More Obamacare fuckups

[time4fun]

Oh okay. So we're not making healthcare affordable, we're just making people pay more in taxes so we can give the insurance companies more money so it's cheaper for some people.



Yes. Are you aware of what "driving down costs" means?



Awesome. Thanks for that. So while you're believing people literally wait until they're on death's door before they seek medical help why don't you peruse this article:

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-me...als-uninsured/



I think you're confusing terminology here.

Health insurance != access to healthcare.

There are free clinics, emergency room visits, state and local governments helping poor/uninsured with their healthcare bills, non-profit hospitals/organizations providing free treatment as part of their deal to be, y'know, non-profit. Then there's always, GASP! People without insurance paying their bills out of pocket. Insane, I know. But it happens(ed).

But yes, you are 100% correct. Lack of access to medical care can certainly be tied to someone dying prematurely. Tell me, does the "Affordable" Care Act help to ensure that people have access to medical care?

Yeah I know very well what "driving down costs" means, and given we were talking about health insurance premiums it's pretty clear I was talking about people. They have costs too it turns out.

Nice 5 year-old study, whose findings haven't really been replicated btw, but here's one that's 2.5 years old: http://familiesusa.org/sites/default...r-Coverage.pdf

And if you don't think that insurance = access, you've lived a charmed life. Access is when a hospital doesn't say to you "I'm sorry, you can't pay for this procedure so we won't do it because we're not legally obligated to do so". Access is "The doctor's appointment normally costs me $150, but now it's only $10". Access is also the >1 million new healthcare jobs that have resulted from the ACA producing new demand for medical services- creating a stronger infrastructure for care. And it goes far beyond simple mortality- it' about quality of life for people with serious and/or chronic illness. It' about understanding the gravity of the reality that medical bills are the #1 cause of personal bankruptcy filings.

If you cannot wrap your head around the concept that insurance is about access to health care, then it's no small wonder why you're having such a hard time understanding the significance of our country's uninsured rate dropping below 10% for the first time in history. Insurance may not be sufficient to ensure 100% access, but for people with significant illnesses it is necessary.

It's astounding to me how committed some people are to finding some way to say the ACA has been a disaster. First it was- this won't lower the rate of uninsured, and it will cause massive unemployment and blow up our debt!" Then, of course, it turned out that it created jobs, DRAMATICALLY lowered the rate of the uninsured, and slowed down the rate of increase in health costs. Now it's "But it's not cheap enough!" Hey, guess what- liberals and you agree 100% that it should be cheaper. So let's all hold hands and fight for a single payer system and to expand Federal funding for health care coverage.