OBAMACARE IS A SUCCESS!
March 31st, 2014 has come and gone...and those of you who thought The Affordable Care Act would not be a success...but would be a flop...can all apologize to President Obama.
The objective was for at least 7 million Americans to enroll in the Healthcare Exchanges by last Monday...and the target was not only reached, but was surpassed by an additional 100,000 people.
Actually, however...the news is even better than that. According to the Los Angeles Times..."At least 9.5 million previously uninsured people have gained coverage. Some have done so through marketplaces (or exchanges) created by the law...some through other private insurance...and others through Medicaid...which has expanded under the law in about half the states." The Los Angeles Times says, "The tally draws from a review of state and federal enrollment reports, surveys and interviews with insurance executives and government officials nationwide."
If you could see me now...as I sit at my computer and write this commentary...you'd observe me with a grin that is bigger than The Cheshire Cat. As a huge supporter of The Affordable Care Act...and a great fan of President Obama...I'm totally tickled...and overjoyed with delight...that The White House met its goal.
Personally...I myself would not have health insurance today...without "ObamaCare." As a 2-time cancer survivor...who also suffers from Crohn's Disease...I was turned down - over and over and over again - by various health insurance companies...before The Affordable Care Act was passed by Congress as the law of the land. Each time I applied for health insurance, I was told - in so many words - to go away...because of my pre-existing conditions. I - and millions of other Americans - never have to worry about that...ever again. All three branches of the federal government - from the President of the United States...to Congress...to the Supreme Court - have endorsed this law. Therefore, it baffles me that most Republicans in the Senate and House of Representatives continue to attempt...with befuddling efforts...to confuse the American public...in to thinking that "ObamaCare" is bad for our country.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius says that without The Affordable Care Act...up to 129 million non-elderly Americans... who live their lives with one or more pre-existing health conditions - such as cancer... heart disease...high blood pressure...arthritis...and certain other ailments - would be at risk of losing their health insurance...or be denied coverage altogether. But now...throughout the future of the 21st Century... and forever more...the policies of The Affordable Care Act...allow Americans living with pre-existing conditions...to be free from discrimination...and they can obtain the health insurance they need. Plus...families no longer need to be concerned...that their insurance could be cancelled...or capped...when a child - or anyone in the family - gets sick. And nobody will go broke...because of medical expenses charged them...when agonizing through a disease or the aftermath of an accident.
With a smiling Vice President Biden at his side...President Obama...on Tuesday, April 1st...spoke to reporters in The Rose Garden at The White House...and asked..."I got to admit. I don't get it. Why are folks working so hard...for people not to have health insurance?" The President also noted that "This law is doing what it's supposed to do. It's working. All of which makes the lengths to which critics have gone to scare people, or undermine the law, or try to repeal the law without offering any plausible alternatives...so hard to understand." Mr. Obama went on to say, "Why are they so mad about the idea of folks having health insurance? Many of the tall tales that have been told about this law... have been debunked." The President rightfully mocked Republicans by adding, "There are still no death panels. Armageddon has not arrived." And proving that The Affordable Care Act is a success...President Obama boasted with pride and heartfelt celebration, "Instead...this law is helping millions of Americans. And in the coming years...it will help millions more." And the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office agrees. The CBO estimates that enrollment in the Healthcare Exchanges will skyrocket to 22 million people by 2016.
President Obama hit the bull's-eye...as The White House had predicted that a minimum of 7 million Americans would sign-up for healthcare under The Affordable Care Act by March 31st. But whether it was 7.1 million people...or 70.1 million people...it wouldn't have made a difference. Republicans would still be against this law. But why? For members of the GOP to launch a smear campaign against President Obama and his signature piece of legislation...before they had even a shred of evidence...or an ounce of proof... that The Affordable Care Act was not going to work...is beyond any realm of comprehension.
All that being said...Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas continues his ludicrous crusade...spewing out thoughtless drivel...ignoring facts...and using words of fantasy and absurdity...as he still thinks the GOP can repeal The Affordable Care Act. Cruz remains "absolutely convinced that we are going to repeal every single word of ObamaCare." But President Obama - in The Rose Garden last Tuesday - was emphatic...that "The debate over repealing this law is over." And despite that Cruz - and most other Republicans in the Senate and House - have done everything they could think of...to try to kill The Affordable Care Act...the overwhelming majority of people in America...do not want this law to be repealed. And attempts by Republicans are ridiculous exercises in futility...since as long as President Obama is in office...as long as there is a Democratic President...or a Democratic majority in one or both Houses of Congress...a repeal law will never be signed. So my message to Republicans is this...STOP! Stop trying to bring down this law. You're wasting your time. You're wasting America's money. And you will continue to fail. Concentrate on matters to help the citizens of our nation...not to hurt them. Let President Obama do his job. America will be better...and Americans will be better off.
