Thank you NY Times for making me feel positive again that Obamacare will go the way of the Dodo Bird. The very fact that able-bodied individuals were given free medical care through Medicaid while the very middle-class taxpayers who subsidize these freebies often delay their own healthcare visits because of high deductibles. Instead of increasing the number of people of Medicaid we as a Nation should eliminate it. Force able-bodied individuals to get a job and place the disabled and low-income elderly on Medicare. In other words everyone, including the poor, should have skin in the game. The free rides ends.
5
The future of the ACA is not helped when liberal publications play into the racist playbook by continuing to call it Obamacare.
So, how about it New York Times, stop repeating the racist dog whistles of "Obamacare" and call this piece of legislation by its proper name, the AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.
So, how about it New York Times, stop repeating the racist dog whistles of "Obamacare" and call this piece of legislation by its proper name, the AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.
44
Everyone should be made aware of a few things about Trump, Republicans and the ACA. Every premium increase will be counted as a victory for them. Every time someone loses his/her insurance and suffers, the Republicans will cheer. The worst thing is, Trump will do everything in his power to undermine health care unless it is called Trump care and has offices in Trump Tower. There's got to be something in it for him, personally. He has already halved the time to enroll in the ACA and used some of its funding for negative ads. Just one more despicable thing about this excuse for a president. The only disinfectant we have is a media that broadcasts these policies loud and clear. Thank You, NYT.
25
I see two options on the table. Give the American public the same healthcare as Congress or rework the ACA to provide decent healthcare for all Americans. Option 1 won't happen as Congress is too selfish. Option 2 won't happen because Congress is too selfish. Very sad.
13
Obamacare was Grubered onto the American people. it failed before it began. only massive subsidies could keep it afloat. progressive liberal Marxist Democrats live for subsidies. that is why the democrats keep losing.
7
Anything that remotely refers to the name Obama absolutely MUST be destroyed.
It's really that simple but nobody, especially the media, wants to mention it.
Cowards.
It's really that simple but nobody, especially the media, wants to mention it.
Cowards.
7
The ACA works great in California. Not sure what the red states are whining about.
20
Trump now owns the ACA, now called Trumpcare.
3
Trump would never give in to McCain’s call for Bipartisanship,in his warped mind that would be tantamount to giving in to his enemies.He would rather bring down the country rather than admit defeat. His priorities are simple,it’s, Trump, Trump & Trump, & the hell with millions that would lose their Health Insurance. He can get away with this, because this emotional vacuum is prevalent in the majority of the Republican Party, led by two other egotists, Ryan & McConnell.
They have spent years trying to discredit Obama Care & the last thing they want is to strengthen it & make it work for all Americans. That would be like saying we never knew what we were doing, & we needed the Democrats to help us, another way of putting it is saying vote for the Democrats & get rid of us.All this would accomplish is a stable America.
They have spent years trying to discredit Obama Care & the last thing they want is to strengthen it & make it work for all Americans. That would be like saying we never knew what we were doing, & we needed the Democrats to help us, another way of putting it is saying vote for the Democrats & get rid of us.All this would accomplish is a stable America.
11
President Trump should use his executive powers to make the law apply to everyone, including the politically-connected unions, Congress and Congressional staffers that President Obama exempted. They we will see some action. What we really need to single-payer catastrophic (SPCC) for all Americans. Extend Medicare to cover all annual medical bills over $75,000. Then we buy insurance to cover the first $75,000. Employers would be required to buy insurance for low-wage workers. This is a reasonable compromise.
2
Ryan & McConnell and their corporate representatives created the scorched earth policy that Trump crusaded for a win.
14
45 is an inveterate liar! He said anything he believed voters wanted to hear just so he could "win" the big game and be crowned king of America. His remark about "who knew health insurance was so complicated" is easy to answer: almost everyone knew it except him. He does not deserve fairness, but in a move of graceful condescension, I say that I believe that he is not the only filthy rich person in America that has never even given a thought to the cost of their health insurance or the cost of medical care. When they need a doctor, they get one, and the bill goes to the accountant. They can not understand the fear of a big medical bill and not going to the doctor, hoping that they will get better on their own. Their children have never wanted for medical care, being sent to the doctor (probably being taken by their nanny) for the simplest sniffles, while the majority of American children sometimes are sent off to school when they would be better off staying home because a doctor's visit is affordable and so is a babysitter.
45 is not only a liar, he is a heartless, selfish liar.
45 is not only a liar, he is a heartless, selfish liar.
17
If Mr Trump did not hold such disdain, thanks to the remarks made at the 2011 WH Correspondents Dinner by then President Obama, his somewhat thin skinned persona would not have been exposed to us, at least in his present capacity.
If the ACA had been known by any other name than the clearly intended denigration of "Obamacare" Mr Trump and his coterie of racist sycophants would have embraced this Romney descendant as their own legislative child.
And if pigs could fly............
If the ACA had been known by any other name than the clearly intended denigration of "Obamacare" Mr Trump and his coterie of racist sycophants would have embraced this Romney descendant as their own legislative child.
And if pigs could fly............
4
What concerns me is the Trump administration isn't just letting the ACA implode. From what I've heard, they're actively disrupting and destroying it. They started by stopping marketing and educational outreach resources... Now, I've heard they're shutting down call centers... Basically, financially and organizationally, they're cutting the legs out from under what is the "law of the land". I only used the marketplace to help identify plans available to me, and had been getting email updates about enrollment, deadlines, etc. I cannot remember the last time I received one of those. (Or heard ANYTHING from the ACA.) And I live in a large urban area. I can only imagine what's going on in other places.
16
That, "penalty for people who do not buy insurance?" Isn't it just as accurate to think of it as a non-refundable deposit that guarantees access to insurance coverage should the need arise? Prior to Obama care one could forgo health insurance, but only at the risk of finding oneself uninsurable should a disqualifying condition arise. Why call a payment that removes that risk a penalty?
14
Consider similar government mandated programs that are basically insurance. Car insurance is the most familiar, of course. Think about Social Security and Medicare. Young workers certainly don't want to be paying those withholdings from their paychecks now, but years down the line will want to have those benefits.
How short sighted can we be? If you chose to go without insurance will a hospital emergency room be able to say "Sorry, it was your choice, show me the money or go ask someone else to pay for your broken leg"? Is that mean and selfish? Yes, but so is the refusal to pay anything for the risk sharing that insurance represents. United we stand ...
How short sighted can we be? If you chose to go without insurance will a hospital emergency room be able to say "Sorry, it was your choice, show me the money or go ask someone else to pay for your broken leg"? Is that mean and selfish? Yes, but so is the refusal to pay anything for the risk sharing that insurance represents. United we stand ...
12
But Collins and Murkowski voted against the original ACA, and both voted for MConnell as maj leader, so they’re not exactly our saviors.
The Times admits ACA is flawed with only 1 line, but where are the editorials on how to bring it up to standards of other 1st world nations?
No other country uses market based h/c. It doesn’t work, no matter what Gop claims. Admit the major flaw is that profit must be satisfied before health care. And that both parties depend on big donor insurance/ pharma. Other democracies don’t turn over their elections to their medical industry for funding. That’s the US FLAW, that goes undiscussed.
Looks like politicians and media won't tolerate the atrocious any more, but will tolerate the merely ‘flawed’---meaning profit based h/c, with rising costs, and still leaving out millions. We are forced to put up with the world’s most profitable system that removes resources from the care that’s an accepted norm in most other democracies. And our media won't admit it.
Thus ACA is idealized against the Gop onslaught. Big money directing our elections goes unaddressed. Thus the long uphill fight for h/c and for true democracy in America's govt will continue with no true solution possible.
The Times admits ACA is flawed with only 1 line, but where are the editorials on how to bring it up to standards of other 1st world nations?
No other country uses market based h/c. It doesn’t work, no matter what Gop claims. Admit the major flaw is that profit must be satisfied before health care. And that both parties depend on big donor insurance/ pharma. Other democracies don’t turn over their elections to their medical industry for funding. That’s the US FLAW, that goes undiscussed.
Looks like politicians and media won't tolerate the atrocious any more, but will tolerate the merely ‘flawed’---meaning profit based h/c, with rising costs, and still leaving out millions. We are forced to put up with the world’s most profitable system that removes resources from the care that’s an accepted norm in most other democracies. And our media won't admit it.
Thus ACA is idealized against the Gop onslaught. Big money directing our elections goes unaddressed. Thus the long uphill fight for h/c and for true democracy in America's govt will continue with no true solution possible.
13
This is like a class in the anatomy of the GOP. Trump is the buffoon in the headlines but look at Congress: just less than 6% (3 of 52) of Senators voted against this last repeal.
Not one of them wants to face voters after voting to end the ACA because there is no gerrymander for a statewide election, but they fear the anger of their moneyed supporters (think Koch and Mercer organizations) even more.
Now the stealth attacks on the ACA escalate: not enforcing the mandate; not helping with subsidy payments.
It's up to us to let them know that we know what they're doing. And the mainstream press needs to keep doing its job, keeping the spotlight on this travesty of a political party.
Not one of them wants to face voters after voting to end the ACA because there is no gerrymander for a statewide election, but they fear the anger of their moneyed supporters (think Koch and Mercer organizations) even more.
Now the stealth attacks on the ACA escalate: not enforcing the mandate; not helping with subsidy payments.
It's up to us to let them know that we know what they're doing. And the mainstream press needs to keep doing its job, keeping the spotlight on this travesty of a political party.
8
Thanks to a fellow commentator, this cannot be stated often enough "19 states refused to take the federal dollars to expand medicaid in their states.".. list the states, the governors and their reason why they will not accept this. This conscious cruelty goes back to the 13th century... good god what have we done?
10
I was wrong. I bet Collins, Paul, and Heller. We got Collins, Murkowski, and McCain. The odds changed after McCain's speech though. He stated his terms clearly. Nothing like a brush with human frailty to remind an individual of their priorities. Party doesn't always come first after all. McConnell and Ryan needed a ball tap anyway.
I'm sure Trump is in a rage but who really cares about Trump? You have to wonder at the other 49 Senators though. I know a Senate paycheck is nice but you don't really have a defense on this one. What do you even say to people? I want to evict your grandmother from her nursing home because I had to stand on a bus one day? Take that handicap seating!
Even in failure, the Republican effort is coming back around. The petty few look worse for flip-flopping. Opposition apparently wilts faster than an intern at an executive board meeting. However, I'd say they are all in trouble now. The Dogma just caught the Karma again.
I'm sure Trump is in a rage but who really cares about Trump? You have to wonder at the other 49 Senators though. I know a Senate paycheck is nice but you don't really have a defense on this one. What do you even say to people? I want to evict your grandmother from her nursing home because I had to stand on a bus one day? Take that handicap seating!
Even in failure, the Republican effort is coming back around. The petty few look worse for flip-flopping. Opposition apparently wilts faster than an intern at an executive board meeting. However, I'd say they are all in trouble now. The Dogma just caught the Karma again.
4
This Editorial is a perfect example of why Republicans almost got away with a crazy and potentially destructive set of proposals.First, some reality;"One telling sign: Insurance companies, hospitals, doctors and public interest groups like AARP opposed pretty much every proposal the Republicans put out over the last seven months".No, these stakeholders were against the proposals for a very simple reason, because they would take $$ out of the system.Second,Obamacare increased coverage but created huge liabilities for small business, people in the Individual market but not the Exchanges through exploding premiums.and pretty much anyone in the individual market via deductables. This Editorial is written by people in employer pools, the over 100 million Americans who have not experienced the pain of Obamacare, leaving them with the luxury of focussing on the good.Democrats need to get real; if the Individual Mandate is the aspect of Obamacare most objected to by Republicans,Democrats need to advocate for removal of health insurance as a tax deductable health benefit for employers but make such insurance deductable for everyone..Only then will risk pools become diverse enough without such a mandate.
2
The Republicans have not been a party of ideas post Reagan, they have just ridden his coat tails with empty slogans and wishful thinking.
Pretenders, always talking about a "battle of ideas" ... even after they lose repeatedly! All they have is their social agenda buttons they can push, to rile up the base and stir up unwarranted and unneeded hate in this country to keep power - to serve their masters, Koch Brothers et al.
Pretenders, always talking about a "battle of ideas" ... even after they lose repeatedly! All they have is their social agenda buttons they can push, to rile up the base and stir up unwarranted and unneeded hate in this country to keep power - to serve their masters, Koch Brothers et al.
5
Mr. Trump, you have let the American people down in too many ways to list herein.
You have absolutely no idea what you're doing. You bully rather than compromise. You threaten people rather than build bridges.
In six short months, you've already proven to be the worst President in our nation's history. I pray that you resign or get impeached before you do any more damage to the country I love.
You have absolutely no idea what you're doing. You bully rather than compromise. You threaten people rather than build bridges.
In six short months, you've already proven to be the worst President in our nation's history. I pray that you resign or get impeached before you do any more damage to the country I love.
9
"Mr. President, there is no more Obamacare!" You are now responsible for the health care of Americans.
Stephanie Ruhle, MSNBC
Never mention Obamacare again readers or writers. Trump and the Republican Congress & governors, like Wisconsin's Walker, are responsible for health care. We need to report their activities every day a thousand times a day on all media.
Stephanie Ruhle, MSNBC
Never mention Obamacare again readers or writers. Trump and the Republican Congress & governors, like Wisconsin's Walker, are responsible for health care. We need to report their activities every day a thousand times a day on all media.
5
Mitch McConnell is one of the most dangerous people in government today.
An obstructionist and an egomaniac, his brand of so-called leadership is "my way or the highway." Inclusion, cooperation, compromise, bipartisanship, the good of the country are all subordinate to his inordinate need to win. Nothing else matters--not the needs of others, not ideals of government, not service to a greater good.
He is an impediment to a functional Congress, and yet he has a stranglehold on his Republican colleagues. The situation is no less appalling than that of the Executive Branch. It just plays out differently.
An obstructionist and an egomaniac, his brand of so-called leadership is "my way or the highway." Inclusion, cooperation, compromise, bipartisanship, the good of the country are all subordinate to his inordinate need to win. Nothing else matters--not the needs of others, not ideals of government, not service to a greater good.
He is an impediment to a functional Congress, and yet he has a stranglehold on his Republican colleagues. The situation is no less appalling than that of the Executive Branch. It just plays out differently.
8
I agree with the article and the proof is in the experience we have had with the law - for example, by not funding the risk mitigating measures written into the ACA, the Republicans left insurance companies holding the bag for costs the federal government had committed to.
I hope Congress can do some actual work on the bill but am not hopeful. The press treating so many stories like a sport with winners and losers rather than the content contributes to this.
My suggestions are to keep it simple:
1. ACA and Obamacare are the same thing. Politicians need to help educate on the reality and not with "death panel" stories.
2. Congress should pass a law requiring it to fund commitments it has made in prior laws.
3. To cover the complaints on the mandates - change the name - call them "Emergency Room Access Fees". ERs can't refuse care to people without coverage similarly as fire departments will now serve anyone in their community.
4. The 3 month grace period was a stupid policy - dump that and let the states once again set rules for their markets.
5. A start has been made on special enrollment periods - keep watching it and keep improving.
6. The exchange website is a government site, but the coverage is provided by non-government insurers. Why not keeping this infrastructure and cover the government programs with funding to private coverage.
There is plenty more that can be done. My dream would be for Congress to keep it simple and use what is already in place.
I hope Congress can do some actual work on the bill but am not hopeful. The press treating so many stories like a sport with winners and losers rather than the content contributes to this.
My suggestions are to keep it simple:
1. ACA and Obamacare are the same thing. Politicians need to help educate on the reality and not with "death panel" stories.
2. Congress should pass a law requiring it to fund commitments it has made in prior laws.
3. To cover the complaints on the mandates - change the name - call them "Emergency Room Access Fees". ERs can't refuse care to people without coverage similarly as fire departments will now serve anyone in their community.
4. The 3 month grace period was a stupid policy - dump that and let the states once again set rules for their markets.
5. A start has been made on special enrollment periods - keep watching it and keep improving.
6. The exchange website is a government site, but the coverage is provided by non-government insurers. Why not keeping this infrastructure and cover the government programs with funding to private coverage.
There is plenty more that can be done. My dream would be for Congress to keep it simple and use what is already in place.
3
President Trump's (I choke when writing that) reaction to the failure of passage of the deeply flawed Senate healthcare bill is like a five year old child who did not get the toy he wanted so he threatens to smash the toy he has. He doesn't understand that he now owns healthcare, and destroying ACA as he has threatened is not in his interest or the millions of Americans who depend on the law. Grow up, Mr. President, and encourage your party to work with Democrats to make the law better. The shiny new toy you want can only be a bipartisan gift.
7
The ACA needs improvement — no question, but the way congress is going about it, is not the answer. Congress needs a bi-partisian group to get together, consult with experts in the field, and fix what is wrong with the ACA. It definitely needs improvement, but to simply scrap a basic plan is reprehensible.
Everyone should be applauding the three senators, republicans, that voted to reject the latest attempt.
But you need to watch out — Trump is doing everything he can to sabotage the ACA behind the scenes — that is equally wrong.
Everyone should be applauding the three senators, republicans, that voted to reject the latest attempt.
But you need to watch out — Trump is doing everything he can to sabotage the ACA behind the scenes — that is equally wrong.
2
Wow. In a paragraph where you accuse Republicans of lying about the ACA you perform several ticks that should be in the linguistic acrobatics HOF! "The law, which is based on conservative market-based ideas, is certainly flawed and could be improved, but it has helped 20 million people gain insurance and, as a result, provided needed medical care to the poor and the sick.". The only thing truthful in that sentence is that the ACA "is certainly flawed". Congrats on getting that correct.
2
Obamacare has failed on its own merits. Even the most strident Democrats cannot defend this mess. Obama, Pelosi and the other Democrat partisans lied about the costs and coverages that they rammed through Congress without Republican input. So now, the Republicans should back off and let Obamacare implode under its own weight. Without massive new subsidies, Obamacare will collapse. And the Democrats will be the ones who are responsible.
2
He can't do his job as leader of his own party, let alone the nation. And he does NOT know how.
So he wants to change the filibuster rules!
When will he take his ball and go home, like all petulant kids do in the end?
So he wants to change the filibuster rules!
When will he take his ball and go home, like all petulant kids do in the end?
2
We need money to fix the American Healthcare system TODAY. And the money is available sitting right in the open. It's time to tell the Republicans not one more dime will be given to spend in Afghanistan. That money is to be used to provide medicaid for 0-64 for US Citizens. To continue to spend this money to prop up a $5 billion a year economy with $75 billion is crazy, stupid. Want to help the country by providing armies from us and themselves, idiocy.
1
A "conservative market based idea" would not allow insurance companies to control provider costs. Health providers should compete for cost and quality. Today health providers give discounts to insurance companies and the self-insured suffer. In France providers set one price for all and insurance companies compete by paying all or just some of the cost. There is no such thing as an out-of-network provider. Obamacare is not a "conservative market based idea".
Obamacare is a gross interference in the insurance market. For example, Catholic institutions can operate universities, hospitals, life insurance business, credit unions, etc. but they may not operate a health insurance company that reflects the Catholic idea of “doing no harm”. No wonder the political dialogue is ruthless.
Obamacare is a gross interference in the insurance market. For example, Catholic institutions can operate universities, hospitals, life insurance business, credit unions, etc. but they may not operate a health insurance company that reflects the Catholic idea of “doing no harm”. No wonder the political dialogue is ruthless.
2
"As I said from the beginning, let ObamaCare implode, then deal. Watch!"
Said by the most presidential President ever, since Abe Lincoln!
How true.
Lincoln did let the country implode.
Said by the most presidential President ever, since Abe Lincoln!
How true.
Lincoln did let the country implode.
This sick president is trying to cause mass suffering and bankruptcies in the middle class and poor because Pres. Obama made fun of him at the correspondents dinner a few years ago.
There aren't words that accurately describe this awful creature.
There aren't words that accurately describe this awful creature.
7
Why isn't the president's open boast to sabotage the ACA law an impeachable offense?
7
Why are Democrats incapable of running with this football? Is the RNC putting something in their water?
Senator McCain...YOU are "a blessing on the world."
If we only had 99 more like you!
If we only had 99 more like you!
5
POTUS Trump nee: Mad King Donald the Worst must be impeached. He is willfully encouraging citizens of the United States to break the law of the land. He actually encouraged the police to "rough up" suspects. He encourages Boy Scouts to jeer at respected public servants who happen to be Democrats. But worst of all, he has publicly declared that he will, with premeditation"sabotage" the Affordable Care Act which is illegal!!! It is the law of the law as reinforced by a legal vote in the United States Senate. . Of course we know that Kings and Queens are above the laws of men and above constitutions which limits accumulation of power in any one branch! Where is the conscience and patriotism of the Republican Party wherein it would allow, encourage and enable such cruelty against the poor and the disabled? At least 3 Republications have the courage to resist the coup. I believe even Mad King George was relieved of his powers due to insanity. Let's hope that they come to their senses and end this reign of tyranny and lawlessness.
4
It should be clear, finally, to even the most ardent Trump/Republican supporters that they were lied to for over seven years about having a better plan ready for immediate replacement of the ACA.
Ultimately single payer is the best answer to health care for all and it looks like the public is starting to come around on that one.
Ultimately single payer is the best answer to health care for all and it looks like the public is starting to come around on that one.
4
You say "implode". I say "Let thousands and thousands suffer and die needlessly".
50
I'm done holding my breath, expecting the US government to do the right thing. Events of the last 20 years - and the last 2 in particular - have driven me to a state of unapologetic pessimism. I see right things done for the wrong reasons. Horrible things done for the sake of money. A stunning lack of courage and creativity where it is needed most. We live in a country where a simple mercantilist can amass a $90billion fortune while 25% of the general population has no proper healthcare. A society granted the ultimate gift of freedom and self-determination that wantonly squanders its own franchise. Perhaps America will mature - perhaps not - our 241 year history has been one constant struggle to realize our greatest potentials - to look at 2017, one would conclude we are not doing well at it.
3
Get rid of public sector unions for state and federal employees- Less than 5% of the workforce has hundreds of billions tied up in taxpayer funded lifetime pension and healthcare benefits. Let them contribute to a 401K like everyone else and perhaps I'll consider a single payer system.
1
Yes, The Con Don is just a spoiled little inherited-wealth child and he will throw his tantrums and do everything he can to try to destroy democracy in America to get his own way.
Anyone who voted for him, didn't vote rather than support a "woman", didn't vote because they're sick of the whole problem or just too lazy agrees with The Con Don's way of thinking. Now THAT is sad.
Have we digressed as a society to this? I refuse to believe it. Please prove me right by casting your votes only for socially responsible people, particularly any woman who has the courage to run.
Together we can stop this inside attempt to destroy democracy in America.
Anyone who voted for him, didn't vote rather than support a "woman", didn't vote because they're sick of the whole problem or just too lazy agrees with The Con Don's way of thinking. Now THAT is sad.
Have we digressed as a society to this? I refuse to believe it. Please prove me right by casting your votes only for socially responsible people, particularly any woman who has the courage to run.
Together we can stop this inside attempt to destroy democracy in America.
4
Bipartisan proposal to improve ACA: universal market based coverage and lower premiums from expanded risk pool but with no tax increase for single payer by replacing ACA penalty for no insurance with simple requirement thst everyone choose or be assigned a policy and pay age/income adjusted premium.
Your article speaks to why We the People must keep watching what bills are being proposed in Congress and what horrible executive orders this wreck of a president will sign -- all will do their best to undermine the successes of the ACA and all will obstruct any attempts to improve the ACA.
The ACA has been and still is a much needed improvement over past methods of obtaining health insurance when millions were still uninsured or underinsured. ACA diminished those numbers but we can still do better.
It is the time for the Democrats to propose Universal Health Care coverage (Call it Medicare for ALL) in the Senate. Bernie - we are waiting for you to do this.
It is the time for We the People to rise up in support of Medicare for All. It will take time to gather enough support. You must convince all Democratic Senators to understand and embrace this plan. There is House Bill 676 right now with this plan with 115 cosponsors.
There are many ways to implement Medicare for all and remember that most of us on Medicare buy a supplemental policy. If someone can't afford the supplement, that is where grants or credits will help.
Seniors on Medicare celebrate the day they can go on Medicare.
All Americans will celebrate when the US moves into this century and catches up with more than 50 other countries worldwide.
There are many ways to achieve this goal.
Look to Physicians for a National Health Program for guidance (pnhp.org) and write and call your Representatives and Senators.
The ACA has been and still is a much needed improvement over past methods of obtaining health insurance when millions were still uninsured or underinsured. ACA diminished those numbers but we can still do better.
It is the time for the Democrats to propose Universal Health Care coverage (Call it Medicare for ALL) in the Senate. Bernie - we are waiting for you to do this.
It is the time for We the People to rise up in support of Medicare for All. It will take time to gather enough support. You must convince all Democratic Senators to understand and embrace this plan. There is House Bill 676 right now with this plan with 115 cosponsors.
There are many ways to implement Medicare for all and remember that most of us on Medicare buy a supplemental policy. If someone can't afford the supplement, that is where grants or credits will help.
Seniors on Medicare celebrate the day they can go on Medicare.
All Americans will celebrate when the US moves into this century and catches up with more than 50 other countries worldwide.
There are many ways to achieve this goal.
Look to Physicians for a National Health Program for guidance (pnhp.org) and write and call your Representatives and Senators.
3
The only question for Congress now is, which party is oil and which, water?
We keep referring to health care as one-sixth of the economy. That's because we pay three times as much as any other national health system.
All that money is moving from working people to the super rich and they make generous donations to Congress to maintain their position.
Expanding Medicare to cover everybody -- even over several years -- will eliminate a lot of profit and a lot of jobs in a bloated medical-industrial complex. But it is the surest, safest and least disruptive way forward.
Perhaps insurance companies can retrain their workers to provide real health care services. That market is growing.
We keep referring to health care as one-sixth of the economy. That's because we pay three times as much as any other national health system.
All that money is moving from working people to the super rich and they make generous donations to Congress to maintain their position.
Expanding Medicare to cover everybody -- even over several years -- will eliminate a lot of profit and a lot of jobs in a bloated medical-industrial complex. But it is the surest, safest and least disruptive way forward.
Perhaps insurance companies can retrain their workers to provide real health care services. That market is growing.
3
At least come up with a temporary assistance program, so that those whose livelihoods depend on the ACA do not have to fall through the cracks--which would unfortunately prove fatal.
Two stories of why I pay insurance:
1. I was 21, in my first real job after college. I loved the work, place, and people with whom I worked and worked hard. One day as I zoomed about the building from one lab to another then down to the cold room, I felt a sharp pain in my abdomen (as far as I knew I was healthy). I ended up in the hospital for emergency surgery. Fortunately I was insured by the MA Blue Cross Blue Shield so I paid almost nothing out of pocket for necessary care.
Imagine what I would have had to pay for emergency surgery, several pints of blood, and a week in a private room if I had not had that insurance. The operation saved my life and now, 50 years later I cringe as I look at what passes for health insurance and its cost.
2. I parked my car on a residential street near downtown and went across the street to visit a friend. The visit was interrupted by a police officer who needed my assistance. Outside, the scene was nasty. Two other cars had hit each other and then bounced into mine. My car was hit both broadside and from behind, pushed sideways and up onto the curb and totally demolished. (How much force is required to move a parked SUV with body on frame construction almost a foot sideways when it is parked?) I received a over a third of the replacement cost of a new SUV to get a replacement. Replacement money included starting insurance and all taxes on the sale.
Without that insurance I would have been forced to buy an older car.
1. I was 21, in my first real job after college. I loved the work, place, and people with whom I worked and worked hard. One day as I zoomed about the building from one lab to another then down to the cold room, I felt a sharp pain in my abdomen (as far as I knew I was healthy). I ended up in the hospital for emergency surgery. Fortunately I was insured by the MA Blue Cross Blue Shield so I paid almost nothing out of pocket for necessary care.
Imagine what I would have had to pay for emergency surgery, several pints of blood, and a week in a private room if I had not had that insurance. The operation saved my life and now, 50 years later I cringe as I look at what passes for health insurance and its cost.
2. I parked my car on a residential street near downtown and went across the street to visit a friend. The visit was interrupted by a police officer who needed my assistance. Outside, the scene was nasty. Two other cars had hit each other and then bounced into mine. My car was hit both broadside and from behind, pushed sideways and up onto the curb and totally demolished. (How much force is required to move a parked SUV with body on frame construction almost a foot sideways when it is parked?) I received a over a third of the replacement cost of a new SUV to get a replacement. Replacement money included starting insurance and all taxes on the sale.
Without that insurance I would have been forced to buy an older car.
3
Of course the ACA is in peril. It's a deeply flawed plan, still dependent on being based upon for-profit insurance. No healthcare plan can really provide for the needs of the majority of Americans with this approach without massive subsidies and forcing people to participate. But the R-C philosophy DEMANDS a "free market solution which is dependent on the "for profit" insurance companies running things. The Dems tried to delver a compromise which is the ACA, but it was doomed to fail without Republican support. And since they had to pass something without that support, they should have just gone "all in" on Single Payer. It was a terrible tactical and strategic error on the Dems part.
Now they are being invited to participate in picking apart the walking corpse of the ACA, which will be killed by Trump, regardless. Their best course of action is to stand aside and let Trump and the Republicans take the full blame for throwing millions of people off healthcare, and seeing medical costs soar and hospitals in rural areas close - with the loss of jobs to boot. Maybe then, people will see what they've refused to see: the Republican party is the party of the 1%, and the enemy of the rest of us.
