Maybe when a blowhard politician comes in like Trump and claims that he would repeal Obamacare and give everyone something much better - people should ask for details instead of foolishly being carried away by a con man's rhetoric.
3
If you like your plan you can keep your plan. If you like your Dr. you can keep you Dr. Each family will pay $2,500 less per year. These are the biggest lies ever told to the American people by a president.
3
I hope for the nation’s sake that the Dems can make the election about healthcare, but my bet is that the R’s will run nonstop footage of Pelosi standing up for illegals. And that will win.
1
That photo, ohh how that optic will come back to haunt the republicans. How they smiled and toasted each other as they actively worked to kick out the underpinnings from so many who needed obamacare for so much. Taking away health care is no reason to have a party. The population of America is getting older, either you yourself or your parents are going to look to health care as a lifeline. When a group of people who have gold plated guaranteed for life healthcare-paid by the American taxpayer- celebrate taking away healthcare from those same American taxpayers then they will reap the reward of the dissonance they sowed. The democrats have no better campaign ad then a video of those self-centered, obtuse, unfeeling selfish pig heads standing there in the Rose garden toasting their own cruelty. How many of those smiling faces will still be in Congress this time next year? Not many-which will be something we can ALL celebrate.
November 8 2018: Judgement day.
1
I would love to see the actual 'poll' script and the results. As a constituent, I will call and ask. Should be an interesting and noncommittal conversation.
I am hoping for a blue wave. But I don't see compelling leadership from the Democrats. I see constant coverage of the Trump Scandals by the media and panels of talking heads -- reporters, lawyers, and such. And I see a few Democrats like Adam Schiff reliably turn up on tv. But I seldom see Pelosi, Schumer, etc.
Where is the outrage? Where is the leadership?
Do Democrats have a strategy for the Fall? The 2016 election has prompted a lot of Democrats with no experience in public service or any elected office to run for Congress. I hope it works, but It's a long shot. And Trump will be in his element once the campaign really heats up. He'll be stoking up the anger and resentment....guns, football players kneeling, rallies. And Democrats will say isn't he awful, which is what they said in 2016 when they lost.
I feel like I'm reliving the nail biting 2016 campaign all over again....Trump and the Republicans aren't supposed to win in 2018 either, but I'm very concerned that they will, and the Democratic leadership seems clueless again.
1
Health care has gone up faster than inflation since the mid-90's and has reached the point where it costs more than my mortgage. If there were a market solution, why hasn't it appeared?
So, let the Republicans bring out the "replace" part of repeal and replace. Short term insurance is not the answer.
These Congresspeople, the Tenney's and Bishop's of this Republican world, have a strange sense of alleged concern for their constituents when they sacrifice constituent health care for their personal ideology!
2
A progressive's dream divorced from reality. Ms. Tenney is very popular in upstate New York.
1
The Republicans invoke a "survival of the fittest" blueprint for the country and somehow want to deflect responsibility. How quaint. How they ever get elected in the first place is just baffling to me.
2
When you are facing a future that is looking bankruptcy square in the eye, spending down your retirement 10 years before the feds will allow Medicare (15 years early, if the folks pushing a retirement age of 70 win) all because getting healthcare while underemployed as the result of obvious but unpursuable age discrimination left you abandoned in your 50s, the ACA was the one isle in the storm that gave you hope.
I sincerely hope that the jerks in the GOP get a little negative karma. I'd be OK with a law that states that each Congressman has to personally pay the same rate as the highest paying person in their district, but sudden unemployment is OK with me too.
I understand that a lot of us think healthcare is a service, and if you can't pay, too bad, we don't owe you a Mercedes either; and a lot believe it is a human right that should be given to all. But most of us just believe that we should pay for care, but be able to afford it. We shouldn't die of resolvable health problems because we are neither rich enough or poor enough to get help.
Go ahead Democrats - but please make sure everyone knows what the GOP cost them in dollars and life expectancy. "The GOP voted for you to die before you hit 75" is a nice place to start.
1
Perhaps the president’s* supporters believe he’s made good on some campaign promises. Though the ACA was, and is, imperfect, the failure to create a viable alternative approach before embarking on the “repeal and replace” effort was a major fail.
Healthcare is a “personal wallet” issue. It was politicized by the GOP. Politicizing it in this year’s campaign is not only fair, but necessary.
It’s frustrating to think there are people who seem to be against free healthcare. Is Obamacare perfect? No, but rather than repealing and replacing it, the government needs to work at addressing the issues it may have and fixing them.
Also, I’ve noticed many of the people who have opposed Obamacare, or currently do, don’t seem to realize that it’s based off what Mitt Romney passed in his home state.
That being said, it often feels like the biggest issue people have with the ACA is who it’s named after rather than what it actually does. Though that’s not something that would be readily admitted.
1
The GOP politicians will fry at the polls with their own party, independents and Democrats on two issues: skyrocketing healthcare costs and tax breaks for the rich. Too bad the special interest groups and big campaign donors can't vote based on dollars spent to bribe our politicians.
Even more Trump supporters would be hopping mad if they were better informed about how they are being hurt and if they were aware that the Trump Administration and Republican congressional representatives knew that repeal and the ongoing attempts to sabotage Obamacare is primarily hurting them.
Republicans were informed before their vote that their repeal bill would drive up premiums. And they (Tom Price, Sen. Alexander, Sen. Collins, Sen. Graham, Rep. Dent, etc.) have made statements since showing they know that the ongoing sabotage by the Trump Administration is driving up premiums by 20%-30% per year.
