explain many things.
6
That ideology is working great in Kansas (and in Somalia).
1
Sort of an obvious observation - The people who voted for him, for whatever be the reason, deserve the pain and agony that comes with it. That is the only way the system can be corrected. The next time around, they will be more careful about voting for a demagogue and TV showman.
5
Oh, I certainly hope the Republicans do not keep in mind those polls suggesting Obamacare is popular.
Those voters in all those counties which voted for Trump ought to reap what they've sown.
This is what Democracy is all about.
Of course, as you so astutely note, very few of those voters will admit to themselves the blame for what befalls them lies with themselves, but, eventually, they may on some level recognize indulging in their delight at government bashing and electing a colicky baby President was not a good idea.
Those voters in all those counties which voted for Trump ought to reap what they've sown.
This is what Democracy is all about.
Of course, as you so astutely note, very few of those voters will admit to themselves the blame for what befalls them lies with themselves, but, eventually, they may on some level recognize indulging in their delight at government bashing and electing a colicky baby President was not a good idea.
2
Why should the rest of us worry about protecting Trump voters from themselves?
If the red states vote to be like Kansas, or even Somalia, then let them reap what they sow. Elections have consequences.
If the red states vote to be like Kansas, or even Somalia, then let them reap what they sow. Elections have consequences.
3
People should bear the consequences of their vote. They adored Trump now they have to live with that. And who knows, perhaps the theatrics and entertainment of Trump will trump their need to have a healthcare and they will vote for him again. But maybe if they loose healthcare that will teach them a valuable lesson to vote their interests, maybe. So no, I do not feel for Trump supporters. I do feel strongly though for the others that didn't vote for Trump but are now suffering the consequences and that's the majority of us.
3
Really? The ACA was a set up for this situation and we do all know it, we heard it and some care in denial.
I'm surprised to see an argument blaming the incumbent president for the actions of late for profit corporations.
Seriously, what did you expect? When rates went up last year and insurers left some markets who were you blaming then? Do your research properly.
I'm surprised to see an argument blaming the incumbent president for the actions of late for profit corporations.
Seriously, what did you expect? When rates went up last year and insurers left some markets who were you blaming then? Do your research properly.
There are several points, about how Donald Trump--in all of his racist vindictiveness, eradicating all of Obama's accomplishments--and Affordable Health Care in Number One of his Hit List:
1. The Risk-Pools, statistical projections of the possible incidence of the various covered illnesses, are not something that is easily tampered with. And hence, the companies cannot assure a certain amount of profitability.
2. The Trump Republicans can dabble with the renewal of premium subsidies, when they next come up for review.
3. As the universe of insurers willing to remain engaged, offering government-subsidized health care is reduced, the premiums will rise.
4. The Plans that the GOP has been trying to force through have all withdrawn sizable amounts of funds, which will raise premiums, force many people out, and those Risk Pools will skew toward older and sicker Americans.
5. One in five Seniors require Medicaid--which will be downsized considerably--to pay their Medicare premiums. That's who will truly be hurt most--Older Americans!
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
1. The Risk-Pools, statistical projections of the possible incidence of the various covered illnesses, are not something that is easily tampered with. And hence, the companies cannot assure a certain amount of profitability.
2. The Trump Republicans can dabble with the renewal of premium subsidies, when they next come up for review.
3. As the universe of insurers willing to remain engaged, offering government-subsidized health care is reduced, the premiums will rise.
4. The Plans that the GOP has been trying to force through have all withdrawn sizable amounts of funds, which will raise premiums, force many people out, and those Risk Pools will skew toward older and sicker Americans.
5. One in five Seniors require Medicaid--which will be downsized considerably--to pay their Medicare premiums. That's who will truly be hurt most--Older Americans!
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
The only things that matter is that Hillary is not the President and Mexico pays for the wall. Who cares about health insurance and tax cuts for the uber-rich?
5
Democrats must be ready with viable options. Both a revised ASA or a complete workable new single payer system.They need to start working on these details now. They can`t follow in the Pubs footsteps of all talk and no walk. When the country turns their backs on the failed Pubs plans, which are no plans, have these options ready and workable.
2
It is difficult to think every Republican is in someone's pocket and even if so what does he or she get from steering more money into already bulging briefcases?
Has it become a normal state of affairs that our former President and his wife are entertained aboard a yacht which costs more to maintain on a daily basis than many American families take home in a year? A grownup bathtub toy which cost over half a billion dollars to construct is the sort of excess that brings down empires.
There is real wealth in our nation and the fact that over 160,000 children and young adults under age 24 have no shelter each night is if nothing else embarrassing unless of course there is no shame among the truly wealthy.
This game is being played with increasingly higher stakes which invariably end up with human beings used as chips and I just don't get why anyone keeps sitting at the table.
Has it become a normal state of affairs that our former President and his wife are entertained aboard a yacht which costs more to maintain on a daily basis than many American families take home in a year? A grownup bathtub toy which cost over half a billion dollars to construct is the sort of excess that brings down empires.
There is real wealth in our nation and the fact that over 160,000 children and young adults under age 24 have no shelter each night is if nothing else embarrassing unless of course there is no shame among the truly wealthy.
This game is being played with increasingly higher stakes which invariably end up with human beings used as chips and I just don't get why anyone keeps sitting at the table.
2
It defies common sense ( even in trumpland)that universal health care is the foundation for covering care of the masses in countries such as : Canada , UK, Australia, israel, Spain, Sweden, and others- but not good enough for the US. The public needs to force people like Paul Ryan and Mich Mconnel to Explain, in detail, the basis for their objections to to universal healthcare. Why is it good enough for the rest of the civilized world to consider healthcare a BASIC NECESSITY but not for " the American people " -?!
1
What hurt the country was Obamacare with its high premiums and expensive cost to insurers. They were promised that they could keep their doctors which of course did not occur. Health insurance companies were dropping coverage long before Trumpcare was enacted. You cannot put the blame totally on the Republicans as there is enough blame to be placed on the Democrats. If there healthcare plan had been of a high quality, we would not be seeing its repeal and replace. People were dissatisfied with the plan and one of the reasons they were voted out of office. The Republican plan will be more beneficial to all Americans.
4
I wasn't dissatisfied for three years. Now I have medicare.
As I see it, the ACA is and always will be a success. Even if it is repealed.
The reason Republicans have been unable to act on health care is that they are now in the position of having to improve the ACA. Only a few, entitled libertarian-types still believe that health care is not a right, and their numbers are overwhelmed by people who want to, well, just be well and not go broke being well.
As health care costs rise (as they will) there will be more and more demands from the government to help. How many people eligible for Medicare are opposed to it? How many people approaching age 65 are opposed to it?
It is a mind-set thing. And the mind-set now is that citizens expect health care, and now see that there are laws (ACA or whatever) that can provide that for them. They aren't going to back away from this. It's their life that is at stake!
So if Republicans do something that affects their ability to stay alive, they will be punished for it.
Republicans have to improve the ACA. Even if they let it fail in a few states, and can blame the failure on the ACA, they have to do something to make it better. They can't just repeal it. People are going to demand insurance.
Peoples' expectations have forever been changed with the passage of the ACA.
The reason Republicans have been unable to act on health care is that they are now in the position of having to improve the ACA. Only a few, entitled libertarian-types still believe that health care is not a right, and their numbers are overwhelmed by people who want to, well, just be well and not go broke being well.
As health care costs rise (as they will) there will be more and more demands from the government to help. How many people eligible for Medicare are opposed to it? How many people approaching age 65 are opposed to it?
It is a mind-set thing. And the mind-set now is that citizens expect health care, and now see that there are laws (ACA or whatever) that can provide that for them. They aren't going to back away from this. It's their life that is at stake!
So if Republicans do something that affects their ability to stay alive, they will be punished for it.
Republicans have to improve the ACA. Even if they let it fail in a few states, and can blame the failure on the ACA, they have to do something to make it better. They can't just repeal it. People are going to demand insurance.
Peoples' expectations have forever been changed with the passage of the ACA.
1
I am sorry but I have a hard time conjuring up any sympathy for Trump supporters now paying the piper. You asked for it - and now you have it (surely, it cannot be said you didn't see it coming).
2
It's funny after all of these years, that there are still people living in fantasy land thinking that Democrats ( under President Obama ) had any chance whatsoever to ram through single payer ( or even a public option )
Obamacare was and still is a republican plan of private insurance. The difference between previous plans and this new version, was more people were supposed to join in ( mandates ) to help pay for more people and with more benefits. ( that could not be discriminated against or cut off )
republicans stopped all that via SCOTUS.
However, what is STILL in the plan is the option for any state to enact their own single payer plans. ( Vermont came the closest ) THIS is truly what republicans and the insurance industry are scared of and why they have fought tooth and nail ( with 60+ votes and counting for repeal ) .
Single Payer is coming ( it is just a matter of when ) . It will either reach critical mass ( through the states a la same sex marriage ) or via the Democratic platform for 2020.
Finally, America will join the rest of the western world as a modern republic.
Obamacare was and still is a republican plan of private insurance. The difference between previous plans and this new version, was more people were supposed to join in ( mandates ) to help pay for more people and with more benefits. ( that could not be discriminated against or cut off )
republicans stopped all that via SCOTUS.
However, what is STILL in the plan is the option for any state to enact their own single payer plans. ( Vermont came the closest ) THIS is truly what republicans and the insurance industry are scared of and why they have fought tooth and nail ( with 60+ votes and counting for repeal ) .
Single Payer is coming ( it is just a matter of when ) . It will either reach critical mass ( through the states a la same sex marriage ) or via the Democratic platform for 2020.
Finally, America will join the rest of the western world as a modern republic.
5
What we are witnessing used to be called "self-fulfilling prophesy."
Insurance companies exist for one reason: Profit. Whoever decided that making buckets of money off the miseries of living did not do us any favors. Now, the US government bails out the insurance industry and yet they demand more...or else.
A nation's well-being is a direct reflection of the well-being of its citizens. We have an armed forces, paid for by one and all to protect us all. We have law enforcement agencies ranging from one-cop to multi-thousand officer communities paid for by one and all to protect and serve one and all. They shield our well-being from the violences of the world as best they can. Why is health care, our well-being that is part and parcel of our nation's overall health, not financed in the same way our protective agencies are?
Insurance companies exist for one reason: Profit. Whoever decided that making buckets of money off the miseries of living did not do us any favors. Now, the US government bails out the insurance industry and yet they demand more...or else.
A nation's well-being is a direct reflection of the well-being of its citizens. We have an armed forces, paid for by one and all to protect us all. We have law enforcement agencies ranging from one-cop to multi-thousand officer communities paid for by one and all to protect and serve one and all. They shield our well-being from the violences of the world as best they can. Why is health care, our well-being that is part and parcel of our nation's overall health, not financed in the same way our protective agencies are?
3
The Washington Post reported it slightly different. "But insurers have discovered that their ACA health plans tend to attract too few of the young and healthy customers needed to offset the expense of covering older people with medical problems. Aetna and other insurers have repeatedly reported financial losses on that part of their business."
This opinion piece is a lie. Why would these companies react to a bill passed in the House when all the talk is that the Senate will not pass a bill like the House's.
This opinion piece is a lie. Why would these companies react to a bill passed in the House when all the talk is that the Senate will not pass a bill like the House's.
4
Your reference to polls showing 61% of republicans see the gop as the problem in health care is not borne out by my discussions with my rightward friends. When I point out that the problems with the ACA could and should have been handled by gop congress over these past six years they toe the line and simply blame Obama. Do not attempt to confuse them with facts
3
Health insurance companies were leaving Obamacare long before the Republicans decided to dismantle it. They found it was unsustainable and too costly to continue in the program. Obamacare was a failure for many people too who were promised that they could keep their doctors which was a lie. There needed to be a better plan than was implemented by the Democrats and the Republicans are working to implement one. They will succeed in making healthcare more affordable and of a higher quality.
2
This is the perfect opportunity for the Democratic Party to address the often cited criticism that they don't "get" struggling working people in rural America, Rust Belt, etc.
Trump has left his party wide open. Democrats should be expected to move in forcefully in 2018.
Trump has left his party wide open. Democrats should be expected to move in forcefully in 2018.
Sounds great. Except you forget these "struggling working people in rural America" have bought the Trump bait -- hook, line and sinker.
And for the most part they live in a 24/7 right-conservative news cycle, or get their info from unaccredited sources on the social media.
While I fervently hope the Democrats get their acts in gear, it's going to take more than mere promises to get these folks on board.
And for the most part they live in a 24/7 right-conservative news cycle, or get their info from unaccredited sources on the social media.
While I fervently hope the Democrats get their acts in gear, it's going to take more than mere promises to get these folks on board.
1
Trump shoots holes into the bottom of the ACA boat then says "See? I told you it was sinking." He and the GOP keep trying to get something for nothing in healthcare (Better healthcare for everybody at a lower cost is clearly an economic impossibility). So what the House arrived at was a program that could not even be called insurance. These people are proceeding with hearings or cost estimates when it is clear they have no idea of what insurance is or how it actually works. Expecting a positive outcome here is wishful thinking.
Medicare for All is a workable outcome that, for political reasons, they will not touch. But it is a rational solution to a complex problem. It is not socialized medicine. It is socialized insurance in the same way that the Fire Department and Police Department are socialized Public Safety. And private insurers would do just fine. Private insurers currently manage many Medicare lives through Medicare Advantage and Supplemental Plans. Analogous plans developed for Medicare for All would give private insurers some things that they really want: many new covered lives, market stability and (through risk sharing across a pool of 300 million people) protection against high cost outliers.
The solution is there. The political will is not.
Medicare for All is a workable outcome that, for political reasons, they will not touch. But it is a rational solution to a complex problem. It is not socialized medicine. It is socialized insurance in the same way that the Fire Department and Police Department are socialized Public Safety. And private insurers would do just fine. Private insurers currently manage many Medicare lives through Medicare Advantage and Supplemental Plans. Analogous plans developed for Medicare for All would give private insurers some things that they really want: many new covered lives, market stability and (through risk sharing across a pool of 300 million people) protection against high cost outliers.
The solution is there. The political will is not.
2
Is it possible that there really isn't an interest in having a healthy citizenry, that will live (and vote) a long time? Do the people in power really want as many people as possible to live as long as possible so they continue to collect social security and medicare into their old age. What's in it for the wealthy to have old age for as many as possible. It may all be about finding ways to deprive people of health starting in school lunches.
1
there will be spillover to employer sponsored insurance as well, this does not get nearly enough attention by the press and media. Premiums, co pays and deductibles have all increased dramatically for these plans too.
I am very eager to see how the single payer plan that New York is implementing works out. Perhaps it will provide a path for other states to follow.
As long as we continue to keep the Insurance industry as the main vehicle to provide Healthcare to our people we would not be able to reform the health care delivery. As our interest is in providing insurance and not healthcare; our focus is on money/insurance.
We do have three system of healthcare delivery that works for us and are providing Health care to millions – these are not insurance based but Medical care delivery based. Medicare serves 15% of the population and no one wants the politicians touch it. The program works, why redesign the wheel, just tweak it and make it work for 100% population.
I wonder why the politicians are beholden to the Insurance industry to ensure their survival at the cost of either diminishing the quality or volume of healthcare necessary for the population. Could that be just that the lobbyist get their voices heard and the general population do not have anyone representing their interest in the Congress?
Voters must hold their Representatives accountable and if they keep working for the big money Insurance industry instead of their interest replace them. Hold their feet to the fire. Every two years keep replacing them till you get the one who represent your interest; and that is the system we have. Presidents cannot make it happen – only you can. BE ACTIVE & VOTE!
We do have three system of healthcare delivery that works for us and are providing Health care to millions – these are not insurance based but Medical care delivery based. Medicare serves 15% of the population and no one wants the politicians touch it. The program works, why redesign the wheel, just tweak it and make it work for 100% population.
I wonder why the politicians are beholden to the Insurance industry to ensure their survival at the cost of either diminishing the quality or volume of healthcare necessary for the population. Could that be just that the lobbyist get their voices heard and the general population do not have anyone representing their interest in the Congress?
Voters must hold their Representatives accountable and if they keep working for the big money Insurance industry instead of their interest replace them. Hold their feet to the fire. Every two years keep replacing them till you get the one who represent your interest; and that is the system we have. Presidents cannot make it happen – only you can. BE ACTIVE & VOTE!
1
No option but to spend more on health care? What if there is no more money available to spend on increased premiums? What if family budgets are tapped as it is with premium prices that saw 30% price hikes last October? For those who do not get subsidies, many will have to join the ranks of the 29 million uninsured Americans who cannot afford the 2017 prices.
The Republicans didn't have a viable replacement plan and yet ON DAY ONE, Trump had to create chaos with his executive order.
I have a friend who has seen horrible changes in her employer provided benefits this year. Her employer changed insurance companies, required a 50% increase in the employee's share of the premiums, ended the health savings account program, and required higher co-pays for everything. They knew that enforcement of Obamacare rules regarding coverage and affordability were over. Just wait until November when other companies do this to their employees, and the rest of America wakes up and sees this train wreck caused by the GOP.
The Republicans didn't have a viable replacement plan and yet ON DAY ONE, Trump had to create chaos with his executive order.