Now they are being invited to participate in picking apart the walking corpse of the ACA, which will be killed by Trump, regardless. Their best course of action is to stand aside and let Trump and the Republicans take the full blame for throwing millions of people off healthcare, and seeing medical costs soar and hospitals in rural areas close - with the loss of jobs to boot. Maybe then, people will see what they've refused to see: the Republican party is the party of the 1%, and the enemy of the rest of us.
4
Trump said, after GOP failed to repeal and replace the ACA, that we should now let Obamacare implode on its own. He obviously has placed individuals in strategic cabinet positions who have indicated by their past conduct that they won't promote the best interests of the particular agencies they run. Example: HHS. Tom Price (HHS secretary) has said he does not favor Obamacare, the current law of the land.
We all know Trump has appointed foxes like Price to guard the hen houses. The question is, "can these individuals, such as Price, make efforts to destroy what the agencies they head stand for, or can they use every means in their power to destroy the primary purposes of the agencies?
The cabinet secretaries of these agencies should be there to ensure their purpose is protected and advanced, not destroyed.
I am not prepared to say if there are individual laws to protect these agencies and, more importantly, prosecute those who would defeat their purposes.
Perhaps the Constitution should be relied upon to protect the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness of all Americans who benefit from our government agencies.
So let's all be observant to see if the foxes who are destroying the hen houses should be prosecuted under the law.
We all know Trump has appointed foxes like Price to guard the hen houses. The question is, "can these individuals, such as Price, make efforts to destroy what the agencies they head stand for, or can they use every means in their power to destroy the primary purposes of the agencies?
The cabinet secretaries of these agencies should be there to ensure their purpose is protected and advanced, not destroyed.
I am not prepared to say if there are individual laws to protect these agencies and, more importantly, prosecute those who would defeat their purposes.
Perhaps the Constitution should be relied upon to protect the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness of all Americans who benefit from our government agencies.
So let's all be observant to see if the foxes who are destroying the hen houses should be prosecuted under the law.
1
Any government program that is mostly subsidized by the government, in other words, where those using it pay little or next to nothing, or nothing for a premium, is bound to fail in the long run all alone. With the federal government almost bankrupt with $ 20 trillion plus and growing, a nation who now borrows one third of all the money we spend each year, as we don't collect enough for what we spend, and programs such as Medicaid and Medicare running out of money, where are the brains in Congress? There aren't any, really. You can't have current military, Veterans have free healthcare no matter what these people have for total income, and have Part A hospital free for Medicare seniors and expect to pay for everything. The truth is that the majority of people no matter their income expect almost free healthcare with increasing taxes, and they don't realize that their unhealthy lifestyle choices are fueling all of this. We have 74% of American adults who are overweight or obese, huge numbers of drug addicts(alcohol, cigarettes, meth, heroin, prescription pain killers, etc.) lack of seat belt use, texting and driving, gangs with guns, etc. There is 30% fraud in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, with most of it committed in the states of California, Florida, New York, Texas, etc. because that is where about 150 million people live. To ignore fraud of this scale, rather than transfer all these programs to the states to better deal with it, is mind boggling. Congress?
4
And, I recommend, that the Congress pay attention to the largely unspoken of and huge ($250 billion per year) subsidy for employer paid insurance. Here is an article from The New York Times on this subject: http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2015/04/14/the-worst-tax-breaks/end...
2
And how about Democrats articulate specific improvements to Obamacare so that constituents can become as familiar with these as they now are with "pre-existing conditions," etc. There's a tremendous lack of understanding among voters just how health care and insurance work, and fail.
A child is born into a household with smokers and gets asthma. Who is responsible?
A wise public health plan makes sure the tobacco industry pays for it.
A wise public health plan makes sure the tobacco industry pays for it.
2
Obamacare does rely on "conservative market-based ideas" in the exchanges, but that is where it is vulnerable and offers the least benefits. Those who do not get subsidies - which generally cut out around median income - essentially pay full market price. Without the subsidies going directly to insurance companies which guarantee their profits, prices in the exchanges may be higher than "free market" because of the requirement to ignore pre-existing conditions. The extensions to coverage have come from expansion of Medicaid, subsidies in the exchanges, the pre-existing requirement and the mandate to buy insurance or pay a fine, and not from anything inherent to free markets. It is past time to expect cooperation from Republicans in even the conservative Obamacare plan; Democrats must promise true universal coverage such as Medicare for all, and carry that promise out if they regain power.
Trump has never been interested in developing a health care plan for the American people. He has made it clear that he doesn't even understand what health insurance is or how it works. With him, everything is personal, and he's never had to deal with health insurance in his life, so he can't understand why anyone else would. His primary goal in this issue has been to obliterate Obama's signature legislation, defeat the Democrats and show his supporters that he can rule the Senate. Being unable to do any of those things is a huge loss for him and a slap in the face. That's why there's been so much talk about 'loyalty' lately. He thinks Congress exists to do his bidding, and when they don't, he sees it as a personal attack. He can't fire Ryan or McConnell, so he chose Priebus, instead. Someone had to pay.
Trump won't give up trying to win this. He will keep picking away at it until he gets rid of every little bit of health insurance Americans have. He must win, and he won't even notice if American families pay the price.
Trump won't give up trying to win this. He will keep picking away at it until he gets rid of every little bit of health insurance Americans have. He must win, and he won't even notice if American families pay the price.
7
Trump astounds me with his presumptions that he attracts the best people to work for him.
1
I am reluctant to acknowledge this as fact because Senator McCain and I are light-years apart on most issues but: John McCain has risen to the promise of his "Profile in Courage" moment in voting to reject the sham that was the "skinny repeal".
His reasons for voting the proposal down were ennobling for himself and for the Senate as a body. One hopes that this example can set the stage for bipartisan cooperation on fixing our healthcare system without needlessly depriving our neediest citizens of the care they so obviously need.
Meanwhile we can only salute this genuine American who has given so much to our country. Well done, good and faithful steward.
His reasons for voting the proposal down were ennobling for himself and for the Senate as a body. One hopes that this example can set the stage for bipartisan cooperation on fixing our healthcare system without needlessly depriving our neediest citizens of the care they so obviously need.
Meanwhile we can only salute this genuine American who has given so much to our country. Well done, good and faithful steward.
3
A great deal of the US medical industry is devoted to the end of life care McCain will experience.
"They allowed the Senate to come within one vote of passing a bill that would have left 16 million more people uninsured and driven up insurance premiums by about 20 percent a year."
Just for contrast the ACA leaves 28 million without insurance, per FiveThirtyEight 33 million if you count noncitizen immigrants, and the number of uninsured increased slightly per the latest polls.
The CBO long term budget outlook is "At 77 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), federal debt held by the public is now at its highest level since shortly after World War II. If current laws generally remained unchanged, the Congressional Budget Office projects, growing budget deficits would boost that debt sharply over the next 30 years; it would reach 150 percent of GDP in 2047." "….spending growth is projected to outpace growth in revenues. In particular, spending as a share of GDP increases for Social Security, the major health care programs (primarily Medicare), and interest on the government’s debt."
It is easy to see why the GOP is trying to address the budget and debt although it is doing so on the backs of the 99%. They are also short sighted as the ACA appears to be helping to lower overall health care costs. Affordable health care for all is an admirable goal but it comes with a high price tag; a lot more work needs to be done to find solutions acceptable to both parties.
Just for contrast the ACA leaves 28 million without insurance, per FiveThirtyEight 33 million if you count noncitizen immigrants, and the number of uninsured increased slightly per the latest polls.
The CBO long term budget outlook is "At 77 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), federal debt held by the public is now at its highest level since shortly after World War II. If current laws generally remained unchanged, the Congressional Budget Office projects, growing budget deficits would boost that debt sharply over the next 30 years; it would reach 150 percent of GDP in 2047." "….spending growth is projected to outpace growth in revenues. In particular, spending as a share of GDP increases for Social Security, the major health care programs (primarily Medicare), and interest on the government’s debt."
It is easy to see why the GOP is trying to address the budget and debt although it is doing so on the backs of the 99%. They are also short sighted as the ACA appears to be helping to lower overall health care costs. Affordable health care for all is an admirable goal but it comes with a high price tag; a lot more work needs to be done to find solutions acceptable to both parties.
Affordable health care requires addressing the fundamental issue of triage.
Obamacare in Peril? Not at all. The facade the past few months has been a partisan political ploy by Trump and the GOP to say "Hey, we tried," and to ultimately lay the blame for future out of control healthcare costs on the feet of Democrats. They will continue to use threats to repeal Obamacare to string along, rile up, and con their base into voting GOP.
Trump and the GOP never really wanted to repeal and replace Obamacare. They actually love Obamacare at its core and it was originally their idea: massive taxpayer funded government subsidies for health insurance, written by insurance/pharma lobbyists to pad the revenues/profits of their insurance and big pharma clients. They also like the Medicaid expansion, albeit they'd prefer a slightly different structure, but their "replacement" still called for steady and consistent increases in Medicaid spending over current levels.
Granted, yes they don't like many of the taxes and some rules of Obamacare, but they still love the concept massive taxpayer funded government subsidies for insurance.
Trump and the GOP never really wanted to repeal and replace Obamacare. They actually love Obamacare at its core and it was originally their idea: massive taxpayer funded government subsidies for health insurance, written by insurance/pharma lobbyists to pad the revenues/profits of their insurance and big pharma clients. They also like the Medicaid expansion, albeit they'd prefer a slightly different structure, but their "replacement" still called for steady and consistent increases in Medicaid spending over current levels.
Granted, yes they don't like many of the taxes and some rules of Obamacare, but they still love the concept massive taxpayer funded government subsidies for insurance.
2
I no longer have children in school but most of my property tax goes to the school district. Why should I continue to pay...because we realized long ago that it is in everyone's best interest to be educated. If only those with children in school had to pay education would be unaffordable. We should use the logic with health care...it is everyone's best interest for citizens to be healthy and we should share the cost.
16
Agree with you - well put. As a teacher, who is fiscally conservative, I hear this "I dont have kids" or "Mine go to private, give me a voucher" and they gripe about paying property taxes. The goal you state and I agree with should be easy. The trouble is the "share the cost" part. As school teachers, my wife and I aren't exactly raking in the money.
What would be your plan to share the cost?
What would be your plan to share the cost?
First, supporting education shouldn't be confused with supporting teacher's outrageous contracts. Maybe taxpayers would be more supportive of schools if they weren't plastered with unused smart boards, artificial turf athletic fields and college level grandstands and staffed by those with million dollar pensions. Second, if only parents paid the cost of their child's education, two things would happen. Knowing the true costs, there would be enormous pressure from those paying the bills to slash spending. I envision teacher X competing in price with teacher Y to draw students to their classroom. True cost pricing might also lead potential parents to take a hard look at their finances and come to the appropriate conclusion that they cannot afford a family. This could be especially appropriate for employees of Walmart and other low wage jobs.
2
Public education is nice. But do you know that you are probably also paying for free breakfasts and lunches for many of the kids in your public school system? And for after school programs to look after kids of parents (mostly single mothers) who are not home when their kids get out of school. And for the instruction of non-English speaking students in their own language (usually Spanish). And for teachers aids because somehow teachers are not capable of handling their own classes without help. Like public education, Obamacare started out as an altruistic attempt to provide healthcare for those unable to afford it. Now the costs of doing so have exploded, just like the costs for every government program that becomes a giant bureaucracy. And the taxpayers are footing the bill.
1
The problem with the Republican repeal of ACA is that they have never thought about or gave any consideration to actually delivering healthcare. Their major interest was to get rid of Medicaid, eliminate Planned Parenthood, and reduce the size of the Federal Government. For Democrats and anyone else who cares about healthcare there is a simple first step solution to the problems with ACA. Offer Medicare as one of the options for purchase on the healthcare exchanges. My bet is buying Medicare would prove in short order to be the favored choice, thereby proving that non profit government run healthcare insurance is superior to private for profit healthcare insurance. Of course Republicans will never let this happen because they are terrified the voters might find out that there is actually an important role for the Federal Government in providing healthcare.
8
Obamacare will continue in peril as long as healthcare costs continue to be as high as they have been for over half a century. As a percentage of GNP, the US spends more that twice of what other rich countries with universal healthcare do. The reason for this lies in the powerful insurance companies and pharmaceutical laboratories lobbies, as well as doctors to a lesser degree. Very little has been debated regarding how to reduce costs, except for eliminating subsidies for the beneficiaries of Obamacare and hence reducing insurance and pharmacological companies earnings. However, perspectives in the horizon for anyone to bring the issue to the table are bleak.
1
Lisa Murkowski and, even more, Gail Collins, showed more strength and independent judgement than any of their Republican majority in the Senate. They were tough and smart and we all have to thank them.
9
The employer sponsored part of the ACA seems to be working well and is popular. Medicaid is not insurance it is a federally and state funded health care program for the elderly, disabled, the poor, and the working poor. Medicare is the most popular insurance program in America. It has some long term issues that need to be addressed. That leaves the private individual market where premiums, deductible, and co-pays are too high. It is the part of the ACA that needs to be fixed. Here's how: allow those individuals to enroll in Medicare. It would increase the premium pool and spread the risk since the new enrollees would be younger healthier individuals. Then allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices. But that is too easy and Republicans would never agree because they are closed minded.
11
Trump says he wants to "let Obamacare implode," but "implosion" is something that results from natural forces, not from a deliberate destructive effort. It's the difference between dying and being killed.
If Republicans are serious about working with Democrats to correct the problems with Obamacare (which remains to be seen, despite Senator McCain's noble words), the first thing they should do is take these things out of the President's hands by mandating and budgeting for them: premium subsidy and tax credit levels, individual mandate enforcement efforts, and public outreach and advertising levels.
politicsbyeccehomo.wordpress.com
If Republicans are serious about working with Democrats to correct the problems with Obamacare (which remains to be seen, despite Senator McCain's noble words), the first thing they should do is take these things out of the President's hands by mandating and budgeting for them: premium subsidy and tax credit levels, individual mandate enforcement efforts, and public outreach and advertising levels.
politicsbyeccehomo.wordpress.com
7
The Republicans are not serious about putting aside faith and applying only reason to public policy.
2
State governments should consider pitching into offset the Trump-GOP sabotage of the ACA, For example, legally and fiscally viable state subsidies might be devised; and some belated Medicaid extensions might be possible.
2
The executive branch will not follow the law: what anarchy. Where will this anarchy end? The executive branch wants to play by Joe Doakes rules: you make them up as you go, not follow the law passed seven years ago.
7
Prez swore to execute the laws FAITHFULY that includes the ACA, which requires payment of subsidies and the individual mandates. Not paying the subsidies and not enforcing the mandates is not faithful execution - it is sabotaging it.
12
Paul,
Yes - but do you think he cares? Or even understands this?
Yes - but do you think he cares? Or even understands this?
How about an article with quotes from Capito,Heller, Portman and their previous statements about protecting their needy constituents !!It is time for the Times to present a weekly wall of shame for gutless legislators who think no one is watching. They are all afraid of a conservative primary opponent in their next election. So much for integrity in Congress!!Now they can talk about working with the Democrats and Mitch McConnell will help!
7
Isn't it funny how the GOP is said to be ''destroying'' something now when the one party that forced Obamacare through Congress with only 59 Senators voting for it are never at all seen as having ''destroyed'' the healthcare insurance system that EIGHTY percent of the United States was satisfied with?
Now go look up when the PPACA ever had a majority of support for all of the U.S.
Now go look up when the PPACA ever had a majority of support for all of the U.S.
2
The ACA improved our healthcare system in every measurable way - rates went up as they had been doing forever, but the rate of increase was brought somewhat under control. We still pay outrageous costs, much higher than anywhere in the world, for care that is not as good. This situation wasn't improved very much, but it certainly wasn't made worse.
The problem was, we were working with a Heritage Foundation plan that was based on maintaining our private health care industry - rather than going to a much more efficient and effective single payer plan, with drug prices negotiated - like in the rest of the developed world.
Republicans have nothing but lies to fall back on.
The problem was, we were working with a Heritage Foundation plan that was based on maintaining our private health care industry - rather than going to a much more efficient and effective single payer plan, with drug prices negotiated - like in the rest of the developed world.
Republicans have nothing but lies to fall back on.
6
Unfortunately, I agree with your assessment that Obamacare remains a target of this administration and the Republican Congress. The GOP took a heavy hit early Friday morning but they will never give up their vow to destroy the health care law that bears the black president's name. That's really what this fight is all about.
11
What is it about caring for your constituents that so offends the Republican Congress? We are all being told to buzz off. A sad, sad thing.
5
They ONLY care about the voters they need to get elected. There is no public office in the US with a national constituency.
Isn't it just sad how the media lionized John McCain for his NO vote on the GOP healthcare repeal bill and ignored the two women, Collins and Murkowski who also defied their party and performed the same exact service. The same act for the women was a mundane and for McCain it was heroic? What's that about??
10
There's a lot of truth in this, but on the other hand, let's give credit where credit is due. Collins and Murkowski weren't really "ignored"; everyone was aware of the importance of their votes. And we heard about the administration trying to threaten Murkowski. But towards the end they got less attention, because they announced their votes, and their reasoning, early on. Just like all the Democrats; there was no story about any individual Democrat's vote, because of course they were voting against repeal.
MCain's story got more attention because it had all the drama of his cancer diagnosis, and because he likes to be such a wild card that nobody knew how he was going to vote until his actual thumbs down. Superficial? Absolutely. But that's how narrative works.
MCain's story got more attention because it had all the drama of his cancer diagnosis, and because he likes to be such a wild card that nobody knew how he was going to vote until his actual thumbs down. Superficial? Absolutely. But that's how narrative works.
1
Oh, Trump will do all he can to undermine and sabotage the ACA and at the same time destroy many American lives who will lose their health care. He is a vengeful bigot something he has demonstrated consistently not only over the course of his first few months as President but over the course of an entire life time. What is most disappointing in that so many millions of decent Americans fell for his stage speeches and lies.
9
Make America Great Again! Repeal and replace the GOP!
6
Trump wants to "win." He doesn't care about the welfare of the nation. He also wants to eradicate all achievements of President Obama's administration. Finally he wants to punish and get revenge on those who have deprived him of the chance to fulfill his outrageous campaign promise to "repeal Obamacare."
None of these motives are designed to improve the welfare of the public. They are petty, small and vindictive.
So it is no wonder that having failed utterly on the legislative front, he would do everything possible administratively to cripple and destroy medical care for all Americans.
The Trump administration is hell-bent on doing this no matter how many people go bankrupt, get sick and die.
It is a war on America waged by an American President bent on personal revenge. We are under siege by our own elected leader.
He must be stopped.
None of these motives are designed to improve the welfare of the public. They are petty, small and vindictive.
So it is no wonder that having failed utterly on the legislative front, he would do everything possible administratively to cripple and destroy medical care for all Americans.
The Trump administration is hell-bent on doing this no matter how many people go bankrupt, get sick and die.
It is a war on America waged by an American President bent on personal revenge. We are under siege by our own elected leader.
He must be stopped.
9
Now that the effort to repeal the ACA has collapsed, will red state Governors who initially refused to expand Medicaid reverse themselves? With such compelling evidence that the people in states that expanded Medicaid are doing better than the ones that didn't and the political need to undercut the ACA to drive its repeal sharply reduced, its easy to imagine a few more states opting into Medicaid expansion. That could be the tipping point that enshrines Federally guaranteed healthcare.
4
"As I said from the beginning, let ObamaCare implode, then deal. Watch!"
Said by the most presidential President ever, since Abe Lincoln!
Said by the most presidential President ever, since Abe Lincoln!
If Trump proactively "lets" Obamacare fail, the possibility of the Democrats taking over Congress in 2018 and retaking the White House in 2020 improve. Some 57% now disapprove of Trump's performance, and it will get worse. He is a vile human being totally lacking in empathy, which more and more people will finally acknowledge. Single payer healthcare for all will follow the Democrats' taking over. This is a good thing in the long run. However, the interim pain is not. The movie "Dunkirk" serves as an apt metaphor. America will be freed from the tyranny of Trump and the GOP only by the ordinary citizens who when called upon will rise up to save the country. The ballot boxes must compose the rescuing flotilla.
4
Vote!!!!!!! in the 2018 midterms and we can continue our work on preserving what works within the ACA and keep the march to single payer going. At some point very, very soon the reality of what has happened since Obama left office and the demographics of this nation will overtake the GOP and they know it.
Until then, everyone and I mean everyone must VOTE.
Until then, everyone and I mean everyone must VOTE.
7
Earlier, I made statements that McCain "had surrendered." I retract those statements. He did not surrender, though he certainly gambled, and to his credit won. Return to Arizona, Senator and get well. You've earned the rest.
When WE (Dems) go High, WE LOSE. This should be at the top of our agenda, the cruelty and utter disregard for decency, from the GOP. Say it loud, and say it wide. The truth shall set us free. And will send them home. Don't let them SPIN this, again.
If only these Obamacare repeals attempts can keep sputtering until 2018, when the law will inevitably be more secure.
All McCain had to do was stay in his recovery bed where he belonged. Collins and Murkowski are the heroes of this story; the only elected republicans in America who put the country ahead of party. McCain created the drama so he could star in it.
Mitch McConnell, a splendid incarnation of Dracula, will try to seduce a Senate full of Jonathan Harker-types, earnest in their clerical (legislative) zeal to once again conjure up a repeal (replace is always, especially going forward, optional) a national health care law that they just can't kill.
McConnell's many recent midnight prowling of the corridors of the upper chamber bear witness to the obvious: he works best in the dark, far from prying eyes. Unfortunately for us, the garlic leaves, mirrors and the prospect of a wooden stake driven through whatever passes for his heart mean that the thing is still alive and will not be easily subdued. He hides in daylight and has John Cornyn (Senate) and Paul Ryan (House) ceaselessly, tirelessly buy up new plots unhallowed earth for the casket in which he thirsts to bury Obamacare.
The national nightmare continues. Would a crucifix save us from this monster whose undead "legislation" haunts us all?
McConnell's many recent midnight prowling of the corridors of the upper chamber bear witness to the obvious: he works best in the dark, far from prying eyes. Unfortunately for us, the garlic leaves, mirrors and the prospect of a wooden stake driven through whatever passes for his heart mean that the thing is still alive and will not be easily subdued. He hides in daylight and has John Cornyn (Senate) and Paul Ryan (House) ceaselessly, tirelessly buy up new plots unhallowed earth for the casket in which he thirsts to bury Obamacare.
The national nightmare continues. Would a crucifix save us from this monster whose undead "legislation" haunts us all?
4
Before Trump, it was beyond imaginable that a President would actually wish harm to the American people. But, there you have it, in his own tweet: "let ObamaCare implode."
3
Everybody seems to agree the ACA's structure is basically okay. All they really need to do is change the name. "Obamacare" is too polarizing. Maybe rename it for the actual inventor, Robert Travellini, the Massachusetts senate leader who originally put the idea together. Or Nancy Pelosi, who wrote the federal law. Or just auction off the naming rights. "ComcastCare" has a nice ring to it.
The executive branch and the bureaucracy should do everything in their power to rid America of Obamacare.
I just read where 70 CEOs of the top health insurance companies since '09 have made BILLIONS in salaries and bonuses. This is a direct result of Obamacare, which picks dinners and losers. Big Insurance is a winner, we the people and small companies are the losers.
I just read where 70 CEOs of the top health insurance companies since '09 have made BILLIONS in salaries and bonuses. This is a direct result of Obamacare, which picks dinners and losers. Big Insurance is a winner, we the people and small companies are the losers.
2
OK, I get it. A powerful contingency of Republicans, hiding behind self-proclaimed virtue and "Christian values"want to subjugate the rest of us. But McConnell, Ryan and the rest of the GOP leadership-Trump included-are soulless, empty sociopaths who only pay lip service to the Christianity of the Tea Party. Now that Republicans control everything, wouldn't it make more sense to actually come up with a reasonable health plan? They would own it and it would secure their supremacy, if not the end of the Democratic Party once and for all. But no. They are out for revenge against everyone, friend and foe alike. Again, why? They won. What more do they want? The country needs an economically sound health plan funded by reasonable taxes and other ACA/RomneyCare/American Enterprise Institute values. Call it Trumpcare, so what, if it actually works even slightly. Then bask in the glory of having won the war against a two-party system. But no! It is truly amazing that they have nothing that makes ANY sense. So after they became merely the party of No!, throwing the country under the bus and focusing on iron-clad loyalty, there is no talent, no ability, no skill found on the GOP team. There is no member with the slightest creative capacity. They can't even work with their special interests to devise a stable insurance plan. Things could be great again. But these loudmouth charlatans won't let it happen.
4
"Or they can listen to the likes of Mr. McCain about the benefits of bipartisanship and cooperation."
That's hilarious. The Board must mean the kind of bipartisanship that was demonstrated by Obama, Reid, and Pelosi when Obamacare was forced upon America.
The last time McCain exhibited honorable character was in March of 1973.
Since then he has steadily evolved into a sneaky and cynical political hack who hangs out with people of highly questionable repute, awarding him membership of organizations such as "The Keating Five".
He has been riding on the coattails of his horrible experience in Vietnam for far too long, attacking anyone who criticizes him with the false flag argument that they are questioning his former heroism.
This vote was a simple revenge act against Trump, and against the 63 million people who voted Trump into office to get rid of Obamacare and every vestige of collectivist progressivism.
Trump was right. McCain is no hero. He hasn't been, for more than four decades. That was then. This is now. Now, he is just a nasty, bitter, old man who won't set aside personal vendettas and political subterfuge for the sake of his country or his party.
1
Republican's conveniently have forgotten, that their founding father Reagan (not Lincoln) opposed Medicare and called it socialism. He made money off making commercials for the anti-medicare lobby in the 1960's, pleading his core beliefs that medicare is socialism and runs against what our founding fathers wanted when the constitution was conceived. He lamented that it was a slippery slope towards socialism (communism conflated with it) and a erosion of our freedoms.
I listened to many of the GOP rubes, use the same argument against ACA in their speeches (killing time) on the Senate floor the time leading up to their failed attempt to kill the ACA. Incredibly hypocritical of them to take a Cadillac quality insurance at taxpayers expense. Their current grand poo-bah Mitch McConnel uses medicare, that their guru Reagan called socialism. The same man who 'named names' during the McCarthy communist witch-hunt. Since medicare is now so socially acceptable (even for Mitch McConnel) then why not let every American pay premiums to medicare and allow them to purchase supplemental insurance from private insurers, just like Mitch McConnel and most others over-65 seniors can. Simple solution!
I listened to many of the GOP rubes, use the same argument against ACA in their speeches (killing time) on the Senate floor the time leading up to their failed attempt to kill the ACA. Incredibly hypocritical of them to take a Cadillac quality insurance at taxpayers expense. Their current grand poo-bah Mitch McConnel uses medicare, that their guru Reagan called socialism. The same man who 'named names' during the McCarthy communist witch-hunt. Since medicare is now so socially acceptable (even for Mitch McConnel) then why not let every American pay premiums to medicare and allow them to purchase supplemental insurance from private insurers, just like Mitch McConnel and most others over-65 seniors can. Simple solution!
5
Yes, the Republican party, who couldn't even come to the "middle" represented by Murkowsky, Collins and McCain, could now decide to turn their decades-old platform upside down and place more priority on the welfare of poor people than on the tax liability of their wealthiest supporters.
And pigs could fly.
And pigs could fly.
1
"Republicans must figure out whose example to follow.... Trump's or McCain's"
Don't cowards always choose to be on the side of the bully?
Don't cowards always choose to be on the side of the bully?
2
Trump will try to get the repeal done in the fog of war he's fostering by unleashing The Mooch.
1
I like Senators who weren't bullied.
1
If they break it, they own it.
Shelley Moore Capito, Dean Heller and Rob Portman need to get voted out, plain and simple.
What the Democrats need to propose is an amendment to reduce the age of eligibility for Medicare from 65 years to one second.
Take you first breath and you are eligible. Let's cover EVERY American.
What the Democrats need to propose is an amendment to reduce the age of eligibility for Medicare from 65 years to one second.
Take you first breath and you are eligible. Let's cover EVERY American.
3
Republicans never planned to propose a health plan but only tax cuts and hurried to dismantle the 50 year old Medicaid law to throw folks of health care and out of nursing homes, all while pretending to be christians. Shame!
1
That this article has to be called an "editorial", rather than simply being a piece summarizing the news, couldn't be more telling.
Just ask yourself what it is that is written here and that is not simply a proven fact, for instance - whereas editorials are supposed to reflect subjective (although well-informed) opinions.
And that's where we are today: the left and the right are both convinced that they each possess the indisputable truth, so public debate (real, serious debate on substance, and that every democracy needs to be able to thrive) has become almost impossible.
The huge difference between both, however, is that in general, Democrats and high-quality centrist-to-left-leaning newspapers such as the NYT continue to ground their opinions in proven truths, whereas for 2 decades now, Fox News has counted on the fact that many citizens don't have the time and/or have never learned how to fact-check to create an "alternative reality" narrative, and that, not science and facts, is now what the GOP has to deal with when trying to govern.
In order to keep their jobs, more than 90% of them were willing to destroy the healthcare of tens of millions of voters, led by the liar-in-chief, who desperately called a bill that insures 20 million more Americans "torture" and one that would kill 40.000 Americans a year "Better Care".
This is SO beneath the dignity of the office that the GOP deserves to be MASSIVELY fired, on all levels, until they accept reality and debate again.