They don't seem to realize that those who qualify for premium subsidies have not been hurt as much as them. Subsidies go up with premiums. So, if you don't qualify for subsidies you must may the full increase in premiums.
Many Trump supporters have complained about not getting subsidies. So, did Trump and Republicans try to reduce their premium costs? No, just the opposite. Almost everything they've done has increased the premiums of their supporters. Smart!
For the fall election Trump will try to claim that the ACA law is responsible for rising premiums. But, a lot of evidence has accumulated that it is the acts of sabotage that are driving up premiums for his supporters. We'll see if they learn the truth or just want to go to rallies and chant along with his lies.
For most voters it's the economic issues that count the most. Healthcare can easily cost more than rent/mortgage, especially as voters age.
All Democrats need to do is remind voters that the US is literally the only modern nation that leaves it's citizens high and dry when it comes to health care - and it's only because of Republicans.
If Republicans retain Congress, health care will be dead. It is as simple as that. If Democrats don't understand this, and fail to oust the reprobate GOP, they should not complain when people start dying and going bankrupt. Moreover, there will never be a chance to recover in this generation. Lives are on the line. The situation is absolutely dire. Wake up America, please!
9
Well we Democrats understand--not one vote for the Republicans' health-care abomination in Congress.
Now it's going to be the voters' turn. We Democrats will be voting, for Democratic candidates. what will the "independents" do?
“The reality is I didn’t come here to be a potted plant,” said Mr. MacArthur. “I came here to work on problems facing the American people, and health care costs are hurting my constituents.” A Republican who wants to work on problems facing the American people ! Marvellous !! So why don't you do it? Since costs are hurting your constituents, work on the COSTS and not on the health care. Why don't you do it? Because there is only one answer to the problem of costs: universal health insurance -- backs and whites, and, yes, immigrants too. The Republicans don't want to do this because next thing, you know, all sorts of people might start thinking it was their government instead of the Koch Brothers' government. Think about these two headlines in this paper on two consecutive days last year: (a) "Patience Gone, Koch-Backed Groups will Pressure G.O.P. on Health Repeal," by Jeremy W. Peters on March 5, 2017. (b) "House Republicans Unveil Plan to Replace Health Law," By Robert Pear and Thomas Kaplan on March 6, 2017. Boy! Was Paul Ryan paying attention. Don't you wish your needs got the same speedy response from the Speaker!
29
well, good for u for still thinking the republicans still care about anything more than your vote
1
I see criticism from frustrated Democrats and opportunistic Republicans saying the Democratic party doesn't know what it stands for. The Democratic party stands for protecting Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, education and the rule of law. Those are all things the Democratic party has always stood for, and they are things the Republican Congress has consistently proven it wants to undermine and sabotage. The Democratic party needs to keep these issues in the forefront, and not assume that voters already know who the defenders of Social Security and Medicare are.
7
I watched with a keen eye the way in which my otherwise fairly moderate Republican representative in my district in upstate New York voted on health care. When he voted to repeal and replace, I made up my mind that it was unforgivable and that I would mark my calendar to make sure I voted against him in the next election, even if its for another Republican that's as moderate as him but wants to insure I don't lose my healthcare under any circumstances.
13
Why does it have to be another Republican? Just because they are "your team"? Why not vote for the candidate that you consider the one offering the best solution not just for yourself but America as a whole, independent of party affiliation?
As long as people treat politics like sports things will not improve.
The GOP shot at 28 million Americans, and missed. If they were aiming at me and my personal health and welfare, I wouldn't forget.
I'm certain that the voters who the GOP threatened will be at least as incentivized as the voters who got upset about the Death Panels that didn't exist and the threat of Socialized Medicine that was never real.
27
Democrats need to fix the parts of the ACA that aren't working. The best way to do this would be to add a public option that is tiered and affordable. The private insurance market needs some competition because those who don't qualify for subsidized healthcare are being squeezed. We're the only developed nation who's citizens don't enjoy affordable and accessable healthcare.
9
We cannot do it alone, we need all 3 branches of government to do that! VOTE in November. BUT, the GOP has done nothing to top Russian meddling so watch out!
1
The GOP has been Ahab and the Affordable Care Act the Great White Whale. They doggedly pursued repeal only to fail. That failure, however, hurt all of us. Whether we purchase health insurance on the exchanges or receive it through our employers, GOP actions destabilized the health insurance market. Watch premiums soar just around Election Day.
20
Quentin, you must not work.......most folks who have employer "paid" insurance have seen premiums soar and coverage extremely reduced already. and talk to the self employed.....
Mike Bishop is unfortunately my representative, due to gerrymandering. He is a complete phony. Never holds town halls, never meets with constituents, Hell, even his voice mail message box is always “full.” Mike Bishop is for one thing, Mike Bishop. Never believe a word he says.
7
The medical industrial complex is all powerful economically.
Want universal health care?
Emigrate. You'll never see single payer in US except for Medicare and Medicaid. And those are targets for Republican destruction.
5
I loved the last section of this story.
“Elissa Slotkin said she was contemplating a run for Congress when she saw her Republican congressman, Mike Bishop of Michigan, at that Rose Garden celebration.
“He was smiling and beaming and proud and thrilled,” she recalled. “I turned to my husband and said, ‘You do not get to do this. You don’t get to ignore the public and vote against their interests and keep your job.’”
Ms. Slotkin, a former senior official in the Defense Department, jumped in. She is seen by the House Democrats’ campaign arm as a formidable challenger.
Mr. Bishop bristled at his critics.
“In order to win this, the Democrats have infused fear and panic, and they have done so by misrepresenting the truth,” he said. “If you need to do that to win, then count me out, because I would never do that.”