I have a friend who has seen horrible changes in her employer provided benefits this year. Her employer changed insurance companies, required a 50% increase in the employee's share of the premiums, ended the health savings account program, and required higher co-pays for everything. They knew that enforcement of Obamacare rules regarding coverage and affordability were over. Just wait until November when other companies do this to their employees, and the rest of America wakes up and sees this train wreck caused by the GOP.
Whatever policy the AHCA becomes it will be phased in. Insurance companies aren't going to be stiffed, and they needn't leave in a panic. They've found a way to benefit each other by reducing competition in a quid pro quo arrangement that began before the AHCA was a gleam in Ryan's eye.
1
No believing Christian, Jew or Moslem could tolerate for-profit health care. It is anathema to every monotheistic moral system. More than 30 countries have "socialized" health care, and they all have longer life expectancies at a lower cost per capita than we do here in the United States of Cupidity.
9
Your analysis underestimates the power of propaganda. Between now and the next election, Fox and minions will be brainwashing the necessary voters. The economic problems that created the Trump voters were avoidable if the 2008 stimulus had been stronger and longer, but Republicans obstructed. Did that thought ever reach the Trump voter? Or did Fox spend years blaming one man from Kenya?
And so it will continue. Trumpcare will be great, Obamacare is a failure: vote for Trump and send a message to repeal it at last. God Bless America and true Americans like you, and send Trump a 100 dollars as a loan to get that wall started.
And so it will continue. Trumpcare will be great, Obamacare is a failure: vote for Trump and send a message to repeal it at last. God Bless America and true Americans like you, and send Trump a 100 dollars as a loan to get that wall started.
2
The fix for PPACA (Obamacare) is HR 676 The United States National Health Care Act, or the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act. Introduced by Representative John Conyers of Michigan, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont has announced he will introduce a companion bill into the United States Senate.
This Bill now has 110 Sponsors in the House, more than half the Democratic Caucus, and the number is rising. Some groups, like Brand New Congress- recruiting both Democrats and Republicans to run in 2018, have made the Bill a signature issue. Most Americans are coming to realize the importance of the reforms in the ACA and realize it is but an interim step toward joining the rest of the developed world in providing Healthcare for all of our people.
Here is the Bill and sponsors on the official Congressional website:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/676/cosponsors?q...
What the Republicans are offering is a Train wreck and 2018 needs to be a referendum among other things on healthcare for all. We can afford this, it is doable, the support is broad and getting more so every day.
We all know the price of people living without adequate coverage- the man involved in the Times Square incident yesterday is likely suffering both mental illness and addiction. How much do we pay in needless suffering, injury and death because we do not make sure everyone has access to the full range of healthcare?
It is time to act.
This Bill now has 110 Sponsors in the House, more than half the Democratic Caucus, and the number is rising. Some groups, like Brand New Congress- recruiting both Democrats and Republicans to run in 2018, have made the Bill a signature issue. Most Americans are coming to realize the importance of the reforms in the ACA and realize it is but an interim step toward joining the rest of the developed world in providing Healthcare for all of our people.
Here is the Bill and sponsors on the official Congressional website:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/676/cosponsors?q...
What the Republicans are offering is a Train wreck and 2018 needs to be a referendum among other things on healthcare for all. We can afford this, it is doable, the support is broad and getting more so every day.
We all know the price of people living without adequate coverage- the man involved in the Times Square incident yesterday is likely suffering both mental illness and addiction. How much do we pay in needless suffering, injury and death because we do not make sure everyone has access to the full range of healthcare?
It is time to act.
3
In those states that took the ACA seriously it was working. those inadvertently to kill it through neglect, they got what they wished, no matter what the cost in human and voter suffering. It is as simple as looking at the impact on states like New Mexico and Oklahoma. Bordering are States, New Mexico took the program seriously, encouraged competition and encouraged people to sign up. The plan there is strong. In Oklahoma, the Republicans did everything in their power to make a failed program. It did and their voters suffered. Elected officials could not care less as long as their ideology held strong. The voters who are now hurting, I feel bad for them. However, this is what they get, something of their own choosing. Will they vote with their pocketbooks and their health, or will they vote for a misguided set of ideologies? Their choice, their lives, literally!
3
As this editorial so clearly points out, the writing is on the wall. When so many people would be negatively affected, why do the Republicans insist they have a "cure?"
Who can wake them up?:Who can get them to focus on their true priority which is serving all Americas regardless of politics?
They have no conscience.
Who can wake them up?:Who can get them to focus on their true priority which is serving all Americas regardless of politics?
They have no conscience.
3
Paul Ryan repeats over and over again about Iowa and its scanty "Obamacare" coverage. Nothing gets said about the coverage of millions who have benefitted. Who is paying for Paul Ryan's lying TV ads dehumanizing the ACA? And why?
Paul Ryan went to a soup kitchen after the event was finished and put on an apron for a photo shoot when he was running on the ticket with Romney.
He's a self serving outlandish know-it-all who will do anyhting to mislead the public right out of healthcare benefits.
It's too bad there wasn't more positive press about "Obamacare" when Obama was in office. (Now, by the way, there was a politician that was treated unfairly, Coast Guard graduates. But not the worst in "all history" - we save that for Donald Trump, wink wink)
Paul Ryan went to a soup kitchen after the event was finished and put on an apron for a photo shoot when he was running on the ticket with Romney.
He's a self serving outlandish know-it-all who will do anyhting to mislead the public right out of healthcare benefits.
It's too bad there wasn't more positive press about "Obamacare" when Obama was in office. (Now, by the way, there was a politician that was treated unfairly, Coast Guard graduates. But not the worst in "all history" - we save that for Donald Trump, wink wink)
2
Health care has been an issue since FDR. It divides the country. Setting aside racial or ethnic biases, opponents of ACA may not see the necessity of being “my brother’s keeper.” Some view illness and accident as an individual problem. Some resent social programs—Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, etc.
Those who advocated for a single payer suffered attacks as socialists or worse. Who will pay for the cost of the programs?
President Eisenhower once said, “Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.”
Our country spends more on armaments than the next five countries combined. This nation that battled powerful enemies like Germany and Japan, and who faced down the superpower Soviet Union, are now reduced to spending trillions on diminutive opponents. It says a great deal about us that there is never enough money showered on war and penny pinch money on improving the lives of our citizens.
Those who advocated for a single payer suffered attacks as socialists or worse. Who will pay for the cost of the programs?
President Eisenhower once said, “Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.”
Our country spends more on armaments than the next five countries combined. This nation that battled powerful enemies like Germany and Japan, and who faced down the superpower Soviet Union, are now reduced to spending trillions on diminutive opponents. It says a great deal about us that there is never enough money showered on war and penny pinch money on improving the lives of our citizens.
3
What a spectacle at just how fast the so-called “successful businessman” in the oval office is proving unfit for the job, and how spineless and feckless a group of cowards McConnell, Ryan and the rest of the GOP are in coming to terms with this reality. It’s a shameful national embarrassment.
2
A way needs to be found to go to single payer, before the Congressional Republicans complete the destruction of health care.
2
The entire country has deluded itself.
Almost volunteering to be hoodwinked, this nation of ours has been sold the same bill of goods twice, maybe three times.
We live in a world vastly different from the world of the Great Depression....fond reverie for the good ole days of FDR and leviathan federal bureaucracy to protect us from all evil is simply getting us nowhere.
1930, or thereabouts, was the breakpoint.....the USA's "laissez faire" full throttle, exploitive, industrial mass production economy hit the wall.....and JM Keynes Central Planning Public-Private Model took over to save the day....and WW2 helped to set the new Military-Industrial-Congressional Complex on firm footing. The USA grew into the World's Greatest, Most Egalitarian, Prosperous Nation ever in history. The Global Competition become an argument not over the worthiness of the Keynsian model....but whether the USA's version was better than the Soviet Union's version....both Empires are/were based on Keynes.
...
so now, here we are in the 21st Century....no longer an Industrial Economy...but something ole JM never imagined....an Electronic Commerce Economy....based on instantaneous global communication.....
Yet the political argument remains mired in Central Planning(ie...the ObamaCare swansong)...and how to tax a dwindling economic engine(Income....ie paychecks).....We are beating a dead horse........just like the Soviet Union.
...
Another sad delusion...ObamaCare is NOT "care"...it's "insurance".
Almost volunteering to be hoodwinked, this nation of ours has been sold the same bill of goods twice, maybe three times.
We live in a world vastly different from the world of the Great Depression....fond reverie for the good ole days of FDR and leviathan federal bureaucracy to protect us from all evil is simply getting us nowhere.
1930, or thereabouts, was the breakpoint.....the USA's "laissez faire" full throttle, exploitive, industrial mass production economy hit the wall.....and JM Keynes Central Planning Public-Private Model took over to save the day....and WW2 helped to set the new Military-Industrial-Congressional Complex on firm footing. The USA grew into the World's Greatest, Most Egalitarian, Prosperous Nation ever in history. The Global Competition become an argument not over the worthiness of the Keynsian model....but whether the USA's version was better than the Soviet Union's version....both Empires are/were based on Keynes.
...
so now, here we are in the 21st Century....no longer an Industrial Economy...but something ole JM never imagined....an Electronic Commerce Economy....based on instantaneous global communication.....
Yet the political argument remains mired in Central Planning(ie...the ObamaCare swansong)...and how to tax a dwindling economic engine(Income....ie paychecks).....We are beating a dead horse........just like the Soviet Union.
...
Another sad delusion...ObamaCare is NOT "care"...it's "insurance".
1
"The mere threat that Obamacare will be dismantled or radically changed — either by Congress or by President Trump himself — has persuaded several big insurance companies to stop selling policies or significantly raise premiums." Can The Times prove it by reliable references? The CBO apparently does not agree with this assessment.
1
The Trump GOP have utter contempt for their lower income voters. These gullible fools literally vote against their own self interest time and time again. Trump and his GOP Congress don't care if many millions of Trump voters lose health insurance. All they are interested in are passing tax cuts for the rich donors, including the Trump family.
Still happy you voted to ruin your health, Trump voters?
Still happy you voted to ruin your health, Trump voters?
2
Voting against your own interests has now become a preexisting condition with Republican voters.
5
I frequently watch fox news to see what the so called "base" absorbs. In real time just saw Ted Nugent(!) for the second time, featured on the panel in the morning.
Quit trying to turn the Trump base around. It is hopeless. They live in an alternative reality, valuing what we denounce.
It is beyond sad! It is decidedly frightening.
Quit trying to turn the Trump base around. It is hopeless. They live in an alternative reality, valuing what we denounce.
It is beyond sad! It is decidedly frightening.
4
Indeed, republican hypocrisy is patent, by seeking scapegoats for their utter failure to render affordable quality healthcare to the very people supporting them. And doing close to nothing to hold Big Pharma, Health Insurance C.E.O.'s, medical device companies, even hospitals, responsible for the gouging...that keeps health care so unnecessarily expensive (I know, Greed would object to alter this status quo). Trump's healthcare is a disgrace, as it would disenfranchise and even bankrupt those that dare get sick...without the insurance afforded by Obamacare. Can anybody smell a whiff of hypocrisy mixed with racism here? That Trump is reneging his wild promises as a candidate ought not be a surprise, demagogues win elections that way; and 'our' liar-in-chief is an expert in selling illusions but dispensing injustice and despair.
2
Taking healthcare away from Trump voters is a smart idea. Isn't that what they voted for? Give the people what they want.
4
The thing is, most like the idea of ACA, but not Obamacare. They don't realize that the two are one and the same. It would be laughable if it weren't so pathetic.
Also pathetic is the GOP's cravenness to exploit this ignorance for its own selfish ends. Then you get Everyman Donald Trump, promising a terrific, fantastic, unbelievable plan that everyone will just LOVE without providing any specifics. And the crowd goes wild.
Shaking my head.
Also pathetic is the GOP's cravenness to exploit this ignorance for its own selfish ends. Then you get Everyman Donald Trump, promising a terrific, fantastic, unbelievable plan that everyone will just LOVE without providing any specifics. And the crowd goes wild.
Shaking my head.
As with any new, big program, there is nothing wrong with the ACA that couldn't be fixed by a congress with the country's best interests at heart, rather than blind partisanship. Heritage conceived, Gingrich endorsed, Romney tested. The only problem? Put forward by Barack Obama, giving expanded meaning to GOP bête noir. They used it to beat him over the head for 6 years, never believing they'd be called on to actually follow through, and now, all they are doing is casting about for ANY alternative, no matter how bad. They disgust me. I grew up in an Ike household, but I'd vote for the ayatollah before I ever vote for another Republican.
91
what you mean is that there is nothing wrong with this program that a few hundred billion dollars can't fix.
but where are you going to get the money ?
are you planning on providing it ?
*do not spend my money for me*
but where are you going to get the money ?
are you planning on providing it ?
*do not spend my money for me*
Ah. The feral response. Progressive taxation was agreed upon a century ago, but today the reactionary right has forgotten that taxes are the dues we pay to live in a civilized society. And they carefully ignore that compared to the rest of the "developed" world, we already pay far more for health care, and have lower quality, thanks in part to NOT having some form of an ACA. Perhaps you'll enjoy Somalia.
They elected this nightmare. Let them live through it if they can. I can not muster any empathy for these people.
3
What nonsense on stilts. Big insurance companies dropping out of the individual healthcare market is the natural, and intended, consequences of OBAMACARE.
This was always the intent, to get private companies out of the market, so there would be clamoring for the govt (single payer) to rescue Obamacare.
This was always the intent, to get private companies out of the market, so there would be clamoring for the govt (single payer) to rescue Obamacare.
3
There has always been a clamoring for single payer. Why shouldn't Americans have what citizens of sixty other nations have? Aren't we the greatest?
On the contrary, Obamacare is based on the Swiss model. It actually ensconces private insurance in the center of our health system.
Elections have consequences.
1
Yes, Etienne, but is it right that your vote counts more than mine? If we went by the popular vote, we could all celebrate elections having consequences!
1
I agree.
So what's is more appealing to rural voters negatively impacted by Trump's actions:
1. Blame a former black Democratic President for their problems
or
2. Blame Trump and the Republicans.
I am sticking with 1.
1. Blame a former black Democratic President for their problems
or
2. Blame Trump and the Republicans.
I am sticking with 1.
3
It may be "disingenuous nonsense" but Trump voters will believe it.
6
Wealth insurance...
3
To All Elected Democratic Congresswomen and men:
NOW is that time to go into all red states, hold local own hall meetings, and explain, in great detail, the nuances of healthcare.
No industry jargon. No polysyllabic words. Just plain, east-to-understand facts as to how and why the Republican plan will hurt families who are currently benefiting from the ACA.
Get out. Meet. Speak. Communicate. And do it persistently and relentlessly. This is the third rail of 2018...
NOW is that time to go into all red states, hold local own hall meetings, and explain, in great detail, the nuances of healthcare.
No industry jargon. No polysyllabic words. Just plain, east-to-understand facts as to how and why the Republican plan will hurt families who are currently benefiting from the ACA.
Get out. Meet. Speak. Communicate. And do it persistently and relentlessly. This is the third rail of 2018...
8
This is exactly what they want. Cause enough chaos in the healthcare system/Affordable Care Act that insurers walk away and they say, "see, we told you it wasn't working".
4
ALL Americans desire better!
3
People whose heads have been filled with nonsense will believe anyone they consider to be in support of those beliefs. Donald Trump and the republicans have been sold a bill of goods to the point that West Virginian coal miners believe that their jobs were tossed away by Obama when the mine owners themselves have replaced them with new technologies that require fewer and fewer miners and more and more mountain tops to take off. With all that said and done Trump, looking out for the miners welfare, deliberately cut mine safety and health regulations that benefits only the owners and leaves the miners unprotected. Now heap on all this pile of business gifts the republican house passes a health bill probably something like what neanderthals had when they first popped into human form. republicans are not the friends of anyone in this country who considers themselves workers. Trump wants to bring jobs back but to this day his products manufactured under the Trump logo are made in countries where Trump can generate the most profit. When workers in this country get down to Bangladeshi levels in pay and benefits maybe he'll bring them back. Until then the republicans will work at fever pitch to make sure American workers get on even footing with Bangladesh.
2
Obamacare was doomed from the get-go because it relied on raising most of its funds from rich taxpayers. This was just dumb -- of course they are going to organize an effort to pull the whole thing down to get their old tax rate back; of course they will be successful even if the effort takes years; of course they will not give a damn if a bunch of older, working class uninsurables are harmed.
It remains to be seen just how far the Senate will go to destroy Obamacare and how big the effect will be at the ballot box. But this is the lesson we should learn (and I am a Democrat who believes in single-payer for everyone over 45): Democrats should never, ever again build a massive social policy around "soak the rich." The concentration of resources in the hands of the top five percent are too large for such an approach to be successful. Deal with it.
It remains to be seen just how far the Senate will go to destroy Obamacare and how big the effect will be at the ballot box. But this is the lesson we should learn (and I am a Democrat who believes in single-payer for everyone over 45): Democrats should never, ever again build a massive social policy around "soak the rich." The concentration of resources in the hands of the top five percent are too large for such an approach to be successful. Deal with it.
5
Many of the people that I talk to in Wisconsin (Trump/Scott Walker country) just say "oh well" to this. They don't care if Trump takes ALL of their scoops of ice cream, as long as they can make "the elites" (people who shun Fox News & and read the NYT) feel miserable watching him gorge down his two scoops in front of your one scoop. Sort of Steve Banonish nihilism. Those damn Union Workers and lazy teachers with good health care benefits are obviously the cause of our nation's economic problems. Let everyone be as put upon and miserable as me.
