Maniac Craniac's Obamacare thread has turned up some important viewpoints. I would like to see this idea quantified into a hard yes/no format. Would you mind voting on the poll and let's see what the general consensus is. Comments are welcomed but not expected.
I voted that I have doubts. I'm torn on the issue. I think that there are some serious flaws (particularly with the way that the law affects employers), but I also recognize that health reform is very important. If not Obamacare, then what else? If the GOP would offer a realistic alternative, then I would definitely consider it. I'm generally a moderate pragmatist. Ideology on these issues doesn't sway me. I have no philosophical objection to having a government-run, single-payer system, but there are practical concerns. I have similar practical concerns with Obamacare. Unfortunately, our current system is unsustainable, so we have to do something.
I can hardly wait for the unintended consequences from this one. Those are always my favorite things to see.
For those of us with low incomes and who are poor long term ,many disabled are, its the only hope alot of us have for health care. I'm all for it they can work out the details later and change the law but its been found largely constitutional so is the law of the land - right - until repealed.
The affordable care act has raised the cost of healthcare. That is what my company letter said. Right after it was passed we were kicked off our current plans and had to pay more out of pocket for a newer, lower paying plan.
My healthcare and dental insurance premiums also have increased quite a bit. I clearly understand the other side of the picture with a recently disabled self-employed adult child. One of my main problems is in the methods used in legislating the changes. For historical purposes, the GOP introduced a similar bill back in the Nixon administration, and it was flatly turned down by the democrats. What made this one so much better than the one introduced way back then?
Speaking of unsustainable programs, have you looked at this? http://www.degreeinfo.com/political-discussions/42938-really-should-non-political.html
Okay my big issue where is the ready to vote on Republican replacement plan for the Affordable Care Act? They want to repeal and replace I want to see the replacement bill ready to vote on and kick in by 2014 before supporting a repeal. What will happen they will repeal the Affordable Care Act then do nothing and poor people rot away and the system becomes worse doing nothing is frankly not an option so why should I support the Republicans on a promise and the "empty air" that is their replacement and that is what is is - nothing? I have to vote in my best interest and can't worry about other people.
The basics of the current ACA plan was conceived by republicans during the Nixon administration Nixon's Plan For Health Reform, In His Own Words - Kaiser Health News and my guess is that not too much would change if the GOP gains control of the white house and/or congress again. I assume some of the plan (medicare cuts, birth control, abortion on demand, etc.) would be modified, but not much else. I’d expect the modified version to be somewhat like the Massachusetts plan. See Romney: Mass. health plan better than Obama's - News - Boston.com Dems may be using repeal as a scare tactic, but I don’t believe that tactic is working too well according to the latest polls RealClearPolitics - Election 2012
The poll is significantly flawed. The reason I say that is that I think that the country would be much better with a single payer type system and eventually get the insurance companies out of the medical insurance business altogether. So I picked favorable but flawed. I mean no fault with the person that designed the question. This has been a universal flaw with all polls of the Affordable Healthcare act that I've seen. The reason that I think that we would be better off with the insurance companies not involved is that profits for them are frequently at direct odds to what health care should be about. So I consider the relationship fundamentally flawed.
I saw some estimates (I do not recall where) that around 40% of the US population is covered by govt funded health care; that included both local and federal govt. I wondered if that estimate also included or excluded people working on government contracts. For example I've worked all my life on DOD and NASA contracts and health care costs are part of the contract cost. I note that one congressman in the news listed zero medical expenses on his 1040A for the last two years. So apparently members of congress are covered 100% for medical, dental, prescription, and optical expenses. (I recall 4-years ago McCain wanted employer paid medical to be included as income on form W2 - a measure I agreed with.)
Have any of the aspects of the ACA been implemented? Can't help thinking that insurance companies raising prices now are like supermarkets and oranges after a freeze in Florida. You go to the store the next day, and the prices are already up on the fruit that was in that bin BEFORE the freeze.
Yes; see The Affordable Care Act - Implementation Timeline | The White House for details (however perhaps some of these aspects were invalidated by the SCA ruling).