Posted on 12/24/2012 6:14:33 PM PST by Kaslin
This March will mark three years since Obamacare became law, and it still has not had any serious effect on most Americans' lives. That's the way President Obama and the law's Democratic authors planned it; they conveniently pushed the dislocations and unhappy consequences of national health care well past their re-election campaigns.
But Obamacare will be here soon, with an Oct. 1, 2013, start of enrollment in insurance exchanges and a Jan. 1, 2014, deadline for full implementation. The political results could be deeply painful for Democrats.
During the campaign for Obamacare, President Obama pledged repeatedly that his health care scheme would not touch the vast majority of Americans who are satisfied with their coverage. "No matter how we reform health care, we will keep this promise to the American people," Obama said in June 2009. "If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor, period. If you like your health care plan, you'll be able to keep your health care plan, period. No one will take it away, no matter what."
If anyone believed that then, they probably don't believe it now. In practice, Obamacare will mean the loss of employer-based health insurance for many people; big increases in premiums for others; changes on the job for still others; and a bureaucratic nightmare for many more. Add to that the involvement of the Internal Revenue Service, which will act as Obamacare's enforcer -- all Americans will have to prove to the IRS that they have "qualified" coverage -- and it's likely Obamacare will have a rocky and unpopular start.
Over the past months there has been scattered press coverage of coming problems. That is likely to increase in 2013. There will be more stories with headlines like this, from Bloomberg News recently: "Aetna CEO Sees Obama Health Law Doubling Some Premiums."
And this, from the Associated Press: "Surprise: New Insurance Fee in Health Overhaul Law."
And this, from the Wall Street Journal: "Health-Care Law Spurs a Shift to Part-Time Workers."
Real-world experience might even spark some rethinking of Obamacare's premises. For example, the president and his Democratic allies promised Obamacare will cut the deficit. That's almost certainly not true, although many in the press repeated it faithfully. Now, with Obamacare near, there are hints of a reassessment.
For example, in a recent editorial about fiscal cliff negotiations, The Washington Post noted that the nation's "underlying fiscal problem is that federal expenditures are slated to rise faster than economic growth," and that "the long-term drivers" of those federal expenditures are "Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and subsidies for the health-care exchanges established by the Affordable Care Act." Obamacare will take its place as a contributor to future deficits.
Obamacare has never been popular. Indeed, it has been underwater in terms of public approval from the moment it began to take legislative shape in 2009. In last month's exit polls, 49 percent said all or part of Obamacare should be repealed, while 44 percent said it should be left as is or expanded.
"There hasn't been any trend," says pollster Scott Rasmussen. "From the beginning, well before the law was passed, public opinion has been remarkably stable and modestly negative. ... All of that has been based upon theory and politics. Most Americans have not yet felt any impact from the law."
If Obamacare were popular, there's no doubt more governors would choose to have their states set up insurance exchanges, as the law envisioned. Instead, nearly two dozen Republican governors have refused, which will force the federal government to build the exchanges itself.
The governors are saying no to state-run exchanges for three reasons. One, they believe it will cost their states too much money. Two, they believe the federal government will exercise ultimate control over everything, despite federal reassurances that states will play a significant role. And three, many believe Obamacare implementation will be a disaster.
Some who watch Obamacare closely see something similar. "The administration is well behind schedule," says James Capretta of the conservative Ethics and Public Policy Center. "It's going to be a train wreck in a lot of places."
Capretta sees the administration trying to paper over some of the problems by rushing billions of dollars in subsidies out the door. That way they will argue Obamacare is doing much good, whatever its flaws.
But it's possible no amount of money will be enough to hide those flaws -- once Obamacare becomes a reality in Americans' lives.
we have to let this thing “go over the cliff” people must recieve what they voted for...want huge taxes, high medical care costs, inflation, ineffective gun control,gay marriage, ..just stick around...you voted for it, you will now get it...I’m all in favor of going over the “cliff”...people who want to collect social security should pay “payroll taxes”....PERIOD).
we have to let this thing “go over the cliff” people must recieve what they voted for...want huge taxes, high medical care costs, inflation, ineffective gun control,gay marriage, ..just stick around...you voted for it, you will now get it...I’m all in favor of going over the “cliff”...people who want to collect social security should pay “payroll taxes”....PERIOD).
I’ve noticed more doctors and dentists linking up with spas, offering coupons for massages and spa days after $XXX of cosmetic work.
I wonder if you end up with “free physical without Obamacare reporting after $XYZ beauty package purchase” or “free medical evaluation with purchase of expensive cosmetic thing”.
