What happens to Obamacare?

[Kinky Boy]

Posted: 12/15/16 at 12:02am

Will the republicans repeal it? Can it be saved?

[A Director]

Posted: 12/15/16 at 1:43am

Do a Google and learn something. 

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 12/15/16 at 2:13am

It is to be renamed Spectrum.

[Kinky Boy]

Posted: 12/15/16 at 4:30am

They can do a partial repeal, but what happens with it long term? If they don't get the votes they need to replace, then what happens?

[Petralicious]

Posted: 12/15/16 at 8:45am

SmoothLover said: "It is to be renamed Spectrum.

 

" HA! FUNNY!  to quote Carlos LMFPRAO

 

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 12/15/16 at 9:02am

It will be modified and not totally repealed. Republicans (including Trump) have already said they would keep pre- existing conditions and allowing parents to cover a child until 26 in any health care law.

[newintown]

Posted: 12/15/16 at 9:25am

It's called the "Affordable Care Act." "Obamacare" is merely annoying slang.

And though I hate to say it, I believe it does need some work; for many people, it's really not all that affordable, with their limited options costing more than the tax-time penalty. That makes no sense, particularly when they know an emergency room is not legally allowed to turn them away, even if they can't pay. (I used to work with young men right out of college who chose to work the system that way, rather than getting insurance and regular medical care.)

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 12/15/16 at 11:04am

The increase on individual plans is astounding. One of my emoployees  - $500.00 monthly increase from BC/BS!  

[kdogg36]

Posted: 12/15/16 at 11:45am

newintown said: "It's called the "Affordable Care Act." "Obamacare" is merely annoying slang."

Well, I guess it's one propagandistic moniker or another. :) (As you yourself admit, the official title is a bit ironic.)

I have heard it referred to as "Obamacare" by Democrats and members of the mainstream media, for what it's worth.

 

[newintown]

Posted: 12/15/16 at 1:26pm

"I have heard it referred to as "Obamacare" by Democrats and members of the mainstream media, for what it's worth."

Oh, yes, I imagine more people use the slang version than the real name; but that's not unusual. People love slang. And it's an entire syllable shorter. Just think of the time saved.

To be clear, in theory, it does make health care more "affordable;" the cost of insurance is still much less than the bill would be for major surgery/treatment for an uninsured person. And if that person uses the "charity" system, the costs don't vanish into ether or get eaten by the providers. Those costs eventually get passed on to those who are insured, via increased costs for services or the prices of premiums.

Of course, being able to see that requires an ability to take the long view; most of our species can only see the here and now (and the golden, fantasy past).

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 12/15/16 at 1:34pm

yankeefan7 said: "It will be modified and not totally repealed. Republicans (including Trump) have already said they would keep pre- existing conditions and allowing parents to cover a child until 26 in any health care law."

Then someone might want to tell the incoming Congress that, since they've literally campaigned on *repeal* and replace.

I think anyone can see that the ACA is not without it's problems, but it would be shameful in the extreme for the Republican Party to take away health care coverage from millions while they dither around to come up with another plan. And for as much as ACA plans might cost, I sincerely doubt the Republicans will create anything more useful or affordable, since they've made it clear that they believe you don't get health coverage if you are poor. 

[darquegk]

Posted: 12/15/16 at 2:00pm

"Obamacare" is more useful than the ACA, especially as we expect it to be heavily revised if not repealed, because it's not only just as specific but ties this incarnation of a malleable social program to a specific form and point in time. In a decade, people will remember what Obamacare was, even as they're likely still covered under different circumstances by some semblance of a different program going as the Affordable Care Act.

[newintown]

Posted: 12/15/16 at 2:42pm

If you want to be even more precise, the groundwork for the ACA was done by Hillary Clinton and her team. It would be as apt to call it "Hillarycare."

[South Florida]

Posted: 12/15/16 at 3:29pm

I assume there are a lot of people like me, living day to day, no savings, unable to afford health care month to month when my work is seasonal.  The ACA is the first time I've had insurance in a long time, Its gone up considerably.  We have a serious problem with wealth and health in this country.  Why is it so much more expensive here?  Aren't there a few, for lack of a better word sacred, rights and one of them is health care.  Bret Baier asked Bernie "Where does the right to health care come from."  His answer was from being born.  Thank you sir, 

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 12/15/16 at 3:30pm

SmoothLover said: "It is to be renamed Spectrum.

lmfao!