Mr Bishop bristling at the lies..a Republican, a supporter of Trump...saying it’s not fair not be judged on the true!!!
We the the problem with the Republicans is where to the lies actually finish coming from their mouths?
6
The premise that anybody will "lose" coverage is a false notion. What is being done is that people will not be forced to buy it, even if they don't want or need it. It will still be available, but big brother won't fine you for not having it, an edict so Unconstitutional that the SCOTUS had to change the mandate to a "tax" in order to pass it.
1
I hope you never lose your health care or can always afford it. EVERYONE needs to pay into the system, that means you too!
. . And insurers wouldn't be "forced" to offer coverage for people, like me, with preexisting conditions. Frankly, I care a lot more about the chance to purchase coverage that I need than I do about Big Brother.
1
People with preexisting conditions will most certainly LOSE coverage.
1
Interesting that in spite of Republicans repeatedly undermining the ACA, majority public opinion has turned in support of the law. This is what happens when one party wants to win at all costs and relegates their constituents to second place. Imagine the vastly better situation we would have if there was a bi-partisan effort to improve access to healthcare.
Republicans don't want to reimburse insurers in markets where costs exceed revenues in the early years. They repealed the individual mandate, which also will raise premiums. They generally oppose the expansion of Medicaid. They fight in the courts to block implementation of the law, etc., etc. Republicans bemoan rising premiums (which they helped create) but offer no real solutions, only fact free criticisms and scare tactics.
Now Representative Bishop "bristles" and says Democrats are "misrepresenting" the truth. Take a long hard look in the mirror at your party and yourself, Mr. Bishop.
6
After explaining to several Republican friends of mine how the ACA works, they signed up. They are now looking at higher premiums or loss of that insurance next year, due to recent Republican intervention.
Funny how those things work.
6
While they thrash, health care remains ridiculously expensive and not very efficient. Outsourcing health care to third parties, ie insurance companies, who are in it for profit for themselves and their shareholders, not doctors, not patients, is a moronic idea that has become rather ingrained into the societal framework. Getting rid of insurance companies won't be easy, but without getting rid of them, there will be no relief.
4
Ms. Smith said she had previously voted for Mr. MacArthur, a Republican, but now backs his Democratic challenger, Andy Kim. Ms. Smith’s 27-year-old son... has a chronic and uncurable disease.
Translation: “Ohhhh! *Now* I get it.”
8
The GOP is like Richard Pryor, who when his wife walked in on him when he was cheating on her with another woman, vehemently denied it by saying, "Who ya gonna believe, me or your lyin' eyes?"
4
Take a look at that photo. And they say Trump can't be funny. Look at all those reptiles laughing. They're going to take healthcare insurance from millions. Boy, that's funny!
3
Where is the "replace" part? That's the problem. Everyone needs healthcare. Affordable healthcare. The GOP will pay dearly for their incompetence.
4
You mean to tell me that I should stop waiting for this "really great cheap health care plan" promised by Donald? Maybe he can get the Mexicans to pay for it.
4
Repeal and replace was all about destroying Obama's legacy. Sure Obama care was flawed from the start. But many were helped by Obama care. Republicans didn't care about health care they only wanted to score political points with their bases. There never was plan to replace it. So in the process many have lost health insurance. This is a travesty and shows just how venal the current Republican Party has become. I've voted for Republican candidates in the past. Never again can I vote for a Republican since the Republican Party was hijacked by the Tea Party and other right wing neo-Nazi factions.
7
I suspect it is little more than wishful thinking that a healthcare vote that failed to result in legislation will change future election results. It was my impression that Obamacare cost the Democrats rather than helped them in the last election, but who knows and the effect in the next election may be different if there is an effect. I suppose armies and political parties always prepare to fight the last war. But give it a try if there are no winning Democratic positions on issues such as reducing various kinds of race, gender, and wealth inequalities, on plausible alternatives to endless war, on a truly better healthcare system, on global roles and responsibilities, on reducing corruption, .....
2
We need universal healthcare paid for by the government with our tax money.
The government already pays for police, fire departments, schools, libraries, roads, snow removal, beach restoration, and a host of other services. Healthcare should be included.
Go to any doctor, pay a deductible, and the doc gets paid by the government according to a realistic government fee schedule. Doctors who do not agree with the fee schedule can post a sign to that effect and charge what they want. You pay the fee or find someone else.
14
It's called Medicare
3
I agree Mike, BUT make even the welfare recipients pay a $5 or $10 co pay....this will help curtail trips to the ER or doctor for free cough syrup and aspirin for the snot nose crowd who think they are entitled.
1
The problem with healthcare is that healthcare is a business, no longer a profession or a calling. This is not on doctors, but on the business people who have usurped the profession for what business people do - drain as much money from the pot as possible and then go looking for the next spoil in line. Politicians are lobbied to strip regulations from businesses, providing a license to kill and bragging about their success. No more physicians in the clinic, just providers working for relative value units.
48
the same thing has happened to education.
3
I don’t see why people would possibly want to try and live longer through expensive medical advances that nobody but the super-wealthy can afford, if all it offers is having to endure more endless disagreement. Talk about diminishing returns.
2
If Obamacare is so good, why did all of Congress exempt itself? Why isn’t Obama on the ACA? Why are my State Lesgislators not on the ACA? Why are Federal and State public employees not on the ACA?
All these hypocritical ‘Obamacare fans’ protected their and their families health, left those of us on the individual market to swing and then have the nerve to question us when we complain about our Cadillac-priced plans that provide Volkswagon health care
7
are you insane or just forgetful? Obamacare specifically required all congresspeople and federal gov employees to go on an Obamacare plan - remember??You can look it up. In the trashing of health care for all, the repubs have done away with that provision - otherwise ALL of them, including all congresspeople, would be on an obamacare plan...
