Is the passing of ObamaCare bad for the American public?
Going to be graduating in May...I think I've made the wrong choice to go into the medical field
Exacerbates future physician shortage. America is projected to face a shortage of 91,500 doctors in 2020. Meanwhile, many surveys have concluded that American doctors have a negative view of Obamacare and its impact on the medical field. One survey found that Obamacare is motivating 43 percent of doctors to move up their retirement within the next five years. This will intensify the already existing doctor shortage.
Posted by: AnonymousWHERE ARE WE GETTING THE MONEY GUYS!
It's not even coming from taxes at this point. We are trillions of dollars in debt and everyone is living a fairy tale land where as long as they pay taxes, America will never go in debt. Obamacare is just one of the many things that need to be cut from the budget.
Posted by: AnonymousIt stinks on so many levels, worse than an onion.
Just off the top of my head:
1. A TON of "small businesses" with 50 employees or more will simply reduce employee hours from 40 hours to 30 or just under. Papa Johns was the first on record (I believe) to say this. Let's say that person is making $10 an hour... That figures to be $400 of lost wages per month. On top of that, that employee is now responsible for their 'Obamacare'. Now that person needs to go out an find another 20 to 30 hours per week job to make up for all that. These business that have more than 50 employees could also just cut their workforce down to under 50 so they don't have to comply or be fined.
2. If millions of Americans are already living paycheck to paycheck, how in the world do 'make them' afford a health care plan that costs a family more than $1,000 they aren't paying now?
3. If you don't want to pay or can't pay, you're fined approximately $2,000 a month... Which breaks down to $166 a month or close to $40 per week. Again, how can people that live paycheck to paycheck afford that?
4. When you don't pay the fine because you can't afford it, how is the government going to collect the money? Are they going to hound you? Are they going to ruin your credit? Are they going to snag / confiscate your taxes? If so, how is that suppose to help the economy? We know that 10's of millions of people typically get tax refunds, and that stimulates the economy. So do you think that if millions of people get their taxes garnished by the government it could possibly help stimulate the economy (of course not).
5. Businesses in America won't be able to compete with other countries that aren't forced to require health care to their employees.
I just can't believe people are so blind they allowed this to happen. Did you really want the Government to get bigger? To control a big part of your life? To make decisions that could affect your health and what doctor you're seeing (and when)? To put an additional 16 million people on Medicaid, so that many more are relying on the government system?
Obamacare is going to be nothing short of a disaster. From people struggling to get coverage in time... To how everyone is somehow going to be seen by a qualified person in a timely manner.
Good luck fellow Americans... You're going to F ' ing need it.Posted by: doc1234567Obamacare by law, will allow many unqualified people to practice medicine without true medical certification.
Obamacare will by law, allow these unqualified medical people to practice medicine and will cause many more medical mistakes and in-turn people will be permanently injured or die. Because the qualified people will not treat these people when forced by big government laws. Obamacare in time will backfire. All politicians who support Obamacare should be treated by these unqualified uncertified so called medical people.
Posted by: Anonymousno freedom
Three key points:
1. Obama took 6 billion dollars away from medicare to pay for obamacare, therefore you are taking away from the elderly and disabled. Medicare already pays 50% less than private insurance, doctors are starting to not take patients on medicare.
2. You are taking away from the right to freedom, we should be able to choose whether or not we want health insurance.
3. There are a lot of people who do not have jobs to be able to pay for insurance, so why not start there first with jobs , instead of making people pay a fine they cannot afford because there job they had been working at for 60+ years laid them off trust me i wish everyone could have healthcare too but its not realistic , you at messing with a hesitate system that's had been successful for centuries. Bottom line work on getting American jobs before charging a fine because they simply can't afford it. If someone doesn't want healthcare they should not be forced to do so. I thought we lived in a free country.Posted by: AnonymousPeople Just Don't Get It
I hear folks saying that Obamacare is good because healthcare services are a basic human right. This Legislation just forces poor people to have to buy healthcare that they cant afford or they pay a $695 fine with money they dont have. What does it do to get a poor person a heart transplant. And there will still be 26 million uninsured people. Its unconstitutional to tell Americans they have to buy health insurance. It has already been available to everyone that works hard and gets a job. My family was far from rich, both parents worked and we had plenty of health insurance. And the person who said his parents worked for the state so they didnt have affordable health care, what state? Because in my state, state, county, and township employees have the cheapest best healthcare you can get.