Hopefully Congress will remember the words that President Obama delivered from Capitol Hill during his State of the Union Address on January 28th, 2014. "Let's see where else we can make progress together. Let's make this a year of action. That's what most Americans want. For all of us - in this Chamber - to focus on their lives...their hopes...their aspirations. And what I believe unites the people of this nation...regardless of race or region or party...young or old, rich or poor...is the simple, profound belief...in opportunity for all. The notion that if you work hard...and take responsibility...you can get ahead in America."
President Obama pledged to bring affordable healthcare to all Americans. And he has succeeded in doing so. "ObamaCare" is a monumental triumph. As such, the President is justifiably entitled to take a very special victory lap. And while you're at it, Mr. President...take as many laps as you like. You deserve it. And it would be my extreme honor...to be by your side...as you do.
The Affordable Care Act is here to stay. And thank God...and President Obama...for it.
And that's The Controversy for today.
I'm Gary B. Duglin.
"We'll talk again."
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Obamacare is a success? Are you kidding? Let’s look at the “facts”: 7.1 million signed up, of that 80% have paid a premium (per the insurance companies) that makes 5.68 million actually covered. The question becomes how many of the 5.7 million (rounding up) had insurance before Obamacare? Remember over 6,000,000 people had their insurance cancelled by Obamacare so the net is 300,000 less people have insurance because of Obamacare. Simple math! And how many of those 6,000,000 that got cancelled that went to the exchanges and did not qualify for tax-payer assistants (handouts) had an average rate increase of 25-60% on their premium (some as high as 200%) and in over 50% of the cases they did not get to keep the doctor they had, many can’t go to their local hospitals not to mention that most of the Bronze Plans don’t cover many high cost drugs (HIV cocktails, cancer drugs and high priced rheumatoid arthritis drugs) which were covered in their old policies. You call that a success!
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to:
“If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor, period. If you like your health care plan, you'll be able to keep your health care plan, period. No one will take it away, no matter what." Obama LIED!!!!
Telling people you don’t have a life time cap is very nice but you now have a $12,500 a year deductible and a 30% co-pay with a 50% higher premium, and you say that is a good deal! I can tell from this article you are a far left liberal that likes the idea of government handouts and give a ways as long as the hard working tax paying American have to pay for it. That’s not America! Making people pay for birth control they don’t want, children’s dental work (when they have no children under 16) maternity care for a women 58 years old who had her tubes tied 25 years ago and the list goes on and on. I personally know many doctors and not one of them is planning on joining any plan from the exchanges. A doctor (internist) on a non-exchange plan gets between $54-$75 from most insurance companies for a standard office visit, on the exchange plans between $25 and $32. With malpractice insurance that cost on average $75,000 a year ($250,000 or more for a specialist ), office rent, nurse’s salaries, office managers plus all the other overhead cost. Then add in the cost to become a doctor most leave school owing $300,000 in student loans. With Obamacare the local plumber that gets $95 an hour nets more at the end of the day then your doctor.
And you call this a success! Yes, it is very good that people with pre-existing conditions get coverage and life time caps are gone, those two items could have been done in a one page bill not tens of thousands of pages and disrupting the entire health care system in America.
You will ridicule George Bush for the "mission accomplished" banner and at the same time you declare that obamascare is a success based on people signing up? People signing up isn't a measure of success... if 250 people buy a plane ticket and then the plane crashes you don't call it a successful flight... or maybe YOU do...
ReplyDeleteI dont know how anythng that costs over twice as much as what they said can be called a success ? Half the people on it had nsurance already before but lost their policy DUE to Obama care.. MILLIONS of uninured people havnt signed up because they want it for free. . lastly some of the provisions such as denying chemo to peole past their early 70's at the very age when they will need it will come back to haunt the proponents when their own parents die because of it . but you blindly and slavishly wave that Obama flag like he is the second coming.. ohh wait you were waiting for the Messiah were you not? ahh now I see
ReplyDeleteother person is right. i lost my plan because it didn't meet the new standards and am now having to pay over $100 more per month for a plan with less coverage but at least now it covers pregnancy which is fantastic since i'm a man. thanks obama.
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