51
You literally have no idea what you’re talking about—like no idea whatsoever about this topic, at all. It’s actually impressive how little of an idea you have of what you’re talking about!
3
I'm not sure of your point here since Obamacare was not meant for people who already have other insurance. It was meant to make it affordable to those with less means than the group you mention above and those who could not qualify for insurance due to pre-existing conditions..
BTW, it's not Obamacare it's the ACA...affordable care act. Get it? Affordable for those who could not otherwise 'afford' it.
2
I said a year ago that the hard lesson to be learned for the GOP was the discovery that once you've tried to screw someone, it's very rare that person will ever forget (or forgive) you.
The public's outcry over GOP attempts to repeal the ACA was very real - think back to those town hall meetings: regular folks getting up and 'testifying' how Obamacare saved their life or someone in their family or a friend, etc. - viewers who hadn't thought about this or were fortunate enough to be covered through work or other means were moved ("There but for fortune go you or I"). A lot of those getting up to speak admitted that at one time they had opposed Obamacare and NO ONE I saw could be accused of being one of those 'outside troublemakers'.
More important I think was this was the first palpable example of people organizing following the how-to manual of the Indivisible folks. My conclusion is that by following that script (and being successful), it put in place the populism behind what I think will be a giant Blue Wave come the mid-terms, featuring a whole bunch of first-time candidates.
13
If there is any justice in politics, the republicans will pay dearly for the years of lies and sabotage aimed at destroying the ACA while knowing that if they succeeded, millions of Americans would lose their health insurance and costs would rise for everyone. Shame on all the foolish people who continue to vote for republicans.
37
Explain to us how people will "lose" health insurance? It's still there, they can buy it, am I correct? Other than not being forced to buy it or pay a penalty, how is someone losing it? Let's hear it.
Apparently, you haven't been paying attention. One example is: Those with a pre-existing condition, before the ACA, could be denied coverage. The ACA made it possible for anyone, regardless of their health history, to obtain coverage at the same cost as someone without a pre-existing condition. If you are fortunate enough to not have a pre-existing condition or you have coverage through an employer group plan, you might not realize this was a huge problem which led many to end up in bankruptcy.
1
poor people who can't afford it will lose it
people with previous conditions will lose it
people with severe health conditions will lose it
very old people and very young people will lose it
anyone the insurance company feels is a bad bet will lose it
along with their homes, their assets, their pensions...
The repubs went from repeal Obamacare to repeal and replace Obamacare, they repealed a lot of it and trump has done everything he can to make it fail. They just never really got around to replacing it with “something better”, I believe their dotard leader said. Well it is not better, it’s much worse. I just can’t fathom how repubs really think getting your health care at the local emergency room is acceptable for the once richest and best country in the world. Their thinking is abysmal and really has no place in this day and age. Throw the republican bums out, every last one of them!
23
"...misrepresenting the truth,...I would never do that.”
An interesting way to end this article, a quote from a Republican congressman regarding his attempt to repeal Obamacare.
12
Think about this one..from the time ACA passed (and despite what the GOP claims, it took over a year to pass it, it was vetted by both parties, wasn't 'rushed through', etc) the GOP set out to destroy it, they had like 7 years to come up with an alternate plan...yet when they had the white house and the congress, it was apparent that neither Trump nor the GOP had any kind of plan put together, they cobbled together some kind of mess quickly after Trump got elected, then to try and pass it to replace ACA they literally rushed it through, didn't have any public hearings, didn't allow even their own members to read it...and it failed because enough GOP congresss people realized it was a disaster, wasn't well thought out and would have flopped...yet the GOP base is still gushing about how the GOP had an answer that would have given them great health insurance.
The Dems have a chance in some places, no doubt, but I wouldn't count on ACA being the cause, there are just too many stupid people in the US.
16
Take a look at that photo. And they say Trump can't be funny. Look at all those reptiles laughing. They're going to take healthcare insurance from millions. Boy, that's funny!
27
All the winning is just so exhausting. Enough already.
4
Interesting you would mention Mike Bishop in this article, the congressman from my district. This man has been a horrible representative of the people in his district as he celebrates removing healthcare from people, taking money from the poor and disabled and seniors in nursing homes with his tax vote, rubber-stamping the clownish Trump Cabinet appointees, failure to do his duty keeping the executive branch in check, etc. His quote in this article about fear is a prime example of his trifling logic as he supports an administration that does govern through fear. He states he’d rather not win that way though he governs (and supports those who govern) that way! Here’s an idea Mike! We will take you up on that and you can crawl back where you came from!!
15
Mr. Bishop bristled not because Democrats “have infused fear and panic by misrepresenting the truth.” He bristled because they’re stealing the Republicans’ playbook.
5
They want Obamacare repealed. Did you bother to ask him if they want to repeal the Affordable Care Act?
5
“We polled ‘repeal and replace’ twice,” she added. “People want Obamacare repealed in the majority in my district.”
I think Ms Tenney forgot about the second "R", the GOP simply had no viable "replacement". There were vague ideas about high risk pools, which are historically underfunded and short term insurance, which excludes anyone with or who might develop any serious condition.
Most people understand that the GOP has sabotaged the ACA, even if they don't understand cuts in risk corridor payments (Rubio), cuts to cost sharing subsidies (Trump) and attracting healthier people away from ACA plans with longer short term insurance plans (Trump).
The Democrats should promote the ability to buy into Medicare, both Traditional and Advantage versions.