3
You touch on an interesting psychological mystery, at least to me: I find it amazing the level of misery people are willing to inflict on their own children and parents in order to punish the neighbors who have more than they feel they deserve.
1
I must disagree: it is NOT bizarre that these policies and efforts by the Republican party and Mr. Trump are hurting the very people who support them. Neither Trump nor Republicans, generally, care about their voters. Trump has a long history of fraud and breach of contract and bullying in his business dealings. It is not far-fetched to realize he did the same during the election. The party itself has always been about tax cuts first and foremost, good policy and good governance be damned. They are screwing their supporters, quite deliberately, and they are hoping they can spin it enough so that Democrats take the blame. It's what they've done; it's what they do; it's what they will do.
5
My experience--as a community college instructor in a GOP-dominated western state...the old adage "cutting off your nose despite your face" comes to mind. For many....the thought of any "undeserving" person (usually a stereotyped minority or immigrant) getting *any* of their "hard earned tax dollars" is enough for them to reject any kind of social program that they themselves would benefit from. Its the politics of resentment...their own self-interest be damned.
113
There's racism and bigotry underlying the voters' hatred for social programs.
Is there any documented evidence of there being complaints against the Homestead Act? Against The New Deal programs?
It's when social programs started benefiting minorities that this concept of "welfare nation" started becoming a rallying cry for those on the right.
People who haven't seen the racism in the Republican agenda before Trump came into politics have either not been paying attention or have willfully deluded themselves.
Is there any documented evidence of there being complaints against the Homestead Act? Against The New Deal programs?
It's when social programs started benefiting minorities that this concept of "welfare nation" started becoming a rallying cry for those on the right.
People who haven't seen the racism in the Republican agenda before Trump came into politics have either not been paying attention or have willfully deluded themselves.
1
I think the expression is
"Cut off your nose to SPITE your face."
"Cut off your nose to SPITE your face."
1
TO SPITE your face
"Mr. Trump has threatened to stop making about $7 billion in payments to insurance companies to help lower the cost of co-pays, deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs for lower-income and middle-class families".
HUH? What am I missing here?
Let me get this straight... insurance companies get less $$, so they lower costs to consumers. Trump-o-nomics I guess.
HUH? What am I missing here?
Let me get this straight... insurance companies get less $$, so they lower costs to consumers. Trump-o-nomics I guess.
1
As usual these days, you got it all wrong agin. You can keep your doctor, and your plan. Obama care was a lie and a poorly written law from the start. The insurance company's are quitting because they are not in existence to lose money, but to make it.
3
Trump lied, healthcare died.
85
Duh, this is how the free market works! The healthcare insurance companies don't want to take risks, so they stop offering policies, or charge more. President Obama was widely criticized in how he dealt with the health insurance companies. Unfortunately, these companies are a piece of the puzzle.
What puzzles me most is why the supporters of this "so-called president" continue to support him They fail to see how his unpredictability (which is what they love him for) will cause the collapse of affordable healthcare (which is what they have, under President Obama's ACA).
What puzzles me most is why the supporters of this "so-called president" continue to support him They fail to see how his unpredictability (which is what they love him for) will cause the collapse of affordable healthcare (which is what they have, under President Obama's ACA).
12
Nice NYT Editorial. Except you're preaching to the choir.
It wouldn't be an assumption to say that most readers here saw this coming -- even during the elction campaign, when repealing "Obamacare" was all Trump could rant about.
The only problem is, the Republicans had no follow-up plan, even though they had 7 years to think of one.
And ultimately all they could come up with after all that time, is a plan that will devestate the poor, working-class, and whatever is left of the middle-class when it comes to affordable health coverage.
But the worst part about this is the only ones who will gain from "Trumpcare", is the upper1% wealthy and those Republican Senators who drafted this monstrosity.
Even now, Paul Ryan can't stop himself from grinning ear-to-ear and patting himself on the shoulder, even though MILLIONS of Americans will suffer.
You tell me.
Are we winning yet?
It wouldn't be an assumption to say that most readers here saw this coming -- even during the elction campaign, when repealing "Obamacare" was all Trump could rant about.
The only problem is, the Republicans had no follow-up plan, even though they had 7 years to think of one.
And ultimately all they could come up with after all that time, is a plan that will devestate the poor, working-class, and whatever is left of the middle-class when it comes to affordable health coverage.
But the worst part about this is the only ones who will gain from "Trumpcare", is the upper1% wealthy and those Republican Senators who drafted this monstrosity.
Even now, Paul Ryan can't stop himself from grinning ear-to-ear and patting himself on the shoulder, even though MILLIONS of Americans will suffer.
You tell me.
Are we winning yet?
19
How does a law that isn't completely written yet, do anything?
The issue of insurance companies leaving the market place was forecasted when the ACA was passed. Think of all the insurance companies that were leaving the ACA prior to Trump even getting the into the presidential race.
The states you mentioned, still have those same insurance companies, they just don't sell their product under the umbrella of the ACA.
The issue of insurance companies leaving the market place was forecasted when the ACA was passed. Think of all the insurance companies that were leaving the ACA prior to Trump even getting the into the presidential race.
The states you mentioned, still have those same insurance companies, they just don't sell their product under the umbrella of the ACA.
2
You may want to investigate the concepts of risk adjustment and risk corridors, and the GOP Congress' active sabotage of the ACA, before making silly criticisms.
Where is that great, cheap health insurance, Don the Con (American Traitor)?
13
The failings of the disastrous Obamacare debacle have been predicted since 2010, before anyone had an inkling of a Trump presidency. Is there any level to which Trump detractors won't sink to blame all the maladies of the modern world on his election? Sad!
8
Our disgust and hatred should be directed at not only the Republicans but the healthcare insurance industry that raises rates without a documented reason. There is no documented proof indicating just how their profits margins are dwindling as the Baby Boomers age with some form of healthcare insurance. I feel there is some fraud taking place in the insurance industry.
With so much money the lobbyist has spread around there has to be one person with a decent heart to ask the question, why?
This individual is Bernie Sanders.
With so much money the lobbyist has spread around there has to be one person with a decent heart to ask the question, why?
This individual is Bernie Sanders.
6
All of the people with decent hearts have no power. Currently, the top 4 health insurance companies stocks in our country are trading:
1. Cigna $161
2. Aetna $141
3. Anthem $177
4. United $171
If this doesn't tell us everything we need to know about the healthcare industry in our country, nothing will. The uncertainty that they fear is not being able to turn as large a profit as they have been. For profit healthcare is a blatant con. How can one "shop around" in a system that has no set prices, and no set measure of quality vs value? These companies don't care about providing healthcare to consumers, only dividends to shareholders. I hope there is a special place in hell for people who take advantage of weakness and vulnerability, because here on Earth we sacrifice the weak to reward the greedy.
1. Cigna $161
2. Aetna $141
3. Anthem $177
4. United $171
If this doesn't tell us everything we need to know about the healthcare industry in our country, nothing will. The uncertainty that they fear is not being able to turn as large a profit as they have been. For profit healthcare is a blatant con. How can one "shop around" in a system that has no set prices, and no set measure of quality vs value? These companies don't care about providing healthcare to consumers, only dividends to shareholders. I hope there is a special place in hell for people who take advantage of weakness and vulnerability, because here on Earth we sacrifice the weak to reward the greedy.
3
The current price does not tell the whole story.
2
Congratulations conservatives on harming your own.
6
So-called president trump's reassuring words still ring in my ears ... "Obamacare is an utter disaster folks. I will repeal it entirely and replace it with something much much better, believe me ... and very quickly". Ringing ringing ringing ... like an unanswered telephone.
6
I see no good outcome here. So long as Republicans control the Congress and Executive branch the ACA will be in jeopardy. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act all came to fruition under a Democratic Congress and Executive branch. And being a rather pragmatic individual, I see us having to wait until the Democrats are back in control.
Doesn't mean we shouldn't fight for our fellow citizens but........
As an aside, I'm sitting on my porch and my wife is watching Trumps speech to the Coast Guard Academy graduates on her phone. I can only say, God help us!
Doesn't mean we shouldn't fight for our fellow citizens but........
As an aside, I'm sitting on my porch and my wife is watching Trumps speech to the Coast Guard Academy graduates on her phone. I can only say, God help us!
9
"What’s bizarre about the Republican strategy is that it is likely to cause the most damage where many of Mr. Trump’s supporters live." I think Faux-Prez Frump gambles on their sticking with him anyway and blaming it all on Obama. It's a gamble I pray that he loses.
4
Wake up, Trump voters. He's just not that into you!
8
Eventually some Democrat will have the courage to denounce the "free-market" myth. We all experienced "free market' healthcare before Obamacare was even a thought. Snowballing rates, loss of the insurance benefit, denial of benefits. Crazy stuff. Now, Republicans have succeeded in creating a narrative in which their responsibility for stifling the ACA, denying Medicaid expansion, and sub-rosa enticements of insurers to leave markets are all laid at the feet of Obama, the Black President. Democrats are guilty of failing to support the ACA, maybe to keep some racists voting Democrat?
Americans need to be reminded that the "free market" crashed the financial-mortgage markets a few years ago, that government exists to protect the majority from the uber-rich corporatists, that privatizing healthcare will take billions of dollars out of the provision of healthcare to enrich a few rich men. Americans must look to all "services" that have been privatized and demand that they provide evidence that the services are performed better for less money as they pretend. Americans must be disabused that profits are the right of corporations, and that corporations have the right to exist and to "speak" in the public arena. Corporations are formed to provide specific services at the will of the people, and can be dissolved at the will of the people. In most democracies, corporations are not permitted to close shop and leave without punitive penalties.
Americans need to be reminded that the "free market" crashed the financial-mortgage markets a few years ago, that government exists to protect the majority from the uber-rich corporatists, that privatizing healthcare will take billions of dollars out of the provision of healthcare to enrich a few rich men. Americans must look to all "services" that have been privatized and demand that they provide evidence that the services are performed better for less money as they pretend. Americans must be disabused that profits are the right of corporations, and that corporations have the right to exist and to "speak" in the public arena. Corporations are formed to provide specific services at the will of the people, and can be dissolved at the will of the people. In most democracies, corporations are not permitted to close shop and leave without punitive penalties.
68
If Obamacare collapses, one man's name comes to mind--Joe Lieberman. Caucusing with the democrats, but hailing from the capital of the insurance lobby, he virtually denied the public option by threatening to filibuster the bill unless the public option was removed.
Sure would have been handy in states where Insurance companies are dropping out of the exchanges or giving stunned consumers massive premium
increases.
Add to the fact he ran as the Joe Party after losing the democratic primary, and openly companied for John McCain due to the horrible snub of having Al Gore endorsement of Obama.
He has zero integrity to be FBI director and I hope the good Senators of California remember than if he gets the appointment.
Sure would have been handy in states where Insurance companies are dropping out of the exchanges or giving stunned consumers massive premium
increases.
Add to the fact he ran as the Joe Party after losing the democratic primary, and openly companied for John McCain due to the horrible snub of having Al Gore endorsement of Obama.
He has zero integrity to be FBI director and I hope the good Senators of California remember than if he gets the appointment.
9
It's pretty clear now why trump proclaimed his love for the poorly educated.
9
This carefully crafted piece of journalism will be dismissed by the people getting hurt as 'fake news.' The article is indeed a tad unfair to Trump supporters; they are stronger than that.
Trump voters are ready for the hurt. The corrosive acid of hate - imbibed from daily doses of hate radio, Fox, and hate church have destroyed their cognitive abilities. All they want to know is, "Did Trump stick it to (fill in the blank)."
And as long as Trump has Sessions, Bannon, Price, Miller, Anton around him, the answer is always YES! The Trump voter draws sustenance from knowing that the lives of blacks, browns, Muslims, non-Christians are getting worse, that we live in constant wariness if not in morbid fear (as yet). People with Ph.D.s tell me that they voted for Trump just to prevent Hillary from appointing supreme court justices. That is it. They will willingly endure everything else.
I don't underestimate Trump voters; they will shoot their remaining foot just to show the rest of us up. They want to ensure that the super rich get to keep their money shielded from taxes. Because, any day now, they will strike it rich. And they don't want their money to go to "those" people's food stamps.
Trump happened because the American center is soft and happy, the left is smug and entitled, and all of us are self-absorbed entertainment junkies. Trump happened because too much of the US turned into too much of Ukraine.
Kalidan
Trump voters are ready for the hurt. The corrosive acid of hate - imbibed from daily doses of hate radio, Fox, and hate church have destroyed their cognitive abilities. All they want to know is, "Did Trump stick it to (fill in the blank)."
And as long as Trump has Sessions, Bannon, Price, Miller, Anton around him, the answer is always YES! The Trump voter draws sustenance from knowing that the lives of blacks, browns, Muslims, non-Christians are getting worse, that we live in constant wariness if not in morbid fear (as yet). People with Ph.D.s tell me that they voted for Trump just to prevent Hillary from appointing supreme court justices. That is it. They will willingly endure everything else.
I don't underestimate Trump voters; they will shoot their remaining foot just to show the rest of us up. They want to ensure that the super rich get to keep their money shielded from taxes. Because, any day now, they will strike it rich. And they don't want their money to go to "those" people's food stamps.
Trump happened because the American center is soft and happy, the left is smug and entitled, and all of us are self-absorbed entertainment junkies. Trump happened because too much of the US turned into too much of Ukraine.
Kalidan
11
Obama let the insurance companies run his Obamacare initiative. What you see now is the result of HIS poor policy. This further division through a Russian collusion theory (for HRC losing the election and a need to blame someone) has stalled any compromise with the healthcare. The leftists do not care what they do to the people of this country and they are smart. They know what is going on.
3
"Support the mission of the New York Times" is the new advertising slogan.
The "mission" seems to be "Trump resistance" at all cost,with the ends justifying the means.Paralysis of the federal government is not a worthy goal.
Allegations based on unnamed sources, without any quotations from anyone is not "honest journalism".
For example, two unnamed associates of Comey say that Comey said that Trump said something but apparently no one will commit to a quotation from anyone.
This is modern day McCarthyism.
The "mission" seems to be "Trump resistance" at all cost,with the ends justifying the means.Paralysis of the federal government is not a worthy goal.
Allegations based on unnamed sources, without any quotations from anyone is not "honest journalism".
For example, two unnamed associates of Comey say that Comey said that Trump said something but apparently no one will commit to a quotation from anyone.
This is modern day McCarthyism.
7
The Republican Congress paralyzed the federal government from 2010 to 2016. The current president started and perpetuated the birther conspiracy against President Obama without a single fact to support his position. The current president continues to accuse President Obama of committing crimes against him. Just saying.
One last time: Trump voters DON'T CARE. They'll gladly suffer if it keeps benefits from Those People.
11
And still the Congress gets its gold plated health insurance. No effort is made to extend this coverage or the choices to the average American. Are we not worthy of decent affordable health care? We pay their salaries, perks, and elect them to serve us, not themselves, yet they, like the animals in "Animal Farm" treat themselves as more equal than the ordinary American. What's wrong with this picture?
As human beings Americans should have access to the health care they need when and where they need it. All of us, not some of us. As human beings we should not have to worry that an accident, a serious illness, or just getting old and dying will leave us or our families impoverished because of the care we'll need. Doctors, hospitals, and other providers should not be allowed to opt out of accepting insurance payments or, if we go to universal access single payor, those payments. The problem with the ACA is that it's a great deal for the health care industry but not for most Americans who cannot afford the premiums, co-pays, deductibles, and other associated costs.
Trumpcare doesn't exist yet. In truth, America does not have a health CARE system. We have a wealth care system: we get the best care our wealth, or lack of wealth, can buy. And the system has so many gotchas in it that no matter how hard we try, we're stung by at least one or more of them when we need to use it.
As human beings Americans should have access to the health care they need when and where they need it. All of us, not some of us. As human beings we should not have to worry that an accident, a serious illness, or just getting old and dying will leave us or our families impoverished because of the care we'll need. Doctors, hospitals, and other providers should not be allowed to opt out of accepting insurance payments or, if we go to universal access single payor, those payments. The problem with the ACA is that it's a great deal for the health care industry but not for most Americans who cannot afford the premiums, co-pays, deductibles, and other associated costs.
Trumpcare doesn't exist yet. In truth, America does not have a health CARE system. We have a wealth care system: we get the best care our wealth, or lack of wealth, can buy. And the system has so many gotchas in it that no matter how hard we try, we're stung by at least one or more of them when we need to use it.
3
There is no sympathy for the fools who believed for a second that the promises of " a really terrific plan" would ever materialize especially in the hands of the Republican majority.
The Republican Party has never been a benefactor to the underprivileged so why would they suddenly change their positions. Tax cuts for the wealthy and reduced budgets for services was what the Liar-in-Chief relies on to protect his own rather plump posterior among Republicans
The Republican Party has never been a benefactor to the underprivileged so why would they suddenly change their positions. Tax cuts for the wealthy and reduced budgets for services was what the Liar-in-Chief relies on to protect his own rather plump posterior among Republicans
128
Liar-in-Chief - "If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor. If you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan." and "I can make a firm pledge. Under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes."
That Liar-in-Chief?
That Liar-in-Chief?