Just ask yourself what it is that is written here and that is not simply a proven fact, for instance - whereas editorials are supposed to reflect subjective (although well-informed) opinions.
And that's where we are today: the left and the right are both convinced that they each possess the indisputable truth, so public debate (real, serious debate on substance, and that every democracy needs to be able to thrive) has become almost impossible.
The huge difference between both, however, is that in general, Democrats and high-quality centrist-to-left-leaning newspapers such as the NYT continue to ground their opinions in proven truths, whereas for 2 decades now, Fox News has counted on the fact that many citizens don't have the time and/or have never learned how to fact-check to create an "alternative reality" narrative, and that, not science and facts, is now what the GOP has to deal with when trying to govern.
In order to keep their jobs, more than 90% of them were willing to destroy the healthcare of tens of millions of voters, led by the liar-in-chief, who desperately called a bill that insures 20 million more Americans "torture" and one that would kill 40.000 Americans a year "Better Care".
This is SO beneath the dignity of the office that the GOP deserves to be MASSIVELY fired, on all levels, until they accept reality and debate again.
1
Obamacare is in peril for the some reason that America is desperately endangered. Donald John Trump is trying to convert his temporary occupation of the Oval Office of our White House aided and abetted by Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin to his personal and family profitable business advantage. The threat to America is deeply hidden in Trump's personal and family income tax returns and business records. And neither Trump nor Putin are motivated to expose their truth to the American people.
1
So, the Peacock gets the bulk of Editorial praise- for showing up late while the two (real) heroines get the last few words at the bottom of the page?
The Resistance has defeated the Death Star, But the Empire still lives!
I couldn't believe Lindsay Graham, who made such a big show of his objections to the skinny bill and then voted for it. Amazing. What a yellow-bellied coward. But it's consistent with what he's done all along - lots of sound, no action.
2
So first there was "Trumpcare", then "Son of Trumpcare", we just finished "Trunpcare Meets Abbot and Costello". And now we have to look forward to "Trumpcare:Resurrection"?
Trumps response just shows you what you need to know. The sociopath doesn't care about governing, he cares about getting even. Just a word of thanks to those Sanders voters who gave us Trump. How do you like your government now.
1
The new chief of staff will whisper in Trump's ear,"It doesn't have your name on it..." and Trump will strangle Obamacare to death.
2
It's called sabotage.
To those who thought it wise to elect a man because of his business instincts, forgetting that those "instincts" were rooted in cut-throat bullying of competitors and anyone not in the family, hope you're starting to have doubts. As long as 35 to 40 percent of you support this Macy's parade balloon of hot air and vengeance our country will remain in chaos, its institutions threatened. The nation is bogged down in a WH reality TV show more absurdist than any of the TV shows portraying WH dysfunction, commissions formed to serve the ego of a president who lost the popular vote, and a Congress gridlocked by petty partisan divides impelled by rich donors mainly those who wish to hold fortunes in oil and gas to act for them and not the citizen voters interests. The two women Senators and McCain at least provide hope and a light at the end of the murky tunnel.
1
>
It was H. Heine who said: "Experience is a good school, but the fees are high."
I'd like to say let this be a lesson to the people who think their votes don't matter or to the fools that supported Bernie but DIDN'T vote for HRC.
Unfortunately, I have no confidence that a significant portion of the fools that fill the ranks of this country have the capacity to learn very much.
But the real unfairness of this world is that the people who have and can learn from experience have to pay these high fees too which fools burden us with.
The GOP has no intention to stop their attacks on the ACA.
It was H. Heine who said: "Experience is a good school, but the fees are high."
I'd like to say let this be a lesson to the people who think their votes don't matter or to the fools that supported Bernie but DIDN'T vote for HRC.
Unfortunately, I have no confidence that a significant portion of the fools that fill the ranks of this country have the capacity to learn very much.
But the real unfairness of this world is that the people who have and can learn from experience have to pay these high fees too which fools burden us with.
The GOP has no intention to stop their attacks on the ACA.
2
So is the new plan to let A.C.A. implode and then the Democrats will work with us. What a ridiculous idea! It actually implies that the Democratic party is the party that actually cares about the suffering of the American people. Of course, the Republicans can help sabotage A.C.A. and then spin it as the fault of the Democrats.
Senator Schumer stated that the Democrats are willing to work on a bipartisan plan, but the Republicans continue to claim they have no desire to work with them.
In an interview on CNN regarding Mr. Priebus' resignation he was asked about a bipartisan effort in health care. This was asked after Senator Schumer 's statement.
Mr. Priebus again said they have no desire to work with us. He then added that they would only be able to get a few Democrats on board. I interpreted that statement as meaning only a few would agree to a plan the Republicans would come up with. That is not the same as working on a plan together!
A message to both parties: I really don't care whether a new plan is touted as a "fix" or a "repeal and replace". I would just like to see the American people have affordable health care. Please stop worrying about your political careers and start being concerned about the people you represent.
Senator Schumer stated that the Democrats are willing to work on a bipartisan plan, but the Republicans continue to claim they have no desire to work with them.
In an interview on CNN regarding Mr. Priebus' resignation he was asked about a bipartisan effort in health care. This was asked after Senator Schumer 's statement.
Mr. Priebus again said they have no desire to work with us. He then added that they would only be able to get a few Democrats on board. I interpreted that statement as meaning only a few would agree to a plan the Republicans would come up with. That is not the same as working on a plan together!
A message to both parties: I really don't care whether a new plan is touted as a "fix" or a "repeal and replace". I would just like to see the American people have affordable health care. Please stop worrying about your political careers and start being concerned about the people you represent.
3
If there's anything we've learned about Kompromat Trump, it's that he's vicious and vengeful, and underhanded in the extreme. He doesn't need to understand the policy details, and this won't be a question of could. He will definitely do everything he can to undermine the A.C.A. out of spite and anger.
This mad dog Kompromat Trump has to be stopped. The investigation into his Russian ties has to follow the evidence, especially the money, and prosecute him. Kompromat Trump has to be impeached.
This mad dog Kompromat Trump has to be stopped. The investigation into his Russian ties has to follow the evidence, especially the money, and prosecute him. Kompromat Trump has to be impeached.
1
I suspect it is impossible to underestimate the smallness of this administration. That is all.
2
It will be perpetually in peril for a much simpler reason: affordability. In a country as unhealthy as America, it's a shibboleth that will constantly need to be kept under control.
This is generally an excellent and humane editorial. But the penultimate paragraph concerning all the beneficial things Republicand *could* do to improve healthcare and the ACA--if they hadn't become almost completly a party of hard core, prevaricating idealogues spouting lockkstep19th century, Dickensian poorhouse philosophy, contrived by Frank Luntz, and based on the pathetic ideas of Ayn Rand, all bought and paid for by the Koch brothers--is actually kind of amusing. The likelihood of their employing even one of your proposals is of the same order as their suspending the law of gravity. Then, there's their chosen leader, a textbook paradigm of mental disease . . .
1
Like most over-privileged, spoiled children, Trump will stomp his feet and lash out in fury over not getting his way. His capacity to do damage is unchecked and heaven knows not balanced, even by the institutions of this great country. Millions of "little people" (in Trump's swollen head) will suffer. Our reputation as a shining beacon in the world is already badly bruised, and it will get far worse as Trump brings out the worst in some of us. The idea that General Kelly will bring discipline to this white house may be true, but self discipline to the narcissist at the top is wishful thinking .
1
For Trump to actively advocate for the demise of the ACA without lifting a finger to help improve it proves, without doubt, how little he cares for or understands the needs of regular Americans. It's downright sickening, pardon the pun.
2
Of course the ACA is in peril, it still doesn't work. It still leaves tens of millions without health care.
I'm surprised that nobody has brought up that the ACA is a Republican health plan. Worked out and planned by the Heritage Foundation and polished in Mass. by Romney & Co. Of course the current Repub.'s in charge couldn't change it. It is their plan. Their just toddler-men throwing a tantrum against their own deal.
The ACA is not Affordable nor is it Care, but it is an Act. It funnels money to Insur., Pharma., and Med. Corp. hand over fist. (Granted, it is a step, a bread crumb cast out to the few. Our cake if you will. Yes it helps many. Not enough.)
The ACA should be in peril. Everyone should be for repeal and replace with Medicare/Single Payer for All.
The working models are out there. Lets be brave, moral and smart. Lets call Health Care a Right and something guaranteed by the wealthiest country the world has ever known.
I'm surprised that nobody has brought up that the ACA is a Republican health plan. Worked out and planned by the Heritage Foundation and polished in Mass. by Romney & Co. Of course the current Repub.'s in charge couldn't change it. It is their plan. Their just toddler-men throwing a tantrum against their own deal.
The ACA is not Affordable nor is it Care, but it is an Act. It funnels money to Insur., Pharma., and Med. Corp. hand over fist. (Granted, it is a step, a bread crumb cast out to the few. Our cake if you will. Yes it helps many. Not enough.)
The ACA should be in peril. Everyone should be for repeal and replace with Medicare/Single Payer for All.
The working models are out there. Lets be brave, moral and smart. Lets call Health Care a Right and something guaranteed by the wealthiest country the world has ever known.
3
The Republican connection to the ACA -- most prominently build by Mitt Romney in Massachussetts as the state's Governor -- was very well and continuously reported during the Republican campaigns for the presidency. It was just ignored by all Republican candidates escepting, I believe, Kasich, who was also a governor of his state and less removed from the lives of his constituents than are the GOP Senators still haunting the Senate.
1
It is imperative that the Democratic leadership put their legislative ideas on the table NOW.
By doing so, they can also talk about the continued behavior (funding subsidies) necessary to continue the ACA as a viable program.
Now Mr. Schumer.
Now Ms. Pelosi
It is incompetence if your do not have legislative language ready to go.
It would be totally RepubliCon.
By doing so, they can also talk about the continued behavior (funding subsidies) necessary to continue the ACA as a viable program.
Now Mr. Schumer.
Now Ms. Pelosi
It is incompetence if your do not have legislative language ready to go.
It would be totally RepubliCon.
2
I don't want to hear from the conservative talking heads about how much of a master tactician Mitch McConnell or a policy wonk Paul Ryan is, they both have proved themselves not only as incompetent as Donald Trump, but also a couple of frauds with totally undeserved reputations.
I can't think of any legislative accomplishments Mitch McConnell has crafted other than Dysfunction, Do-Nothing, and Obstruction; and the Little Eddie Munster double masquerading around as a policy wonk, Paul Ryan.....talks a good game but after almost 8 years of a totally undeserved reputation, Paul Ryan has shown no inclination to do any of the hard, substantive work of a real policy wonk, where has he been working and developing a comprehensive healthcare plan with input from experts, doctors, medical groups, hospitals, users, etc....nothing.
Paul Ryan walks around with this totally underserved reputation and now the curtain has been pulled back and this phony has been exposed as a complete fraud.
Hillary Clinton was a true policy wonk, her plans and details were on her website and she talked about them in details, for anyone who would listen, Paul Ryan....nothing.
This last exercise in trying to pass Obamacare repeal, has shown the whole Republican Congress for what they are, a bankrupt group of demagogues who blew a lot of hot air for 8 years, but never putting in the hard work in all that time to craft a solid repair or replacement plan for healthcare, not even close........embarrassing.
I can't think of any legislative accomplishments Mitch McConnell has crafted other than Dysfunction, Do-Nothing, and Obstruction; and the Little Eddie Munster double masquerading around as a policy wonk, Paul Ryan.....talks a good game but after almost 8 years of a totally undeserved reputation, Paul Ryan has shown no inclination to do any of the hard, substantive work of a real policy wonk, where has he been working and developing a comprehensive healthcare plan with input from experts, doctors, medical groups, hospitals, users, etc....nothing.
Paul Ryan walks around with this totally underserved reputation and now the curtain has been pulled back and this phony has been exposed as a complete fraud.
Hillary Clinton was a true policy wonk, her plans and details were on her website and she talked about them in details, for anyone who would listen, Paul Ryan....nothing.
This last exercise in trying to pass Obamacare repeal, has shown the whole Republican Congress for what they are, a bankrupt group of demagogues who blew a lot of hot air for 8 years, but never putting in the hard work in all that time to craft a solid repair or replacement plan for healthcare, not even close........embarrassing.
2
The Democrats need now to come up with a short list of improvements to the ACA to stabilize insurance markets and keep costs down; market it to the public and reasonable Republicans and try to get it passed. Let the public see what governing should look like and who's doing it. The iron is hot now.
2
We should no longer be calling the ACA by its intended pejorative nickname, Obamacare. The Trump administration has already made a number of executive changes intended to cobble the workings of the law passed almost a decade ago. Trump now owns what he is in the process of breaking. It is now Trumpcare.
CRISPR technology is looming over all of this. There is no limit to what can go wrong once gene editing becomes a ubiquitous laboratory plaything.
Unfortunately, bipartisan cooperation for the GOP will amount to embracing everyone who will roll back Medicaid and return to the good old days when insurance companies were real death panels.
2
Obamacare was in peril from the beginning when the intellectually superior Democrats led by the ever so well-liked Nancy Pelosi rammed the ACA through while the bill was supported by only 36% of the public and not one Republican. The cleverly superior Democrats clearly knew from the beginning ACA was deeply flawed and was not sustainable because of these defficiencies and the lack of future Republican support, but tried to use Romney Care and "debate" as an excuse to move forward. It was a great way to buy +20MM votes from the previously uninsured, but at incredible expense to middle class families, and the Democrats have paid dearly for their reckless gamble to bribe poor people for more votes. Yes, Obamacare is in peril, ACA is the Democrats' fault, and the supremely intellectually all knowing Democrats will continue to pay dearly.
3
Scott what are you talking about re "incredible expense" to middle class families? Most people in the middle and upper class STILL get the same insurance as ever through their employers. The ACA gave the self employed SOME insurance rather than none at all. You think it needs fixing? Great, let's improve it. But to argue that the purpose was to "buy votes" is just cynical. Perhaps some politicians actually just want to help other human beings and don't have a profit motive that fits within your capitalism-centric world view?
Who do you want to tax to pay for the increased government spending that your proposed "fixes" would require? Please remember that we are already $500B in the hole each year, with CBO projections going to $1T in a few years.
1
"Who do (we) want to pay" for health insurance? Let's start with the billionaires and millionaires, Michael Oakes. The poor are still scuffling to pay their rent and buy the gasoline to get to work.
We get a constant barrage from the GOP and DT screaming how the ACA has failed. And rarely do we hear any voice countering that from the Democratic party. Once in a while, on a dull news cycle, the media will find some D legislator who will faintly praise an esoteric point supporting the ACA, and then to be "fair," have a GOP legislator say 15 times in five minutes that the ACA has failed. That's why the GOP will overturn the ACA. No support from the D party.
2
I'm more than a little disappointed with the Democrats in this continuing struggle -that they're too readily ceding the territory of truth and logic to those who would abuse it.
We might start with their beginning to educate the populace on the meaning of "insurance"; I heard the junior senator from Oklahoma this morning express his voters' objections at having "to pay for other people's health care."
And how about generating and publicising specific improvements to the existing ACA. Surely they have them at hand (inching closer to single payer, one hopes). If the alternatives to Republican nihilism are exposed, and vigorously, there's a better chance that the turning tide will fall as it ought.
I despair of this new, bland tagline of the DNC: a Better Deal; it's hard to imagine anything more vapid and uninspiring. Let Schumer & Co. light a fire under their backsides and get their strong, positive voices heard above dishonest conservative droning.
We might start with their beginning to educate the populace on the meaning of "insurance"; I heard the junior senator from Oklahoma this morning express his voters' objections at having "to pay for other people's health care."
And how about generating and publicising specific improvements to the existing ACA. Surely they have them at hand (inching closer to single payer, one hopes). If the alternatives to Republican nihilism are exposed, and vigorously, there's a better chance that the turning tide will fall as it ought.
I despair of this new, bland tagline of the DNC: a Better Deal; it's hard to imagine anything more vapid and uninspiring. Let Schumer & Co. light a fire under their backsides and get their strong, positive voices heard above dishonest conservative droning.
6
The GOP knows already it is flying in the face of voter opinion, and it hasn't changed their course in presenting one unpopular bill after another, confident that their billionaire supporters can buy their re-election. Clearly the GOP sees no need to do what voters want.
Bipartisanship is impossible unless the Dems are clearly in command of a massive public support. Even if the GOP agrees to a bill that seems to compromise, it is clear they will not refrain from undermining it as they now are doing with the ACA, which already is law.
Unfortunately, all that collaboration will provide is the opportunity for the GOP to tag the Dems with everything that goes wrong and inflates the voters. Collaboration is idiocy.
Bipartisanship is impossible unless the Dems are clearly in command of a massive public support. Even if the GOP agrees to a bill that seems to compromise, it is clear they will not refrain from undermining it as they now are doing with the ACA, which already is law.
Unfortunately, all that collaboration will provide is the opportunity for the GOP to tag the Dems with everything that goes wrong and inflates the voters. Collaboration is idiocy.
1
The three GOP NO votes, along with all those Democrats, was NOT courageous. Especially not McCain, who'll do anything to get brownie points these days. Be it voting No when he previously voted yes, or happily playing-along a Mayo setup to bravely beat cancer, McCain will do anything these days to stay in adoring public limelight. Sort of like Justice Kennedy.
At any rate, what they've done, is to authorize what this opinion fears: legitimize Obamacare to run out of fuel and crashing on its own. Trump, meanwhile, knows he's on track to deliver on promise of repeal. Except it's happening beyond his wildest expectations, crashing without him having to even lift a finger. Naturally his supporters, this commenter included, are delighted.
Listen, it's still time re-vote on Repeal only, which is just 4 GOP votes or so from passage in Senate. Not only will Repeal crash land Obamacare in controlled delayed fashion, it'll kick-off a fresh discussion on how government health care should look going forward on a fresh-clean slate bound to reap rich rewards. Especially with the rich learnings of Obamacare, a plan that's made every mistake in the book, then some.
Let's hope cooler minds will see the benefits of wiping Obamacare off the books as best starting point for the mess it's namesake has left us. Just do it, Repeal.
More coffee? Bah.
At any rate, what they've done, is to authorize what this opinion fears: legitimize Obamacare to run out of fuel and crashing on its own. Trump, meanwhile, knows he's on track to deliver on promise of repeal. Except it's happening beyond his wildest expectations, crashing without him having to even lift a finger. Naturally his supporters, this commenter included, are delighted.
Listen, it's still time re-vote on Repeal only, which is just 4 GOP votes or so from passage in Senate. Not only will Repeal crash land Obamacare in controlled delayed fashion, it'll kick-off a fresh discussion on how government health care should look going forward on a fresh-clean slate bound to reap rich rewards. Especially with the rich learnings of Obamacare, a plan that's made every mistake in the book, then some.
Let's hope cooler minds will see the benefits of wiping Obamacare off the books as best starting point for the mess it's namesake has left us. Just do it, Repeal.
More coffee? Bah.
2
How to get everyone's support? Develop bipartisan fixes for Obamacare, then label it "Trumpcare." This will pump The Donald's ego back up to his usual stratospheric heights and he will be happy to support it.
That takes care of the politicians who have to, of course, be fed first.
How about We The People? We'll begin to enjoy better health care like so many other advanced and not-so-advanced (see Cuba) countries.
That takes care of the politicians who have to, of course, be fed first.
How about We The People? We'll begin to enjoy better health care like so many other advanced and not-so-advanced (see Cuba) countries.
1
Trump exposes the adolescent within him, driving his obsessions without confessions. We adults have left the sandbox behind while he and his minions play this pointless game with the health of millions, the dollars in trillions and the dishonesty beyond calculation.
While practically everyone admits that the Affordable Care Act has flaws, the prediction from day one by Republicans that it would collapse or cause irreparable harm to the nation has proved to be false.
More important than their "sky is falling" predictions were the many ways Republicans have tried to sabotage the law. With law suits, by refusing to open insurance exchanges in some states to refusing to expand Medicaid in others, to urging citizens not to enroll in a program that by law everyone was supposed to participate, they tried as hard as they could to insure that the ACA would implode. But it did not.
In spite of all its flaws, it delivered health insurance to millions of uninsured Americans, while requiring that policies did not contain restrictions or exclusions that made them useless in medical emergencies and drive hard working citizens into bankruptcy. Cynically, President Trump and the Republican majority in Congress never had a plan to improve or replace the ACA. Bowing to the extreme Right they only wanted to destroy a genuine effort by the Federal Government to bring affordable health care to every American. Shame on them.
More important than their "sky is falling" predictions were the many ways Republicans have tried to sabotage the law. With law suits, by refusing to open insurance exchanges in some states to refusing to expand Medicaid in others, to urging citizens not to enroll in a program that by law everyone was supposed to participate, they tried as hard as they could to insure that the ACA would implode. But it did not.
In spite of all its flaws, it delivered health insurance to millions of uninsured Americans, while requiring that policies did not contain restrictions or exclusions that made them useless in medical emergencies and drive hard working citizens into bankruptcy. Cynically, President Trump and the Republican majority in Congress never had a plan to improve or replace the ACA. Bowing to the extreme Right they only wanted to destroy a genuine effort by the Federal Government to bring affordable health care to every American. Shame on them.
Wait. I thought there was a plan--"patient centered health care". What was that? Seven years and they forgot that half the ideas in the ACA came from the Heritage Foundation via the Mitt Riomney Massachusetts. And they forgot that while you can make the ACA better you can't do that by getting rid of those particular aspects of it that stick in the conservative craw--the individual mandate and the taxes. Oh lets reform taxes. And privatize our infrastructure selling our interstate highways to the lowest bidder. Please. November 6, 2018. 16 months. Register and Vote! In the meantime let's hope the next 7 months are as unproductive as the last 7.
If Trump sabotages the ACA, as described, he will own the sabotage. To the media, call him out on every action. You guys are smarter than he is.
Open question: if we went to a single payer system, what's the fallout? I'm assuming some sort of tax, like FICA. How many Insurance jobs lost? How many govt jobs gained? Quality and timeliness of care? Etc. Would it look like Canada's?
Open question: if we went to a single payer system, what's the fallout? I'm assuming some sort of tax, like FICA. How many Insurance jobs lost? How many govt jobs gained? Quality and timeliness of care? Etc. Would it look like Canada's?
Mr. Trump is behaving like a gored bull, thrashing about in anger, frustration, and pain (to his ego), trying to destroy everything and everyone that (he perceives) gets in his way. It could be quite interesting and bloody to see who he ruthlessly targets in the GOP in the run up to the 2018 midterms as he seeks revenge.
For 7 long years now, the GOP has been motivated by a need (driven by what?) to destruct everything that President Obama did or tried to do. Nowhere in their efforts can you find a desire to construct or create or do good for us.
Until or unless the driving force behind GOP actions is a sincere desire to build something better for the American people, nothing will change and nothing will get done.
It is foolish at this point to hope that Mr. Trump will ever be motivated by good will or a desire to help others.
For 7 long years now, the GOP has been motivated by a need (driven by what?) to destruct everything that President Obama did or tried to do. Nowhere in their efforts can you find a desire to construct or create or do good for us.
Until or unless the driving force behind GOP actions is a sincere desire to build something better for the American people, nothing will change and nothing will get done.
It is foolish at this point to hope that Mr. Trump will ever be motivated by good will or a desire to help others.
1
Republicans thought governing would be easier. Now, they can retreat to their comfort zone, back to the Party of No. Mitch and his gang will circle the wagons, and obstruct and filibuster, as Democrats come forward with amendments to fix Obamacare.
One can only speculate on Mr. Trump's sanity. What sane man would enter the presidency in such a helter skelter way firing key associates on personal whims? Mr. Trump's tweetings and his sudden pronouncements hardly seem like the considered thoughts of an experienced and stable individual. IF he has become mentally unbalanced, how do we remove him from office by rational Congressional action? We can hardly allow an individual who has become mentally ill continue at the helm of the most powerful nation on earth. This is not politics. It's national survival.
Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell, and the President have shown us that the Republican Party is morally and intellectually bankrupt when it comes to healthcare policy. Thank heaven that Senators Collins and Murkowski had the integrity to acknowledge this fact and stand up to the bully in the bully pullpit.
All the pain and suffering people didn't have to endure. All the people who needlessly die who could have been saved. All for the win. All to try to totally remove Obama's name from the history books. The price that has to be paid. So the American people need to gut this out and give them the W. They understand that sacrifice has to be made. Like on D day. They will then create a new Federal holiday to honor the fallen. And you will have a big parade and Mitch will be the Grand Marshall. America will be great again. And someone will write a song recognizing the courage our leaders showed. And they will put a red hat on the graves of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Just gives me goosebumps thinking about it.
It's in peril because it's horrible.
It's taking time but we'll dismantle it.
It's taking time but we'll dismantle it.
2
The problem is bigger than just Health Care!
Further towards the head on the fishbone of root causes you will find the change on our currency from "E pluribus unum" to "In God we trust". No longer is Congress making decisions for the whole, but rather just those that attend the correct church and contribute huge sums to election campaigns.
Further towards the head on the fishbone of root causes you will find the change on our currency from "E pluribus unum" to "In God we trust". No longer is Congress making decisions for the whole, but rather just those that attend the correct church and contribute huge sums to election campaigns.
Does Trump have the legal right to sabotage Obamacare? Isn't he required to execute current law? Is not the failure to do so an impeachable offense? After all, people will die. What is wrong with us if we allow a malignant ignoramus to destroy what he doesn't begin to understand, simply because he can't put his name on it, and pass it off as politics? It isn't politics, it's murder.
I used to get exercised by the anti-health-care push by the Republican Party, but I've been seeking for a zen position, and I think I've found it. My own health care situation is fine (knock on wood), and my daughter's is as well - it's non-U.S.-based. Let the ignoramuses (I know I'm supposed to be gentle to the minority of voters who managed to elect Trump, but whatever . . .) who installed the destroy-health-care agenda in Washington enjoy the fruits of their efforts. Maybe another election or so will eliminate the people who did that to them, or maybe not . . . Stockholm Syndrome all over again?
How many more need to die?
How many more medical related personal bankruptcies need to be declared?
What will it take for a majority of Americans to demand that single payer become law of the land?
How many more medical related personal bankruptcies need to be declared?
What will it take for a majority of Americans to demand that single payer become law of the land?
Ok...one strategy for the Democrats is to gather up all the specific cases that Trump, Price, etc have come up with as proof that Obamacare has failed, and figure out how these cases could be fixed, then propose in Congress the fixes, citing the specific cases. "The Jones family in ..... had to drop their health insurance because.....and now with this change to ACA, they and other similar families will now be able to get health insurance." If they do this with every case that Trump, Price, and the Republicans throw out, this will undercut their position and may lead the good changes to the ACA. Of course, it will have to be renamed. Maybe RDT.
Obamacare is an insidious law the steals from the "rich", meaning anyone who has paid for insurance for all his life. Because it was never even close to being properly funded, doctors and hospitals have to reduce coverage of people who have insurance to pay for Obamacare patients. Of course, once you get people used to a government handout, they are going to scream when it is taken away, so some weak minded senators could not resist the pressure and we may be stuck with a horrible law.
2
McCain was re-elected in 2016 . If he was to die before the 2018 elections, the GOP Governor could name a temporary replacement in the interim before the 2018 Arizona general election . I imagine this temporary Senator would be sent with one purpose: vote to repeal ACA.
I'm not sure how the U.S. became the only nation to pay for health care with private, for profit, insurance. It has not worked out well, but that seems to be what we are stuck with. The ACA appears to be a pretty good effort to work within an insurance based system to provide care for most citizens. It would be nice if Republicans could cooperate and make an effort to fix the problems with the ACA, but there is no evidence that is likely to happen. If the ACA fails, it will be important for everyone to understand who caused the disaster.
2
Our great American Corporations discovered sometime in the 1970's that financing political campaigns, hiring Lobbyists and possibly supplying funds "under the table" can get any Law passed in Congress and signed by the President. President Bill Clinton tried in 1993 for a single payer type of medical care plan and it did not end well (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinton_health_care_plan_of_1993)
Some time in the 1990's the Corporations had the internet technology available that permitted them to move their manufacturing to countries with lower labor costs and created a Middle Class in China. Once China becomes too expensive, they will move to Africa and begin creating a Middle Class their.
Meanwhile back in the USA the Supreme Court passed Citizens United which allowed President Trump to get elected and get out his Wrecking Ball to destroy any restrictions that are remaining in the way of our Great American Corporations.
Some time in the 1990's the Corporations had the internet technology available that permitted them to move their manufacturing to countries with lower labor costs and created a Middle Class in China. Once China becomes too expensive, they will move to Africa and begin creating a Middle Class their.
Meanwhile back in the USA the Supreme Court passed Citizens United which allowed President Trump to get elected and get out his Wrecking Ball to destroy any restrictions that are remaining in the way of our Great American Corporations.
If the GOP destabilizes the insurance markets by failing to meet their ACA obligations, they will own the resulting Obamacare mess and give Democrats a winning campaign issue in the 2018 and 2020 elections. Surely the President, Speaker Ryan, and Majority Leader McConnell are not that out of touch with the nation?
1
"[I]t could stop enforcing the penalty for people who do not buy insurance, which would result in fewer young and healthy people signing up..."
Is this really a problem? The statute of limitations at the IRS is generally 10 years.
Is this really a problem? The statute of limitations at the IRS is generally 10 years.