11
Seven years under Obama to craft a plan of their own. An entire presidential campaign, during which not a single candidate had a healthcare proposal. Now, it's been over a year of the Trump administration, and still no comprehensive plan.
So you have to ask Republicans: where's the "replace" part of "repeal and replace"?
Millions of Americans were able to get health insurance under the ACA. Is it perfect? Of course not. No major piece of legislation is when it's first passed. But if you've got nothing better to propose, you should shut up and move on.
This is a winnable issue for Democrats, and I hope they hit hard on it.
22
“In order to win this, the Democrats have infused fear and panic, and they have done so by misrepresenting the truth,” he said. “If you need to do that to win, then count me out, because I would never do that.”
Being a Republican, we know that he's already misrepresented the truth by saying he wouldn't misrepresent the truth.
19
The republicans ran on repeal and replace. The replace was to be better, cheaper and more accessible.
What the republicans offered in replace was the good old days when people bought policies that covered nothing or nothing at all. I don’t think that was what bade had in mind.
Vote Claudia Tenny out-
5
ACA is dead: the individual mandate was repealed by the Republicans. It means the cost of the program cannot be sustained. BTW, health coverages under Medicaid were reduced by the infamous Senate group of old white men, all Republicans.
5
In March 2017, voters' highest priority for Trump was health care, and only 21% wanted the ACA completely repealed. He failed. Epically. He has shown zero concern for the health and well being of Americans beyond his own -- with his own testimonial evidently on being the healthiest president in history, and his VA nominee, just promoted rear admiral, claim that he could have lived for 200 years and had been blessed by God with good genes.
Most of us would like to live our normal lifespans with reasonable health and with reliable health care. People are concerned with the costs of health care, approve of the ACA, and approve of Medicaid. What do Republicans offer beyond years of attempts to repeal the healthcare of tens of millions of Americans?
Sabotaging the existing systems falls on the evil side of the moral scale especially in the wake of the $1.8 trillion or so in enormous tax cuts for the rich.
8
Tom Cole is an interesting example in double speak. He argues voters don't punish politicians for things that don't happen but then goes onto say Republicans would have been rewarded for things that didn't happen. If you can square his logic, you're doing better than me. Translating nonsensical soundbites is apparently above my pay grade. I will say this though: I am going to punish Republicans for what they tried to do. I'm happy they failed but they still tried. That's offense enough for me.
9
Mr. Bishop said,
“In order to win this, the Democrats have infused fear and panic, and they have done so by misrepresenting the truth.”
I think this GOP Trump enabler doesn't recognize his own own party's strategy since Nixon!
6
Plenty to run against. The GOP attack on the ACA and the subsequent revelation that they actually had no alternative plan is a great starting point. And the tax "cut" they repeatedly lied about as they created the largest transfer of wealth in history to the top .1%. And the GOP refusal to even consider sensible gun reform laws even in the face of 80% of Americans supporting reform.
And the ace in the hole is the backlash against Trump. And this is anecdotal, but as I travel around the country I hear the same thing from Americans with no party affiliation and from Democrats - they don't even care who the Democratic candidates are - they want to punish the GOP in the midterms for their full support of Trump.
5
Not so sure about this as a strategy. Remember that most of those who benefited from Obamacare (i.e. the GOP base)were the very ones braying for its destruction . . .
1
Wrong, no price will be paid.
1
My premiums are up, I have been deemed from on high to earn too much for help, and I had to choose between just two plans to keep my GP.
1
If you got no help as you say, you should be able to find insurance on the open market. it will be high.
One of the biggest issues with the ACA, that I see, is the cut off is a hard cut off. It is my belief that the tax credits should be stretched out to higher earners.
1
On a personal level, it’s quite simple. The Republicans tried to take away my affordable ACA health insurance. I will spend the rest of my life trying to defeat them in every election.
17
The republican tax law repealed the mandate requiring people to buy health insurance and Trump said he is not reimbursing insurance companies for their ACA market plans, which will effectively kill it when the costs go up again. Trump is bending the insurance cost curve back up. The Republicans claim that the high cost of healthcare is due to insurance company gouging and recommend purchasing high deductable insurance and to shop around for deals when you need the services of a doctor or hospital.
Trump is working on a deal with Amazon to start selling discount hearts and brains with free overnight shipping
2
One of the intended consequences of the ACA was to give individual workers the option to take early retirement, try a new company, or start their own entrepreneurial business without fear of going without insurance. This helped keep unemployment lower and enabled those close to retirement age to begin new careers of volunteer service to their communities. See Reed Abelson's article in the NYT on June 11, 2017. Republicans who voted to kill this kind of flexibility should be made to answer for being short sighted on the common good that the ACA provides.
3
“There are many, and I’m one of them, who believes that [removing the mandate] actually will harm the pool in the exchange market, because you’ll likely have individuals who are younger and healthier not participating in that market,” he said, “and consequently, that drives up the cost for other folks within that market.”
-Tom Price
He said that at the World Healthcare Congress yesterday. So our former disgraced HHS knew all along what would happen by removing the mandate, but endorsed it anyway.
Looking forward to November, 2018.
6
That was the idea! He is now free to speak the truth. All the Republican Congressman know it. Not sure if Trump knows.
That picture is really historic representing the GOP happy and gleeful over their attempt to erode health cafe for Americans.
4
Chortling in the Rose Garden, lined up behind a criminal know nothing, under the impression that they were about to deprive millions of Americans of healthcare. Indelible, absolutely, unforgettable. Unforgivable as well.