 

"

 

[newintown]

Posted: 12/16/16 at 8:26am

"We have a serious problem with wealth and health in this country.  Why is it so much more expensive here?  Aren't there a few, for lack of a better word sacred, rights and one of them is health care."

Simple answer: because in a capitalist, free-market system, people not only have the right, but are encouraged to collect a profit from goods that some others need merely to stay alive. Our system guarantees nothing. Food, shelter, health care - in the minds of most Americans, you only deserve these things if you pay for them.

"Socialism" is a word that scares many people; even people who don't realize that it's a system they would really prefer to live within. In America, everyone is encouraged to believe that socialism will allow "lazy people" to live for free, while the "rest of us" work like dogs to support them.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/16/16 at 2:40pm

In America, everyone is encouraged to believe that socialism will allow "lazy people" to live for free, while the "rest of us" work like dogs to support them.

And just a few episodes of Judge Judy illustrates the hypocrisy in those that usually spout this ideology.  Honestly, I wish all those who shriek "SOCIALIST!" like it is the battle cry of an evil witch hunter would simply sign the documents to waive all social security, welfare, medicaid and medicare benefits for life so their benefits can go back into the pool to assist those with reason and logic before the system runs completely dry.

[South Florida]

Posted: 12/16/16 at 3:27pm

Remember when there was talk of means testing, where wealthy people got nothing, imagine that foreign concept these days, in this atmosphere, with all the hate out there about caring for the poor they've screwed over.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 12/17/16 at 10:51pm

My healthcare skyrocketted for 2017. I'm super annoyed. I'm paying near $400 and I've never been to the hospital, never had to use my healthcare, etc. I'm in great health. It's really irritating. But I also HAVE to have it. But paying $5000 out of pocket is a lot of money for something I never use.

[Kinky Boy]

Posted: 12/17/16 at 11:49pm

youre on Obamacare? We need a pubic option NOW!

[UncleCharlie]

Posted: 12/18/16 at 2:07am

RippedMan said: "My healthcare skyrocketted for 2017. I'm super annoyed. I'm paying near $400 and I've never been to the hospital, never had to use my healthcare, etc. I'm in great health. It's really irritating. But I also HAVE to have it. But paying $5000 out of pocket is a lot of money for something I never use."

Even for someone young and in great health, you never know when you might have an accident or be stricken with some sort of congenital health condition you've had your whole life but never surfaced and was never detected before. Something serious with a lengthy hospitalization could easily run into the six figures and wipe out someone's entire savings. People have all kinds of insurance they pay for year after year and never have to use but they're happy they have it when they do.

[newintown]

Posted: 12/19/16 at 10:16am

"Even for someone young and in great health, you never know when you might have an accident or be stricken with some sort of congenital health condition you've had your whole life but never surfaced and was never detected before."

Exactly. Everyone needs to think beyond Me-Here-Now (but so few are able to). Also, it's like paying school taxes - you may not have children of your own in school, but you will benefit from an educated community, just as you'll benefit from a healthy community.

Life is never limited to just you and your bank account at this snapshot in time.

[newintown]

Posted: 1/9/17 at 11:33am

I saw this image today, which reminded me of the discussion about using real names for things versus stupid slang. "Obamacare is stupid slang, invented to make people hate the Affordable Care Act.



And here's an article from some years back, saying the same:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/09/27/poll-obamacare-vs-affordable-care-act/

 

 

[Petralicious]

Posted: 1/10/17 at 9:24am

As Don Draper would say it is all about the message.  Just like Cereal or a Car. ObamaCare wants to stain the program as  Socialist Big Daddy Government. Affordable Care Act wants to tell the customer that it is cheap and low cost.  

Updated On: 1/10/17 at 09:24 AM

[newintown]

Posted: 1/10/17 at 9:31am

You couldn't be more wrong. "Affordable Care Act" is a clear message that the program is ultimately more economically feasible for the entire community than the previous system. And it is. It could also be better.

Only a lazy, reductive, utter moron would equate "affordable" with "cheap."