The Rethuglicans have had 4 years to craft a replacement. But they have done NOTHING to make any transition work. Can’t abide this fact but saying I TOLD YOU SO will have little satisfaction.
Members of Congress make a minimum of $174,000 a year.Why should they receive pensions after leaving office? Why can’t they pay for their own Health Insurance?
Exactly, Kip W. If better is defined as making more money, then I expect NPP is correct. A healthare system built by the business community would in the main be a means to an end, the end being the creation of more or wealthier plutocrats.
Amazing how the GOP wants to change history. “Obamacare” always was a REPUBLICAN plan. It is virtually identical to Romneycare in Massachusetts, designed by the Heritage Foundation, the conservative think-tank. What appealed to conservatives (before Obama took it up as his THIRD choice) was two things: first, that it had an individual responsibility component; and second, it didn’t significantly change the existing insurance industry.It is well known that the insurance industry is the biggest obstacle to efficient, comprehensive, and inexpensive healthcare in this country, but by the same token it is rich and powerful, and thus hard to dislodge.Obama’s first choice, like most people who have studied the issue, was single-payer — “Medicare for all” — which would save us VAST amounts of money and enable government negotiation with Big Pharma, like other countries. (Prior to Obamacare, the US was BY FAR the #1 most expensive for healthcare in the world — 50% more expensive per capita than #2 — and we didn’t even cover everyone.) Obama’s second choice was a government-supported nonprofit insurance provider — kind of like the way Blue Cross used to be — which would take onboard everyone who didn’t have their own insurance. Despite the assertions that the free market is always more efficient than government, for some reason the GOP shot down that suggestion, because the insurance industry felt threatened by a nonprofit provider.Obama’s third choice was a Republican plan, which left the entire nightmare network of overpriced, awkward, and bureaucratic insurance industry constraints in place, but at least covered more people and eliminated a few key clauses like the “pre-existing condition” gimmick used to take away insurance and steal money from many sick people. This is what became “Obamacare.” It’s not great, but it’s better than what
Never more plutocrats. That would represent competition. Their model is G.U.M., the old soviet department store with a total monopoly, long lines, and empty shelves.
Every GOP plan to replace ACA contains all of the elements of ACA. As long as they can out their name on it, they will be satisfied – especially Donnie if they call it “Trumpcare”.
PainterArt Premium Member over 7 years ago
It has been kind of like a gym membership, you make that promise every year to get things in shape.
fuzzbucket Premium Member over 7 years ago
Sure, go for it. Give the insurance companies another opportuniity to raise the rates on supplemental policies.
Crabbyrino Premium Member over 7 years ago
The Rethuglicans have had 4 years to craft a replacement. But they have done NOTHING to make any transition work. Can’t abide this fact but saying I TOLD YOU SO will have little satisfaction.
gigagrouch over 7 years ago
And people who pay nothing for their healthcare are deciding the fate of yours.
What’s wrong with that picture?
sandflea over 7 years ago
Members of Congress make a minimum of $174,000 a year.Why should they receive pensions after leaving office? Why can’t they pay for their own Health Insurance?
Kip W over 7 years ago
The free market did so much in the past, as far as maximizing profits. As they say in the ads, it’s what it does.
piobaire over 7 years ago
Exactly, Kip W. If better is defined as making more money, then I expect NPP is correct. A healthare system built by the business community would in the main be a means to an end, the end being the creation of more or wealthier plutocrats.
Motivemagus over 7 years ago
Amazing how the GOP wants to change history. “Obamacare” always was a REPUBLICAN plan. It is virtually identical to Romneycare in Massachusetts, designed by the Heritage Foundation, the conservative think-tank. What appealed to conservatives (before Obama took it up as his THIRD choice) was two things: first, that it had an individual responsibility component; and second, it didn’t significantly change the existing insurance industry.It is well known that the insurance industry is the biggest obstacle to efficient, comprehensive, and inexpensive healthcare in this country, but by the same token it is rich and powerful, and thus hard to dislodge.Obama’s first choice, like most people who have studied the issue, was single-payer — “Medicare for all” — which would save us VAST amounts of money and enable government negotiation with Big Pharma, like other countries. (Prior to Obamacare, the US was BY FAR the #1 most expensive for healthcare in the world — 50% more expensive per capita than #2 — and we didn’t even cover everyone.) Obama’s second choice was a government-supported nonprofit insurance provider — kind of like the way Blue Cross used to be — which would take onboard everyone who didn’t have their own insurance. Despite the assertions that the free market is always more efficient than government, for some reason the GOP shot down that suggestion, because the insurance industry felt threatened by a nonprofit provider.Obama’s third choice was a Republican plan, which left the entire nightmare network of overpriced, awkward, and bureaucratic insurance industry constraints in place, but at least covered more people and eliminated a few key clauses like the “pre-existing condition” gimmick used to take away insurance and steal money from many sick people. This is what became “Obamacare.” It’s not great, but it’s better than what
PainterArt Premium Member over 7 years ago
@motivemagus
Good post. Spelling it out.
.
Just to add: Paul Ryan’s “solution” or wanting to get rid of Medicare is replacing it with Obamacare.
retpost over 7 years ago
If they repeal it, that will be the first thing congress has done in 6 years; but not an improvement on the problem.
hippogriff over 7 years ago
piobaire
Never more plutocrats. That would represent competition. Their model is G.U.M., the old soviet department store with a total monopoly, long lines, and empty shelves.
Nantucket Premium Member over 7 years ago
Every GOP plan to replace ACA contains all of the elements of ACA. As long as they can out their name on it, they will be satisfied – especially Donnie if they call it “Trumpcare”.
vorpal7 over 7 years ago
Hey Rob… It is going to happen this year… Did you see the Election results? Clue in ’o silly libby.