7
Yep. The representatives who forgot to look out for the folks losing their healthcare need to be taken out of the picture. So what if the constituents were confused about the result? They feel it now!
1
Ms. Tenney continues to cling to the 'we have to make health care affordable' line with nothing to offer but that 2-bit phrase. I doubt her constituents are buying that any longer. It is truly pathetic to vote to throw thousands of your constituents off of health care and then double down on it with nothing in hand.
If this is how the House Republicans are going to address this issue this fall; all predictions of a blue wave are spot-on.
50
Taxes are the other monkey on their back. Republicans are saying most people haven't noticed the increase in their take home pay yet. Meanwhile, stock owners are expected to receive $1 trillion in dividends and buybacks this year alone. The deficit is ballooning and there hasn't been an tangible impact on the economy yet. Most signals point towards excessive risk without return. Yeah, people have noticed alright. Just not in their paycheck. Let's see what they have to say at the next town hall. It better be something better than "We need to fix taxes." I'm not holding my breath though.
6
Your base in the common labourer and the white collar worker do NOT care about this. They want to know what will you do to stop them being irrelevant
6
What, blue and white collar workers do not care about affordable health care? Maybe they don’t in London, but here they do!
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Keeping them alive with affordable healthcare doesn’t signal the poor who are most at risk by Trump & Co isn’t signal enough they’re not irrelevant?
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Sez you from London, located in a country that has had national health insurance since just after WWII. The GOPs base ought to care, as they will be the ones left without health insurance. especially if the GOP targets Medicaid and Medicare, and Social Security Disability, which they have had in their sights for years. If one is dead, one's relevance doesn't matter much, does it?
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Yes, remind the voters about how they voted against Obamacare, and this was Phase 1 in a 3 phase "plan" that would also have destroyed Medicare as we know it.
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And how would that imaginary 3 phase plan have destroyed Medicare?
Would you car to site actual evidence of your claim the ACA would destroy Medicare? Not quoting a talking point, but actual, research-based evidence. Just because a falsehood like this was repeated multiple times did not make it true. Quite the contrary. Since you made the claim, present evidence. That, after all, is the standard on what actual healthcare is based.
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Our Congressman, Dan Newhouse had the unmitigated gall to leave his dying wife’s bedside to fly to Washington to assure that the GOP had the votes to begin eliminating 87,000 of his constituents’ health insurance. After the whips counted the noses and had the votes, he flew home to save himself the embarrassment but he left a paper trail.
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Vote him out!
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I agree. Republicans will be punished for NOT voting to get rid of the ACA...a horrible law that has forever damaged healthcare in America.
We need a Congress that will vote to repeal this terrible law.
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And replace it with what, exactly? I’m all for Medicare for all, but against kicking millions off their health insurance...
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Tom- How is the ACA horrible? It gave health insurance to many people who previously had no health coverage and had to pay huge bills if they got sick. Also the bill extended medicare to cover more lower income people enabling them to receive healthcare.
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So healthcare before ACA was so great? 47 million people without health insurance, the leading cause of bankruptcy in the US are because of medical bills (not credit cards, sorry Fox News and GOP 'experts? The sad irony of your post is that ACA came about because the health care system was in trouble, has been for a long time, it wouldn't have come about if healthcare actually was working here.
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Maybe, just maybe, the Republicans could become extinct. Naaaah, My Democrats need someone to play the bad guy, so they can all solicit donations. Underneath all this is a lot of corruption. The Democrats aren't interested in Medicare for all. It's the money stream. Look at those smiling faces. All that money continuing to pour in. Disgusting.
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If I were to advise the Democratic Party, I would have all their candidates go with a positive and negative "mantra" in their upcoming campaigns.
On the positive side I'd argue for a "public option" for health coverage.
On the negative side I'd have them all say "if you vote for my opponent, you can kiss your Medicare and Social Security benefits goodbye".
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I would advise all their candidates to pledge to accept only the least generous health care plan available to their constituents. pledge to push for universal Medicare--including for Congress.
Alter Boy Ryan is also broadly smiling, in the front row, at the joyous White House celebration of the House repeal of the A.C.A., per the article's accompanying photo. Things haven't turned out so upbeat for the Speaker however, as he heads for the Congressional exits at the end of this term. May a similar fate await Ms. Tenney and all the other Republican misanthropes who delighted in stripping Americans of their basic health coverage.
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Yes to your points and all I can say re Ryan’s exit is “goodbye Felicia”.
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The republicans in the photo just signed death warrants for a lot of Americans who will die for lack of health insurance. They seem to be very pleased with themselves. That says a lot about republicans today.
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One incentive for the Democrats is having voters take a good, long look at the photo that accompanies this article. All those smug smiles can be wiped off their faces if voters can remember the harm Republicans are doing to the health care benefits of ordinary citizens. A picture is worth a thousand words but this photo should be worth millions of blue votes on November 6th!
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We Democrats will have to do better -- much better -- than bash Republicans for voting to end Obamacare. (Even to phrase it that way shows how convoluted the thought is.)
Obamacare was better than nothing -- but it is a creaky system, with many deep flaws. Rather than defend Obamacare -- rather than look backward defensively -- we should affirmatively campaign for universal medical care -- single payer -- cutting out the parasitic and inefficient private insurance companies. It is not enough, in my opinion, for us Democrats simply to gain a majority in the next Congress, we have to USE that majority to accomplish something. We should abandon the wishy-washy no-can-do attitude that has afflicted our party for decades.
Against Trump? By all means! But moving on, too.