Some thoughts. [1] Everyone who voted for Trump is getting the shaft now that they and their votes are not needed. [2] Everyone who blames Obamacare for their jacked up premiums and threats of reduced care should remember that Obamacare is the only thing that the Republican "We ain't going to do nothin' for nobody not rich" Congress did to stop healthcare. [3] There's too many get rich doctors. Give them a choice: treat everyone or lose their licenses to practice. [4] Single payer is the way to go for all Americans.
7
Kansas here. We have been living the Trump plan, for years. This state is beyond bankrupt. If not for all the upstanding folks living on the Federal government teat ( " farm" subsidies, shady tax deals, etc.) , this would indeed be third world living. You really can't fix stupid AND stubborn. Yes, I feel extreme empathy for the children ( severely underfunded schools, etc.) and those too poor to move out. BUT, I am finally out of compassion for those that continue to reflexively vote GOP, then act surprised when their situation, and lives, worsen. Eventually, you get exactly what you vote for.
They will blame the " libruls" and Obama for their plight. Seriously.
They will blame the " libruls" and Obama for their plight. Seriously.
33
By handing all three branches to the GOP/Wizard of Oz Party, we will not receive a heart, courage or a way back to Aunty Em. This version is a horror show, where the Wiz stays behind the curtain, inept and cruel, while we carry our needs on down the road. I don't worry about Trump voters anymore, because we are going to be united as Americans, in pain, very soon. Whether it's loss of healthcare, school funding, stock market decline, climate change or a crazy military endeavor...unavoidable hard times await all of us beyond the "honeymoon" of this anti-administration. And get home to Kansas? Why it's already fallen to the supply siders and their flying monkeys. Impeachment is not red sparkly shoes. Somebody tweet Glenda so I don't lose my mind.
16
I used to work for one of the "Big Six" insurance companies in Southern California (in the 90's) and what I observed was a gross error made by executives which led to the dismantling/sale of the company - most of the employees laid off, but the executives ushered to safety in other divisions of the company. When are we going to understand how this works in America? Those with power (meaning $$) use the system to their exclusive advantage -- membership into the club. If you aren't a member you pay a higher tax rate, receive worse services, can't afford to fight for your rights in a court of law, become employed in a "right - to work" state (which means you have no rights), no longer have a union representing you, etc. The constitution was shredded some time ago - up is down, there is no right or wrong - just winners and losers. If you follow the "rules" you were taught growing up, that automatically makes you a loser. Our "representatives" in Washington don't work for our interests - they are there to serve the wealthy. All the rest, and all of this daily discussion about the White House, the GOP and the Democrats, is just window dressing. As entertaining as it is, I don't forget for a minute what is really taking place. Where I work now -- recently I watched the boss discount a luxury appliance package (fridge alone is $12K) down to cost + 5%, because the customer is a member of the club and expects this arrangement. You bet it's rigged!
120
Trumpcare = AHCA = Anti-American Health Care Act
5
The most disgraceful component of all this is The Donald's personal involvement with it. Far from affording Americans with great health coverage for everybody at low, low costs (as per his campaign promises), he signed off on both versions of the Republican plan- one worse than the other- neither of which delivers anything remotely resembling the goodies he had cynically advocated. It's clear that for this particular chief executive a legislative victory (for which he'd inevitably claim credit) is anything that erases the legacy of his popularly-elected Kenyan predecessor. And the fools who bought his promises continue to support him, unaware or unconcerned that those promises turn out to have meant absolutely nothing.
4
I don't feel sorry for anyone who voted for Trump. I feel sorry for the people who didn't vote for him and are adversely affected by his idiocy.
18
Managed Care is income redistribution. The rich help pay for the poor. Republicans owe their souls to big business and the upper 5% of income earners. Income redistribution cannot be allowed to stand. And here is the genius of the Republicans actions, they have convinced middle America that they are trying to help them and that the ACA is the problem. Trump's base will believe trump and not the information provided here. We have seen this kind of slavish devotion before, when Joseph Goebbels put his kids to death at the end of WWII because he did not want them living in a world without Hitler.
7
When will the CBO rate the latest nonsense from the House's Trumpcare proposal?
That's what shut down the previous attempt to destroy Obamacare.
That's what shut down the previous attempt to destroy Obamacare.
3
It is unlikely Trump's supporters would do anything other than blame Obama or the Swamp. These low educated individuals only receive their "news" from Fox entertainment. Recently, either the NYTimes of the Washington Post reported that, these stations have not even addressed many issues either from trump or the WH. That makes it unlikely they know what caused the loss of Healthcare.
Trump as a unique behavior, that either blames Obama or Clinton for everything, he is always beyond reproach. His response is similar to a 5 year old, that answers "not me" to the broken lamp.
Trump as a unique behavior, that either blames Obama or Clinton for everything, he is always beyond reproach. His response is similar to a 5 year old, that answers "not me" to the broken lamp.
1
In other words the Republicans have found good way to kill off their base.
Nothing surprising about that.
Nothing surprising about that.
2
Trump Country needs to get shaken up. If watching Republican health care policies result in peoples' families and friends being allowed (encouraged?) to sicken and die and not receive the medical care they need, well perhaps then and only then will these people understand what THEY have voted for. Take off those stupid red hats and open your eyes.
2
Everyone knows that the ACA would need tweaking. Democrats need to stand for the American people and be specific and proscriptive on how they will improve the ACA. Or they need to go all in on medicare for all.
Trump won the presidency because he said he had a plan and the people wanted someone to do something. If democrats want to win they need to stand for something...they need to go all in and they need a plan and they need to shout their plan from every rooftop and every microphone.
Trump won the presidency because he said he had a plan and the people wanted someone to do something. If democrats want to win they need to stand for something...they need to go all in and they need a plan and they need to shout their plan from every rooftop and every microphone.
4
As for those polls, the propaganda machines have not weighed in yet. Before declaring the advent of Trumpcare a political victory for Democrats, better wait until Trumpcare is a reality and an election is taking place. Polls tend to be influenced more by spin than the misery of a segment of the population.
1
The slanted NY Times really should be ashamed of themselves, again. Trumpcare is NOT law. It has not been passed and likely won't be by the Senate in its current form. You guys know that. Why the slanted headlines?
Both Obamacare and Trumpcare are bad deals for many people. Obamacare just robs Peter (the middle class and upper middle class) to pay Paul (the poor and those who chose not to work). We need to control healthcare costs in a huge way. Until we do this nothing is going to work. And start telling the truth NY Times. Your MO is getting really tired.
Both Obamacare and Trumpcare are bad deals for many people. Obamacare just robs Peter (the middle class and upper middle class) to pay Paul (the poor and those who chose not to work). We need to control healthcare costs in a huge way. Until we do this nothing is going to work. And start telling the truth NY Times. Your MO is getting really tired.
3
Oh, I am so tired of this, whenever anyone reads something they don't like, the source is "slanted".
Wake up! If the fools would have just let the ACA continue and -- heaven help us -- actually work to improve it, we'd have a pretty darn good healthcare system for all.
Then, we could have moved on to trimming healthcare costs (good luck with that, since the industry lobbyists have Congress in their grip).
And by the way, you can rob me (Peter) to pay Paul any day of the week to give health care to the poor and unfortunate, rather than robbing me blind to pour money into the defense industry for bombs to send to the desert so we can make more jihadist enemies.
Wake up! If the fools would have just let the ACA continue and -- heaven help us -- actually work to improve it, we'd have a pretty darn good healthcare system for all.
Then, we could have moved on to trimming healthcare costs (good luck with that, since the industry lobbyists have Congress in their grip).
And by the way, you can rob me (Peter) to pay Paul any day of the week to give health care to the poor and unfortunate, rather than robbing me blind to pour money into the defense industry for bombs to send to the desert so we can make more jihadist enemies.
5
Ryancare or TrumptyDumptycare, whatever... threatens the health insurance companies. They are risk-adverse, so they adjust their businesses accordingly. This is how the free markets work, and how the free press reports it.
BTW, what kind of healthcare do you have?
BTW, what kind of healthcare do you have?
Let me be the first to declare that: “Obamacare is Dead”. It was killed by Trump and the Republican Party without even firing a shot. Both are still trying to load their guns. The only question remaining is what to name the new Healthcare System? How about “Republicancare”,”Trumpcare” or hold a National Contest to “Name the XXXXcare.
Keep in mind our Healthcare System is presently controlled by Hedge Fund Managers who own Hospitals, Health Insurance and Big Pharma. They claim to reduce my medical bills by 70% and yet all are making big bucks as they "Represent" me. Yet no one even suspects Collusion.
Our new mantra should be “Single Payer, Single Payer, Single Payer, Single Payer”
Keep in mind our Healthcare System is presently controlled by Hedge Fund Managers who own Hospitals, Health Insurance and Big Pharma. They claim to reduce my medical bills by 70% and yet all are making big bucks as they "Represent" me. Yet no one even suspects Collusion.
Our new mantra should be “Single Payer, Single Payer, Single Payer, Single Payer”
7
Letting others pick up the tab is Trumps way. His "success" was because people over invested in his leadership making him "too big to fail".
Many banks know this.
Many banks know this.
1
I disagree with this article. In fact, I would like to see insurance companies out of the business of selling health insurance altogether with a Single Payer system.
17
Here is how the capitalist system is working in our area regarding medical care. One of the few general care physicians left decided he was working too hard for too little money despite the fact that most patients ended up seeing his PA rather than the doctor himself: he turned to "concierge" medicine. One could pay $1750 a year up front to be guaranteed being able to get an appointment and he would take a maximum of 500 patients. Since even most of us old folks only see a GP once or twice a year, that means he only has to see four or five a day and still make a fortune. And that annual fee is just to get in the door. Plus he no longer accepts insurance. He is the second one to go concierge and there may be more. The rest of us will be relegated to waiting months for an appointment with the few regular practicing doctors that are left although one can get in to see a specialist within a few days or weeks. We will be moving to a border state soon, so I guess we can go to Canada to get medical care faster when we need it!
6
There's that sad old meme about politics: "Things won't get better until after they get a whole lot worse."
The states seeing Obamacare collapse are the lower-population rural states with more older, sicker people and fleeing young, and typically they didn't accept the medicare expansion. It is costlier to provide services and the people are generally poorer. Without generous subsidies, it's DOA.
RyanNoCare inevitably dooms a lot of people to lack of healthcare they can possibly afford; it does amount to Congress being a "death panel." Lower-income but not really poor people in the 50 - 65 age range who do not have good company-supported healthcare are the real losers -- and this describes much of Trump voters. These poor schmucks are still supporting their representatives who are literally planning to kill or disable many of them.
It will take time for them to cope with the realities, time for that to affect Congress. But the Republicans cannot be so dense as to think that blaming Obama will continue to work ... can they?
The states seeing Obamacare collapse are the lower-population rural states with more older, sicker people and fleeing young, and typically they didn't accept the medicare expansion. It is costlier to provide services and the people are generally poorer. Without generous subsidies, it's DOA.
RyanNoCare inevitably dooms a lot of people to lack of healthcare they can possibly afford; it does amount to Congress being a "death panel." Lower-income but not really poor people in the 50 - 65 age range who do not have good company-supported healthcare are the real losers -- and this describes much of Trump voters. These poor schmucks are still supporting their representatives who are literally planning to kill or disable many of them.
It will take time for them to cope with the realities, time for that to affect Congress. But the Republicans cannot be so dense as to think that blaming Obama will continue to work ... can they?
12
Of course they can be so dense!
Yes, the effects are true of what Republicans are doing/not doing to Obamacare as described herein.
But, Trumpcare is really just a Trojan horse for tax cuts. The overriding objective of Republican Party leaders and congressional representatives is to make room in the Federal Budget for massive tax cuts by cutting $880 billion from Medicaid, plus cutting $673 billion in subsidies for the poor, plus repealing Obamacare taxes of $575 billion mostly on wealthy people and corporations.
Republicans in the Senate will probably walk away from the additional billions in cuts that the C.B.O. hasn't even estimated yet which the House built into Trumpcare_V2 by creating waivers for essential benefits and the pre-existing condition exclusion. But, they will not walk away from taking $1.4 billion from the poor and cutting their own taxes by another almost $600 billion.
They are not going to support Medicare (or now some other optimists are saying Medicaid) for all. They are not going to support any form of single payer. We are much more likely to see Ryan and McConnell try to cap Medicare to free up even billions more for tax cuts.
So, they are happy to let Obamacare die on the vine. But, they can't wait too long because that delays their ability to pass tax cuts that don't make it too clear that they want to operate the Federal Government on a trillion or more borrowed dollars each year.
Only getting them out of office will stop them from what they are doing to Obamacare
But, Trumpcare is really just a Trojan horse for tax cuts. The overriding objective of Republican Party leaders and congressional representatives is to make room in the Federal Budget for massive tax cuts by cutting $880 billion from Medicaid, plus cutting $673 billion in subsidies for the poor, plus repealing Obamacare taxes of $575 billion mostly on wealthy people and corporations.
Republicans in the Senate will probably walk away from the additional billions in cuts that the C.B.O. hasn't even estimated yet which the House built into Trumpcare_V2 by creating waivers for essential benefits and the pre-existing condition exclusion. But, they will not walk away from taking $1.4 billion from the poor and cutting their own taxes by another almost $600 billion.
They are not going to support Medicare (or now some other optimists are saying Medicaid) for all. They are not going to support any form of single payer. We are much more likely to see Ryan and McConnell try to cap Medicare to free up even billions more for tax cuts.
So, they are happy to let Obamacare die on the vine. But, they can't wait too long because that delays their ability to pass tax cuts that don't make it too clear that they want to operate the Federal Government on a trillion or more borrowed dollars each year.
Only getting them out of office will stop them from what they are doing to Obamacare
9
Editorials such as this assume that the Republicans are pursuing the goals that they say they are pursuing, e.g., good health for all Americans at an affordable cost. Then, the argument goes, since the Republicans are advocating particular policies that harm many Americans, they Republicans will advocate less harmful policies after they take note of the consequences.
I think a more elegant explanation is that the thought-leaders in the Republican party are committed Social Darwinists who, when they look at America, see the baleful consequences of the "welfare state" inaugurated by FDR. In their view, all but those who have clawed their way to the top have become addicted to the resources that flow to them from the government. Democrats are sick people who cannot be relied on to change: the "takers." But the Republicans might sincerely believe that by disabling the government's ability to transfer good things, viz, insurance subsidies, to some people, they are helping them stand up, be strong, and win in the struggle for existence.
That ideology openly expressed would not win elections. So, the trick is to capture those voters who do share belief that life should be like a war of all against all, while fooling a sufficient number of voters into thinking that they will keep THEIR benefits even as the benefits of "others" get taken away.
I think a more elegant explanation is that the thought-leaders in the Republican party are committed Social Darwinists who, when they look at America, see the baleful consequences of the "welfare state" inaugurated by FDR. In their view, all but those who have clawed their way to the top have become addicted to the resources that flow to them from the government. Democrats are sick people who cannot be relied on to change: the "takers." But the Republicans might sincerely believe that by disabling the government's ability to transfer good things, viz, insurance subsidies, to some people, they are helping them stand up, be strong, and win in the struggle for existence.
That ideology openly expressed would not win elections. So, the trick is to capture those voters who do share belief that life should be like a war of all against all, while fooling a sufficient number of voters into thinking that they will keep THEIR benefits even as the benefits of "others" get taken away.
118
Quite right. The GOP consternation over the AHCA is how to provide a tax cut to 1/4% of the voters and still get reelected. Their bet is some of the tax cut will go toward ads in their campaigns that will cleverly craft this giveaway as a boon.
Steve is absolutely correct. My sister is a rabid Trumpista, and is quite forthright about this ideology: helping support poor children simply enables the unfit to have more of them, drug addicts are responsible for their own behavior and so should have no public support for rehab, etc. She feels that she has done everything right and moral in life and yet suffered some difficult times (international custody battle), so why should people who haven't done the right and moral thing NOT suffer?
1
I can't help but wonder if your interpretation gives them more credit than they are due. Maybe they really just don't care what happens to the poor, the sick and the elderly.
The biggest reason for this kind of debate is exactly what you keep doing in this editorial and elsewhere. Although President Obama has been gone for over 4 months, you keep referring to the ACA as "Obamacare". That is a red flag to Republicans who then lose all sense of morality and honesty when they see or hear that. If you simply refer to the health law of the land by its real name instead of its political name, you may be surprised how much more progress may be made, especially with those "vote against their own interest" partisans.
6
Missing from the article is the extortion Trump administration officials are attempting, flat out saying to insurers that the GOP will make sure the subsidies get paid if they will back the AHCA.
1
lets start with the obvious Health care for all is a need and a right.
The Republicans argue why should pay for someone else,s misfortune or good fortune if a pregnancy.Why should the young pay for the old
I could argue why should I pay for their education which I do in two different counties. Why should I pay for wars I do not agree with, underfunded flood insurance, agricultural subsidies etc.
The answer is because we are a nation with common values and a constitution that is based on a common pursuit of happiness.
Let us also agree Insurance companies are not reliable partners , they will walk away from any market that does deliver excessive profits and or are high risk.
Proof Flood insurance.
Democrats must propose and fight for a public option based on the Medicare infrastructure. It must be self funding including subsidies currently provided for individuals and insurance companies.
They must fight for reduction in drug prices to European levels .
Then they must recognize that health care is complicated and politicians are incapable of formulating an efficient health care system , we need an expert commission to come up with a plan using countries like Germany who deliver far better, more cost effective , as a reference point.
