I’m a big fan of Obamacare. BIG FAN. I love it….as I said HERE:
“No – Obamacare won’t mow your lawn and it won’t make you pancakes, and if you’re unsatisfied because you think the Bush era status quo was the preferred alternative…I say you’re LOST in the wilderness. If you choose not to pay for insurance and you can afford it – then you pay a tax to cover the difference.”
What exactly are people afraid of with the “individual mandate” that Republicans embraced in the 90′s and Mitt Romney called a “model for the nation”?
Do you go to jail if you don’t buy insurance? No.
Do you have to wear the Star of David on your arm and will authorities put you in concentration camps? No. (If you think yes – you need professional help.)
I’ll tell you what happens if you choose not to buy healthcare – nothing. You may not even have to pay a penalty (source).
#1 – You could get it for FREE depending on what you make. Estimates are that 20 million Americans will receive financial assistance with their health insurance (source).
#2 – You’re going to finally be able to buy insurance across state lines on an open exchange like buying tickets on Priceline.com.
#3 – States now have the ability to offer single-payer if they want. This wasn’t possible before. Vermont already has. (SOURCE)
Democrats had shied away from embracing the Obamacare label until March of 2012….that’s a hell of a long time to wait to embrace your signature achievement.
The choice the Republican party would like to offer is exactly NOTHING. They want to go back to what our healthcare system law was pre-Obamacare (source). There was no “repeal and replace” – there was only “repeal and I hope you forget”.
And if you have been living in a mis-information bubble for several years – you might believe that Obamacare increases the deficit. Although – the single largest federal government expenditure (government spending) that is currently out of control and will actually bankrupt America pre-Obamacare is HEALTHCARE COSTS. Yes – it’s absolutely true. Without a solution to the rising costs of healthcare for war veterans, the elderly and disabled – the country will either go bankrupt or let those people just die. But – you’re in luck…..Obamacare not only reduces the deficit – it reduces the deficit by $50 billion more than previously thought (Source)
Or are you against the $1.3 Billion in rebates insurance companies are now legally required to mail back to consumers per LAW (source)
Do you think it’s maybe a bit ironic that the woman suing in federal court because she felt that Obamacare was an infringement on her civil liberties actually ended up going bankrupt due to falling on hard times and needing to be put in the hospital. She left $4,500 in unpaid medical bills transferring her debt to someone else who actually had health insurance. (source)
Key Dates for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act i.e. Obamacare courtesy of NPR:
| Who it Affects | What it Does | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|
| Everyone | Insurers prohibited from canceling coverage when an enrollee gets sick | September 23, 2010 |
| Insurers prohibited from putting lifetime caps on benefits | September 23, 2010 | |
| Citizens and legal residents must have insurance | 2014 | |
| Penalties for those without coverage phases in | 2014 | |
| Those with incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level qualify for Medicaid | 2014 | |
| Young Adults / Children | Young adults can stay on parents’ insurance until age 26 | September 23, 2010 |
| Insurers can no longer deny coverage to children with preexisting conditions | September 23, 2010 | |
| Seniors | Rebates to seniors who have hit the “donut hole” in Medicare prescription drug coverage. | June 10, 2010 |
| Patients in “donut hole” get half off on brand-name drugs. More discounts phase in. | 2011 | |
| “Donut hole” effectively closed | 2020 | |
| The Sick | High-risk pool covers patients with pre-existing medical conditions | June 21, 2010 |
| Those Without Insurance | States must establish “exchanges” to offer health plans | 2014 |
| Small Businesses | Tax credits available to small businesses to help provide insurance | 2010 |
| Large and Medium-Sized Businesses | Large employers must enroll employees in health plans or face fines | 2014 |
| Insurers | Insurers must report and justify premium increases | Effective Immediately |
| Health plans spending a low percentage of premiums on medical care must refund money | 2011 | |
| Insurers must reduce paperwork | 2013 | |
| Insurers cannot restrict coverage based on health status | 2014 | |
| Plans must meet operating standards or face penalty | April 1, 2014 | |
| States can allow purchase of health plans across state borders | 2016 | |
| Insurers taxed for providing plans that cost too much | January 1, 2018 | |
| Doctors / Hospitals | Increased Medicare payments to primary care doctors | 2011 |
| Medicare rewards hospitals with higher quality care | 2012 | |
| Increased Medicaid payments to primary care doctors | 2013 |



















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