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I completely agree John. Since the Reagan presidency, Democrats just haven't believed in their core mission as strongly as they used to. Their belief in government as a force for good hasn't been as strong since. Their faith in the ability of government to achieve good results and to solve problems hasn't been as strong since. It's as though they spend a lot of time thinking to themselves, "Maybe Reagan was right; maybe government really is the problem."
As long as the Democrats continue to harbor self-doubt like this, they will continue to offer hesitant half-steps in place of bold proposals, they will continue to be racked by internal dissent over what they do and should stand for (and who they do and should fight for), and they will continue to fail to connect with a significant percentage of the struggling and less-fortunate who no longer believe that the Democratic Party really cares about them.
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While I agree in general, there's no way Americans will go for single payer health care, which isn't the panacea it's often sold as. Look at the UK, it has single payer health care (NHS), and while it's cost are low thewaiting times even for simple procedures are long and the outcomes are some of the worst in the western world.
What America could do however is move to a system of public and private health insurance, strictly regulated by government. This is a common system in countries like Germany, which offer far better health care than the UK's NHS but at similar low cost. And it would be much simpler to convert the US system to the German system.
1
Over and over again, the GOP blames the ACA for the disaster the GOP created.
The indisputable fact is the ACA expanded healthcare coverage for all Americans -- no American can be denied insurance based on his or her personal health. Moreover, the ACA prohibits insurers from canceling anyone's insurance if he or she becomes ill and costly to cover. The ACA also bars insurers from charging higher premiums based on personal health or preexisting conditions. Finally, the ACA made health insurance more accessible and more affordable for 28 million Americans.
So why isn't the ACA working as well as it could be? Red states refused to expand Medicaid, throwing poor, more unhealthy folks into the marketplace, which drove premium costs and deductibles and co-pays up. The GOP (under Trump) successfully defunded insurer tax-subsidies which are driving premium costs and deductibles and co-pays up. The GOP (under Trump) repealed the penalty for not complying with the individual mandate through "tax reform" which also will result in fewer healthy folks in the marketplace. This too will drive up premium costs and deductibles and co-pays.
See the pattern? And yet the GOP blames the ACA for the disaster the GOP created. That's a fact. Not an opinion.
Maurice F. Baggiano, amicus in King v. Burwell
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I wish we’d stop calling it Obamacare. I think less informed people would want to repeal “Obamacare” but would support “The Affordable Care Act”.
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Steve, during the run-up to the last set of federal elections in 2016, numerous polls were done which determined that somewhere in the neighborhood of 1/3 of the American electorate do NOT know that they are the same thing. I wish I were making this up.
2
That has already been proven. The republicans made up the term "Obamacare" for exactly that reason. They knew how ignorant and bigoted their base was, and how easily they could be tricked into voting against their own interests.
3
I met someone from KY recently who told me that she knew many people in her state who absolutely loved the Affordable Health Care Act but were adamantly opposed to Obamacare--this was in late 2017.
5
Mike Bishop, R- Michigan: “In order to win this, the Democrats have infused fear and panic, and they have done so by misrepresenting the truth,” he said.
This from a member of the party that spoke of Death Panels.
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This article brings back bad memories of the days after Trump began to name his cabinet- everyone of the nominees bent on destroying American resources,environment, and institutions. Don't you just love it when the members of congress who voted to destroy health care get all their medical needs taken care of by the tax payers- the same ones they stiffed in the budgets and the legislation. Representative Tenney- thy name is hypocrite. Get thee to private life.
30
Too bad, 2019 premiums do not come out fully before November.As they will reflect elimination of the must purchase insurance mandate.
However, if enough insurance companies announce how much premiums are going up; , the GOP would get whacked, because of what they, and Trump did, to weaken the law. Premiums will soar next year, because the must purchase mandate ends on 31 December, 2018.
So, the Democrats have to hope that the voters know next year's health insurance pain courtesy of Congress and the Trump Administration.
20
Democrats need to start talking about the cause of the coming increases in premiums right now. If they don't, republicans will blame Democrats and probably get away with it. If the pattern of the last 40 years holds true, the republicans will be more effective lying than Democrats are when telling the truth.
1
Premiums immediately doubled for most middle and upper middle class Americans in 2010 and have done nothing but skyrocket higher ever since. ACA was a wet kiss by Democrats to the insurance and medical industries that helped write it.
1
Purple Patriot, the cause is understood:
1. unions were exempted (Dem. base votes)
2. All lawmakers exempted themselves (democrat led)
3.the bottom folks pay $0, not even a $5 co pay to dissuade ER trips
4. working folks pay the "fine" and chance not getting sick rather than pay 25% of their income
YES, it needs fixed. Wal Mart could be better than blue cross is for me
I thought the Democrats just sat around and got punched.
16
Nevertheless, we can expect Trump's base, many of whom benefit from the ACA, to vote to re-elect him and his amoral GOP enablers. Pravda has inculcated the "value" that a vote for a Democrat is a vote for socialism, big gubmint, and that Muslim Obama.
A fool and his/her vote are soon parted.
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Medicare for ALL-2020. THIS is the winning issue for Dems, even here in ruby red Kansas. People are terrified of losing medical insurance coverage, and doing without, or going bankrupt. Plus, it's the fiscally responsible thing to do, in the long term. It's the RIGHT thing to do, for everyone except the parasites. Just saying.
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Speaking of the ruby-red states . . . A brand-new report from the Commonwealth Fund shows that the percentage of working-class adults without health insurance has risen for the past two years BUT THE UNINSURED RATE SEEMS TO BE RISING ONLY AMONG REPUBLICANS. Trump and the GOP have tried to create the impression that they’ve repealed Obamacare, and Republicans have fallen for this deception. The Trump administration slashed the program’s advertising and outreach budget, so fewer people have signed up in general. But uninsured Republicans are much more likely to believe that they don’t have the option of Obamacare to turn to, and they can’t find any affordable alternative.