Posted by: AnonymousSo I get penalized...
If I can't afford to pay for health insurance, but don't qualify for Mainecare, I'm going to be fined!? Wow...Obama is really looking out for the little people, isn't he? Nice way to reward hard-working people who are caught in the middle of this mess.
Posted by: AnonymousPeople think money and care come for free?
Not one person can argue that I am not a true blue American. 8 years enlisted, 2 combat tours, and since then I have been employed as a firefighter/medic for my community. Why do most Americans feel that they are entitled to everything? Entitled to a $300,000 home when you make minimum wage, a Cadillac when you eat off of food stamps. Free healthcare for everyone? Healthcare is a business, a hospital is a business, it provides medical service in exchange for money. I understand that people need help, but since when is everything free? Sure medical help for free sounds great, but do doctors, nurses, medics, do none of those people deserve compensation? What people don't get is that insurance companies do NOT pay 100% of the medical bill. Last year, we were only paid for 40% of the insurance claimed services! What if you were only paid for 40% of your services? Hell, lets make everything free, we're Americans, we are owed it because we were born American. You pay your mechanic for fixing your car, pay your doctor for fixing your heart. Spoiled rotten children who don't want to work for anything....
Posted by: AnonymousObama care is bad!
Obama care is socialist. People will get used to free healthcare and not trying their best to buy real health care. They will get hooked to it and probably will want more free stuff like certain people on safety net. Its a sad thing, I think this will just destroy the american people just like the iron curtain destroyed some of the eastern germans. Little things like obama care slowly make our country into a socialist/ modern communist society.
Posted by: AnonymousPublic insurance is not sustainable.
From my view on Japanese public healthcare system, setting the insurance option to public and mandatory is not good. When 'insurance' goes mandatory customers sees it as totally consistent and risk-free, and they pay very little attention to the cost of medical services they receive. Customers seldom know the real price they rewarded, a huge moral hazard.
Doctors too, their services are 'protected' from competition over cost and offering price, so doctors are very indifferent to whether their medical services and uses of prescription drug really work or not, and they tend to prepare for maximum risks and issue a prescription of very large amount of drugs too easily.
Another major problem is the severe age asymmetry in the population of its subscribers: too many elders and too few workers. As the elderly customers usually have very little interest to their costs of services, the huge amount of their bill goes to younger, working people, with fewer medical rewards. Healthcare must not go public and mandatory, and once it does, it works not as a voluntary 'insurance' service. It becomes simply an excessive income tax. In Japan there is also a huge pension imbalance adding to this. Nowadays young Japanese privileged professionals are tending to expatriate themselves to countries with lighter taxation such as Singapore or Hong Kong, just same as those in Southern European bankrupt states are.Posted by: AnonymousIs this Soviet America?
In Africa you come to healthcare, in Soviet America the healthcare comes to you! Enough said, do we wanna first turn socialist and then turn communist just like soviet Russia? I don't think so! The moral is wrong, the ethic is wrong, and guess what? ObamaCare was supposed to help the poor and the middle class. In the end, the businesses fire all the people because of the ObamaCare taxes and then IT IS THE MIDDLE CLASS PEOPLE WHO SUFFER!
Posted by: republicnotcommunistTaxes, Companies, and Dependence.
Nations with National Healthcare also tend to have taxes around 40%+. The Budget, has placed by the CBO, place the amount paid at well over $1,400 a year per tax payer. You get fined an average of $1,200 a year if you don't accept government healthcare of one of their approved businesses. That already is wrong, the idea of business the Government places ahead of others... The idea that the Government fines you for using another company is wrong. We can NOT fix the economy by becoming more dependent.
Posted by: donald.kellerHealth care is not unaffordable. every working person can get the health care that they need.
People who claim that they cannot get insurance and therefore cannot get care are flat out wrong. I didn't have insurance. I was making $32k a year and needed monthly medications. I built the $500 per month cost into my budget and paid for my healthcare. Yes, it was tough, but I took responsibility for myself. Free birth control and etc. Are absurd. People can choose to take care of themselves and their bodies, or they can choose not to. I should not have to pay for someone else. If your health is important, make personal sacrifices.
Posted by: AnonymousObamaCare is horrible for the public.
The fact is that it drives people homeless, it bankrupts senior citizens, and it takes away money that the American people have earned. Obama has ruined this country's ethics for work and life. I say we kick him out, drop this ObamaCare, and stick to Medicare. I am speaking as an American and for my American brothers and sisters. Bring down this false shepherd in our country.