3
McCain's call for a bi-partisan bill would have made sense if there was any inkling of such bi-partisanship in the wings. He too had 8 years to find even one Democrat to join with him in such a bill. Didn't happen. Won't happen. Obamacare is fatally flawed because it insists on so-called comprehensive insurance when what is needed is catastrophic insurance. Instead, McCain and the D's have ensured that many Americans will be condemned to the illusion of health insurance, that is, being enrolled in Medicaid and waiting in long lines for health care, a la the Veterans Administration "health care."
4
Two thoughts:
1. If you just have catastrophic insurance, you risk being there if you have not taken care of lesser conditions first.
2. I don't know about the long lines at the VA, but fairly regularly when I ask for a specialist's appointment, I have to wait several weeks to get it. So, waiting for a doctor's appointment is a normal occurrence in American health care and not just at the VA.
1. If you just have catastrophic insurance, you risk being there if you have not taken care of lesser conditions first.
2. I don't know about the long lines at the VA, but fairly regularly when I ask for a specialist's appointment, I have to wait several weeks to get it. So, waiting for a doctor's appointment is a normal occurrence in American health care and not just at the VA.
10
We know that President Trump and his Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tom Price, are determined to undermine the Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare), but the Republican Congress led by conservative Speaker Paul Ryan and his "starve the beast" mantra is still in on it as well. Their budget proposals contain the huge cuts to Medicaid as well as Medicare they need to subsidize their proposed "massive" tax cuts to the wealthy. Whether there will be the public outrage and push back on the more obscure aspects of the budget that helped save Obamacare from "repeal and repeal" or just having key elements removed, is, as you note, the next battle between the forces of greed and those of compassion.
7
It is a law designed to fail in order to force a single payer system. It was a fraud from the beginning as substantiated by Obama's deceptive statements regarding the law. So many are being forced to buy something they cannot ever use because the deductibles are so high. Yes they have medical insurance, no they do not have medical care. The MEDICAID expansion was a pure vote buying move by Democrats and even though the Republicans wanted to increase MEDICAID spending , it was demagogued by Schumer. Until the payee and payer get the insurance companies and government out of the middle, cost efficient medical care will not be possible. Single payer is a rationed system because that is the only way costs can be controlled in a society where medical is deemed to be "free" . The horror storied about the UK's NAtional Health will be duplicated here , all because some want to buy more votes.
7
You won't convince many here. This reads as a right-wing Republican "argument," that's all. It hasn't convinced more than 60 percent of the country. President Obama's legacy shines brightly today, as Republicans bitterly realize it is permanent. Now they will have to find a way to come to the table with Democrats -- which will probably not happen immediately, but eventually - in a way they feel saves face, and start to work out a bipartisan fix to the ACA. Probably a door has been opened to single payer. If more than just a few Republicans come on board in each chamber, single payer will easily pass in Congress. And your great hero president will be forced to sign it, twisting the facts to look like he won something.
18
The Republicans better hurry and reach across the aisle. The 2018 midterm election is just around the corner. It's a certainty that King Trump and his royal jesters will do everything in their power to undermine the ACA before then. Maybe then Trump supports will wake up, once they feel the personal pain of losing (or not being able to afford) their health insurance.
1
Stabilizing the ACA exchange market is estimated to cost $7-10 billion dollars, or less than $1,000 for each of the 11 million participants. For reference, the federal budget in FY2016 spent $3.9 trillion.
By working to cause Obamacare to ''implode,'' the President has put a price on human life. He is willing to trade the health, well-being and even lives of millions just so he can have a ''win.''
How long must we suffer with Trump's perverted values?
By working to cause Obamacare to ''implode,'' the President has put a price on human life. He is willing to trade the health, well-being and even lives of millions just so he can have a ''win.''
How long must we suffer with Trump's perverted values?
29
Obamacare is not based on "conservative, market-based ideas." It is clearly further government intervention in what used to be a market. Consumer choice is dying.
2
In healthcare, consumer choice is already an ephemera. Tried to pick your CT scan on price/service criteria? Even try to find out how much any test or procedure costs? And don't - or ideological grounds - deny facts. The super conservative Heritage Foundation is the source of the ACA framework. Gov Mitt put it in place in Mass. It's the mess it is because of its rightwing commitment to protect for-profit insurance companies. Single payer! Medicare for all! Not to go all ideological on you.
5
Yes--a market that we all agreed wasn't working. 'Choice" was causing a lot of consumers to die because they couldn't afford insurance.
Baloney.....it's the Republican health care plan! It was hatched by the Heritage Foundation.....look it up! By the way, health care is too important to be part of a "consumer market." Would you shop around for police or fire protection?
The GOP is not upholding the ACA, which is the law, but are undermining it with the Trump Administration's help.
So what point is there in the Dems working with these folks to improve the ACA? Whatever becomes the law, the GOP and the White House will continue in the same vein to undermine it. The only thing achieved by collaboration is that the Dems can then be tagged with the failures of the law they helped craft, letting the GOP off the hook.
So what point is there in the Dems working with these folks to improve the ACA? Whatever becomes the law, the GOP and the White House will continue in the same vein to undermine it. The only thing achieved by collaboration is that the Dems can then be tagged with the failures of the law they helped craft, letting the GOP off the hook.
8
Obamacare is still in peril because it is a mess both structurally and financially. Almost every suggestion from democrats involves throwing billions of dollars more into a system that reduced choice and drove up costs for all but those getting free or nearly free health care. Mr Price should take steps to allow folks the freedom to buy HSA plans and less expensive HMO/PPO plans as well as allowing the sale across state lines to help those in undeserved rural areas.
2
"The administration could stop making subsidy payments to insurance companies authorized by the A.C.A...." Since this is the law of the land, can Trump be sued for going against his oath to "faithfully executing the law of the land"?
26
Only one of many violations of the ACA, which is the law. When the GOP controls Congress and the White House and the Supreme Court they can do anything. Except legislate responsibly.
5
This is not the law of the land. Appropriations must be made by Congress. Risk corridors were in the bill to allow sharing between insurers that won on and lost. There is no appropriation for risk corridors. The treasury paid the losing insurers when there were no winners because Obama chose to. Those funds were never appropriated. They shouldn't be appropriated. We should not be subsidizing insurers. If they can't make this work, the bill should be amended. Please get your facts straight.
2
The current court ruling is that those payments are illegal based on what the Dems passed 7 years ago.
1
Has anyone thought of the possibility that there was some sort of accord between McCain and the other "moderate" Republicans? The accord being that since McCain's vote, together with Collins' and Murkowski's, defeated the bill, the others could take political cover by voting yes. This way, particularly Heller, wouldn't have to face the fury of right-wing voters.
20
So, under Obamacare, the government continues to pay subsidies to lower income people to help pay their inflated deductibles. And subsidies are paid to insurance companies to continue to write policies. Younger people who choose not to buy insurance are assessed fines. Meanwhile middle class families whose earnings are too high to receive subsidies pay huge premiums while also having high deductibles. Even Chelsea Clinton said of the ACA that "We need to work on the affordable part." When is that going to happen? Apparently, the answer is, Never!
15
Since Americans have come to expect to be immortalized by the health care system, affordability is out of the question.
Do you know how INSURANCE works?
After living through this McConnell engineered nightmare of repeal and replace so many of us hope that the Congress will understand what Americans want is improvement for the ACA. If they think it through rationally the Republicans and Trump could forever be remembered as the legislators who created Republican care universal health insurance
8
In the final analysis, the fierce opposition to the ACA (Obamacare) has never been about alternative ideas on improving the quality of or lowering the cost of healthcare for ordinary citizens - it's been about the outrage of conservatives, Republicans and Libertarians at being asked to help pay for the healthcare of people who aren't as wealthy as they are. Every Republican bill to "repeal and replace" has focused only on repealing the measures required to finance the system, not the reform of the system itself. (That healthcare remains embedded in non-cash (un-taxed) benefits tied to employment is part of the problem, and NOT any solution.) It is the blind outrage at having to help finance the system that stands in the way of people failing to recognize that the ACA has never been the source of the real problems in the system - and that the hidden costs of going back to the way things were ultimately will not save them any money at all.
33
Paul B says it well. The "unspoken yet omnipresent objection" to the ACA has been and is 2 fold: 1. resentment that an African American president got this into the public conversation and passed (after great Americans like Teddy Roosvelt, FDR, H. Truman, R Nixon had not succeeded) -a.v. racist resentment, and 2. that the ACA does not agree with the current Republican felt-need to widen the gap between the wealthiest and the rest of us. If any bill does not burden the marginal and enrich the wealthy it's un-American to the Sente majority leader. Mitch does better when he does not lie (the ACA that he falsely accused of being "in secret" had 60 public hours of hearing vs. his replacemnt done by 13 white men in actual secret). Mitch, lying is not your best or most successful modus operandi -- you are not Trump, for whom only lies seem possible.
2
The outrage is not about be "asked" to help pay, it is about having a sloppily crafted bill rammed down middle class families throats with lies about how we can have lower premiums and keep our doctors. All the while, deductibles and premiums have skyrocketed.
2
Maybe you have identified some of the reasons the GOP and the White House are so intent upon mashing government dysfunctional. I think another reason is that they really want to make government dysfunctional. After all, the GOP has been at it now for 8 years.
Why are they doing this? Because their election depends upon doing what their billionaire backers tell them to do. These backers believe no-one can run the country for the benefit of billionaires better than billionaires, and making voters unhappy with a dysfunctional government is a step toward demolishing the Republic and installing a billionaire Theocracy.
Why are they doing this? Because their election depends upon doing what their billionaire backers tell them to do. These backers believe no-one can run the country for the benefit of billionaires better than billionaires, and making voters unhappy with a dysfunctional government is a step toward demolishing the Republic and installing a billionaire Theocracy.
1
While it is accurate and honest to criticize the republicans for their singular inability to govern, the debate over ObamaCare misses the point.
The real issue confronting Americans over healthcare is not insurance coverage that is affordable and useful.
The real issue confronting Americans over healthcare is the high and escalating cost of healthcare.
Unless the cost curve flattens, affordable healthcare will remain an oxymoron.
The real issue confronting Americans over healthcare is not insurance coverage that is affordable and useful.
The real issue confronting Americans over healthcare is the high and escalating cost of healthcare.
Unless the cost curve flattens, affordable healthcare will remain an oxymoron.
12
The real issue is dysfunctional government and what actually is behind it. It's not incompetence; it's deliberate.
1
Americans want to be immortalized by the health care system now.
Yes, it is quite deliberate. Just follow the money back to its sources.
SINGLE PAYER.
36
The liar-in-chief who promised the people who voted for him a "beautiful" health plan with better coverage at a lower cost for all was and is ready to sign anything Congress puts in front of him that will give him a "win", even if it means taking away coverage from millions and making it more expensive for the rest.
Since it now appears that new health care legislation is not going to be forthcoming, he says that his plan now is to sabotage the A.C.A and thereby force Democrats to work with Republicans to replace it with something else. In the meanwhile. how much suffering and death will ensue?
This type of thinking is the product of a very disturbed mind. It is unimaginable that such a creature capable of putting such a plan into action is actually President of the United States. The national nightmare continues.
Since it now appears that new health care legislation is not going to be forthcoming, he says that his plan now is to sabotage the A.C.A and thereby force Democrats to work with Republicans to replace it with something else. In the meanwhile. how much suffering and death will ensue?
This type of thinking is the product of a very disturbed mind. It is unimaginable that such a creature capable of putting such a plan into action is actually President of the United States. The national nightmare continues.
57
Now Trump will try to sabotage the ACA by denying funds and allowing Secretary Price to obstruct implementation. Trump is vengeful and mean. He will now try to make life as miserable for people needing health care as he possibly can in order to prove that he was "right" (as he claimed) about "Letting Obamacare implode."
This is NOT governing. This is an attack on our own people from our chief executive. Trump is bent on killing Americans to satisfy his ego, just as surely as President Assad is attacking his own people.
This is NOT governing. This is an attack on our own people from our chief executive. Trump is bent on killing Americans to satisfy his ego, just as surely as President Assad is attacking his own people.
69
The shame of it all is that the Republicans hated the ACA so much because :A. It was originally their plan and they couldn't get it done and the Democrats did, largely due to the tenacity and leadership on Nancy Pelosie who they hate. B. Because the plan. Was not only done by Democrats but by a Black President who they resented because he was Black, actually he was bi-racial but that wasn't good enough for McConnell. C. Because Trump is insanely jealous of President Obama and Obama's signature legislative achievement. C Calling the ACA Obamacare put the Republicans in a tough spot. They had no easy way to get out the box they put themselves in.
The electorate have given them a way out. Work with the Democrats and fix the problems. The ACA is fixable and stop calling it Obamacare. I'm OK with that.
The electorate have given them a way out. Work with the Democrats and fix the problems. The ACA is fixable and stop calling it Obamacare. I'm OK with that.
17
The real killer of a public plan in the US is the fact that no public plan can afford to write blank checks to support pregnancies and massive post birth interventions for congenitally crippled fetuses. This is what just happened in England over a baby whose parents had unrealistic expectations.
You won't have affordable health care without triage.
You won't have affordable health care without triage.
6
Unrealistic expectations that it was their child, not the government's?. Unrealistic expectations that when their government could offer nothing to try and cure the child, the government further prevented others from offering charitable care that could potentially have saved its life?.
How on earth could asking to have your child treated by an expert doctor at no cost to the state, rather than the state leave the child to die, be considered unreasonable?
How on earth could asking to have your child treated by an expert doctor at no cost to the state, rather than the state leave the child to die, be considered unreasonable?
1
And yet, there is always money for war and military hardware. F35 over run $1.5 trillion ?
I can't understand how unrealistic the Times is. None of the people who voted for the last bill want to move away in a bipartisan way.
Trump said himself he wants the program to implode. Why don't you believe the worst in him, which he has consistently displayed.
His strategy, and the Republican strategy, will be to do everything to make the ACA not work, and try to elect even more, ever further right Congressmen next time. How long will it take for the publication to understand that Trump and McConnell and Ryan have no intention of ever working in a bipartisan way.
Trump said himself he wants the program to implode. Why don't you believe the worst in him, which he has consistently displayed.
His strategy, and the Republican strategy, will be to do everything to make the ACA not work, and try to elect even more, ever further right Congressmen next time. How long will it take for the publication to understand that Trump and McConnell and Ryan have no intention of ever working in a bipartisan way.
12
If the citizens don't vote and cannot stop a mafia gang a.k.a. Republican Senators from destroying people's lives for their personal profit, shame on our democracy.
In a democracy, people get what they deserve -- but only when they are well informed and acts rationally -- the two conditions that no democracy satisfy perfectly. And hence, we see sometimes extreme side effects like the ones this country is going through.
In a democracy, people get what they deserve -- but only when they are well informed and acts rationally -- the two conditions that no democracy satisfy perfectly. And hence, we see sometimes extreme side effects like the ones this country is going through.
1
I am one who keeps up with developments in the healthcare battle in the Congress. I know that Republican's focus on the past 7 years has been repeal of Obamacare and more recently on repeal and replace. I am familiar with the House-passed bill and the attempts in the Senate to come up with their own version and with the ultimate failure of their efforts. WHAT I STILL DON'T KNOW ARE THE DETAILS OF THE DEMOCRAT'S PLAN TO FIX OBAMACARE. Shouldn't those be front and center at this point? Shouldn't Democrats be putting their ideas before the public over and over again? As far as I can see, Democrats are once again losing the messaging battle to the Republicans. Step up Democrats; let us know how you plan to improve Obamacare!
19
As an increasing number of us Democrats are stepping up and supporting a single payer system, it would be useful to insist that our representatives make a comparative study of the very best, healthcare systems in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.In that way we might see their strengths and weaknesses and also conclude what might be applicable to our own country and what innovations we should make.
3
That's what they do in congressional committees, remember them?
I strongly support a single-payer system, but that isn't going to happen until Democrats control all of congress and the white house. So we have to look for practical alternatives.
Of course healthcare is still in peril.
First, Obama cannot be allowed to have a legacy. And second, nothing should ever be done to help people. especially if it requires a tax dollar. We'd all rather die proud than live off of government. In theory. The richer you are, the more you declare a willingness to die poor and proud.
At some point, can we hope that the government will admit that our healthcare is a problem? One which cannot be fixed without a lot of disruption? And one that is necessary to solve with more than a paean to the "free market?"
Most likely not.Expect more tries to disenfranchise the few we franchised, with no help at all to those still left out.
First, Obama cannot be allowed to have a legacy. And second, nothing should ever be done to help people. especially if it requires a tax dollar. We'd all rather die proud than live off of government. In theory. The richer you are, the more you declare a willingness to die poor and proud.
At some point, can we hope that the government will admit that our healthcare is a problem? One which cannot be fixed without a lot of disruption? And one that is necessary to solve with more than a paean to the "free market?"
Most likely not.Expect more tries to disenfranchise the few we franchised, with no help at all to those still left out.
6
How can the president and his minions not uphold the law -- that's what it is or am I wrong? They are unfit for the task of leadership.
11
Absolutely, Jeff. McConnell/Ryan have thwarted the law of the land, the ACA, and Trump is right behind them seriously undermining it. Yet the NYT suggests collaboration by the Dems!!??!! Even supposing the GOP agrees to a perfect healthcare bill that actually provides health care, and makes it law, they obviously aren't behind it and will destroy it. Collaboration will let the GOP blame the Dems for everything and the Dems will be so flummoxed they will look like saps; not far from the truth.
1
They have already committed to sabotage the ACA and blame the Democrats for its failure.
Every day is Groundhog Day with these guys.
Every day is Groundhog Day with these guys.
17
There are very many progressives in America, and some even got elected to the Senate through the Republican Party because the GOP is diverse.
Portman, Collins, Murkowski, McCain, and others promised that they'd vote to remove this awful law if we gave them the Senate, but of course, politicians lie. If these plagues on mankind are replaced. some of the new ones may well be progressives as well because, like Barack Obama, progressives know that they would NEVER get elected to anything if they admit their hatred for democracy and small government.
What are the chances of the current Congress not paying insurance companies more money to make up for their losses this year? Pretty small.
But the GOP has a better chance of staying in control of the Congress than whoever hired the Pakistani computer wizards staying out of prison.
Debbie Wasserman Schultz, what was it about these shady guys who snuck out of the country as fast as they could?
Portman, Collins, Murkowski, McCain, and others promised that they'd vote to remove this awful law if we gave them the Senate, but of course, politicians lie. If these plagues on mankind are replaced. some of the new ones may well be progressives as well because, like Barack Obama, progressives know that they would NEVER get elected to anything if they admit their hatred for democracy and small government.
What are the chances of the current Congress not paying insurance companies more money to make up for their losses this year? Pretty small.
But the GOP has a better chance of staying in control of the Congress than whoever hired the Pakistani computer wizards staying out of prison.
Debbie Wasserman Schultz, what was it about these shady guys who snuck out of the country as fast as they could?
1
Anyone who thinks this administration will do the right thing hasn't been paying attention the last 6 months.
12
"On Friday, the president again threatened to let Obamacare “implode” in order to make a deal."
With Priebus having just been "rewarded" for his loyalty and service and out the door, it seems to me that the Trump presidency will implode long before Obamacare, which just survived a vicious onslaught, does!
With Priebus having just been "rewarded" for his loyalty and service and out the door, it seems to me that the Trump presidency will implode long before Obamacare, which just survived a vicious onslaught, does!
2
Other ways Trump and his administration are sabotaging the ACA:
1) The Trump administration has spent taxpayer money meant to encourage enrollment in the Affordable Care Act on a public relations campaign aimed at methodically strangling it.
The effort, which involves a multi-pronged social media push as well as video testimonials designed at damaging public opinion of President Obama’s health care law, is far more robust and sustained than has been publicly revealed or realized. Under Secretary Tom Price’s stewardship, HHS has filmed and produced a series of testimonial videos featuring individuals claiming to have been harmed by Obamacare
2) The “Health Care Home” section no longer contains a page on “Delivery System Reform” and “Facts & Figures.” And instead of a readily available link for visitors to access the main sign-up portal for obtaining health care coverage, the site has a post criticizing the now infamous healthcare.gov and encouraging people to use private sector web brokers.
THE ENEMY FROM WITHIN
Team Trump Used Obamacare Money to Run PR Effort Against It
http://www.thedailybeast.com/team-trump-used-obamacare-money-to-run-ads-...
1) The Trump administration has spent taxpayer money meant to encourage enrollment in the Affordable Care Act on a public relations campaign aimed at methodically strangling it.
The effort, which involves a multi-pronged social media push as well as video testimonials designed at damaging public opinion of President Obama’s health care law, is far more robust and sustained than has been publicly revealed or realized. Under Secretary Tom Price’s stewardship, HHS has filmed and produced a series of testimonial videos featuring individuals claiming to have been harmed by Obamacare
2) The “Health Care Home” section no longer contains a page on “Delivery System Reform” and “Facts & Figures.” And instead of a readily available link for visitors to access the main sign-up portal for obtaining health care coverage, the site has a post criticizing the now infamous healthcare.gov and encouraging people to use private sector web brokers.
THE ENEMY FROM WITHIN
Team Trump Used Obamacare Money to Run PR Effort Against It
http://www.thedailybeast.com/team-trump-used-obamacare-money-to-run-ads-...
8
Obamacare made it possible for millions of Americans to get health insurance – that was a good thing – but it had flaws and some corrective measures were needed. The smart move would have been to amend Obamacare, keeping what was good and fixing what needed fixing. But Republicans never considered doing that. Why? Because if they fixed Obamacare, it would still be, well, Obama-care. Their priority has always been the repeal of the signature achievement of a Democratic president, never the good of the American people. Thankfully, a few principled Republicans said no and Obamacare is still the law of the land.
Who knows? This might turn out to be a learning experience. After their bruising and humiliating defeat, Republicans might finally decide to reach across the aisle and work with Democrats for the good of all Americans, rich and poor, black, brown and white – Hang on! Was that a pig that just flew by my window?
Who knows? This might turn out to be a learning experience. After their bruising and humiliating defeat, Republicans might finally decide to reach across the aisle and work with Democrats for the good of all Americans, rich and poor, black, brown and white – Hang on! Was that a pig that just flew by my window?
9
If Trump and Price devise ways to further harm the ACA it will be in the news, everywhere! These last 6 months, stressful yes, but most Americans are now fully aware that 20 million of their fellow citizens were insured through the ACA and Medicaid and the Republicans were trying to take it away.
Yes, we must be vigilant to see that our neighbors, friends, and family are protected from this horrid administration. But a great battle was fought and won today. And the Democrats and a handful of Republican patriots said “no” we’re not going to listen to these lies you tell our citizens.
I fear Health and Human Services Administrator Price more than anyone. As a Doctor and U.S. Rep here in Georgia he has been opposed to any kind of public health insurance his entire career. He was a member of Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS), and association opposed to “Medicare” and to “fight socialized medicine and to fight the government takeover of medicine.” And Price has his hands directly on the purse strings for the ACA and Medicare. Beware of Tom Price!
Yes, we must be vigilant to see that our neighbors, friends, and family are protected from this horrid administration. But a great battle was fought and won today. And the Democrats and a handful of Republican patriots said “no” we’re not going to listen to these lies you tell our citizens.
I fear Health and Human Services Administrator Price more than anyone. As a Doctor and U.S. Rep here in Georgia he has been opposed to any kind of public health insurance his entire career. He was a member of Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS), and association opposed to “Medicare” and to “fight socialized medicine and to fight the government takeover of medicine.” And Price has his hands directly on the purse strings for the ACA and Medicare. Beware of Tom Price!
5
Every effort must be made to find a youngish, charismatic and moral leader for the Dem. Bernie but younger. And the Nytimes had better back her.
4
Don Trump is exactly why I fully support a woman's choice. The woman always know.
3
The tortuous failure on the part of Republicans to repeal only goes to show that Obamacare rules. And what a relief it is to Canadians that so many millions of our neighbours to the south will not lose their coverage; that when they need to see a doctor, they can see a doctor. Bravo!
3
Republicans vehemently want the mandate to get health insurance dropped. How stupid are the Republicans and people interviewing them? Any insurance only works when everyone is required to get it. Obviously, if only sick people get health insurance, the insurance will fail. Today on NPR the interviewer failed to explain to the Republican interviewee that the mandate to get insurance is a necessity for any insurance to be viable. Besides, young people get cancer too, get athletic injuries, are injured in car and other accidents, etc.
The ACA did and still is doing a valiant thing: providing health care for millions of people who previously had none. The drawback? Too many sick people suddenly found themselves able to go to the doctor and did so. And many of them had diseases that could have been prevented they been able to receive regular checkups. Now they were suddenly cancer patients. They should never have been deprived of health care in the first place! What happened here is an object lesson in a very simple fact, namely that preventive medicine is cheaper than treatment in that it saves both lives and money, two things Republicans care nothing about unless it is THEIR lives and THEIR money.
Shame on likes of Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell when they hold forth on the senate floor scoffing at "European healthcare," and equating single payer with socialism. Look at Canada, look at Australia, look at Europe. Their lives are not ruined because their spleen had to be removed, or they broke a leg. T Go grab any Canadian (who are taxed at 25%) and ask them if they would like to switch with us, for the sake of, what's the brainwashing mantra of the extreme right again - oh yes, individual freedom. Freedom of choice. Well, news flash; When you are sick and poor, or even just poor, you have no freedom. But that's something the likes of Mitch who received 1.8 million dollars in campaign contributions from the health care industry last year knows nothing about.
Shame on likes of Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell when they hold forth on the senate floor scoffing at "European healthcare," and equating single payer with socialism. Look at Canada, look at Australia, look at Europe. Their lives are not ruined because their spleen had to be removed, or they broke a leg. T Go grab any Canadian (who are taxed at 25%) and ask them if they would like to switch with us, for the sake of, what's the brainwashing mantra of the extreme right again - oh yes, individual freedom. Freedom of choice. Well, news flash; When you are sick and poor, or even just poor, you have no freedom. But that's something the likes of Mitch who received 1.8 million dollars in campaign contributions from the health care industry last year knows nothing about.
3
Obamacare is a dead end blind alley. America's dysfunctional $3.2 trillion health services scheme will continue increasing at multiples of GDP and personal income growth as we continue to pay 50% more per capita for health services than any other developed country, and nearly 200% more than Great Britain's NHS.
Medicare-for-All with coordination of care and cost controls is our salvation. Otherwise we will be on the road to spending 30% of GDP by the 2030s and giving each other CAT scans to determine whether we still have a brain.
Medicare-for-All with coordination of care and cost controls is our salvation. Otherwise we will be on the road to spending 30% of GDP by the 2030s and giving each other CAT scans to determine whether we still have a brain.
2
The failure was Obamacare being enacted in the first place. It is just another entitlement program that will make the U.S. go by the way of Venezuela. And when your grandkids/great grand kids have no take home pay remember to tell them the socialists (democrats) got us into all of these entitlement programs which are not sustainable.
2
USA Development Salk Vaccine by Jonas Salk : Stopped Polio a deadly infection in it's tracks - It was not patented by Jonas Salk but made available to the United States and the World free. Another socialist, perhaps. Everyone remembers his name. Perhaps time for the United States to embark on a public health program and stop worrying about the right wing and the shareholders.
The President's task is to fix America's legally passed legislation and protect all American's, not use the bully pulpit to demean established law to satisfy his personal views on matters which he has no standing.
Do your job and protect us, please be an adult in the room not a whiner, blamer, or "Le Grand" pointer of fingers.
W
Do your job and protect us, please be an adult in the room not a whiner, blamer, or "Le Grand" pointer of fingers.
W
3
I agree with the poster who said the Democrats, or concerned organizations, need to get the word out, the truth out, in a simple message. The campaign needs to start now. In NC there have been constant fake news TV ads since Trump's election supporting his agenda. While money is still in elections, Democrats and organizations need to "campaign" every single day...not one TV anchor will do their job and tell the truth the way they did when media was independent. If we have learned one thing it is this: raising money and using it to campaign just before an election is not successful against the propaganda that Fox News and conservative surrogates spew every day of the week, all year long, year in and out. The only way to fight propaganda (fake news) is by issuing simple, clear messages. The Democrats should have started with the fact that the President cannot enact legislation, cannot fulfill promises or plans, without the action of the House and Senate. Obama was blamed for not doing so many things...when it was the fault of a recalcitrant legislature. The irony in all this is that it is immigrants who understand how our system works; so many Americans are not learning it in school and have no idea how government works!
6
I think we have to go further than that.
A democracy can only thrive when all its citizens get engaged. So it's we, you and I, who have to invest more time in informing ourselves, and engaging in real, respectful debates with those who disagree (family, neighbors, colleagues, friends, ...). That's the only power we have, but if enough of us start doing this, we can certainly beat the fake news media.
We just have to remind ourselves that in order to have a real debate, at least one of the participants has to accept the idea that we can be wrong ourselves, that we might have obtained, on this or that issue, partially false or incomplete information, and that we have to adjust our own ideas. If you're not systematically prepared to do so, you cannot possibly engage in a real debate, you'll put yourself in a feeling of "superiority" compared to those "dumb" fake news believers, and that THE perfect receipt for having the other person shut down.
You can only change minds IF you're prepared to change your own mind where necessary, and it's those who disagree who are best placed to convince and show us where it might be necessary.
And yes, that also includes trying to increase the "political literacy" of our fellow progressives who turned against Obama, as you so correctly point out.
But I believe we can pull this off. If enough of us accept to debate, and we're patient enough, we can beat the fake news, sooner or later.
