Capitol Hill Blue Forums Capitol Hill Blue Opinions CHB Columnists Time to scrap Obamacare and find something that works

No, LT, you're wrong about me being a closet partisan. I came out of that closet a long time ago. I unabashedly lean to the left and make no apologies for it.

Okay... so I'm entirely correct to assume that all of your opinions, based upon the fact that you have them and are clear about that (making you a partisan), are unquestionably wrong. How long have you been a member of the Communist Party, if I may ask?

Americans are "losing their existing insurance" because ACA requires insurance companies to meet key areas of coverage. I believe its nine key areas of coverage - mental health being one of them.

The insurance policies being dropped are high deductible, inferior insurance products which have been grandfathered in. However, it is the insurance companies who are choosing to drop these particular plans even though they don't have to.

You're asking the wrong question. The correct question to ask is: How many in the state who don't currently have health insurance have signed up?

I already have health insurance. Why do I need to sign up at California Covers™?

Republicans send a single-payer plan through Congress! That's socialism!! Shirley, you gest!

(***psssst*** Don't tell 'em that Social Security and Medicare are socialism, they currently don't know these facts... )

Your vertigo is duly noted. Hopefully you have health insurance.

Doug
I understand that this is your opinion. But most people make a pretense that their opinion has some basis other than preconception and bias.

Can Obamacare work? Well the system in Mass. is quite similar, it also got off to a difficult start, but now seems to be working well, with no significant damage to the "fragile" system, and not a terrific citizen movement to repeal that program. So on what basis do you form your opinion that that Obamacare cannot work?

As a matter of fact, the international community has a large number of examples of alternative health care systems. And my observation is that there are very many systems that statistically speaking seem to achieve better results than our own pre-obamacare system. These systems manage to deliver medical care to a wider portion of the population, they do not exclude sick people, or poor people. They accomplish the goals of Obamacare. So if we want to "do better" with an alternative system, there are no shortage of options.... are there DOug?

But we all know that any of these non-US models could never be approved in the USA... Regardless of the evidence of better performance. And I think that reality begs the question of WHY? Why should we not have a better system when there are so many good alternatives that are tested and proven elsewhere?

Is the reason because Of President Obama? Well if not, why is the reason?

But getting back to Obamacare.... Are you actually proposing that the Obamacvare model is what Obama would have chosen had he been a dictator able to make an arbitrary decision? I think only the most foolish person would believe that to be true.

So why Obamacare? As you know, Doug.... there are real reasons that we cannot choose a health care model that has already been tested an proven elsewhere. Basically those impediments have to do with things like special interest groups (like the realtors, except that in this case it is the insurance companies) Also the is the issue of ideology.... we worship at the altar of free markets. And finally the issue of partisanship.... which meant that republicans would not agree to anything that would give the administration a "win."

These factors shaped and distorted what was possible.

But.... as you point out.... if you cannot have a perfect answer, why select an imperfect option just because that is all that you can get passed the congress?

And that question gets back to the trajectory of our previous system. Was it going in a good and sustainable direction? And for all sorts of well known reasons, the previous system was spiraling downward.... costs ever escalating, affordability plummeting, a larger and a large portion of the population not covered, safety net care being delivered in the ER, insurance companies competing for healthy customers and trying to shed unhealthy customers, increasing numbers of people being bankrupted by medical expenses... It is an endless depressing litany of a system that was already headed for collapse without Obamacare.



As above, Doug, I just so not see how you consider the previous situation represented a system not heading for collapse? Nor can I possibly imagine that you would really want to go back to it.

But.... lets put it up for a vote of the people....

On your side.... we will have people who are enthusiastic to return to the situation where insurance companies only want to insure healthy people. Let all the politicians who support this view stand up and earn the support they will certainly receive.

CR, you are relying on awful lot on facts in your comments. Please state whether or not you are partisan so I will know whether or not I can believe any of your facts.

And beyond that....
these less expensive policies the people "want".....
well they are fine for healthy people
as long as you have not big problem.... it is great.

If you get diagnosed with cancer.... then what?
Well.... the insurance company can drop you at time of renewal.... or jack up your premium to an unaffordable level.

But isn't that the whole point of having "insurance?"
I mean, if you will remain healthy.... you do not need insurance. And if the insurance become unavailable if you do need it, well is that really insurance?


It is laughable how many people are interviewed and are outraged at the price of ACA insurance. They are happy with what they have, it is all they need. But our liberal media never asks the obvious follow up question.... what happens with your insurance if you get diagnosed with a long term chronic illness.... will your coverage and rate stay the same?

People are saying that they do not "need" more expensive insurance because they are not sick. Well I do not need car insurance because I am a safe driver who does not get into accidents. I do not need home insurance because my home has not burned down.