I’m in your camp. I’m self employed and I am REFUSING to pay into this bullsh!t.
Come get me mother fu**ers!
I couldn't continue to pay the huge monthly premiums, and also attempt to access healthcare providers.
Most people without medical insurance get free medical care from the ER room.
If I show up at the ER, I am just a financial cash cow, not a “real” patient.
Stop the madness!
A friend of mine went to her chiropractor recently and had to fill out a questionaire about her health issues she sees them for. She tends to see them regularly and was surprised by the questionaire but filled it out. Afterwards, they told her that based on her answers, she’s allowed eight to ten sessions for the year. She’s flipping out because that’s much less than normal.
Her husband said she didn’t really indicate how bad she is. I countered that if she did, she’ll have a history that this lovely system will use against her later.
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. We’re going to lose in every way with this one.
The real anxiety will start when their doctor tells them he/she only takes cash/check/credit card and that he/she will provide them with a detailed coded bill which they can present to their insurance provider or government. Medicare/Medicaid patients will be limited to what the doctor considers to be his/her charity contribution limit. When that happens, Blue states will pass laws that require doctors to accept all patients. Doctors will quit or move to red states. And it will spiral down from there.
We’ll be moving to single payer before the decade is out. Private insurance companies don’t want to deal with the bureaucratic and paperwork hassle and they will completely abandon the health care sector, turning it over to the government.
No problem. Flaming boat for you - Viking style!
No it won't.
The MSM will lie, conceal, or misrepresent ALL the bad news.
No judge, nor determonation
Just ask the Birthers what good it can do .
“Private insurance companies don.t want to deal with the bureaucratic and paperwork hassle and they will completely abandon the health care sector, turning it over to the government.”
Is that what happened in Massachusetts?
And those that should have lost for passing off counterfeit MBS, and their equity backers, will be buying bonds/US Ts, secured on the shackled backs of U.S. citizens through IRS fines and escalating premiums.
...”we have to let this thing “go over the cliff” people must recieve what they voted for...want huge taxes, high medical care costs, inflation, ineffective gun control,gay marriage, ..just stick around...you voted for it, you will now get it...I’m all in favor of going over the “cliff”...people who want to collect social security should pay “payroll taxes”....PERIOD)”...
You are exactly correct..Until people feel consequences for their behavior, they will not change. Going over the cliff would be a good wakeup call, the consequences of which might give us a chance of keeping our country. Otherwise, the weak politicians will continue to take the path of least resistance and all their effort will center on re-election into the opulent life on the backs of 50% of the American people. It cannot last. Better to bite the bullet while there is a chance. I find myself wondering who will eventually rule in America considering the ignorance of the American press who is responsible for our current condition more than any other group. Is their lack of wisdom learned or deliberate? If deliberate, what do they hope to gain from the destruction of their country?
T-shirt idea:
Top: OBAMACARE
Middle: Print of Skull and Crossbones.
Bottome; Who’s Next?
Yesterday, while waiting for a prescription to be filled, a young father came to pick up his kid’s prescription. You could tell he was in no financial position to fork over any amount of money. It rang up at $148. He said, “That can’t be right. Last month it was $48. It’s gone up $100!?” The clerk said, “Things have gone up” very apologetically. You could tell it was a problem, especially during the Christmas season. Still, he paid it and wished her a Merry Christmas. Very sad.
Under my breath, I’m mumbling, “Obamacare. Obamacare.”
I can’t guess how the guy voted since we’re in solid Bible Belt country, and pretty much go anti-Obama. But I have a feeling that a lot of people who worship at the feet of Hussein will be replaying this scene a thousand times over every day from now on.
Yesterday, while waiting for a prescription to be filled, a young father came to pick up his kid’s prescription. You could tell he was in no financial position to fork over any amount of money. It rang up at $148. He said, “That can’t be right. Last month it was $48. It’s gone up $100!?” The clerk said, “Things have gone up” very apologetically. You could tell it was a problem, especially during the Christmas season. Still, he paid it and wished her a Merry Christmas. Very sad.
Under my breath, I’m mumbling, “Obamacare. Obamacare.”
I can’t guess how the guy voted since we’re in solid Bible Belt country, and pretty much go anti-Obama. But I have a feeling that a lot of people who worship at the feet of Hussein will be replaying this scene a thousand times over every day from now on.
News flash!
Yup.
I have a new slogan:
Conservatives judge theory by reality.
Liberals judge reality by their theories.
This explains why liberals show contempt for facts that contradict their dogmas. It also explains why they hate God, who is Truth, or Reality Itself.
God help us.
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