I realize that some of these ideas have been voiced by some Democrats but as yet there is no full throated coordinated , comprehensive response from Democrats.
Come on Perez do your job.
The Republicans argue why should pay for someone else,s misfortune or good fortune if a pregnancy.Why should the young pay for the old
I could argue why should I pay for their education which I do in two different counties. Why should I pay for wars I do not agree with, underfunded flood insurance, agricultural subsidies etc.
The answer is because we are a nation with common values and a constitution that is based on a common pursuit of happiness.
Let us also agree Insurance companies are not reliable partners , they will walk away from any market that does deliver excessive profits and or are high risk.
Proof Flood insurance.
Democrats must propose and fight for a public option based on the Medicare infrastructure. It must be self funding including subsidies currently provided for individuals and insurance companies.
They must fight for reduction in drug prices to European levels .
Then they must recognize that health care is complicated and politicians are incapable of formulating an efficient health care system , we need an expert commission to come up with a plan using countries like Germany who deliver far better, more cost effective , as a reference point.
I realize that some of these ideas have been voiced by some Democrats but as yet there is no full throated coordinated , comprehensive response from Democrats.
Come on Perez do your job.
7
Did you actually write Trump and or Congress are persuading insurance companies to increase rates or exit the program? These are for profit companies and will do what most profitable for their share holders. If they are losing money on Obamacare they will stop offering it or increase rates.
How unprofessional to suggest anything else.
How unprofessional to suggest anything else.
3
"These are for profit companies and will do what (is) most profitable for their share holders (sic)." In this case, as the article clearly suggests, those companies are in a panic to protect their profiteering ways far in advance of any real threat. That's both myopic and paranoiac, and it reflects the truly ugly side of capitalism/corporatism run amuck, where profits trump values and social responsibility every time.
How naive to suggest anything else.
How naive to suggest anything else.
Of course they are for profit. So stop suggesting that Trump and the Congress are forcing these companies to drop Obamacare.
1
That wasn't a flaw, it was part of the design process ....
The destruction of any interest by insurers to participate in the ACA health insurance marketplace was deliberate.
The only impact the GOP measures is their ability to get their way. They certainly don't care about life expectancy, a healthy enviornment, or avoidance of Death Panels.
The destruction of any interest by insurers to participate in the ACA health insurance marketplace was deliberate.
The only impact the GOP measures is their ability to get their way. They certainly don't care about life expectancy, a healthy enviornment, or avoidance of Death Panels.
7
This will never make sense to me. America pays far more for healthcare than any other country as a percentage of GDP and generally has poorer outcomes. If Republicans truly wanted to cut costs, they would support single payer a system that would reduce costs and bureaucracy. Their policies have little to do with what makes sense and more about overturning Obama policies and punishing those lay about democrats who had the temerity to elect a black man president. Who can disagree with healthy school lunches, clean water and air and cars that get better better gas mileage? Dismantling regulations that are already in place, that have already been paid for and are for the good of the many is just plain stupid and not in the interests of the country as a whole, but yet the Republicans press on. It's just another shot in the foot, like the costly shutting down of the government or the war on women's rights. Unfortunately, Trump voters seem to care less about the facts and more about the marketing. The people that the repeal of ACA will hurt most are the Trump voters in the middle of the country who wear their ignorance like a badge of honor. I am less afraid of what Congress will actually do, because in fact they seem unable to do anything, than the ill effects their policy decisions will have, because they give big corporations such as healthcare companies, the ability to act with impunity under the cover of political uncertainty.
9
Incorrect.
We dont have generally worse health care outcomes than nations of comparable size and diversity. We have the best outcomes when compared to nations actually comparable, like Brazil.
Dont compare a large multi ethnic multi cultural to homogeneous countries with small populations and a single culture.
We dont have generally worse health care outcomes than nations of comparable size and diversity. We have the best outcomes when compared to nations actually comparable, like Brazil.
Dont compare a large multi ethnic multi cultural to homogeneous countries with small populations and a single culture.
1
During the campaign, Trump promised more, better and cheaper coverage for Americans. That isn't happening due the action, or more appropriately, inaction of Congress and the President to repeal, replace or fix Obamacare, or however they want to phrase it. The fact is, they are not improving healthcare for Americans, but compromising the physical and financial health of people at risk. Its all so painfully obvious to anyone but the blind and politically stubborn.
2
The ACA is done there is no need to keep beating a dead horse it would have died on its own no matter who won. Where I live you cannot find a doctor and if you do it is better to go to the emergency room and say you are not covered. The emergency room is free, at the doctors office you pay on a $5000 to $7000 deductible. People should be supporting any revision of healthcare. I lived for sixty years and the only thing people had was employer healthcare, medicare or medicaid. If the Democrats really care about the people they would join the Republicans and create a workable healthcare system for everyone.
3
a workable healthcare system for everyone.
The rest of the world have it - why not here ?!
The rest of the world have it - why not here ?!
2
Thanks for your opinion. How about the Republican ask the Democrat to join them for the sake of the people they serve, not the 1% rich tax breaks, and give Medicare for all to cut down the cost.
1
"If the Democrats really care about the people they would join the Republicans and create a workable healthcare system for everyone."
The Democrats created the ACA. It's certainly imperfect but it is a workable system for everyone. It was the Republicans who refused to join them in creating it. Seven years ago, ECT, were you urging Republicans to do what you are now insisting the Democrats do?
The ACA has the intention of really and truly helping people. The current Republican plan hurts many and is really a tax cut for the wealthy in disguise.
Should the Republicans actually come up with a better plan -- like single-payer -- I'm sure they would find great support from Democrats.
The Democrats created the ACA. It's certainly imperfect but it is a workable system for everyone. It was the Republicans who refused to join them in creating it. Seven years ago, ECT, were you urging Republicans to do what you are now insisting the Democrats do?
The ACA has the intention of really and truly helping people. The current Republican plan hurts many and is really a tax cut for the wealthy in disguise.
Should the Republicans actually come up with a better plan -- like single-payer -- I'm sure they would find great support from Democrats.
Well, if in four years Trump's supporters can look at their insurance policies and honestly say that they have a great plan at a better price than today.. well go ahead and vote Republican again. if not... then they need to ask themselves "has the GOP really had my best interests in mind?"
5
Party Over Country hurting the economy? Transfer of wealth from the bottom 90% to the top 1% hurting the country?
Perhaps. But there is no way those who vote GOP will believe it.
They will say they are better off because they have more FREEDOM.
Perhaps. But there is no way those who vote GOP will believe it.
They will say they are better off because they have more FREEDOM.
3
What do we learn from this essay?
1) That there hoggish stubbornness of the Republican Party, demonstrated over the last eight years when they slammed against Obama repeatedly but never bothered to develop workable policies and proposals of their own, will cost them.
2) That Americans should not have to rely on private, profit-driven insurance corporations to provide them with healthcare. Health insurance in the US should be insured and funded by the US government.
1) That there hoggish stubbornness of the Republican Party, demonstrated over the last eight years when they slammed against Obama repeatedly but never bothered to develop workable policies and proposals of their own, will cost them.
2) That Americans should not have to rely on private, profit-driven insurance corporations to provide them with healthcare. Health insurance in the US should be insured and funded by the US government.
4
My question is why isn't the President and his ability to make deals talking to insurance companies to find ways to keep them in the exchanges? Why isn't he? Because dismantling Obamacare is more important then actually creating affordable health care for Americans. Once again it all about politics over what is best for the country. The ACA gives the Secretary of Health and Human Services a lot of power to enact policy on health care. Why isn't that happening? Why isn't Section 1333 of the ACA which allows insurance companies to sell across state lines (a major campaign proposal for Trump) already being put into action? It is because the President and Republicans who worked so hard to discredit the ACA would rather hurt people by repealing then fixing the problems.
Lastly, the lack of understanding of how insurance works as a business undermines our ability to have a real discussion on what works best for our country. Most people are required by law to purchase auto insurance to drive a car but we push back when the law says we are required by law to purchase health insurance. We want our cake and eat it to. We want cheap, comprehensive insurance at incredibly low prices but push back when we are told that for insurance companies to make insurance financially viable you need a large pool of healthy people to keep the thing solvent. America needs to decide what we want. We can't have it all. Sometimes you have to make hard decisions.
Lastly, the lack of understanding of how insurance works as a business undermines our ability to have a real discussion on what works best for our country. Most people are required by law to purchase auto insurance to drive a car but we push back when the law says we are required by law to purchase health insurance. We want our cake and eat it to. We want cheap, comprehensive insurance at incredibly low prices but push back when we are told that for insurance companies to make insurance financially viable you need a large pool of healthy people to keep the thing solvent. America needs to decide what we want. We can't have it all. Sometimes you have to make hard decisions.
2
Obamacare is dead. There is no fixing it. The democrats had 8 years to fix it - they did absolutely nothing. They are proposing absolutely nothing to fix it now. And they have the gall to blame Trump and the Republicans for the failure of Obamacare.
1
The FEDERAL GOVERNMENT does not require car insurance. It is a state issue.
And you do not have to drive nor own a car. If you do not own a car or drive, then you do not have to buy car insurance.
That is the stupidest comparison and yet liberals haul it out over and over again.
And you do not have to drive nor own a car. If you do not own a car or drive, then you do not have to buy car insurance.
That is the stupidest comparison and yet liberals haul it out over and over again.
The one consequence of the House bill is the eroding of the ACA--just like that houseplant unwatered and neglected during vacation. The bill will NOT pass the Senate--it's only virtue is a "win" (Phyrric victory possibly) although how the GOP can consider that fulfilling "Repeal and Replace" is served by "Gut and Destroy" is beyond me.
For all of us this bill--most of all--let's us know the GOP is just like Trump, in it for themselves. They should lose the moniker "the Party of Family Values" as their bill has the intent of robbing our poorest families to give to the wealthy--possibly the biggest wealth transfer in US history. The health part? That's a mere bandaid for slashing wounds.
For all of us this bill--most of all--let's us know the GOP is just like Trump, in it for themselves. They should lose the moniker "the Party of Family Values" as their bill has the intent of robbing our poorest families to give to the wealthy--possibly the biggest wealth transfer in US history. The health part? That's a mere bandaid for slashing wounds.
8
O.K. I agree the ACA is a better system than what we had before. It is much better than any of the Republican proposals. Trump's statement IS nasty and stupid. BUT we should never forget that compared to the rest of the developed world and especially the wealthy developed nations, the ACA is 2nd or 3rd rate.
1. It is not universal. Millions still lack any form of health insurance.
2. Many are covered by policies with high deductible and co-pays they cannot afford.
3. The cost of our health care is still way above what others pay. The OECD average of cost per person is less than 40% of what we pay--$3463 vs. $8713 in 2013). We pay twice as much as the other wealthy countries.
4. Our bottom line statistics are barely average and compared to the wealthy countries they are way worse.
5. The ACA is exceedingly complex. This means it is difficult to run and opens it up to many attacks.
We had a chance for something much better. At the start of the health care debate, HR676, a 70 page bill which simply gave an improved Medicare to every man women and child, had over 100 sponsors in the House. BUT the Obama administration decided to take single payer off the table from the get go. In spite of his many. many compromises, the ACA failed to get a single Republican vote.
Whatever we do now, we should keep our eyes on the goal of a simple, universal, efficient health care system.
1. It is not universal. Millions still lack any form of health insurance.
2. Many are covered by policies with high deductible and co-pays they cannot afford.
3. The cost of our health care is still way above what others pay. The OECD average of cost per person is less than 40% of what we pay--$3463 vs. $8713 in 2013). We pay twice as much as the other wealthy countries.
4. Our bottom line statistics are barely average and compared to the wealthy countries they are way worse.
5. The ACA is exceedingly complex. This means it is difficult to run and opens it up to many attacks.
We had a chance for something much better. At the start of the health care debate, HR676, a 70 page bill which simply gave an improved Medicare to every man women and child, had over 100 sponsors in the House. BUT the Obama administration decided to take single payer off the table from the get go. In spite of his many. many compromises, the ACA failed to get a single Republican vote.
Whatever we do now, we should keep our eyes on the goal of a simple, universal, efficient health care system.
25
When making comparisons to other nations and healthcare, the only comparable nation to the US (population size and diversity) is Brazil.
Comparing the US to homogenous countries in northern europe with populations smaller than Ohio is dishonest at best. Canada and England are not apt comparisons either, they are still very homogeneous (85% white), with much more social cohesion.
Comparing the US to homogenous countries in northern europe with populations smaller than Ohio is dishonest at best. Canada and England are not apt comparisons either, they are still very homogeneous (85% white), with much more social cohesion.
1
ND - It seems to me a larger country would have economies of scale. Anyway, in aggregate, the OECD countries are much larger than the US.
There are 30 countries in the OECD. Some like Sweden have a larger percentage of foreign born. Others like Australia have at least as much obesity, smoking and drinking than the US.
What they ALL have in common is a universal, government run health care system that is vastly more efficient (better results at much lower cost) than ours.
There are 30 countries in the OECD. Some like Sweden have a larger percentage of foreign born. Others like Australia have at least as much obesity, smoking and drinking than the US.
What they ALL have in common is a universal, government run health care system that is vastly more efficient (better results at much lower cost) than ours.
2
The single-payer/Medicare option was withdrawn from the ACA because it would have been impossible to pass the bill with it; witness Republican intransigence that NOT ONE REPUBLICAN voted for it. Doesn't that fact say where the loyalties of Republicans lie? Not with citizens, but with the big insurance and pharma companies.
1
It seems inevitable that we will eventually go to single payer because the system is not working. It's going to take a major catastrophe for the Republicans to finally get that; although I suspect many already do and are just stalling as long as they can. We need more progressives in DC and in our state legislatures who will gladly push this into reality. The people are ready.
5
The people will be ready when they quit playing the game of "sock it to me"
with Republicans.
with Republicans.
1
Perhaps it could happen in New York, but most state legislatures and governorships are help by Republicans. Recently the State Legislature of Kansas passed a bill to expand Medicaid coverage in that state, and Governor Brownback vetoed it.
The problem with Trumpcare and Obamacare is the disconnection between the goals of the parties in the interaction. People want (and need) health care for their very survival and wish to insure it with the least impact on all the other things in their list of wants and needs. Insurance companies have as their prime directive their survival as an entity and seek to maximize the profits that accrue to their actions. Insurance companies are under no moral requirement to insure any particular group or individual. The closest parallel is between the US Postal Service and commercial shippers like FedEx and UPS. The commercial shippers can "offload" unproductive routes and customers to the USPS just as the sick and the poor are dumped into the public sector through the doors of the emergency room and systems of first responders nationwide.
We can optimize health care only when we start by defining our desired end state. If we agree health care to be a right and a just thing to do as a country, then we can find the most efficient way to fund it. We began this exercise in the allocation of scarce resources with the introduction of renal dialysis in the 1970's and will complete it only with the ultimate acceptance of single payer coverage driving the profit out of health coverage nationally.
We can optimize health care only when we start by defining our desired end state. If we agree health care to be a right and a just thing to do as a country, then we can find the most efficient way to fund it. We began this exercise in the allocation of scarce resources with the introduction of renal dialysis in the 1970's and will complete it only with the ultimate acceptance of single payer coverage driving the profit out of health coverage nationally.
1
I am on Medicare and so far it is the easiest to use least restrictive health insurance I have ever had. I was a teacher for 30 years and had excellent health insurance, so that's a compliment from me. It's what everyone in America needs and deserves. I have already witnessed the effects of Trump's threats on the insurance of my one granddaughter under Ohio's medicaid expansion. One county took it away for no real reason when she moved. Now the local hospital is working to reinstate her insurance after she had a medical emergency. The GOP and Trump are making a mess for average Americans. And I'm afraid that it's only going to get worse.
15
Rates have been rising given the current rules of Obamacare, not due to fear that there will be no Obamacare exchange in the future.
My increase this year was 77%. Well before Trump even won the election.
Actually, the insurer did not technically raise the rate of my plan at all. They simply said my existing plan is not being offered next year and the lowest cost alternative plan is 77% more than last year.
Trying to blame massive increases in Obamacare plans on Trump is a remarkable exercise in untruthfulness.
My increase this year was 77%. Well before Trump even won the election.
Actually, the insurer did not technically raise the rate of my plan at all. They simply said my existing plan is not being offered next year and the lowest cost alternative plan is 77% more than last year.
Trying to blame massive increases in Obamacare plans on Trump is a remarkable exercise in untruthfulness.
3
Obamacare has problems. Even though it passed without a single Republican vote, the Democrats and Obama said that the bill was far from perfect and would need significant changes in the near future in order to function properly.
The problem is we have too many old people in comparison to the number of young people - it is less of a mandate issue.
The problem is population demographics not the mandate issue. For example the A.C.A. relies too heavily on young healthy people signing up in droves who are willing to pay 300% or more than what their actuarial risk is in terms of price. The demographics of the fact is that there is not a huge base of available young people to adequately subsidize all of us late boomers. I was born in 1958 and me and my peer group need our ACA insurance subsidized by people born in 1988 for example to be affordable. Problem, lots of babies born in 1958 - not so much in 1988. But, under the ACA I rely on that 30 year old to help pay a generous portion my premium as well as all of their premium in effect. In 1988, I was 30, and someone who was 58 was born in 1930. The ACA would have worked great in 1988, because there was a massive pool of young people compared to older people. I agree that rigorous enforcement of a more punitive mandate forcing more young people into the pool helps the funding. But, premium-wise we are really crushing young people at a time when we want them to be able to form their own households and families.
