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Healthcare costs were skyrocketing regardless and although "Repeal Obamacare" sounds catchy and is a nice rally cry for some; it's hollow and will never happen. The problem is that nobody chanting this has any idea what to replace it with... The "old" implementation of our healthcare was completely broken at a macro level. Granted it was fine in the micro picture for some, but our generally unhealthy life styles, overuse / abuse of expensive procedures (i.e. surgery), and giving "free" service in every emergency room nationwide is unsustainable. Rural hospitals would continue closing and easy access to emergency healthcare would eventually have to go away for a significant chunk of our population. "For profit" healthcare has consequences long term. So unless you look forward to a day where people are bleeding out on the sidewalk in front of a hospital without insurance (being refused service), you better come up with a better idea then simply repealing the current ACA law.
Healthcare costs were skyrocketing regardless and although "Repeal Obamacare" sounds catchy and is a nice rally cry for some; it's hollow and will never happen. The problem is that nobody chanting this has any idea what to replace it with... The "old" implementation of our healthcare was completely broken at a macro level. Granted it was fine in the micro picture for some, but our generally unhealthy life styles, overuse / abuse of expensive procedures (i.e. surgery), and giving "free" service in every emergency room nationwide is unsustainable. Rural hospitals would continue closing and easy access to emergency healthcare would eventually have to go away for a significant chunk of our population. "For profit" healthcare has consequences long term. So unless you look forward to a day where people are bleeding out on the sidewalk in front of a hospital without insurance (being refused service), you better come up with a better idea then simply repealing the current ACA law.
Healthcare costs were skyrocketing regardless and although "Repeal Obamacare" sounds catchy and is a nice rally cry for some; it's hollow and will never happen. The problem is that nobody chanting this has any idea what to replace it with... The "old" implementation of our healthcare was completely broken at a macro level. Granted it was fine in the micro picture for some, but our generally unhealthy life styles, overuse / abuse of expensive procedures (i.e. surgery), and giving "free" service in every emergency room nationwide is unsustainable. Rural hospitals would continue closing and easy access to emergency healthcare would eventually have to go away for a significant chunk of our population. "For profit" healthcare has consequences long term. So unless you look forward to a day where people are bleeding out on the sidewalk in front of a hospital without insurance (being refused service), you better come up with a better idea then simply repealing the current ACA law.
According to the healthcare experts, the entirety of the ACA doesn't have to be repealed per se. It can work better for everyone with a lot of 'refinement'. As it stands now, the insurance companies are wallowing in sinfully exorbitant profits and back pocket deals. There are pros and cons to everything; but balance is key.
According to the healthcare experts, the entirety of the ACA doesn't have to be repealed per se. It can work better for everyone with a lot of 'refinement'. As it stands now, the insurance companies are wallowing in sinfully exorbitant profits and back pocket deals. There are pros and cons to everything; but balance is key.
This is the attitude I wish more people had... ACA was a compromise on so many levels that it suffers from its own weight. But instead of looking to improve it, there's a vocal minority too busy picking it apart as a whole - even after countless re-votes and SCOTUS telling them it's legal.
Suggest ways to make it better because we can't go back to the old way.
I know someone who fell in dire straits when the ACA took hold.
They are below the poverty level and cannot get an ACA subsidy because of it .
Nor can they sign up for
Medicaid because Gov. McCrook didn't see fit to expand it.
My friend was left to:
# 1. do without health insurance and pay the fine on their tax returns then see wtf happens IF/When they need to a Dr. or emergency room.
# 2. pay the ridiculous price of close to 450 bucks a month for health insurance which would literally force them a lot faster to prob. living out on the streets .
How bad all this is for many, some prosper while lots other suffer terribly.
This is the attitude I wish more people had... ACA was a compromise on so many levels that it suffers from its own weight. But instead of looking to improve it, there's a vocal minority too busy picking it apart as a whole - even after countless re-votes and SCOTUS telling them it's legal.
Suggest ways to make it better because we can't go back to the old way.
Remember how it went down. At the start there were many proposals to actually address the extreme costs of American healthcare. One by one they were eliminated by lobbyists in Washington. What were we left with? A bill that was a massive gift to big pharma and the healthcare companies. Just look at their stock price rise over the past few years. So instead of trying to address the cost we have a subsidy to pay for it.
Not one new Doctor or hospital. All monopolies protected by Congress. And as predicted substantial yearly premium increases.
Remember how it went down. At the start there were many proposals to actually address the extreme costs of American healthcare. One by one they were eliminated by lobbyists in Washington. What were we left with? A bill that was a massive gift to big pharma and the healthcare companies. Just look at their stock price rise over the past few years. So instead of trying to address the cost we have a subsidy to pay for it.
Not one new Doctor or hospital. All monopolies protected by Congress. And as predicted substantial yearly premium increases.
In Utopia there might be a better way/plan but this is America and profits before people is just the way it is. This thing is massive and hatched from a wide spectrum of ideas/principles including those from conservative think-tanks. Actually, yearly premium increases are at the lowest level in years but most experts don't know whether to attribute that to Obamacare or not. Of course the insurance companies are going to seek outrageous increases and then frame the causation directly to Obamacare to fleece the flock.
However the ACA is getting more people insured, insuring people with pre-existing conditions with numerous other benefits that will go unnoticed by the general public until it is needed. Even then, most people will assume these benefits aren't part of ACA.
The runaway healthcare industry has been in train wreck mode for decades and the ACA is the first attempt at addressing the issue. I don't think opening new hospitals or adding doctors, etc was the first goal. I think keeping existing hospitals open was the first goal, especially in rural areas where treating voluminous numbers of uninsured people was the norm that resulted in revenue lost at exponential rates.
It's a huge bill, iron out the kinks, keep tweaking to improve but repeal and replace? With what? It ain't gonna happen even if on paper it makes 1000x more sense, too many pockets to grease and too much money involved. I am really surprised it got this far, usually the government/system will just let people die or go broke prior to impacting corporate profits.
Last edited by Big Aristotle; 07-12-2015 at 09:38 AM..
I definitely plead ignorance, and appreciate your & JK's information. I knew Medicare wasn't 100% coverage, but I did not know what the limits were.
In your opinion - taking into account the "what should you use insurance for?" analogy into consideration - how necessary are parts B-D?
Totally essential unless you are rich enough to cover most of your costs for prescriptions and outpatient medical services. Even then, the cost doesn't outweigh the risk.
Also remember that if you do not enroll when you are first eligible, there are penalties in the form of higher premiums when you do enroll. (Exclusions exist, including still getting insurance through an employer. It's a complicated system.)
I reevaluate DH's part D every year, based on what scripts he is currently taking. There's a very good online system that compares different plans and costs. I've changed his plan 5 times in the last 7 years. Since he hits the donut hole most years, drugs are a significant medical bill to us.
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