As a writer for Slate.com commented, “It’d almost be impressive, if it wasn’t so heinous.”
https://slate.com/business/2018/05/why-the-uninsured-rate-is-rising-and-...?
21
Which is fiscally unsustainable. Obama already added 30 million able bodied millennials to Medicaid such that half of all U.S. births are paid for by the other half of the nation that actually pays taxes. You cannot add 330 million + 11 million illegals to Medicaid and (a) pay for it; (b) have those services work properly. The U.S. population has DOUBLED since the 1960s. That is why we cannot pay for this and other social welfare for all schemes. Moreover, we are doing nothing to stem the massive population increases that will sink the next generation financially. There are only 2 nations on the planet with single payer: Taiwan and Canada. Everyone else has a combo platter of private/public. For a reason.
1
But corporations rule. Democrats will yield. The people are victims of learned helplessness.
Insurance Actuaries who comment on the need of a mandate all say "everyone must jump in the pool." Anyone with a modicum of reasoning can see that with the most participants the leveling of costs are spread around. This is insurance 101.
The public must be educated to the facts of how insurance works and how, if we are to keep a symbiotic relationship between the Federal Government and the Insurance Industry everyone must be covered.
The absolute crime is the GOP's "answer," to Obamacare with cheap plans that the patient finds does not cover, in many cases, hospitalization; hard to believe. The concept of the ACA is right on: The 10 requirements of basic and humane coverage, lifting of lifetime caps, lifting preexisting conditions, free preventative treatment, and the list goes on........
I have to believe the American people are smart enough that when presented with the sabotage the GOP did on the ACA, the horrendous outcome and the dire warnings of things to come that are real, the public will get it.
35
Everyone knows how insurance works. It is the massive increased costs - i.e. a tax on the middle class making less than $80,000 that is now an always was at issue. You know, who pays for it. That still matters.
2
Individual mandate was a key to _Heritage's_ plan both Romneycare and the ACA used as a framework. Under the very conservative concepts of personal responsibility and skin in the game. Why is it now anti-conservative? Change in philosophy? Hardly.
5
The last paragraph by Mr. Bishop shows how totally out of touch with reality Republicans are. I seem to remember republican members of Congress talking about "death panels" and doctors refusing to treat the elderly. But hey, that is not fear mongering and Republicans do not "misrepresent the truth" except when they open their mouths.
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America's 17% of GDP 'free-market' healthcare system, the greatest rip-off in the world.....is just fine with the Greed Over People caucus.
It effectively taxes the American people an extra $1 trillion annually for healthcare compared to civilized countries that have true universal healthcare for 10 to 12% of GDP so Americans can experience the joys of medical extortion, insurance company bureaucratic nightmares and shareholder profits (blood money) and Republican inhumanity to most Americans.
If you like GOP medical extortion and premature death, the Republican Party could be for you.
If you like actually trying to fix America's disgraceful healthcare system, the Democratic Party has real ideas that work, including fixing the ACA, not destroying it.
"Take two tax cuts and call me from the morgue" is no way to get healthy.
D to go forward; R for reverse.
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"As your (Congressman|Senator|President), I'll restore Obamacare, which brought peace-of-mind to millions of us who were uninsured and discriminated for having pre-existing conditions that only health insurance could help us manage in the first place. I'll undo years of heartless GOP cuts and failed repeal attempts to that law of our land. And I'll work to refine our system further into a single-payer Medicare For All that guarantees health for all. I'm (Joe|Jane|Jamie) Candidate, and I approve this message."
Want to win? Run that ad, and follow that policy. No need to pay me, released under Creative Commons Zero (to the extent NYT terms allow), etc.
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"Democratic candidates for the House say voters will punish Republicans for voting last year to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, even though the law survived."
As a voter, I certainly will. But that's only because I'd like to stay alive. Otherwise, no hard feelings.
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"We polled ‘repeal and replace’ twice,” she added. “People want Obamacare repealed in the majority in my district." I just wonder about the phrasing used in that survey. It is very easy for Republicans (and admittedly for Democrats as well) to word the questions in such a manner that they end up getting the results they are looking for.
57
Except when they are told its the ACA that is being repealed, they don't want it repealed. They only want something repealed that has Obama's name on it. Hello?
22
A very good point, time and again polls have shown that the blue collar idiots want to appeal "Obamacare" while they like the ACA...and what this translates to is ACA is a program for 'them', while Obamacare is this program that benefits lazy poor (mostly minority) people on welfare who are too lazy to work and cause them to have to pay high rates for insurance (and folks, this has been proven time and again, that the blue collar dunces don't know ACA is Obamacare, they think it is two different things).
What the blue collar types want is a medical plan that covers everything, has low or no deductibles or out of pocket expenses and is really cheap, and they believe the only way they can have that is if they get it and no one else does......they truly believe in all aspects that their "american dream" was taken from them by 'those people', eliminate them, and the gold is gonna flow, whether it is poor people, immigrants, chinese labor, you name it.
2
The healthcare debacle that Republicans set about epitomizes the extent their greed, selfishness, and ineptitude. They tried to destroy something people need without a single viable alternative and with no goal greater destroying Obama's legacy.
Congress has been led by Republicans long enough that if they wanted to find workable solutions to the costs associated with healthcare, they could have. It was more important to them to make a lot of noise and produce zero results. From the economic forces of healthcare to the needs of people, everything was ignored out of a sick sense of spite.
They don't deserve any more chances.
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