The problem is we have too many old people in comparison to the number of young people - it is less of a mandate issue.
The problem is population demographics not the mandate issue. For example the A.C.A. relies too heavily on young healthy people signing up in droves who are willing to pay 300% or more than what their actuarial risk is in terms of price. The demographics of the fact is that there is not a huge base of available young people to adequately subsidize all of us late boomers. I was born in 1958 and me and my peer group need our ACA insurance subsidized by people born in 1988 for example to be affordable. Problem, lots of babies born in 1958 - not so much in 1988. But, under the ACA I rely on that 30 year old to help pay a generous portion my premium as well as all of their premium in effect. In 1988, I was 30, and someone who was 58 was born in 1930. The ACA would have worked great in 1988, because there was a massive pool of young people compared to older people. I agree that rigorous enforcement of a more punitive mandate forcing more young people into the pool helps the funding. But, premium-wise we are really crushing young people at a time when we want them to be able to form their own households and families.
1
Why do you think it is just or ethical for people who have the most recources (retirees) to insist people with the least resources (young adults) pay for your care?
This is nothing but a wealth transfer from the least well off to the most well off.
This is nothing but a wealth transfer from the least well off to the most well off.
Just how limited is Congressional memory? Some of the biggest factors that pushed the ACA into reality were economic: Americans were filing bankruptcy at record levels not because they were unemployed but because they were uninsured, or underinsured, and experienced a severe health crisis. Large employers were furious with double digit insurance premium increases brought on in part by cost shifting to insurers what the uninsured couldn't pay (and assisted by the industry's move from not for profit to for profit status.) Hospitals in poor and rural areas began eliminating services and closing doors because they didn't have enough paying patients. And the number of Americans working in part time positions without health benefits was increasing dramatically.
Congress held multiple hearings and did massive hand-wringing over each of these issues. The ACA, although flawed from the start by compromise and winged significantly by the Supreme Court, was designed to solve for these economic issues.
Our current Congress needs to take a walk down memory lane before it sends the country back to an unworkable health insurance system.
Congress held multiple hearings and did massive hand-wringing over each of these issues. The ACA, although flawed from the start by compromise and winged significantly by the Supreme Court, was designed to solve for these economic issues.
Our current Congress needs to take a walk down memory lane before it sends the country back to an unworkable health insurance system.
5
Speaking from experience as a retired health care products entrepreneur, the health insurance debate, including your editorial is off. You are correct that if the federal government would subsidize the insurers with the reinsurance guarantees promised under the ACA, they may be induced to hang in the markets. However, its way more complicated than that. Who knew? The big challenge is that premiums are merely a reflection of health care services costs covered by health plan benefits. Increased deductibles and co payments/co-insurance only reduce premiums by forcing consumers to pay part or all of the these costs. I still don't understand why our leaders - Trump, Congress and others don't allow insurance providers and Medicare itself to offer a Medicare or Medicare-type program to those who are under insured. Those who cannot afford would be subsidized directly and those who can afford would pay for themselves. This would be a much more efficient policy to execute (vs. both ACA and Trumpcare options- neither are solutions.) The reason this is better is because Medicare pays doctors and hospitals at very competitive rates and therefore the base health care costs should be lower than private alternatives. Finally, I realize that this is a 'public option' and therefore will be opposed on philosophical grounds by some. But, the fact is that Medicare isn't going anywhere and baby boomers are entering its ranks in record numbers so public options are a fact of life.
6
The fly in the ointment of Medicare paying doctors at competitive rates is doctors are increasingly refusing medicare patients or setting up "concierge" plans to make more reasonable money...
1
Understood. Still, most doctors participate in Medicare and soon, when there are over 85M Medicare beneficiaries, it will be hard to ignore for younger grads to stay out of the medicare market. Also, nothing wrong with concierge plans but they've been around for over 20 years now and they haven't been terribly disruptive. Finally, younger people joining medicare may help convince doctors to stay.
I'll state it again for the umpteenth time. Single Payer.
See:
http://www.pnhp.org/
Included on this page is a bill in the House, HR 676, a Medicare for all bill introduced by John Conyers and with 110 co-sponsors.
See:
http://www.pnhp.org/
Included on this page is a bill in the House, HR 676, a Medicare for all bill introduced by John Conyers and with 110 co-sponsors.
58
Bud
Just like as in every country which utilizes single payer plans or some variation of them, the taxpayers pay the bill. For an instructive video on the Canadian plan see:
http://thehealthcaremovie.net/home/
The Canadian people pay for health care for everyone and they very much like the system.
Just like as in every country which utilizes single payer plans or some variation of them, the taxpayers pay the bill. For an instructive video on the Canadian plan see:
http://thehealthcaremovie.net/home/
The Canadian people pay for health care for everyone and they very much like the system.
@Jordan: and Canada is 1/10th our size, but on a landmass that is even larger than the Continental US and enormously wealthy in oil, gas, tar sands, lumber, diamonds -- but with 1/10th as many people to share it with.
On top of that: Canada is overwhelmingly white and asian, with almost no poor people and no hispanics and 2% black (mostly educated Caribbean immigrants).
In short, they have no poor underclass such as the US does -- 1/3rd of population, mostly minorities.
If we imported to Canada about 10 million poor blacks and hispanics and illegal aliens....their single payer system would entirely collapse within six months.
On top of that: Canada is overwhelmingly white and asian, with almost no poor people and no hispanics and 2% black (mostly educated Caribbean immigrants).
In short, they have no poor underclass such as the US does -- 1/3rd of population, mostly minorities.
If we imported to Canada about 10 million poor blacks and hispanics and illegal aliens....their single payer system would entirely collapse within six months.
A transition to Medicare for all is the only logical solution. It would even make insurers happy. As they now enjoy selling profitable medicare advantage and medicare supplement policies. The time has come for the solution the rest of the industrialized countries have in place, single payer and universal coverage.
125
And those insurance companies cheat to make the medicare advantage policies even more profitable. I think the word advantage was supposed to mean the policy holder got better benefits for fewer dollars, but I think the benefits actually accrue to the insurance company.
2
No, bad idea. As of now you get Medicare after working for over 45 years, paying into it's Trust Fund with every pay check. Dump the rest of the country in before they have paid in for that many years & boom Medicare is not only insolvent but GONE.
Of course congress wants this, along with making everyone pay into that plan, even though we will never see a penny out of it. Why? Congress has been embezzling from the SS & Medicare Trust Funds, since the inception of each plan $3 trillion so far. Ryan wants to gut the program, but, continue making us pay more & more in, so they can keep stealing from them both. What they don't steal they use to offset some of the deficit.
Both SS & Medicare are not 'benefits' or 'entitlements' like Medicaid. They are government run retirement & senior health care plans paid for by premiums we pay into both with every paycheck. You want something like it? Build your own. Keep your hands off Medicare, & SS, or your retirement could start, if it starts at all, at around 95, with you needing full employment for every week before that from the age of 18. Then you will get a voucher worth zilch for Medicare, & find SS is busted, no payments at all, for anyone. Congress just wants the premium payments (those 'taxes' out of your paychecks are really premiums) to spend on boondoggles, & private enterprise. Oh the Boomers, who have paid in since the day they started working are not the cause of any 'insolvency'. Embezzlement is. Think on that.
Of course congress wants this, along with making everyone pay into that plan, even though we will never see a penny out of it. Why? Congress has been embezzling from the SS & Medicare Trust Funds, since the inception of each plan $3 trillion so far. Ryan wants to gut the program, but, continue making us pay more & more in, so they can keep stealing from them both. What they don't steal they use to offset some of the deficit.
Both SS & Medicare are not 'benefits' or 'entitlements' like Medicaid. They are government run retirement & senior health care plans paid for by premiums we pay into both with every paycheck. You want something like it? Build your own. Keep your hands off Medicare, & SS, or your retirement could start, if it starts at all, at around 95, with you needing full employment for every week before that from the age of 18. Then you will get a voucher worth zilch for Medicare, & find SS is busted, no payments at all, for anyone. Congress just wants the premium payments (those 'taxes' out of your paychecks are really premiums) to spend on boondoggles, & private enterprise. Oh the Boomers, who have paid in since the day they started working are not the cause of any 'insolvency'. Embezzlement is. Think on that.
2
That's single payer
Why do republicans think dead americans due to a lack of healthcare is good policy?
Just asking.
Just asking.
92
Because dead Americans can't vote?
35
This is why the Republicans think that:
It's a good policy in their view because most of the dead Americans due to a lack of health care will be poor and non-white.
As the Republicans make abundantly clear every day, they believe that the United States is a country solely for rich white men. (And perhaps a few women for them to grope.)
It's a good policy in their view because most of the dead Americans due to a lack of health care will be poor and non-white.
As the Republicans make abundantly clear every day, they believe that the United States is a country solely for rich white men. (And perhaps a few women for them to grope.)
1
But Jay, those dead Americans will not be any of the rich or politically connected. So, their lives (& deaths) won't matter to the GOP.
Trump, McConnel, Ryan luuuuuuuv the uneducated & gullible to death!
Trump, McConnel, Ryan luuuuuuuv the uneducated & gullible to death!
1
The consistency with which his base votes against their own economic interests is not only startling but it is demoralizing. Until and unless the GOP is exposed for the corporate prostitutes they are and the Trump base educated and accepting of this reality I see little hope or opportunity to change editorials like this.
75
I've figured out the reason for this: 30+ years of indoctrination into the idea that liberals are the enemies of America, to be opposed without quarter in every way. The conservative mind loves to play the victim and needs an enemy, and decades of Rush, Fox, Glenn Beck, Ann "The Beast" Coulter and more have brainwashed conservatives into believing that liberals hate everything "real America" stands for: capitalism, Jesus, guns, white people, the unborn, freedom, the military, marriage, the work ethic, religion, you name it. Thus, steeped in the notion that liberalism is out to ravage everything good in America, conservatives will support any policies they believe liberals oppose or that anger liberals, and oppose anything they are told liberals favor, such as single payer health insurance. The powerful emotional satisfaction of this virulent tribalism trumps (pardon the pun) any benefit the conservative voter might receive from the so-called liberal policies.
Hacks & shills...and the fact that they are bought off so cheaply is even more astounding. I consider these people to be anti-American and we need to remove them from our payroll...these guys are terrible public servants.
It is the 46% of US who do not vote who need to be reawakened.
His base would then become meaningless.
His base would then become meaningless.
Is America winning and getting tired of it yet?
Just asking.
Just asking.
55
Markets up since election day
unemployment rate down further
etc etc
unemployment rate down further
etc etc
In tandem, so this is what you do to make America great again?
@ND, You could have said the same thing for every month that Obama was President and yet you chose to believe America was in decline, real unemployment was 44%, the stock market was a bubble etc etc.
Excellent explanation of what is and will be in The future of millions of Americans concerning their healthcare. Republicans appear to be more interested in cutting taxes for the very wealthy and abandoning healthcare for millions of middle and lower income people who desperately want and need healthcare. Thank You so much for your insight and compassionate editorial. The Press must continue to keep this before the country.
15
Trump supporters voted against their own best interests.
They're just getting what they deserve.
They're just getting what they deserve.
34
Brad, many would agree wholeheartedly.
But many who did not chose "him" will not be getting what we actually do deserve.
We are all collateral damage for Republican "policies", in one way or another eventually. What makes men and some women so mean?
The amount of time and money that this country Wastes on a daily basis is astounding. What we could accomplish with so many resources.....and we just continue to flounder.
But many who did not chose "him" will not be getting what we actually do deserve.
We are all collateral damage for Republican "policies", in one way or another eventually. What makes men and some women so mean?
The amount of time and money that this country Wastes on a daily basis is astounding. What we could accomplish with so many resources.....and we just continue to flounder.
1
And they won't change
By deflecting blame from himself, he is helping them deflect accountability for creating this situation
By deflecting blame from himself, he is helping them deflect accountability for creating this situation
It's time for the patriots in theGOP, if there are any, to break away from their traitorous "leaders" McConnell and Ryan and join the Democrats in getting impeachment under way.
15
See: Charlie Sykes
1
Make sure they get Pence, too.
If the nation wants great health care, it must be taken out of the insurance company market economy and away from greedy Republican hands. Who will personally profit from Trumpcare? Health Insurers already decide what level of care a person receives because they alone decide when and if a provider (doctor, hospital, etc.) will be paid for services already rendered. Their decision tree shapes what type of care is given, and true medical innovation dies along with the patient. Trumpcare takes the problems of Obamacare and magnifies them by removing any oversight, limits access and then selecting healthy folks to insure. Great plan. Regardless of what form Trumpcare takes, insurers will be paid and well paid under Republican eyes. Insurance company complaints about "lost income" in small markets in low population states needs to be investigated for veracity. Are CEO's not being paid? Not! Are Republican Representatives and Senators changing the ACA out of duty to constituents or to their own personal bank accounts, or those of their benefactors?
14
When I saw his supporters at a Trump rally clapping and cheering at losing their health insurance, I knew it was a lost cause.
235
That is the ultimate tragedy. They still think he's fighting for them and giving them a voice when, in truth, they've been had -- bigly.
12
Already this uncertainty is creating havoc. People in their 60's thinking about retiring must be wondering, "I'm feeling good today, but if something happens will I be able to get healthcare insurance in a couple of years?" "Can I risk the farm and all I've worked for and go uninsured for a couple of years if I have to?"
Corporations and government go on forever but time moves on for people, we get old and die and there is no way around it. We need a decision today. We can't wait five years.
Corporations and government go on forever but time moves on for people, we get old and die and there is no way around it. We need a decision today. We can't wait five years.
2
@Steve: Obamacare is punitive to older customers -- they are charged 300-400% MORE than younger customers.
That is grossly unfair and unaffordable.
NO insurance can EVER succeed unless it charges everyone the same -- at least, on a sliding scale based on income.
That is grossly unfair and unaffordable.
NO insurance can EVER succeed unless it charges everyone the same -- at least, on a sliding scale based on income.
1
"What’s bizarre about the Republican strategy is that it is likely to cause the most damage where many of Mr. Trump’s supporters live."
But just try and convince them of that...
But just try and convince them of that...
47
It's too late, the Kool-Aid has already been drunk.
Trump is hurting everyone as he dismantles everything that helps people with his most powerful tools, ignorance and hate.
19
Nothing new here. Trump/GOP got voted-in on promise of repeal, replace optional. As this editorial amply demonstrates, repeal is happening on two fronts: Congress, and outside congress, self-destruct crash-and-burn. The political cost of promise thus kept is zero, the rewards already proven once at the polls, and therefore guaranteed for the next.
The only option on table worth fighting for is a repeal that's slightly kinder, gentler, i.e. Trump's first version of bill that Democrats shouted down and Krugman called Obamacare 0.5. Not perfect, but less imperfect by Democrat standards than the one pending before the Senate. It's Democrats' choice, really. If they do nothing (other than kick, scream, bawl, shout, soothsay), the Senate will rightfully conclude the Democrats prefer the rock to the previous hard place, and kick it through (ouch). Voters will, likewise, give the GOP a pass.
In short, Obamacare is on terminal path, has been for some time. The choice now, is between policy palliative care and policy hospice. The former requires eating humble pie and resurrecting v1.0 through polite WH visit by Ms. Pelosi. The latter, do nothing, cry rivers, clench fists, warn sky fall imminent and watch from fence. Your choice? Aah, another angry op-ed. No, thank you.
The only option on table worth fighting for is a repeal that's slightly kinder, gentler, i.e. Trump's first version of bill that Democrats shouted down and Krugman called Obamacare 0.5. Not perfect, but less imperfect by Democrat standards than the one pending before the Senate. It's Democrats' choice, really. If they do nothing (other than kick, scream, bawl, shout, soothsay), the Senate will rightfully conclude the Democrats prefer the rock to the previous hard place, and kick it through (ouch). Voters will, likewise, give the GOP a pass.
In short, Obamacare is on terminal path, has been for some time. The choice now, is between policy palliative care and policy hospice. The former requires eating humble pie and resurrecting v1.0 through polite WH visit by Ms. Pelosi. The latter, do nothing, cry rivers, clench fists, warn sky fall imminent and watch from fence. Your choice? Aah, another angry op-ed. No, thank you.
2
Obamacare is failing--because the GOP is continually threatening it. Why should insurance companies support it when it may be gone in 6 months? In the meantime we ALL will pay increased premiums due to insurance companies tacking on an additional sum to cover their own fears of uncertainty.
Is there one good result of the House's plan? The only one I can see is that it has unmasked the GOP as the party of personal greed, cowardice and a true statement of their disinterest in representing their electorate in legislation. Use voters and legislate for donors--the GOP battle cry!
Is there one good result of the House's plan? The only one I can see is that it has unmasked the GOP as the party of personal greed, cowardice and a true statement of their disinterest in representing their electorate in legislation. Use voters and legislate for donors--the GOP battle cry!
3
@Susan
I'm sorry, but rise in premiums has long been overdue. Whatever low premiums enjoyed in the past, a mirage created by Obamacare, and at the cost of mandated enrollees and giong-for-broke insurance companies. The House plan is a good one. List too long to get into by one comment, and paper too left-leaning to get into by anyone. But its a huuuuge improvement, trust me.