Yes we can ... ! :-)
A democracy can only thrive when all its citizens get engaged. So it's we, you and I, who have to invest more time in informing ourselves, and engaging in real, respectful debates with those who disagree (family, neighbors, colleagues, friends, ...). That's the only power we have, but if enough of us start doing this, we can certainly beat the fake news media.
We just have to remind ourselves that in order to have a real debate, at least one of the participants has to accept the idea that we can be wrong ourselves, that we might have obtained, on this or that issue, partially false or incomplete information, and that we have to adjust our own ideas. If you're not systematically prepared to do so, you cannot possibly engage in a real debate, you'll put yourself in a feeling of "superiority" compared to those "dumb" fake news believers, and that THE perfect receipt for having the other person shut down.
You can only change minds IF you're prepared to change your own mind where necessary, and it's those who disagree who are best placed to convince and show us where it might be necessary.
And yes, that also includes trying to increase the "political literacy" of our fellow progressives who turned against Obama, as you so correctly point out.
But I believe we can pull this off. If enough of us accept to debate, and we're patient enough, we can beat the fake news, sooner or later.
Yes we can ... ! :-)
Will continue to be imperiled as long as it is referred to as "Obamacare." Please refer to A.C.A. and maybe Congress can come up with a neutral moniker as they tackle needed improvements.
14
"No man's life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session." We will see "Repeal and ...." rise from the grave at least several times, at least until the GOP loses one house of Congress, and each time it will be a viable threat.
As several commentators have pointed out, not only are the components of the Affordable Care Act (except for the individual mandate) approved by a majority of Americans, but the "ACA" is approved by many more than "Obamacare" (must be different things!"). That is why repeal is so unpopular, shades of the Tea Party sign "Keep the Government Out of My Medicare!".
In the 1970s the saying was that a conservative was a liberal who had been mugged. Today a health care supporter is a conservative who needs help paying medical bills.
As several commentators have pointed out, not only are the components of the Affordable Care Act (except for the individual mandate) approved by a majority of Americans, but the "ACA" is approved by many more than "Obamacare" (must be different things!"). That is why repeal is so unpopular, shades of the Tea Party sign "Keep the Government Out of My Medicare!".
In the 1970s the saying was that a conservative was a liberal who had been mugged. Today a health care supporter is a conservative who needs help paying medical bills.
5
You're mistaken John Graubard. My family is on the individual market, our premiums this year were $3,400/month, 20% copay, $12K deductible, no vision/dental. We were mugged by the Affordable (don't make me laugh) Care Act.
2
Is it legal to deliberately under-fund an established law?
Is it legal to deliberately cause an industry to collapse by withholding subsides mandated by law?
Is it legal to misappropriate designated money and use it for another purpose - like using funds meant to be used to increase ACA enrollment, for a campaign to discourage enrollment.
Trump is trying to extort and blackmail, threatening Senators.
If anyone with a legal background could comment on this, I'd appreciate it.
Is it legal to deliberately cause an industry to collapse by withholding subsides mandated by law?
Is it legal to misappropriate designated money and use it for another purpose - like using funds meant to be used to increase ACA enrollment, for a campaign to discourage enrollment.
Trump is trying to extort and blackmail, threatening Senators.
If anyone with a legal background could comment on this, I'd appreciate it.
18
Whatever they can get away with is legal in the US. They don't even have to tell the truth about what they're doing.
Unfortunately, the element less talked about, the drive to erase Mr. Obama by destroying his "legacy," is driving much of this process. Oh, sure, certain elements of the ACA are intolerable to conservative sensibilities. They hate the individual mandate because they think it smacks of government big-brother-ism. That said, the law was a success for Mr. Obama. That, more than any desire to insure more people or truly improve the healthcare system drives many in the GOP.
Those in Congress spent 8 years hating Mr. Obama and trying to prevent him from having any successes. He had some, so their only option was to dream of a day when they could undo them (and in the process make Mr. Obama irrelevant to history - no legacy, almost as if he was never there).
Although not in DC during that time, Mr. Trump cannot stand anyone else's success unless it reflects favorably on him (e.g., the successes of his kids).
So what drives this vicious craziness has not gone away. They will fight on, no matter the cost to the country or its citizens.
Those in Congress spent 8 years hating Mr. Obama and trying to prevent him from having any successes. He had some, so their only option was to dream of a day when they could undo them (and in the process make Mr. Obama irrelevant to history - no legacy, almost as if he was never there).
Although not in DC during that time, Mr. Trump cannot stand anyone else's success unless it reflects favorably on him (e.g., the successes of his kids).
So what drives this vicious craziness has not gone away. They will fight on, no matter the cost to the country or its citizens.
18
The GOP has a choice: they can stand by a President and their leadership who want to destroy a plan conceived by the Heritage Foundation or they can follow the lead of one of their experienced legislators and find a middle ground that might restore our country's faith in the government. My fear: the party of Reagan that believes "government is the problem" will ultimately reject bi-partisanship in order to make government fail.
13
I have faith that government can be competent, but the Republicans deliver only insult to intelligence, and gross incompetence at legislation, administration, and jurisprudence.
Reagan's whole program in a nutshell: "Government is inherently incompetent. Elect us and we will prove it to you."
This is not about differing philosophy, Republicans have brought the vindictive mentality to politics. They will not stop until President Obama's fingerprints are wiped clean from any legislations, especially Obamacare. They go so far as to confuse their own constituents. Bet they are still clueless souls out there still don't know Obamacare is ACA.
Since McConnell, Ryan et al - where is Eric Cantor these days? - cannot make Obama an one-term president, they just want to whitewash history. That is why some are willing participants under the current administration even though Trump has bullied and badgered them openly. They are known men but yet the cower. In the end though, like Priebus who publicly kissed Trump's behind just a few weeks ago but discarded yesterday, they will get kicked to the curb.
But back to Obamacare, yeah, the assault will continue. If people still buy the Republicans' snake oil, you know how the saying "fool me once and fool me twice" goes
Since McConnell, Ryan et al - where is Eric Cantor these days? - cannot make Obama an one-term president, they just want to whitewash history. That is why some are willing participants under the current administration even though Trump has bullied and badgered them openly. They are known men but yet the cower. In the end though, like Priebus who publicly kissed Trump's behind just a few weeks ago but discarded yesterday, they will get kicked to the curb.
But back to Obamacare, yeah, the assault will continue. If people still buy the Republicans' snake oil, you know how the saying "fool me once and fool me twice" goes
14
They want to destroy all that they call "liberal".
In a way, I envy the working-class Trump supporters who are passionately opposed to the ACA -- the ones who believe that all that the ACA means is higher premiums, higher deductibles, higher taxes, and fewer choices.
Apparently, those folks and their families are in good health. They have been spared the agony of watching one's life savings vanish after a catastrophic illness. They don't know anything about pre-existing conditions, or trying to buy health insurance for an adult child. They've never known what it's like to work at a crummy job without health insurance because it's the only one you could find after being downsized. They've never had occasion to discover how woefully inadequate their pre-ACA health insurance may have been.
Must be nice.
Apparently, those folks and their families are in good health. They have been spared the agony of watching one's life savings vanish after a catastrophic illness. They don't know anything about pre-existing conditions, or trying to buy health insurance for an adult child. They've never known what it's like to work at a crummy job without health insurance because it's the only one you could find after being downsized. They've never had occasion to discover how woefully inadequate their pre-ACA health insurance may have been.
Must be nice.
24
They know too well. The ACA limits choice and puts it in the hands of bureaucrats. When a lousy doctor is the only available option and you've paid a ridiculous premium and deductible try not to be angry. If you'd experienced the callousness of the VA system, which is exactly the result one can expect from the ACA then maybe you'll have empathy. Many of the comments in the NYT are from armchair social engineers, those who passionately disagree with the ACA or Obamacare do so from experience and in my case having lived and worked in the U.K., and undergone mirerable long wait times and ultimately been forced to find one of very few private doctors, exactly how that system 'works' as well. Trump supporters detest the Dems who foisted this mess on them and the Repub renegades who hypocritically enabled it to survive. They want Trump to do anything and everything to destroy it.
2
You may not get how many of them believe it is all God's plan and cannot be touched lest one incur eternal post-mortal punishment.
Dan. Do you get your insurance through work? Or are you on the ACA network? Or are you in the individual market?
The ACA, ("ObamaCare"), stinks.
The Republican plan stinks even worse.
So I present your with MikeCare. It almost doesn't stink:
You know how the government pays to provide us with universal necessities like cops, education, libraries, road construction and repair, fire departments, snow removal, defense, garbage removal and the like? That's what we need in regard to medical care to make sure that everyone in the country, regardless of wealth or income, is covered. Just like with the other services it should be paid for using the taxes which we pay.
You go to whatever doctor you want, you pay a deductible to discourage frivolous medical visits, and the medical providers get paid according to a reasonable government schedule that is tailored to region. Medical providers who do not want to accept what the government is paying can do so by posting a notice in their offices to that effect. You either pay the difference or go elsewhere. In any event you get the best possible care which is what we all deserve. What is the argument in favor of letting people get sick and die just because they are financially distressed? The government funds this.
If it makes the prez feel any better we can call it "Trumpcare".
Representatives, get this through your heads, it's the 21st century, THIS is what We the People want. Anything less than this is no good, antiquated and criminal. We need and expect better from our elected representatives who work for us and get paid by us.
The Republican plan stinks even worse.
So I present your with MikeCare. It almost doesn't stink:
You know how the government pays to provide us with universal necessities like cops, education, libraries, road construction and repair, fire departments, snow removal, defense, garbage removal and the like? That's what we need in regard to medical care to make sure that everyone in the country, regardless of wealth or income, is covered. Just like with the other services it should be paid for using the taxes which we pay.
You go to whatever doctor you want, you pay a deductible to discourage frivolous medical visits, and the medical providers get paid according to a reasonable government schedule that is tailored to region. Medical providers who do not want to accept what the government is paying can do so by posting a notice in their offices to that effect. You either pay the difference or go elsewhere. In any event you get the best possible care which is what we all deserve. What is the argument in favor of letting people get sick and die just because they are financially distressed? The government funds this.
If it makes the prez feel any better we can call it "Trumpcare".
Representatives, get this through your heads, it's the 21st century, THIS is what We the People want. Anything less than this is no good, antiquated and criminal. We need and expect better from our elected representatives who work for us and get paid by us.
14
Whatever set of health care benefits is deemed "universal" is most efficiently and fairly funded by taxation.
1
For us retirees it's called Medicare. It has a 2% overhead, compared to 20+% for private health insurance, & you get to choose your own doctors, including specialists. I have yet to meet any senior citizen who doesn't love Medicare.
Health care is a basic human right. And you're correct: Government provided health care is not "socialism" any more than police & fire protection are "socialism".
Medicare For All. It's time.
Health care is a basic human right. And you're correct: Government provided health care is not "socialism" any more than police & fire protection are "socialism".
Medicare For All. It's time.
3
Senators Capito, Heller, Portman:
For the last several months, I read about these Senators with some hope that they would draw a line in the sand on behalf of their constituents. Step Up. Stand Strong.
You know: Walk The Talk kind of thing.
Now I read those names and cringe.
For the last several months, I read about these Senators with some hope that they would draw a line in the sand on behalf of their constituents. Step Up. Stand Strong.
You know: Walk The Talk kind of thing.
Now I read those names and cringe.
11
All of these constituencies are local. No US politician, not even the president, represents a genuine national constituency.
1
Whatever is the most lowly road is the one I expect Trump and his minions (Pence, Price, Ryan & McConnell) to travel in their effort to harm the ACA and countless Americans who depend on it for their health insurance coverage.
5
Can we not name the nation's current health care system after those in power to change it? If you call the existing ACA "TrumpCare" from today, you can bet that the President and GOP will adopt a wholly different, and more constructive, focus. They own two branches of government and have the power to change it; they have chosen instead so far to preserve it. Let them tie their own name and legacy to what Trump calls the "implosion" of American healthcare, and then let's see them move forward meaningfully.
2
No Mr. Schumer the first thing we need to do is NOT put in a quick bailout. The first thing we NEED to do is get congress off of your healthcare plans and make you buy your own healthcare on the exchange. Clearly neither the GOP or Dems have a clue what it is like paying 25% of your net earnings to healthcare insurance. Share our pain or resign. When you clear though the rhetoric, Obamacare was domed from the beginning and it is clear the career politicians are not willing to :Man up" and work together to fix it.
I want something simple. Like car insurance. I pay for my own oil changes, brakes and tires. I use insurance when I am in an accident. To me that is fair. Paying $40,000 a year for insurance I do not use is crazy. In 5 years I could invest that in the stock market and have $500K in a healthcare fund.
Congress will NEVER get it because the media is biased to the political left and congress has elitist healthcare that we pay for and have no access to. The entire lot of you should resign in shame, but you have far too much money to steal to have that kind of honor. Just my thoughts!
I want something simple. Like car insurance. I pay for my own oil changes, brakes and tires. I use insurance when I am in an accident. To me that is fair. Paying $40,000 a year for insurance I do not use is crazy. In 5 years I could invest that in the stock market and have $500K in a healthcare fund.
Congress will NEVER get it because the media is biased to the political left and congress has elitist healthcare that we pay for and have no access to. The entire lot of you should resign in shame, but you have far too much money to steal to have that kind of honor. Just my thoughts!
2
Just have to correct you there... Congress DOES have to get their healthcare through the DC health exchange, like any other employee of a large company. This was one of the requirements brought in by ACA! So, you would've been right if you had criticised Congress BEFORE the ACA for not knowing what the 'ordinary' American was going through. But, it's not correct to make that claim now. In fact, one of my big problems with one of the proposed versions of Trumpcare was to exempt members of Congress from some of the changes Trumpcare would've brought in! That would've brought us back to the very elitist, tiered system of healthcare that ACA actually helped dismantle, at least with respect to Congress vs ordinary citizen. You can look all this up. I agree with you that what is good for us should be good enough for Congress, and that is in principle what you have with ACA. If in practice your premiums have become unaffordable, that is what needs to be fixed, i.e., the mechanics of ACA and not the principle behind it. It's the mechanics of ACA that Congress should be focusing on, and not some ideological point-scoring.
And what happens if you get cancer or a brain tumor if you've opted for "skinny" insurance, because you can't afford the higher premiums? I'll tell you: everything you've worked for goes up in smoke.
Nice plan except what if this year you find out you have Multiple Sclerosis and have to pay $50,000 a year for medications? Your $500.000 never materializes and you are bankrupt. Your car maintenance analogy is very, very flawed.
Something to think about. If Obamacare was not hurting millions of people there would not be a Republican House..a Republican Senate ..and a Republican President. All were controlled by Democrats before Obamacare passed.
3
None of this has ever had a single thing to do with providing affordable health care.
People who shine shoes, wait tables, sweep floors, labor in fields, work two minimum wage jobs, and still can't afford their rent, who slog their way through every single day, do not provide the necessary campaign donations to make a difference. Meanwhile, the recipients of those donations shamefully forfeit the recognition that their success is built on the backs of the least among us. On top of which, too many of those pitiful poor fail to recognize themselves as members of the have nots - except when their bigotries are aroused.
Until the poor and those who have far less begin to recognize their common interests - including the efforts of the rich to divide them - none of this is going to change. If anything, there will be more Trumps, ruling from their perceived royal thrones.
Sad. Truly sad.
People who shine shoes, wait tables, sweep floors, labor in fields, work two minimum wage jobs, and still can't afford their rent, who slog their way through every single day, do not provide the necessary campaign donations to make a difference. Meanwhile, the recipients of those donations shamefully forfeit the recognition that their success is built on the backs of the least among us. On top of which, too many of those pitiful poor fail to recognize themselves as members of the have nots - except when their bigotries are aroused.
Until the poor and those who have far less begin to recognize their common interests - including the efforts of the rich to divide them - none of this is going to change. If anything, there will be more Trumps, ruling from their perceived royal thrones.
Sad. Truly sad.
12
Single payer, universal coverage. Stop tinkering around the edges and join every other developed nation in the world. Lower costs, better outcomes.
NOW.
NOW.
19
Absolutely operadog. It will be a huge mountain to climb to get there, but once the summit is reached everyone, (well almost everyone), will see the effort was well worth it.
The Republicans would rather pull out their own fingernails than work with the Democrats. The only hope we have that they might actually give in to bipartisanship is the off-chance they believe that if Obamacare fails (due to their own efforts and those of Trump) the voters will hold the Republicans responsible.
7
Obamacare is in peril because it still leaves the insurance companies and the health care industry in charge. It's in peril because a for profit system in the end will never work. It's in peril because middle class people and small business owners don't want to be forced to buy something they don't like, is too expensive and actually covers very little. That is one of the main reasons Trump won, people making over 30,000 a year hate it. Yes the 20 million getting medicaid it is helping, depending on where you live. But here in N.J. not many doctors take it, esp specialists. ( I was on it ). The ACA will fail eventually. And we will go broke with a system that is part medicaid, a bit medicare, and mostly insurance companies. The Democrats have their chance but the moment is starting to pass by. Schumer is useless, ( and irritating ). And on this issue so is Pelosi. There's around 130 House members and a few Senators ( Sanders, Warren, Durbin ) who know what the answer is, and can make a case for single payer, or medicare for all. But we need a big push. We need more Senators with some backbone..... And so the slow torture just goes on.
Orange, NJ
Orange, NJ
14
I think you really have it wrong, saying the Republicans are devoid of healthcare ideas. they have plenty of ideas; they're just all bad.
the foundational concept is that anything that costs money, or requires taxes, is bad, and anything requiring Americans to do something they don't want to do, such as spend money or pay taxes, is double bad.
starting with these first principles, there's really nowhere they can go except to try to eliminate the ACA or anything like it.
perhaps one day science will develop an inoculation against this kind of foolish selfishness. until then, the GOP idea is to keep us at their mercy while their cronies rake it in.
the foundational concept is that anything that costs money, or requires taxes, is bad, and anything requiring Americans to do something they don't want to do, such as spend money or pay taxes, is double bad.
starting with these first principles, there's really nowhere they can go except to try to eliminate the ACA or anything like it.
perhaps one day science will develop an inoculation against this kind of foolish selfishness. until then, the GOP idea is to keep us at their mercy while their cronies rake it in.
2
I don't care if we have Obamacare, Trumpcare or whatever anyone wants to call it. Just keep the strengths of the current ACA and improve on them, so Trump can make good on his promise of healthcare for everybody, with more coverage and less cost. That's a big part of what a good deal of his base elected him to do. Just Do It, Mr. President and Republicans in Congress!
3
"By contrast, senators like Shelley Moore Capito, Dean Heller and Rob Portman who had made a big show of protecting their constituents readily gave in to party leaders. "
Fake moderates, in the final analysis, didn't care if fellow Americans would have to go without medicine.
Fake moderates, in the final analysis, didn't care if fellow Americans would have to go without medicine.
11
If the enemy of the ACA were Russia then there might be some chance that the Congress would start shoring up the ACA: But Congress thinks the enemy is the citizens of the US. Congress seems to have no interest in shoring up US citizens, only sanctioning Russians.
5
Damage is what this administration does, and does very well. For sure, it is damaging itself. Watch! But as the editorial points out it has the enormous capacity to damage American health care as much as, if not more than, anything the ill-starred Senate efforts could.
Neither this administration nor the Congress is capable of constructing anything useful. Constructiveness is absent from GOP wiring. Decent health care can be assured only when the GOP wrecking crew is removed from office. It can then be sustained only by keeping it on the sidelines forever.
Neither this administration nor the Congress is capable of constructing anything useful. Constructiveness is absent from GOP wiring. Decent health care can be assured only when the GOP wrecking crew is removed from office. It can then be sustained only by keeping it on the sidelines forever.
6
Essential benefits should be covered by Medicare, for all. Insurance companies can then make boutique plans for those who want more coverage.
Bam. Done. This really isn't all THAT hard.
Bam. Done. This really isn't all THAT hard.
2
"President Trump and his health and human services secretary, Tom Price, have made it their mission to undermine the law." Mr. Trump took an oath to uphold the law. This approach is dereliction of duty, and should be an impeachable offense.
3
As someone who is being ruined by this disastrous law, who was reasonably pleased with our prior insurance which is no more, I hope Mr Trump lets the ACA fail completely and utterly and does everything possible to hasten its end.
2
So much of modern Republican philosophy comes down to a single ethic:
"I don't have to outrun the bear, I just have to outrun you."
When this is your ethic, your behavior comes down one thing: poking bears. Three examples. On healthcare, GOP opposition to the current system has never amounted to much more than the label they gave it, Obamacare. The ACA must be destroyed because it has the wrong name on it, and if millions are thus left to fend for themselves, well that's just a bear. Poke the bear.
On Supply-side economics, its fairly obvious by now that tax cuts balloon deficits. Reagan doubled the debt/GDP ratio, Clinton held it steady, Bush Jr doubled it again, Obama held it to a 30% rise despite fending off Great Depression II. Debt/GDP is now approaching levels not seen since WWII, and what are Republicans planning to do about it? Poke the bear.
On climate change, does anyone in the GOP really think its a scientific hoax? Climate change is a bear. Poke the bear.
"I don't have to outrun the bear, I just have to outrun you."
When this is your ethic, your behavior comes down one thing: poking bears. Three examples. On healthcare, GOP opposition to the current system has never amounted to much more than the label they gave it, Obamacare. The ACA must be destroyed because it has the wrong name on it, and if millions are thus left to fend for themselves, well that's just a bear. Poke the bear.
On Supply-side economics, its fairly obvious by now that tax cuts balloon deficits. Reagan doubled the debt/GDP ratio, Clinton held it steady, Bush Jr doubled it again, Obama held it to a 30% rise despite fending off Great Depression II. Debt/GDP is now approaching levels not seen since WWII, and what are Republicans planning to do about it? Poke the bear.
On climate change, does anyone in the GOP really think its a scientific hoax? Climate change is a bear. Poke the bear.
2
Obama had the guts to tackle health insurance costs. Though he picked a half way strategy at best. it really remedied the chaotic and almost evil situation before. Where so many were cut out of basic health care and faced bankruptcy too often. So then the Congress got stuck after Roberts decision to keeping the parts people liked but attacking the core. That just does not work in engineering, architecture or social policy. They could not come up with a fix to what is because of pure hate and orneriness it seems. And now that they have to govern they actually have to tackle something immensely complicated. Because of the lack of a single payer it will continue to be more than a Rubik cube, more like a Gordian knot.
1
How does undermining the ACA either actively or by neglect square with the duty that the laws be faithfully executed?
3
John: There are perhaps two types of law in trump's pea shaped brain: Laws he likes and laws he doesn't like. The ones he likes he defends; the ones he doesn't like he ignores and treats as non laws. Simple
1
The original promise of the ACA was passed without a single Republican vote imposing a unilateral solution that was flawed. It is highly disingenuous to fail to acknowledge the political reality that requires Republicans to replace not reinforce Obamacare even if its in name only. Democrats are seeking to cement a political win by calling things modifications to the law. By requiring the Republicans to both accept the law and to eat crow politically is asking more than Trump is likely to accept. Instead, he can live by the law and the law will collapse. If the Democrats were sincere about serving the people, they would find a "new" law that replaces Obamacare that can give a political win to the Republicans while preserving the basics of this law. They will not do this. BTW - this was done with No Child Left Behind which was essentially renamed and the Obama Every Student Succeeds Act.
1
Democrats will not do this because it means kicking millions of Americans off their health insurance or Medicaid. Why would they cooperate with that? Even the insurers, and medical providers and the AARP are against the Republican plans, that should tell you something. Republicans may have voted en bloc against the ACA, but the process was transparent with many hearings and many Republican amendments included in a fundamentally conservative plan.
8
While I am disappointed -- particularly at the GOPs inability to write a coherent new law -- in fact, it is more meaningful if Obamacare collapses on its own, then ends because of a partisan vote.
You are correct about NCLB, but Obamacare is named OBAMA-care for a reason -- the left initially wanted to connect it with Obama, to make him a hero of their poor constituents, who were mollified with 100% FREE Medicaid welfare. It backfired on them. You may have noticed that nobody ever called Social Security "Roosevelt-care".
You are correct about NCLB, but Obamacare is named OBAMA-care for a reason -- the left initially wanted to connect it with Obama, to make him a hero of their poor constituents, who were mollified with 100% FREE Medicaid welfare. It backfired on them. You may have noticed that nobody ever called Social Security "Roosevelt-care".
1
Actually it is called the Affordable Care Act. The Republicans started calling it Obamacare as a derogatory term, not the Democrats. And since the Republicans were ready and willing to destroy it entirely, taking health care away from 20+ million people, why should they be allowed some sort of face-saving name change.
If the Republicans were serious about providing affordable health care they would have worked with Democrats to fix the Affordable Care Act. Are you really trying to convince people that if only it weren't called Obamacare the Republicans would have helped make it stronger and better for the good of all? Don't make me laugh - that was always within their power.
If the Republicans were serious about providing affordable health care they would have worked with Democrats to fix the Affordable Care Act. Are you really trying to convince people that if only it weren't called Obamacare the Republicans would have helped make it stronger and better for the good of all? Don't make me laugh - that was always within their power.
9
It's not about "letting" the ACA fail, it is about making it fail. This is all part of a vendetta against anything related to Obama. This is not rational or intended to help American citizens - it is about erasing the name Obama from history.
We have to determine if we, as a nation, consider Medical Care a human right or simply another unregulated business transaction.
We have to determine if we, as a nation, consider Medical Care a human right or simply another unregulated business transaction.
211
Many Republicans deny that there is any social contract at all in the US.
Unless faced with an open revolt by the party rank and file or the spectacle of civil war, the Obama obsessed Republican leadership would continue to push the ACA repeal and replace Bill until the joint house conference stage where the scaled-down health killing Bill could be forced down to coercive vote, whatever the humiliation and setbacks the leadership is subjected to. In so far as the misery and pain this ill conceived and ill targeted legislative move is likely to cause to millions of people has neither been their concern ever nor would ever stir their conscience if they somehow succeed in their main mission of robbing the poor to benefit the rich by sucking money from the public health system and put it into financing the tax cuts for their patrons.
12
"By contrast, senators like Shelley Moore Capito, Dean Heller and Rob Portman who had made a big show of protecting their constituents readily gave in to party leaders."
This needs to be said clearly and often. Too many politicians get away with professing concern for their constituents but selling them short for "party loyalty". In other words, they place abstractions above real human beings.
This needs to be said clearly and often. Too many politicians get away with professing concern for their constituents but selling them short for "party loyalty". In other words, they place abstractions above real human beings.
210
I also worry about Mr Graham of SC who clearly and compellingly called the skinny repeal legislation "a fraud" and then voted for it. Maybe he was counting on his friend Mr. McCain to vote against it, but that seems very risky. Graham knows McConnell and Ryan well enough to know that there was a non-trivial risk that there would no "conference" or that it would be a sham conference - behind closed doors, using the McConnell model. Perhaps he judged that risk to be less an issue than the near certainty that President Tweet and Mr. Price will make implosion of Obama Care an ideologically-aided prophecy? The NYT seems very correct that this is not over by a long-shot.
5
While there are dozens of workable health plans around the world that we could draw from, there has never been one in history that encapsulates the contradictory impractical and cruel aspects of the Republican plans that were more concepts than plans.
8
According to an accompanying article in today's paper, “'Bailing out insurance companies with no thought of any kind of reform is not something I want to be part of,'Mr. McConnell said in the early hours of Friday." I could not agree more, perhaps the only time I have ever agreed with Mr McConnell. If he truly wants to give insurance companies the axe, he and the Republican Party will sign on to HR 676, the Expanded & Improved Medicare For All Act. Fantasy, you say? Well about as unlikely as the suggestion this editorial makes, that the 19 states that refused to expand Medicaid now do so. It does no good to keep using duck tape and bailing wire to fix a system that is fundamentally flawed. And propping up private for-profit insurance companies does nothing to roll back the artificially inflated cost of health care. Start from the ground up, and build a system that controls costs, make healthcare a right for all Americans, and gets profit out of this sector of the economy.
21
But the lying putz refuses to get his private collection agency kicking-back insurance companies entirely out of the equation by replacing them all with direct taxation.
Watch what they do, and consider everything they say to be smokescreens and distractions.
Watch what they do, and consider everything they say to be smokescreens and distractions.
Single payer, editorial board. If you haven't heard all developed countries have it except the U.S. and Switzerland, and it works, especially for prescription drugs And in developing countries, you don't need to see a doctor to buy prescription medicines.
Trump has praised the Australian healthcare system. Why not give him that: Medicare for all low income citizens with a 2% payroll tax to pay for it, and incentives for the wealthy to buy private insurance. We can improve on that with a plan that pays for a yearly physical and a doctor visit before deductibles/co-pays--preventive care, and low cost generics without co-pays. With basic coverage including those with pre-existing conditions (Someone has pointed out that everyone either has these or will have them) covered by single payer, insurance companies will do just fine with extended coverage, such as AARP Plan J.
Trump has praised the Australian healthcare system. Why not give him that: Medicare for all low income citizens with a 2% payroll tax to pay for it, and incentives for the wealthy to buy private insurance. We can improve on that with a plan that pays for a yearly physical and a doctor visit before deductibles/co-pays--preventive care, and low cost generics without co-pays. With basic coverage including those with pre-existing conditions (Someone has pointed out that everyone either has these or will have them) covered by single payer, insurance companies will do just fine with extended coverage, such as AARP Plan J.
11
It's not true that all developed countries have a sing.e payer insurance system. Few do. In fact Canada's system is not truly single payer since province runs its own system and taxes are collected by both the Federal and Provincial level — much like our Medicaid. There are limits to its coverage.
