Is the Affordable Care Act truly affordable?

No...end of thread.

It's truly affordable for those who now have insurance that they could not afford before.

You didn't build that wrote:

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My 25 year old daughter is on my insurance because of Obamacare- it's very affordable for her.

When she can no longer be on my insurance (next year) she has already told me that she will be able to afford her own insurance because of the affordable care act.

L L wrote:

It's truly affordable for those who now have insurance that they could not afford before.

What about those who are not freeloaders and saw their premiums skyrocket after Obama promised the average person would save $2500 a year when instead they went through the roof?

As an equal opportunity hater of both the Democrats and Republicans, you all are ridiculous. Does anyone believe that either party is doing anything to help the people of the United States when it comes to healthcare?

It's simple really:

1. Democrats are more educated so the Democratic Party has to come up with a more complicated way of keeping the Health Care providers happy.

2. Republicans are more easily brainwashed so the Republican Party says that we have the best health care system in the world, and Republicans believe it.

The truth is that neither party has done anything to stop the medical providers from taking advantage of Americans.

And you know what else? Americans don't care because they are so busy pointing their fingers at one another.

Neutral Observer wrote:

As an equal opportunity hater of both the Democrats and Republicans, you all are ridiculous. Does anyone believe that either party is doing anything to help the people of the United States when it comes to healthcare?

It's simple really:

1. Democrats are more educated so the Democratic Party has to come up with a more complicated way of keeping the Health Care providers happy.

2. Republicans are more easily brainwashed so the Republican Party says that we have the best health care system in the world, and Republicans believe it.

The truth is that neither party has done anything to stop the medical providers from taking advantage of Americans.

And you know what else? Americans don't care because they are so busy pointing their fingers at one another.

Don't know where you get your facts,, but while it is true there are more Democrats with Phd's, there are also more Democrats with just a high school diploma/hs dropouts than Republicans. Republicans tend to get four year degrees then enter the work force. Democrats tend to represent opposite ends of spectrum. Shouldn't be a surprise that low income people or those who spend their lives teaching at a university support big government programs. On the other hand, those who build or own businesses, prefer smaller government.

Medical providers don't take advantage of Americans. If you were a physician or had worked for one, you would realize how much expense is involved in attempting to run a practice.

I hear this all the time, but don't buy that there are widespread major premium increases. My insurance went up less this year than any of the previous 8 years. That said I have met a few people whose premiums increased more than previous, but nothing I would call "skyrocket"? Usually 1 or 2% greater increase.

You didn't build that wrote:

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If you can afford something it's affordable. If you can't, it's not.

You're welcome.

Neutral Observer wrote:

As an equal opportunity hater of both the Democrats and Republicans, you all are ridiculous. Does anyone believe that either party is doing anything to help the people of the United States when it comes to healthcare?

It's simple really:

1. Democrats are more educated so the Democratic Party has to come up with a more complicated way of keeping the Health Care providers happy.

2. Republicans are more easily brainwashed so the Republican Party says that we have the best health care system in the world, and Republicans believe it.

The truth is that neither party has done anything to stop the medical providers from taking advantage of Americans.

And you know what else? Americans don't care because they are so busy pointing their fingers at one another.

Some of this is almost comical.

I'm a healthcare provider, primary care, and support the Affordable Care Act, but think it hasn't gone far enough in making care either accessible or affordable for most.

Look at Massachusetts. There was a significant drop in statewide mortality with universal coverage. of the Republicans who favor repealing the Act, I ask, which Americans are you trying to kill off next year?

Too, who do you think pays for emergency care for those arriving at hospitals without insurance. Most often that translates to higher Medicare payments to the hospitals providing the most uncovered care, so ultimately we taxpayers are paying. I would suggest it may be wiser to provide primary care and prevent the heart attack than to pay for it before it happens.

Let's face it, thowe who really benefit in the US system are the (for profit!!) Insurance companies and their stockholders.

Yes, apparently we (in the USA) live in a bubble where health NEEDS to be exponentially more expensive than it is in any other developed (or less developed country). Do you think it is an accident that medical bills are virtually impossible to read? Do you know it does not work that way in other countries? I always find it fascinating that virtually every Republican I have ever spoken to "knows and Englishman/Canadian" who hates their universal health care system... yet I have never met an Englishman or a Canadian who knew someone who did. I'm not saying the Democrats are a whole lot better. Obama DID lie, and the ACA does NOTHING to get the health care providers under control. It's still a baby step in the right direction over anything that the Republicans have offered. This is the only developed country where you will find people starting a gofundme campaign so that their toddler does not have to die of cancer. It's sick, and is a very bad reflection on a country that once had truly Christian values.

marksch wrote:

I'm a healthcare provider, primary care, and support the Affordable Care Act, but think it hasn't gone far enough in making care either accessible or affordable for most.

I was lumping healthcare providers in with insurance companies. If you don't think that health care providers are part of the problem then you are not being honest with yourself.

Neutral Observer wrote:

marksch wrote:

I'm a healthcare provider, primary care, and support the Affordable Care Act, but think it hasn't gone far enough in making care either accessible or affordable for most.

I was lumping healthcare providers in with insurance companies. If you don't think that health care providers are part of the problem then you are not being honest with yourself.

I'm pretty honest, and reasonably well trained. MD and MS in health policy.

I will give you that over-provision of specialty care is a component of the issue. Much of that is rooted in the payment schemes as well. Underfunded screening or preventive services, and huge checks for bypass surgery. This has resulted in a system with a disproportionately high proportion of specialists and surgeons relative to primary care. Our result is poorer health and bigger bills relative to the rest of the world.

Insurance companies are doing quite well though.

Sally V wrote:

L L wrote:

It's truly affordable for those who now have insurance that they could not afford before.

What about those who are not freeloaders and saw their premiums skyrocket after Obama promised the average person would save $2500 a year when instead they went through the roof?

Those that complain about their policy cost increasing are those that bought the cover-nothing policies. Those the bough policies that actually cover something saw a decrease. Mine good policy cost when down 20%.

I'm a little baffled by some of this talk about the Affordable Care Act because I know that what I'm paying is a less, bu about 20 percent, than anything I could have gotten previously. Those who say they were paying a lot less before must have been aware of some double secret deals not known to me.

It depends on the old policy someone had. Some people overpaid: very low out of pocket. Some paid for policies that provided almost no coverage.

No Sally Ride wrote:

Those that complain about their policy cost increasing are those that bought the cover-nothing policies. Those the bough policies that actually cover something saw a decrease. Mine good policy cost when down 20%.

I support the ACA (as a step in the right direction, not a final destination), but what you are not saying is simply not true. I had a Kaiser plan and was paying $160/month. That jumped to $260 for the "same" plan, which actually was not the same... in reality it covered less and with higher copays, etc.

on the other hand my father's insurance went up by 300 bucks a month and my mother's close to 200...that is an additional 6 grand a year. Mine doubled...but mostly because my old plan isn't allowed under the ACA.

Please post the link showing a reduction in state wide mortality and that the cause was RomneyCare.

Found a NY Times article. Also saw some of the concerns with the study.