I'm sorry, but rise in premiums has long been overdue. Whatever low premiums enjoyed in the past, a mirage created by Obamacare, and at the cost of mandated enrollees and giong-for-broke insurance companies. The House plan is a good one. List too long to get into by one comment, and paper too left-leaning to get into by anyone. But its a huuuuge improvement, trust me.
3
Obamacare was already a compromise based on a conservative (Heritage Foundation, Romneycare) model. It's the Repubs who do and did not want to give an inch and who do and did not want to negotiate. Lesson for the Democrats: do not try to negotiate and placate the Repubs. No concessions will ever be enough.
Unless and until a counterweight is found to the right wing propaganda machine and Ailes effect on "news", the Trump machine will continue to function. The people who support him get their "information" from those sources, seem to buy it without question, and continue to believe that they have found a savior.
How to reach those folks, to create at least a modicum in doubt about what they are being fed, seems like mission impossible.
How to reach those folks, to create at least a modicum in doubt about what they are being fed, seems like mission impossible.
13
Sadly, the loss of health insurance may be the only way to show Trump's voters he only has scorn for those he successfully conned. (And we all will pay the price of poorer health care with rising premiums.)
2
"This should trouble not just the 12.2 million people who have bought insurance on federal and state exchanges, but also policy makers..."
This should more than "trouble" policy makers. It should be a 10-alarm fire signal. The ACA would be so easy to fix if Republican members of Congress would just put partisanship aside and concentrate on the good of the country instead of sabotaging and undermining this law.
This should more than "trouble" policy makers. It should be a 10-alarm fire signal. The ACA would be so easy to fix if Republican members of Congress would just put partisanship aside and concentrate on the good of the country instead of sabotaging and undermining this law.
10
There is no way to fix the ACA, as it is BASED ON a flawed GOP plan and require punitive FINES to punish people who can't afford expensive, worthless insurance policies from FOR PROFIT companies .... and depends on HUGE DEDUCTIBLES.
I have a huge deductible, so basically my Obamacare policy is worthless. I can't use it. It has not paid me ONE DIME in two years.
I have a huge deductible, so basically my Obamacare policy is worthless. I can't use it. It has not paid me ONE DIME in two years.
Congress may dream that the disruption they are causing will be blamed on Obama, but they are counting on Trump taking the blame. If it gets bad enough they will have the cover to impeach him, and still repeal the ACA.
The Democrats need to start spending money advertising who is really to blame for the misery. And asking angry Republicans to vote in their primaries.
The worst part is that no one actually believes that any changes in healthcare proposed up until now will do any good, and most believe it will do great harm. Even the authors know it will do harm, at least to everyone's health. It will give a big tax bonus to people who need it the least.
I am actually watching my government write and re-write different bills that will bankrupt us a decade before Medicare kicks in. If we run out of money before we run into Medicare, it will kill my husband. (Raul Labrador's inane belief aside, lack of care kills a lot of people. Most it just kills slowly.) And what did he do to deserve all this? Got in the way of a 3% tax on the incremental income of the really rich.
The mills of God grind slowly but they grind exceeding fine. Our leadership provides a lot of grist for those mills. But before they are ground in divine retribution, I'd like their constituencies to wake up and get them out of office.
The Democrats need to start spending money advertising who is really to blame for the misery. And asking angry Republicans to vote in their primaries.
The worst part is that no one actually believes that any changes in healthcare proposed up until now will do any good, and most believe it will do great harm. Even the authors know it will do harm, at least to everyone's health. It will give a big tax bonus to people who need it the least.
I am actually watching my government write and re-write different bills that will bankrupt us a decade before Medicare kicks in. If we run out of money before we run into Medicare, it will kill my husband. (Raul Labrador's inane belief aside, lack of care kills a lot of people. Most it just kills slowly.) And what did he do to deserve all this? Got in the way of a 3% tax on the incremental income of the really rich.
The mills of God grind slowly but they grind exceeding fine. Our leadership provides a lot of grist for those mills. But before they are ground in divine retribution, I'd like their constituencies to wake up and get them out of office.
7
We may never get to Medicare, paul ryan has always wanted to voucher medicare and let the consumer try to find insurance that will take the vouchers. Prices for coverage will go up and the elderly consumer will havecto pay them, throwing millions of elderly off of health insurance. We are already hearing that medicare is running out of money, untrue Obamacare extended medicare for 11 years, but they are on a roll, and their supporters will believe anything . Trumps,promises are useless. We must get more dem in the congress or repubs who will help their constituents instead of making everything as means to help the rich
Insurers have been pulling out for years, and rates have been rising for years – well before Trump ever appeared on anyone’s political radar. The attempt to blame on Trump these predictable (and long-predicted) outcomes of ObamaCare is outrageous.
I don’t support Ryan’s “TrumpCare”: not only does it harm people now dependent on the ACA but taking away an entitlement once having conferred it and after millions depend on it is political suicide – and political suicide is something that Republicans should leave to Democrats.
The only way to save insurers’ participation in ObamaCare is to mandate their participation by law and strictly regulate their premiums and co-pays. In other words, enslave the insurance industry to the social vision of an elite – one that lost at the polls the right to do anything of the sort. ObamaCare is a strategic failure every bit as much as “TrumpCare” is a woefully inadequate substitution for a poorly-concocted and executed attempt at a panacea.
It remains that we have failed at fixing healthcare in America – both the ACA AND the AHCA. Until we tackle the lack of strategic viability of the entirety of our dysfunctional and unaffordable healthcare framework, we will keep defending and attacking either one failed half-attempt or the other.
Instead of complaining about how one or the other is “hurting Trump country”, Democrats need to get back in the game and participate in a fix that has real legs. And Republicans need to buy a clue.
I don’t support Ryan’s “TrumpCare”: not only does it harm people now dependent on the ACA but taking away an entitlement once having conferred it and after millions depend on it is political suicide – and political suicide is something that Republicans should leave to Democrats.
The only way to save insurers’ participation in ObamaCare is to mandate their participation by law and strictly regulate their premiums and co-pays. In other words, enslave the insurance industry to the social vision of an elite – one that lost at the polls the right to do anything of the sort. ObamaCare is a strategic failure every bit as much as “TrumpCare” is a woefully inadequate substitution for a poorly-concocted and executed attempt at a panacea.
It remains that we have failed at fixing healthcare in America – both the ACA AND the AHCA. Until we tackle the lack of strategic viability of the entirety of our dysfunctional and unaffordable healthcare framework, we will keep defending and attacking either one failed half-attempt or the other.
Instead of complaining about how one or the other is “hurting Trump country”, Democrats need to get back in the game and participate in a fix that has real legs. And Republicans need to buy a clue.
13
It's very ironic that you exhort Republicans to "buy a clue".
If Republicans had a clue, they would not be Republicans.
As someone who has purchased his own health insurance for the past 15 years, I know firsthand how much premiums have risen far above the rate of inflation well before the ACA was adopted.
Democrats were not invited to participate in any "fix", as they lack a majority in both houses of Congress.
The only viable solution would be adopting Single Payer, funding same through the payroll tax, and allowing private insurers to offer supplemental plans similar to the Medicare Advantage plans.
Anything else is simply a waste of time.
If Republicans had a clue, they would not be Republicans.
As someone who has purchased his own health insurance for the past 15 years, I know firsthand how much premiums have risen far above the rate of inflation well before the ACA was adopted.
Democrats were not invited to participate in any "fix", as they lack a majority in both houses of Congress.
The only viable solution would be adopting Single Payer, funding same through the payroll tax, and allowing private insurers to offer supplemental plans similar to the Medicare Advantage plans.
Anything else is simply a waste of time.
104
Look at New Mexico and Oklahoma. Neighboring Red States, one with a successful ACA program, the other, Oklahoma with a failed program. Same as most Red States, where their programs died from neglect. Where the ACA was embraced, it was starting to work, slowly but moving in the right direction. Republicans had no interest in making change for the better, only shutting it down, regardless of how it affected their constituents. Their voters were suckered and are now paying the price for those tax cuts for the wealthy.
187
The only fix that has real legs is single payer for all, with government negotiating drug and treatment prices. Like they have in most other Western countries, where it costs about two thirds as what it costs here, with better outcomes. And I agree that Democrats should push hard for that. Why can't we have the same guaranteed health care that Canadians, Europeans and Australians have?
12
We mustn't let labels from GOP'ers distract - the repeal of Obamacare is nothing more than a tax cut bill, that would give just the 400 wealthiest tax-payers (including djt and many in his Cabinet) a tax cut averaging $7 million$/year, each, or $2.8 Billion$/year for the 400 as a group, which is $11+ Billion$ for a djt 4-year term:
http://www.businessinsider.com/repealing-obamacare-7-million-tax-cut-for...
Even more benefits accrue to 1%-ers as a whole:
http://www.businessinsider.com/obamacare-repeal-tax-cut-one-percent-2016...
This is not about healthcare, it's simply about tax cuts, and tax cuts of this magnitude that take apart government services have never ever been good for people who inhabit Trumpland.
After all, in 15 of the 30 largest cities in this country, the biggest employer in town is the health industry.
http://www.businessinsider.com/repealing-obamacare-7-million-tax-cut-for...
Even more benefits accrue to 1%-ers as a whole:
http://www.businessinsider.com/obamacare-repeal-tax-cut-one-percent-2016...
This is not about healthcare, it's simply about tax cuts, and tax cuts of this magnitude that take apart government services have never ever been good for people who inhabit Trumpland.
After all, in 15 of the 30 largest cities in this country, the biggest employer in town is the health industry.
135
And not just in large cities. Look at small towns too. Drive across the sate of South Carolina, for example and notice that in many small towns the largest building is the regional hospital. When support for these hospitals goes and they close down, more people will die if they have to be driven to a large city for emergency medical care, and all those doctors, nurses and other staff will lose their jobs.
4
I wish there were a way to shame the insurers who are pulling out of the markets and raising premiums. My own company, part of a consortium of small (supposedly progressive) nonprofits, is announcing switching to Aetna, and I spoke up about how the company is undermining Obamacare. It fell on deaf ears. Our current insurer agreed to match Aetna's prices, but the consortium is actually "punishing" that insurer for not offering the lower prices in the first place. Once again we are not looking at the big picture but at saving pennies.
28
Those trump voters will only have themselves to blame when they loose their insurance. I hope the Democrats are working feverishly on a single payer plan that they can run on in 2018 and beyond. When the voters who have depended on vouchers, Medicaid or having their kids covered until 26 go to vote in the next election perhaps just like the top wage earners who vote their pocket books they will finally vote in their best interest and elect Democrats who will pass laws that provides healthcare despite pre/existing conditions.
14
But they will never blame themselves, their so called hero Trumpet who never will care a hill of beans about them, or the fascist masochistic sadistic unAmerican heartless Republican'ts but instead put blame, incorrectly, on Hillary, Obama, and the Dems. They cannot see the forest for the trees.
Just tell them "Told ya so!"
Just tell them "Told ya so!"
2
You don't have any shame, do you? The insurance companies are leaving because of uncertainty of Trump Care? Whoever wrote those lines can't really go home at night and feel at peace with himself.
6
You are correct, Trumpcare is a misnomer. Trump has no healthcare plan of his own and is still bewildered by the complexity of the issue. The current situation would better be called GOPcare.
3
Of course they are. Why participate in a plan that is being eroded by neglect and uncertainty. (Think that unwatered houseplant after a 2 week vacation.) And we all will find a hidden sum in our next increased premiums due to insurance companies covering their insecurities monetarily.)
2
If you have a different story, I wish you would tell it instead of just saying, "no".
1
For their Agenda Republicans and Trump have endangered the healthcare of millions. This must be remembered in 2018.
18
Sometimes change happens only when the pain of doing nothing far exceeds the cost of doing the right thing. That's how Europe achieved universal health care after the devastation of WWII.
Perhaps individual health insurance schemes must fail before we finally do the right thing.
Medicare for all is the only viable solution for our health care dilemma.
Perhaps individual health insurance schemes must fail before we finally do the right thing.
Medicare for all is the only viable solution for our health care dilemma.
42
Medicare is not free. I have paid Medicare tax for about 45 years now. For most people, that is $100K over their lifetime.
That's a "pre payment" for the benefit. How will you make up for this, for over 200 million people including young people who could not have paid in?
THEN....it still costs $120 a month for Part B and another $50 for Part D (drugs), and that doesn't full cover you AT ALL....you need a Medigap policy. That runs about $350-$450 a month PER PERSON.
So let's say roughly it is $500 per month, PER PERSON (plus the $100K lifetime pay in) -- so your Medicare runs $1000 a couple.
The average family has 4 people, so that's $2000 a month or $24,000 a year. FOR MEDICARE.
And you still have deductibles and co-pays.
DO THE MATH!
That's a "pre payment" for the benefit. How will you make up for this, for over 200 million people including young people who could not have paid in?
THEN....it still costs $120 a month for Part B and another $50 for Part D (drugs), and that doesn't full cover you AT ALL....you need a Medigap policy. That runs about $350-$450 a month PER PERSON.
So let's say roughly it is $500 per month, PER PERSON (plus the $100K lifetime pay in) -- so your Medicare runs $1000 a couple.
The average family has 4 people, so that's $2000 a month or $24,000 a year. FOR MEDICARE.
And you still have deductibles and co-pays.
DO THE MATH!
"He claims that uncertainty in the insurance industry is evidence that Obamacare is collapsing and needs repeal, not that he and his allies have created the uncertainty."
Trump, with his GOP partners, are venal enough to deliberately muck up ACA markets to make Obamacare failure a self-fulfilling prophecy. This is not just sick, it's evil.
People's lives are now in limbo, stuck between a rock and a hard place--about to lose the ACA which Republicans (and yes, Trump supporters) railed against for 8 years and having nothing viable in return.
They say that what doesn't kill you makes you strong--except here, in the case of "Trumpcare," what doesn't kill you now eventually will.
Tinkering with people's lives and designing ideological policies-- affordable only to the wealthy when you have generous healthcare yourself --is the work of the devil.
Trump, with his GOP partners, are venal enough to deliberately muck up ACA markets to make Obamacare failure a self-fulfilling prophecy. This is not just sick, it's evil.
People's lives are now in limbo, stuck between a rock and a hard place--about to lose the ACA which Republicans (and yes, Trump supporters) railed against for 8 years and having nothing viable in return.
They say that what doesn't kill you makes you strong--except here, in the case of "Trumpcare," what doesn't kill you now eventually will.
Tinkering with people's lives and designing ideological policies-- affordable only to the wealthy when you have generous healthcare yourself --is the work of the devil.
78
The GOP health care plan wants to drop 24 million people from insurance coverage to make $830 Billion available for the richest 1% of American's tax cut. This loss in Federal revenue will increase the National Federal Debt by $1 Trillion dollars, in which the middle-class and poor people will be stiffed in paying for.
It may be that 61% of Americans 'know' who is to blame, but with a shocking 84% of Republicans still approving of the job Trump is doing, it is not hard to imagine that they will be willing to blame their problems on Obama and the Democrats - especially if Trump keeps telling them how much he loves them.
132
What's funny about that number is that he hasn't done anything substantive. And what little he has done isn't going to help them. Talk about delusional.
2
As a European but having dealt with Americans and US companies during many years, I find it amazing that the country is pretty much divided into two camps, DEMS and GOP. The DEM voters cannot seem to support anything that the GOP stands for or proposes and with the GOP voters behaving in the same manner towards DEMS. The US needs to move away from a two party political system, it is no longer working in 2017...
1
Thank you, Editorial Board, for your report. I hope you continue to provide the details of what potentially will cause the greatest pain to the people who helped put Donald Trump in office. For sure, these people will lay the blame for their suffering at the feet of everyone but where it really belongs, themselves. They bought the drug Trump was selling that promised to end their problems, and like addicts everywhere, when they crash they run to their pusher for more. Come November 2020 they will line up in droves at voting booths around the country to buy more of whatever drug Ttump will be selling then. Unfortunately no one has yet created rehab for voters who shoot themselves in the foot.
90
Or maybe we know something you do not.
"has persuaded several big insurance companies to stop selling policies or significantly raise premiums. "
Sorry NYT no bait and switch on Obamacare allowed nor accepted. Coverage, premium increases, high deductibles, etc. have been 1000% creations of ACA, and you can't now pass it off as Trumps fault. We've been living with this for several years and watched where ACA was headed...it's been downhill for years.
Keep trying.
Sorry NYT no bait and switch on Obamacare allowed nor accepted. Coverage, premium increases, high deductibles, etc. have been 1000% creations of ACA, and you can't now pass it off as Trumps fault. We've been living with this for several years and watched where ACA was headed...it's been downhill for years.
Keep trying.
12
The Republicans did everything to ensure Obamacare would face challenges, including allowing people to opt out. If there were a mandate, or the opt out penalty were much higher, Obamacare would likely be fine. Throw in a public option and it would be working quite well. And these are easily fixable flaws.
6
Insurance companies have been pulling out of the ACA since the second year. They can't stay in business treating people who are newly diagnosed with a medical condition who have never paid a premium. Nor can they survive when even those people don't pay a premium while being treated or after.
The mandate is a farce. All the worries about the young people not buying insurance are surely dwarfed by the number of people in their 50s and 60s who are betting they can stay healthy until they qualify for Medicare. It doesn't matter whether they pay or not since there is no way to collect from the delinquents. The IRS can only take the fine from your tax rebate and cannot assess the fine as part of tax owed. In addition there are over 30 excuses they can use when asked to pay.