Most countries have a blend of private and public insurance systems. The thing that makes them work so much better than any system here is that the government is able to set or negotiate prices and set them lower. The costs here are higher because many medical providers Doctors, hospitals, equipment makers and pharmaceutical companies charge such high prices. An example: Orthopedists (Tom Price was) had a median income over $500k from their practices. That's after all their bills are paid. Half a million a year!
A Medicare for all low income citizens — I hope you mean Medicaid since Medicare is a complex system and has many limits, would cost a lot more than a 2% payroll tax would bring in. Now, the ~3% Medicare payroll tax is just for the Hospital coverage fund. It doesn't cover doctors and all the rest. And I hope you know that the extended coverage of the AARP Plan J is subsidized by the Federal Government.
It is important that the preventive care be given without a deductible or copay: That's why the ACA requires that.
For the rest, I'm confused. Who are the low income and who are the wealthy? What about the middle income people?
Most countries have a blend of private and public insurance systems. The thing that makes them work so much better than any system here is that the government is able to set or negotiate prices and set them lower. The costs here are higher because many medical providers Doctors, hospitals, equipment makers and pharmaceutical companies charge such high prices. An example: Orthopedists (Tom Price was) had a median income over $500k from their practices. That's after all their bills are paid. Half a million a year!
A Medicare for all low income citizens — I hope you mean Medicaid since Medicare is a complex system and has many limits, would cost a lot more than a 2% payroll tax would bring in. Now, the ~3% Medicare payroll tax is just for the Hospital coverage fund. It doesn't cover doctors and all the rest. And I hope you know that the extended coverage of the AARP Plan J is subsidized by the Federal Government.
It is important that the preventive care be given without a deductible or copay: That's why the ACA requires that.
For the rest, I'm confused. Who are the low income and who are the wealthy? What about the middle income people?
1
Public systems provide for a common denominator of benefits, and those who want more can buy added private insurance.
1
Just to correct some errors in your post AD, the Canadian system is truly single payer. Canada is a Confederation, not a republic, so provinces are responsible for things like health care. The Canada Health Act (an act of the Federal Governmet) MANDATES every province to set up a Provincial Health Insurance plan. These plans operate more like your Medicare, NOT Medicaid. Pre-existing conditions, maternity care, preventative care, visits, and every medical condition is covered. The only things not covered are things like cosmetic surgery that are not strictly medical. And there are no lifetime limits on the things that are covered. Also, every Canadian is covered in every province in the event of requiring emergency care,
I guess the difference is that we don't mind paying taxes for this, event if less well off folk get to enjoy the same coverage as we do. I repect the fact that the US has a different system, but it is unfair and more importantly misleading to try to justify that system by misrepresenting the system in other countries.
I guess the difference is that we don't mind paying taxes for this, event if less well off folk get to enjoy the same coverage as we do. I repect the fact that the US has a different system, but it is unfair and more importantly misleading to try to justify that system by misrepresenting the system in other countries.
3
To those of you who continue to complain that the ACA forces you to "subsidize" Medicaid coverage for the working poor and disabled, making your health care premiums higher -- consider the following. What did the working poor do before the ACA? Answer: they went to the emergency room for their health care. Pre ACA, It was your health care premium which picked up a portion of that HUGE, and unsustainable, tab. And that "poorly designed Democatic ACA" that Republicans like to whine about? It actually was modeled after REPUBLICAN Governor Mitt Romney's highly-successful health care plan. Thanks to "Romneycare," roughly 97 percent of Massachusetts residents have had health coverage for the last 15 years. Virtually no one in M.A. would turn back the clock on Romneycare!
64
ObamaCare still is in peril because its inherent dysfunction continues to provide an on-going justification for its repeal. Millions of people are paying retail for their healthcare because of the stratospheric levels of deductibles and co-pays for ACA-mandated insurance policies. We had a problem of access to health insurance that affected perhaps 20% of our population, and instead of crafting a program targeted to easing access by that cohort we decided to pit class against class and make the lives of everyone BUT those 20% miserable.
The real reason isn't rocket science, and the editors don't succeed at obscuring it by premising their arguments on the assumption that the ACA is the greatest thing since sliced bread and that any disagreement with that is the inevitable result of closing down state mental hospitals and inflicting inmates on the general population.
Having written that, I still support John McCain's call for bipartisanship and cooperation in crafting a healthcare framework for America that works for ALL Americans and is sustainable. Let's just be very sure that Nancy Pelosi doesn't get within three galaxies of the effort.
The real reason isn't rocket science, and the editors don't succeed at obscuring it by premising their arguments on the assumption that the ACA is the greatest thing since sliced bread and that any disagreement with that is the inevitable result of closing down state mental hospitals and inflicting inmates on the general population.
Having written that, I still support John McCain's call for bipartisanship and cooperation in crafting a healthcare framework for America that works for ALL Americans and is sustainable. Let's just be very sure that Nancy Pelosi doesn't get within three galaxies of the effort.
You are a Republican with a short memory: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/10/us/politics/marco-rubio-obamacare-aff... "Marco Rubio Quietly Undermines Affordable Care Act"
1
Nancy Pelosi would be the best person to write a healthcare bill, because she is knowledgeable and cares about the people she serves.
As usual Richard, you MISS THE POINT.
Nobody is making a big issue of closing down state mental hospitals.
One major issue is that if you pull $800 Billion out of Medicaid, lots of small town hospitals in the boonies are going to close, and people in rural areas will end up with much WORSE medical care, if for no other reason than medical providers will not be anywhere close to them. The hos[itals rely on payments from Medicaid, they are often the largest employer in town, and they pay better than average wages in many cases. The damage will extend to the economies of many small towns going into the toilet.
But a dyed-in-the-wool Republican like you can't figure that out.
Nobody is making a big issue of closing down state mental hospitals.
One major issue is that if you pull $800 Billion out of Medicaid, lots of small town hospitals in the boonies are going to close, and people in rural areas will end up with much WORSE medical care, if for no other reason than medical providers will not be anywhere close to them. The hos[itals rely on payments from Medicaid, they are often the largest employer in town, and they pay better than average wages in many cases. The damage will extend to the economies of many small towns going into the toilet.
But a dyed-in-the-wool Republican like you can't figure that out.
There will be no hands across the aisle with this Congress. There hasn't been for 9 years now and nothing has changed: the Republican base, though perhaps a minority in that party itself, is extremely active, organized, and backed by several billionaires with ulterior motives.
Dems have to clawback House and Senate seats, one at a time. There will be no progress in anything until they do.
And, btw, I'm unconvinced the health bill has failed. Zombies never stop.
Dems have to clawback House and Senate seats, one at a time. There will be no progress in anything until they do.
And, btw, I'm unconvinced the health bill has failed. Zombies never stop.
20
Mitch McConnell's scorched earth approach to governing is destroying our democracy. He's irredeemable and needs to go as Senate majority leader.
On this one occasion, McCain, Murkowski, and Collins took a fateful and consequential stand for sanity and bipartisanship. They cast votes in the best interest of the country, not their narrow party interest. There might be real progress if a new Senate leader needed 60 votes to be confirmed and remain in power. Regular Senate order should also be restored, as should the filibuster for judgeships.
In the House, the Hastert rule (whereby nothing is passed unless approved by a majority of the majority party) should be anathema. To facilitate governing from the middle rather than the extremes, house members should be elected from competitive districts with an open primary and top two runoff. Compromise across the aisle would markedly improve the atmosphere in congress and the quality of the legislative product.
It's all pie in the sky, but Citizens United and related rulings should also be overturned.
Only our foreign enemies, selected American oligarchs, and properly aligned interest groups are served by the current congressional dysfunction. It's time for substantive legislative changes that move our politics towards the center. Otherwise, our poorly informed populace will again fall prey to radical fixes promoted by authoritarian demagogues like Trump.
On this one occasion, McCain, Murkowski, and Collins took a fateful and consequential stand for sanity and bipartisanship. They cast votes in the best interest of the country, not their narrow party interest. There might be real progress if a new Senate leader needed 60 votes to be confirmed and remain in power. Regular Senate order should also be restored, as should the filibuster for judgeships.
In the House, the Hastert rule (whereby nothing is passed unless approved by a majority of the majority party) should be anathema. To facilitate governing from the middle rather than the extremes, house members should be elected from competitive districts with an open primary and top two runoff. Compromise across the aisle would markedly improve the atmosphere in congress and the quality of the legislative product.
It's all pie in the sky, but Citizens United and related rulings should also be overturned.
Only our foreign enemies, selected American oligarchs, and properly aligned interest groups are served by the current congressional dysfunction. It's time for substantive legislative changes that move our politics towards the center. Otherwise, our poorly informed populace will again fall prey to radical fixes promoted by authoritarian demagogues like Trump.
21
The fight over Obamacare will go silent for at least 1 month or even the rest of this year. But the problems inherent in the creation of Obamacare will not go away.
It is in fact imploding due to the truly poor design of the Dems when it was created and then rushed through to passage in reconciliation as the Dems lost a senate seat.
It is in short a financial disaster. In some areas insurers are fleeing the exchanges. Premiums are rising as is the cost of prescription drugs. The most expensive part of the program is the Medicare Expansion. That is the ares to reduce costs.
The answer may lie in not covering as many procedures, raising the percentage paid by the consumer (France has universal coverage but it only covers 80% of a procedure). We may need to do something like that across the Medicaid Part of the Problem. I think if we get control over Medicaid expenditures that will go a long way to reducing costs.
I have singled out Medicaid as that is where the greatest costs are to be found and thus is the part that needs reduction. The Medicaid Expansion was the area that has required the largest amount of public funds. Perhaps start by lowering the amount of government subsidy, elimination some procedures, making beneficiaries absorb more of the cost of a procedure - after all if France can do it, so can we.
It is in fact imploding due to the truly poor design of the Dems when it was created and then rushed through to passage in reconciliation as the Dems lost a senate seat.
It is in short a financial disaster. In some areas insurers are fleeing the exchanges. Premiums are rising as is the cost of prescription drugs. The most expensive part of the program is the Medicare Expansion. That is the ares to reduce costs.
The answer may lie in not covering as many procedures, raising the percentage paid by the consumer (France has universal coverage but it only covers 80% of a procedure). We may need to do something like that across the Medicaid Part of the Problem. I think if we get control over Medicaid expenditures that will go a long way to reducing costs.
I have singled out Medicaid as that is where the greatest costs are to be found and thus is the part that needs reduction. The Medicaid Expansion was the area that has required the largest amount of public funds. Perhaps start by lowering the amount of government subsidy, elimination some procedures, making beneficiaries absorb more of the cost of a procedure - after all if France can do it, so can we.
1
Judyw
You make vague assumptions, many mistaken, and reach an impossible conclusion.
Increases in the cost of medicine are not a result of Obamacare, they result from a deliberate Republican decision to deny government the right to negotiate prices.
Its yet another Republican give away to big business, pay-back to their biggest corporate donors. It's quite a gift, creating the fastest growing source of medical cost increases in the healthcare system. It makes a liar of every Republican, legislator or voter, who ever cites free markets, capitalism, or democracy as reasons for doing anything.
Premiums spiral upward because Congress and the President want them to. They intentionally inflict this damage; the worse it becomes the happier they will be. It's why our President puffs up with glee every time he gasps out "Let Obamacare implode, then we'll get change".
He creates uncertainty among consumers and insurance companies in order to force acceptance a very bad plan that has never been fully shared with the public.
Your answer is to curtail the one well-functioning aspect of the whole system: Medicaid. A popular, cost efficient, and clinically effective program.
The solution lies in in a system of care such as Canada's: universal, comprehensive, single payer.
However Republicans, as another gift to big business, insist on maintaining an inefficient, unaccountable health insurance industry which diverts a trillion dollars every single year from provision of care.
You make vague assumptions, many mistaken, and reach an impossible conclusion.
Increases in the cost of medicine are not a result of Obamacare, they result from a deliberate Republican decision to deny government the right to negotiate prices.
Its yet another Republican give away to big business, pay-back to their biggest corporate donors. It's quite a gift, creating the fastest growing source of medical cost increases in the healthcare system. It makes a liar of every Republican, legislator or voter, who ever cites free markets, capitalism, or democracy as reasons for doing anything.
Premiums spiral upward because Congress and the President want them to. They intentionally inflict this damage; the worse it becomes the happier they will be. It's why our President puffs up with glee every time he gasps out "Let Obamacare implode, then we'll get change".
He creates uncertainty among consumers and insurance companies in order to force acceptance a very bad plan that has never been fully shared with the public.
Your answer is to curtail the one well-functioning aspect of the whole system: Medicaid. A popular, cost efficient, and clinically effective program.
The solution lies in in a system of care such as Canada's: universal, comprehensive, single payer.
However Republicans, as another gift to big business, insist on maintaining an inefficient, unaccountable health insurance industry which diverts a trillion dollars every single year from provision of care.
16
Single Payer does not equal "free medical care". France has single payer and they only cover 80% of expenses. French citizens usually buy private insurance to cover the rest. In Australia it covers 75%
You are looking for a free lunch and all industrialized countries with single payer, insist that the individual bear some of the costs.
Medicaid is not efficient. Does it cost less sure, But having Medicaid does not mean you nave health care. all it gives you is health insurance. It is often very difficult to find doctors who will take Medicaid.
It is the financial burden of Medicaid which needs to be trimmed Everybody should be made to pay some amount for their care. The Medicaid Expansion was the worst think in ObamaCare. They should have stayed away from it - I wonder what states will do as they are forced to shoulder more of the expense of Medicaid expansion which increases yearly as spelled out in the legislation.
You are looking for a free lunch and all industrialized countries with single payer, insist that the individual bear some of the costs.
Medicaid is not efficient. Does it cost less sure, But having Medicaid does not mean you nave health care. all it gives you is health insurance. It is often very difficult to find doctors who will take Medicaid.
It is the financial burden of Medicaid which needs to be trimmed Everybody should be made to pay some amount for their care. The Medicaid Expansion was the worst think in ObamaCare. They should have stayed away from it - I wonder what states will do as they are forced to shoulder more of the expense of Medicaid expansion which increases yearly as spelled out in the legislation.
How can one justify the expansion of Medicaid to able-bodied individuals especially when it's paid by financially stressed middle-class taxpayers? These freeloaders get free medical care while the taxpayers who subsidize them cannot afford the high deductibles for their own health care. Shameful that Democrats want to to continue to expand Medicaid instead of forcing people to work and receive healthcare from their jobs.
2
You don't get health insurance with a minimum wage job and most people receiving Medicaid are elderly.
16
45% of American firms offer health coverage to employees. That leaves 55% without employer-sponsored coverage. One of them is a friend of mine -- he has Parkinson's Disease. A lot of people in this country don't want to lift a finger to help their fellow Americans, but they lack the courage to come out and say that. So they call their neighbors "freeloaders" to excuse their own greed. That's what's really shameful, in my book.
6
John,
I can justify it by thinking of them a human beings and fellow Americans. Who are due Health Care as a Right. As all Americans should. I prefer to have rules and regulations upon Health Providers and pay upfront instead of doing like we did before the ACA and pay for their Emergency Care in our monthly raising premiums and Co-pays. Remember then?! Remember when the highest bankruptcy reason was Medical bills?! Remember when we could be canceled and denied service and care because of pre-existing?! Remember when millions of people couldn't afford care?! Those were and are middle-class taxpayers. It wasn't that long ago. That system wasn't and didn't work. Google is your friend if you don't remember.
Shameful that Americans are willing to be un-patriotic and care for their fellow citizens. That they think HealthCare comes from an employer. Why does an employer have rights over my HealthCare?! That is absurd. Should I have to ask my employer if I can become pregnant?! Should I have to ask them for my dentistry or vision too?! Imagine going to your boss and discussing your urinary and sexual issues?! Gee boss, I really need this little blue pill cause I'm fat and unhealthy but I still want some action ya' know?! Yeah, sure. People want that discussion.
Wow. Just. Wow. smdh...
I can justify it by thinking of them a human beings and fellow Americans. Who are due Health Care as a Right. As all Americans should. I prefer to have rules and regulations upon Health Providers and pay upfront instead of doing like we did before the ACA and pay for their Emergency Care in our monthly raising premiums and Co-pays. Remember then?! Remember when the highest bankruptcy reason was Medical bills?! Remember when we could be canceled and denied service and care because of pre-existing?! Remember when millions of people couldn't afford care?! Those were and are middle-class taxpayers. It wasn't that long ago. That system wasn't and didn't work. Google is your friend if you don't remember.
Shameful that Americans are willing to be un-patriotic and care for their fellow citizens. That they think HealthCare comes from an employer. Why does an employer have rights over my HealthCare?! That is absurd. Should I have to ask my employer if I can become pregnant?! Should I have to ask them for my dentistry or vision too?! Imagine going to your boss and discussing your urinary and sexual issues?! Gee boss, I really need this little blue pill cause I'm fat and unhealthy but I still want some action ya' know?! Yeah, sure. People want that discussion.
Wow. Just. Wow. smdh...
1
The Republicans are playing with fire. After years of claiming they had an alternative, all they had was a tax cut for Billionaires paid for in human misery and the lives of the working poor.
What rarely gets mentioned is how much the PPACA changed private healthcare by eliminating pre-existing conditions, lifetime caps on benefits, caps on Profit with rebates paid to subscribers, etc. add in the Community Health Center funding championed by Senator Bernie Sanders when this bill was being written. All that could have been lost last night.
The modern GOP tends to overreach when they attain power and the voters will remember who stood for the people and who stood for the Billionaires. If Trump kills the ACA by starving it, the backlash could be quick and severe next year. And we will not stop accountability at Trump- it extends to every Republican who is not named Murkowski or Collins.
What rarely gets mentioned is how much the PPACA changed private healthcare by eliminating pre-existing conditions, lifetime caps on benefits, caps on Profit with rebates paid to subscribers, etc. add in the Community Health Center funding championed by Senator Bernie Sanders when this bill was being written. All that could have been lost last night.
The modern GOP tends to overreach when they attain power and the voters will remember who stood for the people and who stood for the Billionaires. If Trump kills the ACA by starving it, the backlash could be quick and severe next year. And we will not stop accountability at Trump- it extends to every Republican who is not named Murkowski or Collins.
18
I fully expect the current administration and congress to undermine and underfund the ACA, causing it to collapse. Sadly, this may be a prerequisite to getting people "woke" to the Republican agenda, thus setting the stage for a single-payer system that was not previously possible (since the 1970's anyway). Democrats need to seize the day on this one.
23
"Or they can listen to the likes of Mr. McCain about the benefits of bipartisanship and cooperation." Where were those calls of bipartisanship and cooperation when Obama passed Obamacare on a purely partisan basis ? Why is it only Republicans who are asked to go hat-in-hand for what would likely result in just more government spending ? We already spend 63% or $2.2 tn of our budget on redistribution ? Isn't this enough ? Oh yes, and we were kind enough to leave our children with $20 tn in debt.
I am disappointed that Republican leaders couldn't come together on this. All this does is embolden "the Resistance" and demoralize conservatives. Hopefully, Trump and the Congressional leaders can give us a reason to vote in 2018. The table is already set for Republican expansion in the Senate - Republicans are only defending 7 seats while Dems need to worry about 25 seats including 10 in states that Trump won. My hope is that this process is a little easier when Republicans have a bigger margin and do not need to rely as much on RINO's like McCain, Collins and Murkowski.
I am disappointed that Republican leaders couldn't come together on this. All this does is embolden "the Resistance" and demoralize conservatives. Hopefully, Trump and the Congressional leaders can give us a reason to vote in 2018. The table is already set for Republican expansion in the Senate - Republicans are only defending 7 seats while Dems need to worry about 25 seats including 10 in states that Trump won. My hope is that this process is a little easier when Republicans have a bigger margin and do not need to rely as much on RINO's like McCain, Collins and Murkowski.
3
Republicans were invited to take part in shaping Obamacare, but refused, because their entire strategy was noncooperation with Democrats over the full 8 years of Obama's presidency. The reason Obamacare is modeled on a Republican program, Mitt Romney's health insurance program in Massachusetts, was because it was hoped that by doing so, Republicans would understand this as a way of meeting them halfway, and they would come aboard. The Republicans still wouldn't play.
If the GOP plays all-or-nothing games like this, it is not surprising when they get nothing. It is extremely tempting for Democrats to play turnabout here, refusing to cooperate with the GOP, but in the end, it would be cutting off our noses to spite our faces.
If the GOP plays all-or-nothing games like this, it is not surprising when they get nothing. It is extremely tempting for Democrats to play turnabout here, refusing to cooperate with the GOP, but in the end, it would be cutting off our noses to spite our faces.
8
So your idea of cooperation is that Democrats do what Republicans want, and lifelong Republicans with a distinguished career serving the public who disagree with the majority in their party are not real Republicans ... That's tyranny under a one party system, not democracy. The ACA is the product of a transparent process, with many hearings and inclusion of numerous Republican amendments, based on Massachusetts' Romneycare, after a design by the conservative Heritage Foundation. But I guess you also consider Romney and the Heritage Foundation RINOs ...
6
Princeton 2015,
You seem to be in unaware that Republicans had over 161 amendments added to the ACA. That the Act was debated and discussed bipartisanly for over 18 months. How all four of the Republican planks of the GOP's Solutions for America website were incorporated into the bill. That the individual mandate and the basis of the ACA was an Heritage Foundation plan.
Republicans put up all these demands and bargains and then reneged on the vote. They were very involved. Research is your friend. http://boards.fool.com/dems-rejected-all-gop-amendments-to-aca-not-30934... http://www.salon.com/2010/02/23/hcr_amendments/
As for demoralized conservatives...?
"The Pew Research Center has found that, for the first time since 2007, a majority of Americans believe it should be the federal government’s responsibility to make sure Americans have health insurance.
Pew found a big shift among low-income Republican voters, a key Trump constituency and a group that has benefitted substantially from the health law."
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/02/01/us/politics/obamacare-app...
You seem to be in unaware that Republicans had over 161 amendments added to the ACA. That the Act was debated and discussed bipartisanly for over 18 months. How all four of the Republican planks of the GOP's Solutions for America website were incorporated into the bill. That the individual mandate and the basis of the ACA was an Heritage Foundation plan.
Republicans put up all these demands and bargains and then reneged on the vote. They were very involved. Research is your friend. http://boards.fool.com/dems-rejected-all-gop-amendments-to-aca-not-30934... http://www.salon.com/2010/02/23/hcr_amendments/
As for demoralized conservatives...?
"The Pew Research Center has found that, for the first time since 2007, a majority of Americans believe it should be the federal government’s responsibility to make sure Americans have health insurance.
Pew found a big shift among low-income Republican voters, a key Trump constituency and a group that has benefitted substantially from the health law."
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/02/01/us/politics/obamacare-app...
9
Notice to GOP Voters:
Don't look now but your senators and representatives have virtually unanimously voted to deprive you and 20 million Americans just like you of medical care. Their reason is not to control insurance costs or provide superior outcomes but to satisfy their campaign donors who don't want to pay taxes.
You need to think long and hard about that.
Don't look now but your senators and representatives have virtually unanimously voted to deprive you and 20 million Americans just like you of medical care. Their reason is not to control insurance costs or provide superior outcomes but to satisfy their campaign donors who don't want to pay taxes.
You need to think long and hard about that.
29
Let me propose a Republican Health Care Bill that might fly in an alternate universe.
First of all, Trump would say: I was elected as a populist so I'm going to propose a bare bones health insurance that covers every citizen. It will mostly cover catastrophic care.
Not said is the fact that such health care costs almost nothing, because people without insurance get health care in the ER, and the costs are passed on to those who pay for insurance.
Moreover, one could improve on the ER by giving the poor low cost access to preventative care, thus making Trump look like a genuine "populist."
Second, Trump would propose that the ACA whould be modified so that people could get insurance without paying for maternity benefits.
The true advantages of such a policy would become apparent in the long run.
The US population grew by 82 million during 1980-2010, an increase of 36%, and the number of positions in medical schools increased at about half that rate.
Making people pay UP FRONT for having children would result in fewer children, stopping the diversion of funds from universities to K12, allowing a larger percentage to become physicians, and finally driving down the cost of medical care.
In small towns, physicians would no longer be the only rich people.
But such a proposal makes too much sense.
So instead, Republican provide tax breaks for physicians, while Democrats decry any discussion of population growth as "racist."
So poor American continue to needlessly die.
First of all, Trump would say: I was elected as a populist so I'm going to propose a bare bones health insurance that covers every citizen. It will mostly cover catastrophic care.
Not said is the fact that such health care costs almost nothing, because people without insurance get health care in the ER, and the costs are passed on to those who pay for insurance.
Moreover, one could improve on the ER by giving the poor low cost access to preventative care, thus making Trump look like a genuine "populist."
Second, Trump would propose that the ACA whould be modified so that people could get insurance without paying for maternity benefits.
The true advantages of such a policy would become apparent in the long run.
The US population grew by 82 million during 1980-2010, an increase of 36%, and the number of positions in medical schools increased at about half that rate.
Making people pay UP FRONT for having children would result in fewer children, stopping the diversion of funds from universities to K12, allowing a larger percentage to become physicians, and finally driving down the cost of medical care.
In small towns, physicians would no longer be the only rich people.
But such a proposal makes too much sense.
So instead, Republican provide tax breaks for physicians, while Democrats decry any discussion of population growth as "racist."
So poor American continue to needlessly die.
3
Both the President and congressional Republicans (with three honorable exceptions) are working every day to destroy the ACA simply by creating uncertainty about its future, which causes insurers to leave the exchanges or raise premiums. Even if Trump never carries out any of his threats, and even if Republicans in Congress can't muster the votes to repeal the ACA, they are killing it by refusing to guarantee its future.
20
This seems like funny NYT math to me: (The Republican Health Care) "bill ... would have left 16 million more people uninsured and driven up insurance premiums by about 20 percent a year."
Huh? The ACA has been insuring a largely sick and expensive population, hence its implosion through over use. Why would getting rid of it cause premiums to rise? For most of us, a burden will have been lifted and premiums will fall. Are you even aware that the middle class is funding the Medicaid expansion and should be thanked for shouldering this enormous burden?
Huh? The ACA has been insuring a largely sick and expensive population, hence its implosion through over use. Why would getting rid of it cause premiums to rise? For most of us, a burden will have been lifted and premiums will fall. Are you even aware that the middle class is funding the Medicaid expansion and should be thanked for shouldering this enormous burden?
4
Because without the mandate, young, healthy people (and other healthy people) would be less likely to buy health insurance, thus making a smaller pool of people paying the costs. In addition, many would wait to buy coverage only when they think they will need it imminently, thereby paying less into the pool than they might take out.
2
springtime,
Yes, the middle class and a large percentage of the upper class are/were funding the ACA. Trump was trying to repeal to cut taxes for the top 10%. An imperfect HealthCare Plan, written by Republicans and instituted bipartisanly by Democrats.
If you remember, (or not, google) the reason for the ACA was that hundreds of millions of Americans were in trouble. From 2000-2009 insur. Prem. went up over 131%. The ACA put a cap on rate increases. Yes they still went up. But at the lowest % in decades.
No, Premiums wont fall. But coverage will and medical bill will again become the #1 reason for bankruptcy's in America. Something else the ACA abolishes.
http://business.time.com/2009/09/16/health-insurance-premiums-up-131-in-...
Yes, the middle class and a large percentage of the upper class are/were funding the ACA. Trump was trying to repeal to cut taxes for the top 10%. An imperfect HealthCare Plan, written by Republicans and instituted bipartisanly by Democrats.
If you remember, (or not, google) the reason for the ACA was that hundreds of millions of Americans were in trouble. From 2000-2009 insur. Prem. went up over 131%. The ACA put a cap on rate increases. Yes they still went up. But at the lowest % in decades.
No, Premiums wont fall. But coverage will and medical bill will again become the #1 reason for bankruptcy's in America. Something else the ACA abolishes.
http://business.time.com/2009/09/16/health-insurance-premiums-up-131-in-...
2
Can you PLEASE stop calling it "Obamacare"—
That is divisive and makes the improvement of the Affordable Care Act and move toward universal coverage all the more difficult. [And note for the record that Mr. Obama was aloof and removed from most of the negotiations of the Affordable Care Act.]
A physician MD
That is divisive and makes the improvement of the Affordable Care Act and move toward universal coverage all the more difficult. [And note for the record that Mr. Obama was aloof and removed from most of the negotiations of the Affordable Care Act.]
A physician MD
13
Can we please stop calling Tom Price the "Secretary of Health and Human Services," since he doesn't care about anybody's health and is of no service to humanity?
24
Democrats must hammer into the minds of the American people all the ways in which the ACA can be made to work. Otherwise the Republicans will cause the ACA to fail, and blame the Democrats, so that they can have their way.
12
Why would anyone in their right mind want the government, the same people who manage SSA, IRS, HHS, military, CIA, EPA, FEMA, DoD, etc., not to mention those who are in Congress and the White House, to run our health care?
3
First, your alternative is to have no health care.
Second, many of those do a very good job, Social Security for example, and Medicare/Medicaid.
Second, many of those do a very good job, Social Security for example, and Medicare/Medicaid.
34
No one wants that. No one has suggested that. The ACA does not do that. So what are you talking about?
6
Nobody wants that. No one has ever suggested that. The ACA does not do that. So what are you talking about?
