Comments on: Good News For Obamacare

By: Friday Talking Points — Our 4/20 Acronym Contest Challenge | Political Ration

Sat, 19 Apr 2014 19:43:01 +0000

[...] wrote about this earlier this week, in more detail. This has been the best week for Obamacare stats yet. In fact, it’s been the [...]

By: Chris Weigant

Chris Weigant — Sat, 19 Apr 2014 04:13:44 +0000

DisabledDoc -

I've been saying for a while now that the precise point when Obamacare can be truly considered a success (and which should cue the endzone dancing) is when all the Republicans all collectively decide that they will never use the "Obamacare" label again. When I see two or three GOPers interviewed in the same week call it the "Affordable Care Act," then I will know the fight is over. Hasn't happened yet, but I remain optimistic...

:-)

-CW

By: ChrisWeigant.com » Friday Talking Points [300] -- Our 4/20 Acronym Contest Challenge

Sat, 19 Apr 2014 01:53:10 +0000

[...] wrote about this earlier this week, in more detail. This has been the best week for Obamacare stats yet. In fact, it's been the best [...]

By: DisabledDoc

DisabledDoc — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 23:47:23 +0000

This is what I've said all along is the only true way to measure its effectiveness in terms of numbers -- although there is a definite quality improvement for those of us who had individual policies before (no worry about caps; no worry about cancellation due to having developed a serious disease; no worry about gaps in coverage eg. for mental health care). I think we can clearly say the system has not wrecked. As for calling it a true success, I think that has to wait for one major step: seeing what next year's premiums will be. If the insurance companies remain willing to provide the policies at close to this year's rates, or -- even better -- drop the rates, then the Democrats get to do an end-zone dance. Or, to use your train metaphor, the train broke a speed record. We might as well embrace the name Obamacare. While I have my disagreements with President Obama, most seriously on NSA and transparency issues (and I think, in general, liberals tend to 'deify' leaders less than conservatives do), this program is definitely his legacy. It's easier to say than 'Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act'. And as we call it Obamacare for decades to come (as we refer to Medicare) we will continually remind the Republicans of the dangers of blind opposition.

By: Chris Weigant

Chris Weigant — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 05:51:41 +0000

TheStig - First, the CBO report estimated that only 7 million (out of around 160m) would lose their employer-based health care over the first decade. So, some lose, but most stay. Or at least, that's the estimate. Second, well, Grimes is not exactly hugging Obamacare, but she's also not exactly above hitting McConnell on the issue. The trick she's using is to not say the word "Obamacare" and instead the state-based "KYnect." We'll see... we'll see... -CW

By: TheStig

TheStig — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 14:05:54 +0000

April has been a pretty good month for the PPACA. I like your metaphor, but suggest "Train Egged by Angry Mob On Maiden Run Arrives Seven Minutes Early" to fully capture the irony.

Looking down the tracks a bit, two questions.

Will Corporate America stop offering health insurance as part of their employee compensation packages and leave the field to the exchanges? Corporations don't particularly like managing employee health care plans and catch flack every time costs go up. The whole Employer-Provided-Insurance-Plan is basically an accident of history...price and wage controls during WWII prevented enticing scarce workers with higher pay, but payment in kind (health insurance) was deemed OK.

Second, and more immediate question. Will failure to accept federal medicaid insurance funds have a negative impact on Republican candidates in the fall? Could Mitch McConnell fall in part because of his opposition to Obama Care? Now than would be irony!