All of this was known before the law was implemented but administrators put it in place anyway. The emergency rooms are still treating "immigrants" and street people with alcohol induced diabetes and frostbite without payment.
Doesn't the government realize that we know who is paying for all of this? It's we who take the responsibility to be insured mandate or not.
The mandate is a farce. All the worries about the young people not buying insurance are surely dwarfed by the number of people in their 50s and 60s who are betting they can stay healthy until they qualify for Medicare. It doesn't matter whether they pay or not since there is no way to collect from the delinquents. The IRS can only take the fine from your tax rebate and cannot assess the fine as part of tax owed. In addition there are over 30 excuses they can use when asked to pay.
All of this was known before the law was implemented but administrators put it in place anyway. The emergency rooms are still treating "immigrants" and street people with alcohol induced diabetes and frostbite without payment.
Doesn't the government realize that we know who is paying for all of this? It's we who take the responsibility to be insured mandate or not.
1
Premiums were going up, often 20% each year, before Obamacare. Millions were losing their health insurance, or denied the insurance they thought they had after a cancer diagnosis. Medical bankruptcies were soaring.
Obamacare lowered the rate of rise and protected millions of people. There are fixes to lingering problems, which Republicans have blocked.
Republicans want to pull money out of health care for a huge tax cot for their wealthy donors. The ACHA is a tax cut bill, not a health care bill.
Obamacare lowered the rate of rise and protected millions of people. There are fixes to lingering problems, which Republicans have blocked.
Republicans want to pull money out of health care for a huge tax cot for their wealthy donors. The ACHA is a tax cut bill, not a health care bill.
16
Mr. Trump has intentionally endangers the lives of millions of Americans through his reckless commentary and actions. He is doing everything in his power to make Obamacare fail so that he can prove its failure. Yet again, his ego is in overdrive.
As a healthcare advocate, I have a front row seat to his harmful and desperate attempts to destabilize the individual and small business health insurance marketplace. What most fail to realize is that his words, actions and secret backroom deals with insurers harm not only those who receive their insurance through the ACA, but the rest of us as well.
Entrepreneurs, self employed professionals and small business owners are being hurt by lack of choice, strangled networks with no quality provider options and skyrocketing costs. We've also seen a uptick of insurance companies denying claims that should be paid because they know the federal government isn't supporting patient rights.
The only solution I can see is for the state governors to unite against insurers. If the states said "Aetna, you can't sell or administer group policies in our state if you don't offer affordable, quality individual plan options to our constituents" I believe Blue Cross and the rest change their tunes in a New York minute.
As a healthcare advocate, I have a front row seat to his harmful and desperate attempts to destabilize the individual and small business health insurance marketplace. What most fail to realize is that his words, actions and secret backroom deals with insurers harm not only those who receive their insurance through the ACA, but the rest of us as well.
Entrepreneurs, self employed professionals and small business owners are being hurt by lack of choice, strangled networks with no quality provider options and skyrocketing costs. We've also seen a uptick of insurance companies denying claims that should be paid because they know the federal government isn't supporting patient rights.
The only solution I can see is for the state governors to unite against insurers. If the states said "Aetna, you can't sell or administer group policies in our state if you don't offer affordable, quality individual plan options to our constituents" I believe Blue Cross and the rest change their tunes in a New York minute.
449
Sarah, your recommendation of mandating affordable coverage in the individual market in order for insurers to be able to sell in the group market for an insurer is not an idea that insurers would necessarily object to believe it or not. I worked for a major health insurer for 20 years in pricing and actuarial functions. Insurers love stability and predictability. What this would mean is that your plan would result in much higher group employer premiums that would be used to subsidize and lower premiums in the individual market, and this would make pricing more stable and predictable, because it spreads risk. Insurers die for this. I know that 20 years ago the insurance industry was pushing for your approach in general. BTW, here in Massachusetts we heavily tax employer plans to subsidize the individual market. Reason: the group market is a far younger and especially healthier population than the individual market. They already pay much lower premiums per capita than individuals.
4
"The only solution I can see is for the state governors to unite against insurers. If the states said "Aetna, you can't sell or administer group policies in our state if you don't offer affordable, quality individual plan options to our constituents" I believe Blue Cross and the rest change their tunes in a New York minute."
That's a bet you'll lose. They're dropping states now even without the threats you advocate.
That's a bet you'll lose. They're dropping states now even without the threats you advocate.
1
The dysfunctional $2.6Trillion rip-off didn't just suddenly surface when Trump hit the scene. The Medico/Pharmo/Insurance Industrial Complex has been putting profit ahead of the health of most Americans for decades. Washington is an integral part of the problem. State governors are not a part of the solution. Class action lawsuits and malpractice lawsuits are the only protection medical consumers have, and those protections are constantly being eroded.
1
Mr. Trump's narrative-- now the GOP party narrative--- about the imminent collapse of Obamacare may be "disingenuous nonsense" but it is a LOT easier to understand and explain than the reality outlined in this editorial. It also underscores that biggest flaw of Obamacare: instead of pushing for some form of single payer insurance the Democratic party kept the insurance companies in the middle. One reason is that INSURANCE companies denied people "access to medical procedures and drugs" instead of "the Government" playing that role. By keeping the health insurance marketplace alive the Democrats sidestepped the "death panels" argument, avoided a major battle with the health insurance lobby, but were left with a system so complicated few voters understood the final product. As a result, "disingenuous nonsense" will prevail... and while those in Trump country will suffer, the insurance lobbyists on K Street will be very happy.
149
Obama knew that single payer had no chance of passing. He took what he thought was feasible to get enacted and improved the situation though still far from where it should be. As long as profit is the major driver of health insurance we will never ever have a fair, efficient, effective system
@WFGersen hits the nail on the head. Obamacare is the current plan. If the rates go up, or insurers pull out, it's Obama's fault. That's the easy narrative. Forget the subtle undermining going on. And forget Senator Marco Rubio's poison-pill amendment in 2014 that killed the federal funding for excessive risk. These things are too complicated for Trump voters to understand.
1
It was the Republicans who insisted there be no single payer. The Democrats compromised on this in order to pass the bill. You may lay this wholly at the feet of the Republicans.
I think some kind of national health insurance will come out of this - there's really no alternative if Americans are to receive adequate health care and costs do not rise out of reach. I know that Republicans will not support such a plan, yet. Therefore, I'd like Democrats, or at least some substantial portion of them, to wave around (physically, some spiral bound notebook would make a great prop, and I"m sure Bernie has this) a "National Medicare Plan" (or better name) that they have ready to go once Trumpcare fails. Keep waving it, keep mentioning it, but if possible wait on the details (to increase drama). Do this now, and Republicans will start to be spooked, because they know their plan will fail to provide adequate health care. "Single payer is waiting, when the Republican plan fails." Have P.1 be three statements of health care rights, e.g. "In 21st century advanced states, citizens have a right to good health care."
This would initially be just a shot across the bow, but if Trumpcare ever comes into being, and people suffer, it will become a real alternative. People LOVE Medicare, they love the simplicity of it, the price. When you compare the simplicity of medicare to all the ridiculous complexity of the Plan Ds, you see the cost savings. If Trumpcare is wildly successful, well ... somehow I don't think it will be.
Start now to see how Republicans behave with single payer looming as the next step.
This would initially be just a shot across the bow, but if Trumpcare ever comes into being, and people suffer, it will become a real alternative. People LOVE Medicare, they love the simplicity of it, the price. When you compare the simplicity of medicare to all the ridiculous complexity of the Plan Ds, you see the cost savings. If Trumpcare is wildly successful, well ... somehow I don't think it will be.
Start now to see how Republicans behave with single payer looming as the next step.
162
Including all these people into Medicare will dramatically raise the price for those who have been paying into the plan for almost 50 years and continue to pay during retirement along with an advantage plan. There will be a push back from these people if it means increased premium prices and degradation of service. Put them into a separate program and exclude the present members of the Medicare program.
1
Who really cares what the GOP establishment wants? The only thing that matters is what do the American people want, and what is in OUR best interest? Clearly the GOP policies are hazardous to our health & well being....so why do they have a say? Be part of the solution or get out of the way...progress will take place w/ them or without them. Enough of this shocking waste of our precious time and resources.
2
Aren't people just a bit weary of having plans without details proffered to them by politicians who are, themselves, always well insured? In this, and in other areas (jobs creation first and foremost) the Democrats need to come up with and advertise (yes, buy airtime by the half-hour) to explain their alternative(s).
1. Single payer, okay. But people want to know its costs --- tax increases by how much and for whom; loss of jobs in the health insurance (not the health care) industry --- which currently employs over 500,000 people largely in urban areas.
2. Other solutions? They should include requiring that health insurance companies, or the subsidiaries of larger insurance companies which offer health insurance, be not-for-profit. This was once standard: Blue Cross/Blue Shields were once not-for-profit. Most are now for profit. Moreover, the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) limited profits from health insurance to 20%. Why should companies make profit from the ill-health of the population? Further, it makes no sense to have health insurance regulated by the states. Some (like Wyoming) have too small a population to be a viable pool. Finally, why must Medicaid be administered by the states, but overseen by the federal government? Medicare isn't.
In short, people want to know what the Democrats' plan is. Most people would like to vote FOR something. And let's stop assuming that people with "only" a high school diploma can't understand such things. It's not true.
1. Single payer, okay. But people want to know its costs --- tax increases by how much and for whom; loss of jobs in the health insurance (not the health care) industry --- which currently employs over 500,000 people largely in urban areas.
2. Other solutions? They should include requiring that health insurance companies, or the subsidiaries of larger insurance companies which offer health insurance, be not-for-profit. This was once standard: Blue Cross/Blue Shields were once not-for-profit. Most are now for profit. Moreover, the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) limited profits from health insurance to 20%. Why should companies make profit from the ill-health of the population? Further, it makes no sense to have health insurance regulated by the states. Some (like Wyoming) have too small a population to be a viable pool. Finally, why must Medicaid be administered by the states, but overseen by the federal government? Medicare isn't.
In short, people want to know what the Democrats' plan is. Most people would like to vote FOR something. And let's stop assuming that people with "only" a high school diploma can't understand such things. It's not true.
3
Any political scientists, health-care researchers, sociologists out there who have studies underway of what Trump is doing to the people who voted for Trump? Any comment reader know of such?
I ask because BBC World Radio ran a very fine series in which their high-level reporters crossed the US visiting centers of Trump support - I remember Nebraska - and in interviews it became clear that some strong supporters are now fully aware that if he sends undocumented immigrants running, then their poultry, beef, and other enterprises are in trouble.
That series was too soon to do the same for healthcare. Would like to see OpEds by researchers in the relevant fields.
Only-NeverInSweden.blogspot.com
Dual citizen US SE
I ask because BBC World Radio ran a very fine series in which their high-level reporters crossed the US visiting centers of Trump support - I remember Nebraska - and in interviews it became clear that some strong supporters are now fully aware that if he sends undocumented immigrants running, then their poultry, beef, and other enterprises are in trouble.
That series was too soon to do the same for healthcare. Would like to see OpEds by researchers in the relevant fields.
Only-NeverInSweden.blogspot.com
Dual citizen US SE
37
Trump has so far done many things that are a disservice to his supporters, to wit:
See the Economic Policy Institute's new report on wage theft.
And keep up to date on EPI’s Perkins Project Policy Watch, which tracks actions by the Trump administration, Congress, and federal agencies that affect working people.
"For all of Donald Trump’s bluster about helping the working class, the actual policies he’s advanced have hurt workers’ rights and pay, and firmly put him on the side of Wall Street and big business, not working people and honest employers."
Why? See David Brooks nyt article yesterday which expresses the Republicans' buyer remorse.
See the Economic Policy Institute's new report on wage theft.
And keep up to date on EPI’s Perkins Project Policy Watch, which tracks actions by the Trump administration, Congress, and federal agencies that affect working people.
"For all of Donald Trump’s bluster about helping the working class, the actual policies he’s advanced have hurt workers’ rights and pay, and firmly put him on the side of Wall Street and big business, not working people and honest employers."
Why? See David Brooks nyt article yesterday which expresses the Republicans' buyer remorse.
6
@ GH - Thanks very much GH, just what I was looking for. Will also see if Brooks appears in my Swedish newspaper just for fun. EPI sounds exactly like what I was looking for.
Larry L.
Linköping SE
Larry L.
Linköping SE
Call it RyanMcConnellCare. That's much less likely to pass.
11
The Republicans do not care about who is hurt by their Trumpcare. They just do not care.
50
They care only about keeping their wealth to themselves. They're all about money.
3
Trump - 0, Americans - 0. Not only has Trump made the health insurance problem a bigger mess, he's done nothing else in his 100 days to help working and poor Americans.
Great health insurance for everyone - 0
Huge infrastructure program to stimulate jobs and economy - 0
Building a wall (of shame) - 0
Stopping China's currency manipulation - 0
Bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. - 0
Improving international confidence in U.S. - 0
Keeping the U.S. out of Syria - 0
Help improve education - 0
Work to stem opioids and drug overdose epidemic - 0
And the list goes on while the constant roar of Trump noise, missteps, blunders and possible criminal conduct involving Russia's meddling in our Presidential election process leave Trump paralyzed, our nation stunned and progress on important initiatives and programs stalled.
Mr. Trump simply can't govern and is unfit to be President.
Great health insurance for everyone - 0
Huge infrastructure program to stimulate jobs and economy - 0
Building a wall (of shame) - 0
Stopping China's currency manipulation - 0
Bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. - 0
Improving international confidence in U.S. - 0
Keeping the U.S. out of Syria - 0
Help improve education - 0
Work to stem opioids and drug overdose epidemic - 0
And the list goes on while the constant roar of Trump noise, missteps, blunders and possible criminal conduct involving Russia's meddling in our Presidential election process leave Trump paralyzed, our nation stunned and progress on important initiatives and programs stalled.
Mr. Trump simply can't govern and is unfit to be President.
297
The fact that insurance companies have the power to raise rates on a whim or a fear of future events just shows how bad Obamacare really is- and not the way Democracy is bad- you know, the worst government there is- besides all other forms of government. Bad compared to the health care provided by most modern nations. BAD!
Richard Nixon offered a better plan for our nation, but T. Kennedy knew it was not adequate, and held out for universal health care. Now almost half a century later our politics have become so corrupted by the special interests siphoning money from our privatized system that Obamacare was the best Obama could accomplish- and that was enough to deplete this extremely talented man of almost all his political capitol.
Until reasonable people, such as the editorial staff of the NY Times, concede that the overbearing and completely disorganized power of money in our politics has our country in a state of fiscal insanity, the American empire will continue its downward spiral. A more efficient model will take its place somewhere else and the dollar will become worthless paper.
Health care that is fiscally 60% as efficient as Canada's, 7 times as many Americans in prison per capita as Canada, incalculable waste on defense spending, much of it deals to enrich defense contractors- the list goes on and we just talk about Trump. As if he is the crux of this nation's problems- he is a symptom and a distraction. A money maker for the NY Times.
Richard Nixon offered a better plan for our nation, but T. Kennedy knew it was not adequate, and held out for universal health care. Now almost half a century later our politics have become so corrupted by the special interests siphoning money from our privatized system that Obamacare was the best Obama could accomplish- and that was enough to deplete this extremely talented man of almost all his political capitol.
Until reasonable people, such as the editorial staff of the NY Times, concede that the overbearing and completely disorganized power of money in our politics has our country in a state of fiscal insanity, the American empire will continue its downward spiral. A more efficient model will take its place somewhere else and the dollar will become worthless paper.
Health care that is fiscally 60% as efficient as Canada's, 7 times as many Americans in prison per capita as Canada, incalculable waste on defense spending, much of it deals to enrich defense contractors- the list goes on and we just talk about Trump. As if he is the crux of this nation's problems- he is a symptom and a distraction. A money maker for the NY Times.
30
Well said, someone who really knows the score.The US press core ( bla,bla,bla),rhetoric and superficial coverage ,nothing in depth or against the orchestrated conventional indoctrination.
3
But the thing is Trump Country does not perceive Trumpcare as hurting them. They fully believe it is Obamacare that has hurt them. Trump is nothing if not a great snake oil salesmen and his supporters are eager to buy. There is no way that "illegitimate" President could have possibly done anything that benefits them. But a "real American" like Trump - that's the guy that is on "their" side. So - I have no doubt that if Trumpcare passes and Trump country starts hurting, literally as well as financially, the sufferers will be all too willing to blame Obama - and I guarantee Ms. Clinton as well for their suffering. The GOP is an irredeemable party led by soulless monsters.
362
Trump has used "white identity" politics to demonize the Affordable Care Act, because a-twice-duly- elected African American President of the United States sponsored this successful legislation. He wants to assure his republican base of supporters that Trumpcare will work, now that a "white man" has been restored to the White House.
Just like the folk tale of "The Pied Piper" who seduced the infestation of rats in that township with the bewitching melody of his flute, so will be the fate of all die-hard Trump supporters too.
Just like the folk tale of "The Pied Piper" who seduced the infestation of rats in that township with the bewitching melody of his flute, so will be the fate of all die-hard Trump supporters too.
6
It is truly incredible that many Trump voters who want "Obamacare" repealed are insured by the ACA - it's proper name. Now that's a low information voter!
4
Dana,
Extremely well said.
Extremely well said.
4