The NY Times editorial states that "Republican leaders have engaged in a fraudulent campaign against the A.C.A." However, there is plenty of lying to tar the Democrats as well. The ACA was designed at least party by MIT economist Jonathan Gruber. According to Wikipedia,
"Gruber said the bill was deliberately written "in a tortured way" to disguise the fact that it creates a system by which "healthy people pay in and sick people get money". He said this obfuscation was needed due to "the stupidity of the American voter" in ensuring the bill's passage. Gruber said the bill's inherent "lack of transparency is a huge political advantage" in selling it."
Why was the ACA so complicated? Why did the Democrats not propose a much simpler bill guaranteeing universal health care?
Result: Trump runs for president promising to "repeal and replace" the ACA. But many of his supporters did not fully understand the ACA; for example, it requires Gruber's convoluted argument to understand the need for an individual mandate.
What Trump's supporters thought they voted for was a "populist." But a true populist would do an end run around Democrats and propose universal health care.
But in the twisted politics of Washington, Trump cannot do that, because he needs every Republican vote he can get to avoid potential impeachment.
(Republicans get their campaign funds from health insurers.)
Democrats might achieve checkmate if they would only propose universal health care. But will they?
"Gruber said the bill was deliberately written "in a tortured way" to disguise the fact that it creates a system by which "healthy people pay in and sick people get money". He said this obfuscation was needed due to "the stupidity of the American voter" in ensuring the bill's passage. Gruber said the bill's inherent "lack of transparency is a huge political advantage" in selling it."
Why was the ACA so complicated? Why did the Democrats not propose a much simpler bill guaranteeing universal health care?
Result: Trump runs for president promising to "repeal and replace" the ACA. But many of his supporters did not fully understand the ACA; for example, it requires Gruber's convoluted argument to understand the need for an individual mandate.
What Trump's supporters thought they voted for was a "populist." But a true populist would do an end run around Democrats and propose universal health care.
But in the twisted politics of Washington, Trump cannot do that, because he needs every Republican vote he can get to avoid potential impeachment.
(Republicans get their campaign funds from health insurers.)
Democrats might achieve checkmate if they would only propose universal health care. But will they?
1
All health insurance is based on healthy people paying for the health care of sick people. All of it. Otherwise, there would be not enough money to cover health costs and certainly not enough for profits. As it turns out, Gruber was rather unfortunately right that this needed to be disguised. Paul Ryan, among others in the GOP, has made it clear that he hasn't the foggiest idea of how health insurance works.
I agree with you about universal health care.
I agree with you about universal health care.
2
This victory goes to the American people who were relentless in their fight to save the ACA. But unfortunately this success is a fragile one. We are still faced with so much uncertainty, primarily through Trump. Just for a "win", it is part of his devious and exploitive nature to do everything in his power, with the help of his Secretary of Health and Human Services, to chip away by executive action much that is good about Obamacare. He doesn't care a whit about the millions of us Americans who will get sick, or even die, sooner.
So, once again, we can not afford to rest. And, so importantly, our Congress needs to hear that we are tired of this partisan game. It is time to shake hands and work across the aisle to not only negotiate and compromise but also to actually improve this law of the land that is too vital to disregard.
So, once again, we can not afford to rest. And, so importantly, our Congress needs to hear that we are tired of this partisan game. It is time to shake hands and work across the aisle to not only negotiate and compromise but also to actually improve this law of the land that is too vital to disregard.
13
Trump believes the Affordable Care Act is an abysmal failure. What is his suggested remedy? Make it worse! Make it worse? Make it worse! That is the solution? (Now, imagine being diagnosed with a serious illness and asking the attending physician for a remedy and being told “I am going to make it worse.” What exactly would be your assessment of that physician?)
7
Obama, his staff, and our Democratic leaders should be proud of their work: they passed a major healthcare plan that allowed millions of uninsured people to have health insurance. It needs improvement but the ACA has been more successful than anybody predicted.
Then why doesn't this feel like a win?
Oh, right. Because the Republican leadership measures success differently than the rest of us do. Success for Trump and McConnell is not when people's lives get better: it's when a Democratic initiative fails.
Then why doesn't this feel like a win?
Oh, right. Because the Republican leadership measures success differently than the rest of us do. Success for Trump and McConnell is not when people's lives get better: it's when a Democratic initiative fails.
24
If Republicans really believe that the government should not compel individuals to buy health insurance or force companies to offer health insurance to their employees, they should enact that, regardless of the fact this will certainly increase insurance premiums, deductibles, and co-pays. Freedom sometimes has costs. The facts are that Republicans could make an argument against Obamacare based on opposition to government compulsion. However, they should admit that allowing some the “freedom” from health insurance, will mean that those with health insurance will pay higher premiums, deductibles, and co-pays.
Focusing attention on the insurance companies, which are simply intermediaries between the doctors and the patients, was a tragic error. It would like trying to solve a problem of high energy prices by focusing on gasoline stations. Only if the government sets prices can health care prices be controlled. Controlling prices does not automatically result in longer waiting times. Japan and Switzerland generally have shorter waiting times to see doctors than does the USA.
In the USA we have attempted to deal with the combination of inelastic demand and unregulated medical care prices in various ways. One method of keeping medical care expense as a percent of GDP to "only" double that of other developed countries was to have a significant portion of the population uninsured and denied medical care in some circumstances.."
http://seekingalpha.com/article/1647632
Focusing attention on the insurance companies, which are simply intermediaries between the doctors and the patients, was a tragic error. It would like trying to solve a problem of high energy prices by focusing on gasoline stations. Only if the government sets prices can health care prices be controlled. Controlling prices does not automatically result in longer waiting times. Japan and Switzerland generally have shorter waiting times to see doctors than does the USA.
In the USA we have attempted to deal with the combination of inelastic demand and unregulated medical care prices in various ways. One method of keeping medical care expense as a percent of GDP to "only" double that of other developed countries was to have a significant portion of the population uninsured and denied medical care in some circumstances.."
http://seekingalpha.com/article/1647632
9
Excellent - Thanks
I think this essay misses the point. The ACA established essentially 5 key mandates: 1) people with pre-existing conditions must be covered; 2) medicaid expansion will continue for folks earning less than 400% of poverty; 3) kids under 26 can remain on their parents plans; 4) business with more than 50 employees must provide healthcare; 5) those who fail to have healthcare will be fined (individual mandate) - the president and Tom Price can mess with subsidies and destabilize the market, that will just hurt their constituency. This does not mean they will have another bite at the apple through reconciliation. Without the savings from that, there is no tax reform.
2
If they were in a legitimate school, after three failures of the same content, they should be exited from the course. Especially, after seven years of studying. They failed because they are wrong and right won over their tribal instinct to vote against anything implemented by Obama no matter how good and just it is. Yes, justice always wins in the end. Even the GOP has to learn this lessen. And they should use it as a lesson before they find themselves extinct faster than predicted.
9
I have not read the ACA, but in regard to the editorial's concerns that
"The administration could stop making subsidy payments to insurance companies authorized by the ACA to help reduce deductibles for lower-income people." and "... it could stop enforcing the penalty for people who do not buy insurance, which would result in fewer young and healthy people signing up, leading insurers to top offering policies in some parts of the country.",
is it not one of the jobs of the president to faithfully execute the laws?
It is right there in Article 2, Clause 5 of the US Constitution,
Clause 5: Caring for the faithful execution of the law
The President must "take care that the laws be faithfully executed."
If the subsidy payments and enforcement of the penalty for not buying insurance are in the ACA law, then how does the POTUS get around that?
I guess maybe the same way everyone else with influence finds ways around laws. They always seem ironclad and clear cut for the poor and powerless but somehow become open to interpretation for the powerful.
"The administration could stop making subsidy payments to insurance companies authorized by the ACA to help reduce deductibles for lower-income people." and "... it could stop enforcing the penalty for people who do not buy insurance, which would result in fewer young and healthy people signing up, leading insurers to top offering policies in some parts of the country.",
is it not one of the jobs of the president to faithfully execute the laws?
It is right there in Article 2, Clause 5 of the US Constitution,
Clause 5: Caring for the faithful execution of the law
The President must "take care that the laws be faithfully executed."
If the subsidy payments and enforcement of the penalty for not buying insurance are in the ACA law, then how does the POTUS get around that?
I guess maybe the same way everyone else with influence finds ways around laws. They always seem ironclad and clear cut for the poor and powerless but somehow become open to interpretation for the powerful.
11
After reading up on the subsidies, it appears that the provision in the law for subsidies was challenged by the House, and Federal District judge ruled that the provision was not proper. That ruling has been appealed, so Trump could simply decide to drop the appeal. The law does require that insurers provide subsidies, but they were to be re-imbursed by the government.
6
McConnell is being downright disingenuous in that the very premise of the bill he keeps repeating is an out and out lie. The ACA, "Obamacare" is not collapsing. It is not failing. Whatever difficulties the program is having is entirely due to deliberate brazen GOP sabotage efforts- both by refusing the Medicare expansion, and by destabilizing the insurance markets through Trump's threats, and the AHCA legislation.
181
I am having difficulty understanding the legal ramifications of Mr. Trump's actions, and the actions of Republicans, when they deny subsidies to insurance companies. Isn't this the law, or is only discretionary, as your article implies?
In order to force the government, i.e., Mr. Trump and friends, to pay these subsidies, wouldn't it be possible to sue them to make this happen? I don't understand how some in the government could impede the implementation of this legally enacted law, the ACA.
In order to force the government, i.e., Mr. Trump and friends, to pay these subsidies, wouldn't it be possible to sue them to make this happen? I don't understand how some in the government could impede the implementation of this legally enacted law, the ACA.
6
The missing piece is the lawsuit that the Republicans won last year. The decision is currently on hold and under appeal by the former Obama administration. Not sure if the Trump administration can simply drop the appeal and effectively put that decision in action.
3
This editorial, though completely correct in how Congress should approach improvements to the A.C.A., misses one critical fact as to why Republicans, after 7 years of threats, have come up empty in trying to eliminate it: at their core, conservative Republicans, who hold sway in these matters in Congress, simply see no role for the federal government in health care. There is no replacement plan, since they don't believe there should be any plan at all. Free markets rule, in their minds, however flawed and inadequate that thinking has been. Their more moderate colleagues, as well as the press covering the matter, needs to address this basic tenet of ultra-conservative theology, and find ways to break through it, in their critiques of Congress and their inability to move forward on this issue.
52
It is very unlikely Trump and the Republicans will reach across the aisle to work with Democrats to make the current law better. One can always hope but I wouldn't count on it. Trump will likely undermine the law out of anger, humiliation and spite but this will hurt many people and therefore, backfire.
Calling the ACA a "disaster" and "collapsing" has also been good for business. This is what helped get many Republicans elected in the first place. But the actual disaster is that after 7 years of planning, the Republicans had nothing, I mean nothing better to offer. No ideas, nothing workable. What collapsed last night was their empty house of cards.
The way forward is to hold every single Republican accountable in 2018 for their votes to strip healthcare from millions to give tax cuts to the wealthy. Capture the House or the Senate and then use the power of committee and subpoena to identify every misdeed, fraudulant tax return, falsity, and misuse of government office for profit. The sooner, the quicker.
Calling the ACA a "disaster" and "collapsing" has also been good for business. This is what helped get many Republicans elected in the first place. But the actual disaster is that after 7 years of planning, the Republicans had nothing, I mean nothing better to offer. No ideas, nothing workable. What collapsed last night was their empty house of cards.
The way forward is to hold every single Republican accountable in 2018 for their votes to strip healthcare from millions to give tax cuts to the wealthy. Capture the House or the Senate and then use the power of committee and subpoena to identify every misdeed, fraudulant tax return, falsity, and misuse of government office for profit. The sooner, the quicker.
5
Mr. Trump's oath of office specifies that he uphold the laws of this land.
The ACA is clearly among the laws of this land. Yet he openly threatens that law, and he goes on to threaten states and cities that do not bow to his often illegal demands, and now he exhorts the police to beat "suspects".
Is violating the oath of office no longer grounds for impeachment?
The ACA is clearly among the laws of this land. Yet he openly threatens that law, and he goes on to threaten states and cities that do not bow to his often illegal demands, and now he exhorts the police to beat "suspects".
Is violating the oath of office no longer grounds for impeachment?
12
Hard to see Republicans giving up as this has been their obsession for over seven years. However, I don't see how they can implement reform for 2018, meaning they will have to subsidize the ACA at levels determined by that legislation. While they may try to move on, you can be sure they will be working on yet another "repeal and replace" plan to introduce in the fall for 2019. Until the midterms. infighting will continue between conservatives and moderates in the GOP. Although moderates won this round (barely), conservatives have controlled the Party since Ronald Reagan and will continue to follow his ideology of less federal spending and lower taxes, regardless of the harm done to individuals (under the guise of "states' rights"). They know their seats are probably safe, although moderate Republicans have been gaining in certain states; e.g. Kansas, where ultra right winger/Tea Partier Sam Brownback and his followers were defeated after almost bankrupting the state. No coincidence that Brownback has been picked by Trump for an administrative post. And despite Clinton's failure to lure critical voters in the Midwest, her gains in states like Arizona and Georgia may portend things to come for moderate Democrats.
8
Which problem do you fix?
You have maybe seven million people who actually want their health insurance that they bought under the Obamacare deal, and -
- FOUR times that many currently holding Obamacare but wanting to stop buying ANY health insurance the minute the law doesn't force them to buy it.
OR, you have tens of millions who are paying two and three times what they USED to pay for insurance and had deductibles that are THOUSANDS of dollars higher than they used to have -
- and they can't even afford to go to the doctor unless he gives them a free visit.
The second group includes more families being broken financially by Obamacare.
You have maybe seven million people who actually want their health insurance that they bought under the Obamacare deal, and -
- FOUR times that many currently holding Obamacare but wanting to stop buying ANY health insurance the minute the law doesn't force them to buy it.
OR, you have tens of millions who are paying two and three times what they USED to pay for insurance and had deductibles that are THOUSANDS of dollars higher than they used to have -
- and they can't even afford to go to the doctor unless he gives them a free visit.
The second group includes more families being broken financially by Obamacare.
3
Where did you get your figures?
1
Wow! Seven million, four times that many, tens of millions -- You must be an astounding pollster, having all those numbers at your fingertips!
Please share your secret!
Please share your secret!
Do you have any facts from a legitimate source to backup these claims? This sounds like like right wing factless talking points.
Senator McCain proposed a return to regular order for the business of the Senate. Democrats should follow up on that by proposing several federally-funded state ‘laboratories’ for various single-payor or enhanced Medicaid systems on top of the basic ACA offerings. While it was vetoed by their Governor, the Nevada legislature proposed a universal coverage Medicaid-for-all system. Alaska has introduced a reinsurance scheme to back and support its ACA plans. Vermont, Colorado, and California have studied implementation of single payor. A public option plan could be another experiment for the states.
Several necessary pieces of this pie would be a) the ability of each state's Medicaid agency to negotiate pharmaceutical prices, and b) controls to prevent surprise billings. And particularly for the rural states of the west, air ambulance service costs need to be on the table, de-linked from the current federal law which prevents negotiation. Lastly, any law should clarify that all states must expand Medicaid and spell out that the Executive Branch must not play games with the enforcement of mandates or the cost sharing mechanisms.
Over several years the laboratories could show what works best, toward the goal to offer the American consumer a less costly and more effective health plan. I suspect that if the American people could truly participate in Senate and House hearings, we'd get a pretty good bill. After digesting the crow, maybe the GOP will participate as well.
Several necessary pieces of this pie would be a) the ability of each state's Medicaid agency to negotiate pharmaceutical prices, and b) controls to prevent surprise billings. And particularly for the rural states of the west, air ambulance service costs need to be on the table, de-linked from the current federal law which prevents negotiation. Lastly, any law should clarify that all states must expand Medicaid and spell out that the Executive Branch must not play games with the enforcement of mandates or the cost sharing mechanisms.
Over several years the laboratories could show what works best, toward the goal to offer the American consumer a less costly and more effective health plan. I suspect that if the American people could truly participate in Senate and House hearings, we'd get a pretty good bill. After digesting the crow, maybe the GOP will participate as well.
22
Safely progressive Vermont tried hard over more than a year to design a workable single-payer system.
It failed to even get far enough along to be tried because the costs were high enough to scare away employers and the payments were low enough that too many doctors were likely to abandon the state under the suggested system.
Please urge your state to give this a try. It is always better for 50 experiments to be tried than one gigantic disaster forced down on the country by power-hungry, control-oriented elites answering to no one.
It failed to even get far enough along to be tried because the costs were high enough to scare away employers and the payments were low enough that too many doctors were likely to abandon the state under the suggested system.
Please urge your state to give this a try. It is always better for 50 experiments to be tried than one gigantic disaster forced down on the country by power-hungry, control-oriented elites answering to no one.
2
For Republicans, not just Dixiecrat Republicans, but traditional ones as well, socialized medicine has been a bugaboo that is almost impossible for us to enact or preserve. Since debating Welfare State and "Socialized Medicine" pros and cons in high school in 1954, I have watched anti-government libertarian extremists oppose perfectly reasonable programs on the basis of preserving individual freedoms and resisting European-style safety net protections for the less fortunate members of our society. Since we managed finally to enact the ACA, they are determined to annihilate it, but they will not be able to because they cannot bring themselves to imagine or implement a federal government program to fix it. We are forced to circumvent them and prove to our citizens that we are better off with certain government programs to protect us against the vicissitudes of life that are impossible for us to manage in any other manner. Now, with luck, we may persevere because so many of our citizens enjoy longer, healthier lives, just like our European counterparts, thanks to Obamacare.
11
Individual freedoms is a code phrase that corporate America uses to fool regular people into thinking it's personal freedom's that a talked about. In reality it's the freedom of corporations to run amok.
That's why the Supreme Court is such a big deal to the GOP. They insure corporate America is considered a person when it serves their needs.
That's why the Supreme Court is such a big deal to the GOP. They insure corporate America is considered a person when it serves their needs.
I don't get it. The administration might "stop enforcing the penalty for people who do not buy insurance." But the penalty is included in one's tax return. Will the administration instruct the IRS to segregate any insurance penalty from other taxes owed and enforce only the latter? How would the IRS do this?
5
That would be the easiest O'care change to implement. I'd say it would be 10 minutes of programming minus the coffee break.
Oh, what a tortuous path we take to our inevitable destiny -- universal healthcare.
I hope President Trump has the foresight and wisdom -- of Nancy Pelosi and Bernie Sanders -- to go for single payer, right now.
BTW, McCain gave a thumb down to partial repeal. He wanted and voted for a full repeal of ACA. And you put him on a pedestal as a hero -- what are you on, er, what side are you on ?
OTOH, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski were the real republican heroes.
I hope President Trump has the foresight and wisdom -- of Nancy Pelosi and Bernie Sanders -- to go for single payer, right now.
BTW, McCain gave a thumb down to partial repeal. He wanted and voted for a full repeal of ACA. And you put him on a pedestal as a hero -- what are you on, er, what side are you on ?
OTOH, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski were the real republican heroes.
9
Since when has Pelosi wanted single payer? Last i knew, she was opposed. Another reason it's long past time for her to go.
"...Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, replied with a flat “no” when asked if Democrats should make single-payer a central theme in 2018. "
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/03/us/democrats-universal-health-care-si...
"...Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, replied with a flat “no” when asked if Democrats should make single-payer a central theme in 2018. "
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/03/us/democrats-universal-health-care-si...
1
You guys are right. The Senate Republicans could sit down with Democrats to address the shortcomings of the Affordable Care Act. It would be great if subsidies were no longer in the hands of Trump, who has threatened in the past to withhold them. Yes, Congress could secure that money.
Thousands and thousands have gone without care in states that did not expand Medicaid. My state's legislature considered it twice and voted it down. If the ACA was improved, perhaps some of those states, including mine, would reconsider again.
Absolutely, Republicans could make the law better, and then rename it McCainCare. After doing so, perhaps they would not lose as many seats in next year's election. Senate Republicans should listen to Senator Susan Collins of Maine. The goal should be to improve Americans' access to affordable, excellent and quality health care.
Republicans should be trying to beat the ACA (as in make it better) rather than beat it up. But the recent rounds of voting give few reasons for optimism.
Thousands and thousands have gone without care in states that did not expand Medicaid. My state's legislature considered it twice and voted it down. If the ACA was improved, perhaps some of those states, including mine, would reconsider again.
Absolutely, Republicans could make the law better, and then rename it McCainCare. After doing so, perhaps they would not lose as many seats in next year's election. Senate Republicans should listen to Senator Susan Collins of Maine. The goal should be to improve Americans' access to affordable, excellent and quality health care.
Republicans should be trying to beat the ACA (as in make it better) rather than beat it up. But the recent rounds of voting give few reasons for optimism.
9
I actually don't want the ACA to be "safe" and unchanging; I want a better approach. But the intent to deliberately undermine the ACA by refusing to fund it fully, and by letting potential insurers flee because of the uncertainties, is not just cruel, but, I would think, illegal. How about a report on what the federal government is mandated to do?
55
"It would be foolish to underestimate the administration, which has the power to do substantial damage. The administration could stop making subsidy payments to insurance companies authorized by the A.C.A. to help reduce deductibles for lower-income people. And it could stop enforcing the penalty for people who do not buy insurance, which would result in fewer young and healthy people signing up, leading insurers to stop offering policies in some parts of the country."
Can they? These provisions were already approved by various legal challenges. Can Trump overturn subsidies, if the Supreme Court already approved them, that and the requirement to purchase insurance?
Then comes another irony, John McCain advocated these same provisions while debating soon to be President Obama in 2008. And, so called Romneycare was already implemented in Massachusetts.
And, were did the ACA come from? Idea wise it was advocated by the Heritage Foundation at the time President Clinton was trying to do "health care reform", or just before it. And people like Newt Gingrich supported something like the ACA.
The ACA has roots in conservatism; it is certainly not progressive or liberal legislation by any means. The problem is far right wing conservatives, and very greedy wealthy people are driving the ACA repeal. Or even worse, the GOP originally embraced an idea they would never implement.
The public will not stand for another GOP crack at the ACA. They do it at their own peril.
Can they? These provisions were already approved by various legal challenges. Can Trump overturn subsidies, if the Supreme Court already approved them, that and the requirement to purchase insurance?
Then comes another irony, John McCain advocated these same provisions while debating soon to be President Obama in 2008. And, so called Romneycare was already implemented in Massachusetts.
And, were did the ACA come from? Idea wise it was advocated by the Heritage Foundation at the time President Clinton was trying to do "health care reform", or just before it. And people like Newt Gingrich supported something like the ACA.
The ACA has roots in conservatism; it is certainly not progressive or liberal legislation by any means. The problem is far right wing conservatives, and very greedy wealthy people are driving the ACA repeal. Or even worse, the GOP originally embraced an idea they would never implement.
The public will not stand for another GOP crack at the ACA. They do it at their own peril.
9
Each year the subsidy is approved, or not. That will be up to Congress each fall.
The PPACA never even held the support of MOST Americans. Don't you recall even that?
The PPACA never even held the support of MOST Americans. Don't you recall even that?
Why couldn't the Republican come up something better than the ACA in seven years? There are scores of working Health Care Plans in other countries most have been in place for decades. Obamacare had its origins in the Republican think tank the Heritage Foundation was similar to the Swiss system -private insurers with controls and subsidies- and was first was adopted by a Republican governor. If this program needs to be tweaked we have lots of examples to fall back on. We didn't need to reinvent the wheel. The Republicans do, and judging by their contradictory proposals and goals, it will never be done.
9
Why isn't the effort by Trump and his administration (Tom Price, for example) to undermine the ACA a violation of his constitutional duty to "faithfully execute" the laws of the United States?
30
The early history of the United States of America, and our mostly-British roots was the result of the invention of:
a) ships
b) celestial navigation
c) insurance
If you guessed C, you are correct. The British companies that sent ships to America suffered huge individual losses, and decided to pool their risk. This was the basis of Lloyd's of London and why Hartford Connecticut is/was the "insurance capitol" of the US.
a) ships
b) celestial navigation
c) insurance
If you guessed C, you are correct. The British companies that sent ships to America suffered huge individual losses, and decided to pool their risk. This was the basis of Lloyd's of London and why Hartford Connecticut is/was the "insurance capitol" of the US.
8
"President Trump and his health and human services secretary, Tom Price, have made it their mission to undermine the law."
Never underestimate the absolute mean-spiritedness and vindictiveness of this president and his HHS Secretary. Whenever Donald Trump is denied something, his impulse is to lash out and punish.
He isn't serving this country, he's serving himself. Name an issue, unless he stands to gain glory from it, he won't play ball.
It's a crying shame that grown men wouldn't use the power of their respective offices to initiate much-needed changes.
So yes, read it here first: Donald Trump says the ACA will implode, and you know what? He's absolutely right--because of the role he and Tom Price will play in making that a reality.
Never underestimate the absolute mean-spiritedness and vindictiveness of this president and his HHS Secretary. Whenever Donald Trump is denied something, his impulse is to lash out and punish.
He isn't serving this country, he's serving himself. Name an issue, unless he stands to gain glory from it, he won't play ball.
It's a crying shame that grown men wouldn't use the power of their respective offices to initiate much-needed changes.
So yes, read it here first: Donald Trump says the ACA will implode, and you know what? He's absolutely right--because of the role he and Tom Price will play in making that a reality.
83
One must wonder whether Sen. McCain's return to principle is due in part to his diagnosis. Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose. If only honorable behavior were the norm among our politicos; but it's not even a societal norm, so we really can't expect much in that regard from Congress.
1
The right argues they are being forced to drag along the dead weight of their lazy fellow men who could afford health care if they stopped buying iPhones. The left argues that it is a moral imperative to aid aiding Americans upon whom misfortune has been served by economic forces far beyond their comprehension and control.
At issue, is cost. And we can argue until the cows come home if that cost is justified or not. Certainly, if you're an out of work coal miner being forced into part-time hourly work with no benefits to feed your family - you're grateful it's being done, justified or not. If you're a small businessperson trying to stay afloat with 10 employees and health care costs spiraling out of control - perhaps giving well-baby checkups for the coal miner's children isn't something you feel is a burden you should fairly shoulder, given you have your own family and the well being of your employees to worry about.
Unfortunately - absolutely NOTHING has been said, done, or offered to improve this situation. It is clear most Republicans take an entrepreneurial view - every man has a right to the fruits of his own success, and Democrats feel the fortune of life is spotty and despite effort benefits some, and locks out others.
The greatness of this country, as John McCain pointed out - is that up until now we have been able to hold both concepts in our minds simultaneously and compromise to the benefit of all.
Nothing will work until we get back to that.
At issue, is cost. And we can argue until the cows come home if that cost is justified or not. Certainly, if you're an out of work coal miner being forced into part-time hourly work with no benefits to feed your family - you're grateful it's being done, justified or not. If you're a small businessperson trying to stay afloat with 10 employees and health care costs spiraling out of control - perhaps giving well-baby checkups for the coal miner's children isn't something you feel is a burden you should fairly shoulder, given you have your own family and the well being of your employees to worry about.
Unfortunately - absolutely NOTHING has been said, done, or offered to improve this situation. It is clear most Republicans take an entrepreneurial view - every man has a right to the fruits of his own success, and Democrats feel the fortune of life is spotty and despite effort benefits some, and locks out others.
The greatness of this country, as John McCain pointed out - is that up until now we have been able to hold both concepts in our minds simultaneously and compromise to the benefit of all.
Nothing will work until we get back to that.
7
"trying to stay afloat with 10 employees and health care costs spiraling out of control"
Right. And when we have single payer that will be much less of a burden. The risk will be spread, the basis for insurance.
Right. And when we have single payer that will be much less of a burden. The risk will be spread, the basis for insurance.
12
Instead of shirking from publicly standing up for the ACA and plowing countless dollars into House and Senate campaigns, which the Democrats have done over several election cycles, it is high time that the Democrats fund advertising to encourage people to sign up for ACA coverage and otherwise promote the ACA. The Democrats must do what HHS will plainly not do.
7
I opposed the Republican alternative to the ACA because it would only make things worse. I oppose Obamacare because all it does is throw more money into a dysfunctional system. Yes, it covers more people, but it only achieves this by taxing people who are already struggling to pay for their own health insurance, and meantime the outrageous prices continue; the hospital, pharmaceutical, and insurance executives continue to make gazillions; people in emergency rooms continue to get surprise bills from out-of-network doctors; prices and premiums continue to rise at an unconscionable rate; the federal deficit continues to skyrocket; and despite all of this Americans are less healthy than our counterparts elsewhere. So let's solve it all by borrowing more money to give insurance companies subsidies and invite 4 million more people to get free health insurance through Medicaid? What am I missing?
6
They could also come to their senses and pass legislation supporting health care for all, but that appears too much to ask of those beholden to their campaign donors. For the most part, they are little more than well-dressed poseurs who should be replaced by almost anyone with a heart that beats.
16
At what point does the obstructionism, described in this article as possible strategies to thwart the will of Congress by undermining the law, with dire consequences for the health and welfare of Americans, becomes felonious maleficence punishable by the law?
6
Congressional Democrats and some Republicans, as well as we citizens, need to hold the administration's feet to the fire on following the law regarding ACA/Obamacare. Every time there is a deviation or non-enforcement of its provisions, the nation needs to hear about it, loudly. This goes for the press reporting it, too.
President Trump himself promised to make healthcare available "for everybody," with better and less expensive policies. It is not in keeping with that promise of he cuts back assistance regarding Obamacare while it still exists, even while waiting for him to fulfill the healthcare promises he made to voters.
President Trump himself promised to make healthcare available "for everybody," with better and less expensive policies. It is not in keeping with that promise of he cuts back assistance regarding Obamacare while it still exists, even while waiting for him to fulfill the healthcare promises he made to voters.
5
The Republican’s so-called health care plan reinforces the fact that there is no way that extreme right-wing Republicans should have 2/3 of the state legislatures and governorships, a large majority in the House, and a slim majority in the Senate (exit polls indicate that 4 races were flipped in the 2016 election alone). Since the Help America Vote Act was pushed by Republicans and passed by Congress in 2002, there is a vast amount of evidence (large discrepancies between the exit polls and official results, and other evidence) indicating manipulation of the vote counts.
Josh Mittledorf: Intro to Election Theft in America (Part 1)
https://www.opednews.com/populum/page.php?f=Intro-to-Election-Theft-in-b...
Statistical Evidence for Election Theft (Part 2)
Stories of Election Theft (Part 3)
Election Theft 2016 (Part 4)
Mittledorf: “Whatever you think of the evidence, there is no justification for a system without the possibility of public verification.”
Some of the many red flags:
2000: Whistleblower Clint Curtis was asked by Tom Feeney, the then Republican Speaker of the Florida House, to write a vote-flipping program. Curtis testified before a Congressional House panel in Ohio after the 2004 election, passed a polygraph test, and signed a sworn affidavit. Clint Curtis: Million Dollar Programmer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7tjnuG-l6g
(1 of 3 - cont'd below)
Josh Mittledorf: Intro to Election Theft in America (Part 1)
https://www.opednews.com/populum/page.php?f=Intro-to-Election-Theft-in-b...
Statistical Evidence for Election Theft (Part 2)
Stories of Election Theft (Part 3)
Election Theft 2016 (Part 4)
Mittledorf: “Whatever you think of the evidence, there is no justification for a system without the possibility of public verification.”
Some of the many red flags:
2000: Whistleblower Clint Curtis was asked by Tom Feeney, the then Republican Speaker of the Florida House, to write a vote-flipping program. Curtis testified before a Congressional House panel in Ohio after the 2004 election, passed a polygraph test, and signed a sworn affidavit. Clint Curtis: Million Dollar Programmer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7tjnuG-l6g
(1 of 3 - cont'd below)
3
(2 of 3)
2002: Hackers found a Diebold folder labeled: “Rob Georgia” after the 2002 election. Popular incumbents Max Cleland and Gov. Roy Barnes lost their races—a 12 point swing in the Chambliss race; a 14 point swing in the Barnes race (statistically impossible). For more, see part three of Josh Mitteldorf’s piece.
2004: Robert Kennedy, Jr.’s piece: “Was the 2004 Election Stolen?,” discusses exit polls discrepancies and voter suppression. https://www.commondreams.org/views06/0601-34.htm
2006: After getting the 2002 and 2004 elections wrong, pre-election pollsters devised the “Likely Voter Cutoff Model” to screen out Democrats. Edison Media Research began using the demographics of exit polls from previous elections which are forced to match secret vote counts. Election integrity advocates are still seeing “red shifts” even though polls are being skewed to the right.
2008: Whistleblower Mike Connell, Karl Rove’s IT guru, was deposed for a case involving election fraud of the 2004 presidential race in Ohio. Connell received death threats following his deposition. He was scheduled to resume his testimony (possibly in open court), but died (was killed) in a suspicious airplane crash while flying solo. Mike Connell: Man in the Middle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNNHSpM-Z-w
2010: With 300 safe House seats, Republicans won 126 of the remaining seats. According to the laws of statistics, one party is not supposed to win all of the close races; they should break about even.
2002: Hackers found a Diebold folder labeled: “Rob Georgia” after the 2002 election. Popular incumbents Max Cleland and Gov. Roy Barnes lost their races—a 12 point swing in the Chambliss race; a 14 point swing in the Barnes race (statistically impossible). For more, see part three of Josh Mitteldorf’s piece.
2004: Robert Kennedy, Jr.’s piece: “Was the 2004 Election Stolen?,” discusses exit polls discrepancies and voter suppression. https://www.commondreams.org/views06/0601-34.htm
2006: After getting the 2002 and 2004 elections wrong, pre-election pollsters devised the “Likely Voter Cutoff Model” to screen out Democrats. Edison Media Research began using the demographics of exit polls from previous elections which are forced to match secret vote counts. Election integrity advocates are still seeing “red shifts” even though polls are being skewed to the right.
2008: Whistleblower Mike Connell, Karl Rove’s IT guru, was deposed for a case involving election fraud of the 2004 presidential race in Ohio. Connell received death threats following his deposition. He was scheduled to resume his testimony (possibly in open court), but died (was killed) in a suspicious airplane crash while flying solo. Mike Connell: Man in the Middle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNNHSpM-Z-w
2010: With 300 safe House seats, Republicans won 126 of the remaining seats. According to the laws of statistics, one party is not supposed to win all of the close races; they should break about even.
3
(3 of 3)
2012: Hart InterCivic, a voting machine company in Ohio largely owned by the Romney family (a conflict of interest), planned to install patches in 25 counties before the presidential election. A patch is considered experimental so it must first be installed in one county for testing. A Republican in the Secretary of State’s office blew the whistle. Washington Spectator: Did an Election Day Lawsuit Stop Karl Rove’s Vote-Rigging Scheme in Ohio? https://washingtonspectator.org/did-an-election-day-lawsuit-stop-karl-ro...
2014: With an approval rating of GOP House in the single digits, Republicans swept up more seats yet progressive ballot measures passed even in non-blue states. The media’s explanation for the GOP “wins” was that “voters simply didn’t vote for Democrats.”
2016: There were large discrepancies in the Democratic primaries favoring Clinton, virtually none on the Republican side. In the general election, the exit polls in the swing states show large discrepancies favoring Trump (statistically impossible). For more, see part four of Josh Mitteldorf’s piece.
It’s interesting to note that in the early years of computerized voting, it was not taboo to talk about voting machine vulnerabilities. A piece by Paul Krugman is referenced in part one of Josh Mitteldorf’s article:
Paul Krugman: Fear of Fraud
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/27/opinion/fear-of-fraud.html?_r=1
#DemocracyDemandsTransparentVoteCounting
#HandCountedBallotsNow!
2012: Hart InterCivic, a voting machine company in Ohio largely owned by the Romney family (a conflict of interest), planned to install patches in 25 counties before the presidential election. A patch is considered experimental so it must first be installed in one county for testing. A Republican in the Secretary of State’s office blew the whistle. Washington Spectator: Did an Election Day Lawsuit Stop Karl Rove’s Vote-Rigging Scheme in Ohio? https://washingtonspectator.org/did-an-election-day-lawsuit-stop-karl-ro...
2014: With an approval rating of GOP House in the single digits, Republicans swept up more seats yet progressive ballot measures passed even in non-blue states. The media’s explanation for the GOP “wins” was that “voters simply didn’t vote for Democrats.”
2016: There were large discrepancies in the Democratic primaries favoring Clinton, virtually none on the Republican side. In the general election, the exit polls in the swing states show large discrepancies favoring Trump (statistically impossible). For more, see part four of Josh Mitteldorf’s piece.
It’s interesting to note that in the early years of computerized voting, it was not taboo to talk about voting machine vulnerabilities. A piece by Paul Krugman is referenced in part one of Josh Mitteldorf’s article:
Paul Krugman: Fear of Fraud
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/27/opinion/fear-of-fraud.html?_r=1
#DemocracyDemandsTransparentVoteCounting
#HandCountedBallotsNow!
5
Give it a rest, she lost. And the fault lies with her own self.
Had congressional Republicans bothered to seek advice on repealing-and-replacing Obamacare from medical doctors or other stakeholders in the health care industry, who know firsthand the dire consequences of having no or inadequate health care, they would have learned about those professionals' sound guiding principle: "First do no harm". The same principle should guide any future attempts at "fixing" Obamacare, which one hopes would be bipartisan.
16
The vindictive GOP and their efforts to destroy the ACA stems not only from making their rich constituents richer but also from the dislike and or hatred they have against former President Obama and his creation, the ACA. Eight years of complaining and lying to the American people about the ACA and prior decades of doing nothing to advance healthcare in the country; this is the best the GOP can muster, a bill that would have killed millions.
The ACA is not perfect but it can be perfected through bi-partisanship cooperation. However, the GOP never wanted to take that route. All they ever really wanted was to do was destroy former President Obama’s health care legacy.
GOP, please adhere to the advice of your fellow Republican John McCain and work together with the rest of congress to refine and fix the ACA. Your constituents the American people are counting on it.
The ACA is not perfect but it can be perfected through bi-partisanship cooperation. However, the GOP never wanted to take that route. All they ever really wanted was to do was destroy former President Obama’s health care legacy.
GOP, please adhere to the advice of your fellow Republican John McCain and work together with the rest of congress to refine and fix the ACA. Your constituents the American people are counting on it.
16
Anybody following Trump at this point has a major case of flawed judgement.
8
That group is MORE voters than won him the election in the first place.
You have been presented with totally warped ''facts'' and thus you are missing the real story in the U.S. right now.
You need to change your news sources like I did. Ditch all the blogs.
You have been presented with totally warped ''facts'' and thus you are missing the real story in the U.S. right now.
You need to change your news sources like I did. Ditch all the blogs.
President Trump's biggest liability is Tom Price, his Health Secretary, and a man with no fresh ideas, beholden to special interests, recommended by the standard Republican ideologues.
I've said it when he was elected, he can only work with Bernie Sanders on healthcare, the only senator with fresh ideas and guts to fight the system. The rest of the Republicans (and Democrats) are the system, and want minimal change.
I've said it when he was elected, he can only work with Bernie Sanders on healthcare, the only senator with fresh ideas and guts to fight the system. The rest of the Republicans (and Democrats) are the system, and want minimal change.
6
And the lies continue. I have two different Republican law makers state that 30% in one case and 40% in another of the benefits of Obamacare are going to 3 or 4 states respectively. I become annoyed when the interviewers don't scream into the microphones that 19 states refused to take the federal dollars to expand medicaid in their states. That is the equivalent of not taking highway funds and then blaming the potholes on Obama. I know that the people on this thread are aware of those 19 Republican Governors but it still can't be said often enough that this is unprecedented for states to refuse Federal money and it only happened when a black man was the benefactor. The reason the ACA is still not safe is because racism still attaches itself to the bill.
208
Hopefully the ACA will last longer than Reince Preibus did as Chief of Staff, or even Gen. Kelly, who could be on thin ice if Scaramucci calls the shots and Kelly is marginalized.
Jeb Bush had one thing right: Trump was a chaos candidate and his will be a chaotic presidency.
Most of Trump's efforts thus far have been on protecting his hide and not on getting any major legislation through Congress. Trump's threats against senators who were not supportive of the repeal/replace ACA efforts. That, obviously, didn't work.
It remains to be seen if Gen. Kelly succeeds where others failed, i.e., getting Trump off twitter rants and focus on running the country. Tall order, I thini.
Jeb Bush had one thing right: Trump was a chaos candidate and his will be a chaotic presidency.
Most of Trump's efforts thus far have been on protecting his hide and not on getting any major legislation through Congress. Trump's threats against senators who were not supportive of the repeal/replace ACA efforts. That, obviously, didn't work.
It remains to be seen if Gen. Kelly succeeds where others failed, i.e., getting Trump off twitter rants and focus on running the country. Tall order, I thini.
3
The only thing that will improve the ACA is by turning it into a single payer system. Every civilized Western country has one. Why can't we?
That won't happen until the Democrats are in power across the board with people in office with enough integrity not to be lobbied and bought by the privatized health care industry.
That won't happen until the Democrats are in power across the board with people in office with enough integrity not to be lobbied and bought by the privatized health care industry.
31
Pelosi is on record against single payer and the Democrats were sure to avoid it during Obama years.
4
What I find annoying about this last vote is all of the attention and accolades that John McCain is receiving. Sure, he voted "No" (but check his other votes) whereas Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski have been steadfast and consistent in their opposition to the destruction of the ACA and the pathetic, secretive bills that a bunch of self-important men have tried to jam through the Senate.
79
Obamacare is only 13% self funded and in reality an 87% taxpayer supported entitlement to extend Medicaid. What it is not by any definition is "insurance" and it cannot "live" without huge influxs of money from beligured working taxpayers struggling to support their families. So, the very idea it could survive with just a few "tweaks" is as much a lie as calling it insurance.
10
I wonder if they will ever stop punishing us for electing a black man to be our President. Twice....
82
Congratulations to the three courageous Republican senators! Okay, now it's time to roll up your sleeves and get together -- both Rs and Ds -- to fix the healthcare system in our country for the benefit of all. Healthcare should be a right in this country not just medical care for the wealthy. How can we think anything else in the richest country the world has ever known?
7
One must ask why all but 3 Republican Senators and a majority of House Republicans are so intent on undercutting the availability of affordable health insurance and therefor healthcare for millions of Americans. This is particularly important because the proposed House and Senate legislation has been opposed by the American Medical Association, AARP and the Insurance Industry.
Who do these Republican's serve?
Who do these Republican's serve?
16
Those who know real history know the ACA will never be safe, nor will Social Security, public education or anything we think of as entitlements because of belief in a 20th century social contract.
One of the biggest lies of our economic system is what we incorrectly call the Irish Potato Famine. There was no famine in Ireland in fact 1845-1852 were boom times for Ireland's food export economy.. The removal of 20% of the Irish population through death or migration served the landowners of Ireland and their economy very well.
Sadly I don't see the Dow and the interests of Goldman Sachs being harmed by the hardships of so many average Americans. America was great when the world's riff-raff could go to America and build a vibrant and growing economy.
Today America's potato eaters are simply those poor hovel dwellers whose disappearance will enhance America's post consumer economy.
One of the biggest lies of our economic system is what we incorrectly call the Irish Potato Famine. There was no famine in Ireland in fact 1845-1852 were boom times for Ireland's food export economy.. The removal of 20% of the Irish population through death or migration served the landowners of Ireland and their economy very well.
Sadly I don't see the Dow and the interests of Goldman Sachs being harmed by the hardships of so many average Americans. America was great when the world's riff-raff could go to America and build a vibrant and growing economy.
Today America's potato eaters are simply those poor hovel dwellers whose disappearance will enhance America's post consumer economy.
2
Trump is very angry now. This repeal effort on his part has been all about his ego and trashing President Obama's legacy. Hopefully some people will sleep easier in their beds tonight because three decent Republicans stood for all Americans, but Trump and the majority of the other Republicans do not stand for all of us, otherwise they would have wanted and worked toward strengthening the ACA. So I agree with the NY Times, this is not over, so it will be up to all of us, and especially the news media to be vigilant, not let our guard down, and stay involved on all levels of politics. We must keep letting our voices be heard and stand together against whatever onslaught Trump has planned. He is like a wounded bull now, and will be even more dangerous in seeking revenge.
Today for the first time in my life (I am 72), I sent donations to two Republicans. I wanted to show my gratitude to two strong women who stood up against a bully, and stood for all of us. I also sent a thank you to Senator McCain. The hero I remembered who returned from 5 1/2 long horrible years in a Vietnam prison showed up last night.
Today for the first time in my life (I am 72), I sent donations to two Republicans. I wanted to show my gratitude to two strong women who stood up against a bully, and stood for all of us. I also sent a thank you to Senator McCain. The hero I remembered who returned from 5 1/2 long horrible years in a Vietnam prison showed up last night.
550
Such a beautiful thing that you did here, Diana. Thank you.
6
Thank you Diana for speaking out in a way that I completely agree. Much of this campaign against the A.C.A. has been about destroying Barack Obama's legacy. I refuse to refer the health care law he brought to life as anything other than it's true name, Affordable Care Act. Stay wake people!
1
Well said, I struggle sending Senator Murkowski money due to her focus on oil extraction, but Sen. Collins deserves a check even if small.
2
If Trump and the GOP sabotage the operation of the ACA, it will not be the Democrats who will be punished at the polls.
4
The central problem in US health care financing is the exorbitant costs of medical tests and procedures. So far, neither Democrat nor Republican politicians have dared to address costs in any significant way. Obamacare was a gift to the health care and insurance industries, to be paid for by working middle-class Americans who don't qualify for taxpayer subsidies. It perpetuates the problem of costs and is unsustainable. Eventually, the country will have to bring medical costs closer to those in other developed countries with comparable health care outcomes but much lower costs.
15
Glad to see recognition of the mathematical equivalency of Collins, Murkowski, and McCain. Senator McCain's vote would have meant nothing without Collins and Murkowski. As a Coloradan, I am deeply disappointed in Senator Gardner. His toleration of the failed plan to devastate Medicaid would have left as many as 400,000 of my fellow Coloradans without access to non-emergency health care and closed many of the few remaining in-patient facilities in rural Colorado. For shame. As a resident of the relatively-impoverished Eastern Plains of our state, he has to know better. I hope to be able to remind my fellow voters of his callousness come re-election time.
102
I hope we are not all counting on Trump to do the right thing.
25
Republicans remind me of Winnie the Pooh, who just couldn't resist reaching for the honey pot regardless of getting stuck with the consequences. No mater how many times ACA repeal dies in the House or Senate, the siren song of $800 billion in Medicaid funds that are 'just sitting on the table' waiting to be snatched for tax cuts will be too much to resist. Like a political zombie apocalypse, Republicans will come back again and again until they extract their pound of flesh from the rotting carcass of repeal.
9
If Trump and/or Sec. Price do anything to undermine the ACA, such as withholding payments to insurers, I want them arrested and tried for sedition. They swore an oath to uphold the Constitution, which says that the executive branch must carry out the laws. They are breaking that oath. Lock them up!
12
Did you also call for President Obama's arrest for failing to uphold parts of the immigration laws, for example, his support for the "Dreamers?" Just wondering where your definition of sedition ends. I suspect that it applies only to Republicans, right?
It isn't possible to get to a successful outcome when one is working with unreasonable people. There is just no way forward here with Trump, McConnell and their henchmen. Unbelievable.
11
Now is the time to hold Trump directly accountable. Democrats should make it as plain as can be that Trump and his administration can either Help or Harm.
Democratic Senators should be ready on Monday with specific amendments to repair the ACA. Now is the time for Senator Schuemer to talk with each of the Republican Senators and ask them to work in a bipartisan manner. And Schuemer should call State Governors who will be in trouble and ask them to join in the efforts to repair the ACA.
Now is the time for Democratic action. If Trump and his administration refuse, lay it on their lap. Trump will try to say that it all the fault of the Democrats and he will succeed unless the Democratic voice starts on Monday to be loud and louder each day.
Democratic Senators should be ready on Monday with specific amendments to repair the ACA. Now is the time for Senator Schuemer to talk with each of the Republican Senators and ask them to work in a bipartisan manner. And Schuemer should call State Governors who will be in trouble and ask them to join in the efforts to repair the ACA.
Now is the time for Democratic action. If Trump and his administration refuse, lay it on their lap. Trump will try to say that it all the fault of the Democrats and he will succeed unless the Democratic voice starts on Monday to be loud and louder each day.
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Expect the worst for the forseeable future. If the recent past hasn't been demonstration that the Congress will follow Trump's lead of lies and disruptive tactics to undermine the clear success, and Americans' embrace, of Obamacare.
The fact that the vote was so close, relying on an unreliable McCain, heaps shame on the Republicans who earlier listened to constituents and voted for them, against repeal.
The fact that the vote was so close, relying on an unreliable McCain, heaps shame on the Republicans who earlier listened to constituents and voted for them, against repeal.
11
Nothing is safe as long as we have this wild man president. I do not advocate or approve of physical violence, but we must remove this bully, thug and oaf -- a three-fer -- from the Office of the President.
26
Imagine Pence for a few minutes.
1
Other than cutting taxes for the wealthy, the Republican Party has been bereft of original ideas since the days of St. Ronnie the Dim. So it's not surprising all Ryan, McConnell & Friends could do is lie about ACA in a desperate attempt to fool the American public into thinking that something close (or as close as we could get in 2009) to universal health care was a hideous idea.
Hopefully, what the past week's escapade - coupled with the previous six months - will reveal to voters is that Republicans care not one whit for what is good for the country. Donald Trump cares even less about the well-being of the people he P.T. Barnum'ed into voting for him.
Obamacare is far from perfect but Mr. Obama refused to let a desire for perfection become the enemy of the possible. If The GOP - and Donald Trump = have any interest in actually serving the country they were elected to represent, they will find a way to work with Democrats to improve the law, not waste more years trying to un-do it.
But I am not holding my breath.
Hopefully, what the past week's escapade - coupled with the previous six months - will reveal to voters is that Republicans care not one whit for what is good for the country. Donald Trump cares even less about the well-being of the people he P.T. Barnum'ed into voting for him.
Obamacare is far from perfect but Mr. Obama refused to let a desire for perfection become the enemy of the possible. If The GOP - and Donald Trump = have any interest in actually serving the country they were elected to represent, they will find a way to work with Democrats to improve the law, not waste more years trying to un-do it.
But I am not holding my breath.
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Charley needs to apply to a poor man for a job.
Because nearly all taxes are PAID by the wealthy who you have been so well-trained to hate, even the middle-class tax cuts that twice ended up raising middle-class incomes by 12% necessarily include cuts for everyone paying a higher rate.
Reagan's tax cut led to an economic boom that produced between 15 million and 40+million jobs if you follow the boom through following presidencies.
Go ahead and hate whoever you are supposed to, but never assume you know the first thing about economics and how jobs are created.
Hiring people is a risk, which is why you've never tried it.
Because nearly all taxes are PAID by the wealthy who you have been so well-trained to hate, even the middle-class tax cuts that twice ended up raising middle-class incomes by 12% necessarily include cuts for everyone paying a higher rate.
Reagan's tax cut led to an economic boom that produced between 15 million and 40+million jobs if you follow the boom through following presidencies.
Go ahead and hate whoever you are supposed to, but never assume you know the first thing about economics and how jobs are created.
Hiring people is a risk, which is why you've never tried it.
2
L'Oss: There is zero empirical evidence that tax cuts alone produce economic growth.
Also, when you state that most taxes are paid by the wealthy, I am assuming you are referring to income taxes. The wealthy pay so much because they have so much to pay.
I pay a sales tax of almost 9%. I am self-employed, and therefore pay both employer and employee payroll taxes. When I go to the gas station, I pay a tax. I own a home, and pay almost $9,000 in real estate taxes.
Oh, and since we do not have a form of government provided health insurance for non-veterans and adults under 65, I pay almost $20,000 a year in premiums for myself and spouse.
I hate nobody. I do, however, have contempt for people like you, who distort the truth for political gain.
Also, when you state that most taxes are paid by the wealthy, I am assuming you are referring to income taxes. The wealthy pay so much because they have so much to pay.
I pay a sales tax of almost 9%. I am self-employed, and therefore pay both employer and employee payroll taxes. When I go to the gas station, I pay a tax. I own a home, and pay almost $9,000 in real estate taxes.
Oh, and since we do not have a form of government provided health insurance for non-veterans and adults under 65, I pay almost $20,000 a year in premiums for myself and spouse.
I hate nobody. I do, however, have contempt for people like you, who distort the truth for political gain.
6
A. WHEN the richest pay their taxes. They employ tax lawyers and accountants to figure out all the ways they can evade paying their fair share.
B. They don't hire more people when given a tax cut, they squirrel away the money off-shore. The money doesn't trickle down, this has been shown too many times to count.
C. The richest 0.1% own as much wealth as the other 90%. They should be paying most of the taxes, they have all the freaking money.
B. They don't hire more people when given a tax cut, they squirrel away the money off-shore. The money doesn't trickle down, this has been shown too many times to count.
C. The richest 0.1% own as much wealth as the other 90%. They should be paying most of the taxes, they have all the freaking money.
2
The Republicans said last January that the goal was to eliminate the Obamacare taxes on capital gains and the additional Medicare tax on high earners, so that they could have a new baseline to enact even larger tax cuts with the tax "reform" plan. I don't believe the Republican leadership is huddled together thinking up ways to work in a bipartisan manner to fix or improve Obamacare. They are huddled together thinking up ways to still get the LARGEST tax cut for the RICHEST Americans,,,because those are the people who donate to their campaign coffers. The rest of America and what WE NEED aren't part of their agenda.
I appreciate Senator Schumer's comments today. He is willing to work with Republicans, but if they REFUSE to work together, then they will experience the same defeat with tax reform and infrastructure plans.
I appreciate Senator Schumer's comments today. He is willing to work with Republicans, but if they REFUSE to work together, then they will experience the same defeat with tax reform and infrastructure plans.
61
There is one statistic you seldom see quoted. To date,7.5 million have paid the IRS penalty rather than buy health care. Some number have also surely bought health care who preferred not to -- that's the whole purpose of the penalty after all. Approximately half those eligible would rather not be enrolled. And none of those are Medicaid patients, who pay no price. So a majority of exchange clients are enrolled under protest. No doubt they feel like they are paying a penalty for the benefit of others, and they're right about that. Neither the Democrats, or the liberal media are telling the whole story.
28
That's how insurance, and citizenship, works. We all make a sacrifice for the greater good. It works very well in countries that wish to see everyone be okay. I'm not sure we are one of those countries.
461
I have not crashed my car into another person, nor do I intend to. Yet every year I pay money to insure other people against me, as my choice is either to do that or deposit an obscene amount of money with the government. If I were to have a choice in the matter, rather than a legal mandate, I very well may have chosen not to have this insurance (and, indeed, there are people who do not).
The basis of insurance is that it is a payment you make to protect against something that may never happen. As such, there will easily be winners and losers in the context, and some people may pay for insurance a lifetime and never see any "benefit" from it. Insurance, therefore, works on the premise that "not everyone who has insurance needs it".
Healthcare is not true insurance, however, as any given person is almost invariably guaranteed to need it, but it's also reasonably predictable when. So, therefore, if you leave it to a completely free market, you end up with "insurance" that only covers people who need it, which will invariably make it extremely expensive as the insurance has to almost guarantee a payout.
The individual mandate is intended to spread the costs of healthcare. It exists for the purpose of making people who wouldn't buy healthcare, well, buy it, because a healthy insurance market needs healthy people as well as sick people. It is that simple reason that prevented the republican repeal bills from actually lowering the cost of real insurance.
The basis of insurance is that it is a payment you make to protect against something that may never happen. As such, there will easily be winners and losers in the context, and some people may pay for insurance a lifetime and never see any "benefit" from it. Insurance, therefore, works on the premise that "not everyone who has insurance needs it".
Healthcare is not true insurance, however, as any given person is almost invariably guaranteed to need it, but it's also reasonably predictable when. So, therefore, if you leave it to a completely free market, you end up with "insurance" that only covers people who need it, which will invariably make it extremely expensive as the insurance has to almost guarantee a payout.
The individual mandate is intended to spread the costs of healthcare. It exists for the purpose of making people who wouldn't buy healthcare, well, buy it, because a healthy insurance market needs healthy people as well as sick people. It is that simple reason that prevented the republican repeal bills from actually lowering the cost of real insurance.
362
I haven't seen the numbers for the tax filings this year, but for context, about 6.5 million taxpayers paid the Obamacare tax penalty in the 2015 tax season. About 12.7 million people claimed one or more exemptions from the coverage mandate. About 4.3 million failed to check the box on their tax returns indicating their insurance status. And don't forget that about 2.6 million people are stuck in the "coverage gap" in states that did not expand their Medicaid program. Source: http://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/11/fewer-people-paid-obamacare-tax-penalties...
10
If Mr. Trump cripples the A.C.A [Obamacare] by withholding the subsidies, the Democrats need an additional nation wide campaign explaining explicitly to everyone, including the Trump supporters that Mr. Trump, not the Democrats, is responsible for the further destruction of the A.C.A.
There needs to be a further groundswell of activism in even the Red States to make it clear to Mr. Trump that even the majority of his supporters do not approve of his actions to take away the health insurance from between 16 million to 32 million American citizens.
At this point, an ongoing campaign of "Truth" is needed to combat Mr. Trump's "Fake News and Lying Tweets".
There needs to be a further groundswell of activism in even the Red States to make it clear to Mr. Trump that even the majority of his supporters do not approve of his actions to take away the health insurance from between 16 million to 32 million American citizens.
At this point, an ongoing campaign of "Truth" is needed to combat Mr. Trump's "Fake News and Lying Tweets".
220
And a front page article in every newspaper quoting Vlad K. The citizens need simplicity and truth.
1
Trump will seek to destroy the ACA.
His lies have trapped him, and he does not do humility well.
He never never intended to do anything but deny millions the healthcare they already had.
He will break things and hurt people as he reacts.
His lies have trapped him, and he does not do humility well.
He never never intended to do anything but deny millions the healthcare they already had.
He will break things and hurt people as he reacts.
166
If it wasn't obvious before, it should be now - the Republicans don't have any plans or real ideas of their own. All they care about is undoing everything that was set in place by the Obama Administration, no matter what damage that would do to the country or its citizens.
459
... or the planet, for that matter, as in backing out of the Paris climate accord.
3
Yes, obvious. This is why it is absolutely imperative that the Dems or a bipartisan group including Collins and Murkowski begin IMMEDIATELY to put forth workable repairs to the ACA to combat Trump's campaign to sabotage the ACA. There is too much at stake here not to take immediate action. Don't trust the Republican cry to "move on". We've heard this before.
1
...and the only reason was because the name "Obama" was attached to it; the same people, way back in 2009, when asked how they liked ACA, were quite pleased; when the same act was called "Obamacare", they rejected it. Greed and racism are the backbone of the Republican effort to deny Americans comprehensive health insurance and health care.
1