Posted by: AnonymousThere's a reason we left England to begin with
We already pay high taxes? And note they want us to pay more?? And this is supposed to be the land of opportunity. Wow, who wants to be in business where 60% of your profit goes to taxes and healthcare. What ever idiots think this is going to help our already volatile problems in this country are either morons to begin with or they clearly don't see the impending doom that will become Americas fate if this plan goes into affect. Sad day to be an American. This plan will be our end. And I'm sorry for the poor bastards that can't see past their front door.
Posted by: AnonymousHealth care is not a right.
Health care is a service that one has to pay for,no different than going to the store,movies,restaurant,or mechanic. Those who can afford the service receive said service.Those who cannot afford it do without. It is not my responsibility to work and pay for another citizen's health care with my sweat and labor,while they have no skin in the game but want to receive the same standard of care while doing nothing to pay for it.In the animal kingdom they are called leeches and suck the blood from the host.
A better solution to the health care problem would be to eliminate the service for those who cannot pay thus shorting their life spans an decreasing the population of parasites an allowing the resources of the hardworking to be allocated to our health care thus giving the paying customer premium service.Posted by: AnonymousPeople can't afford insurance now
Many Americans can not afford to pay bills and maintain daily life as well as health insurance. So forcing people to buy insurance or pay an even higher tax will make more families poverty stricken. That will make even more families depended on food stamps to feed their families. Not to mention so may become homeless because some are barely able to pay to keep a roof over their heads now!
Posted by: babytraytrayA tax for health "care" is a terrible idea.
If citizens want to stay off of the government grid (taking tax payers earnings via government "charity"), they are not allowed to anymore. Not taking government services or food stamps or rent or phones or a 100 other freebies should be a right. Health care is not a right. Obamacare harms many who worked all of their lives to help those who have given up trying to make it in America.
Posted by: countessHealth Insurance is NOT the same thing as Health Care!
If you pay into insurance, you do not make the choice as who is a "preferred provider" or "Tier 1"- your insurance company does, for whatever reasons it deems fit at the time it made the decision. The Affordable Care Act puts restrictions on the use of HSAs. A lot of people think that "personal responsibility" = paying into insurance. I feel that HSAs offered more flexibility in letting sick people decide which treatment they wanted, who they wanted to get the treatment from and (potentially) when to get the treatment. All of this could have been achieved without an insurance company's involvement, or a new IRS mandate. The sick person (the one who saved in the HSA) would have personal responsibility without having to pay for anyone else. Some people will need help, at the state or county level, and for good reasons, not just because they "got lazy" or it was easier to be irresponsible about sex. The Reagan phrase "truly needy" comes into play here. Lazy and/or sexually irresponsible does not equal "truly needy". If someone won't work (as opposed to can't work, or work is not available) we should not be forced to subsidize his health, no matter who he is. If someone is sexually irresponsible, we may have to give health care to the child, but the parents need some sort of penalty (I have a few ideas, but not the time to discuss them here.) I believe in health care- HSAs, some government run facilities for those that need them, and private doctors and facilities that compete for patients on the basis of good outcomes, but I don't believe in government-run boondoggles that we can't afford.
Posted by: AnonymousPart time screwed
Unfortunately this universal healthcare is so expensive for employers that they are cutting hours for those workers who aren't full time. I work at a community college and our adjunct faculty and our temporary/hourly staff are being cut down to allow HR to avoid having to give them health benefits.
Posted by: AnonymousObamacare is unconstitutional and destined to fail
Obamacare will steal billions and billions of dollars from American taxpayers and add trillions in our national deficit. Taxpayers will have to pay for people below the poverty as they will get it for free. Think of ALL the young healthy people just starting out in life will be forced to pay years and years on healthcare they will never use, instead of buying homes, starting a new business, vacations, cars, so much for stimulating the economy.
Posted by: AnonymousNot the right time!
Although universal healthcare is absolutely necessary for any country to be as prosperous as possible, now is definitely the wrong time to put this bill into place because we have much more dire problems in this country. Yes there are plenty of good things that Obamacare will do for our country, but there are also many bad things that override the good. This bill was rushed through Congress when something this major should be worked on for much longer. The short term effects are way to devastating for our country which is on the brink of collapse. If the short term effects weren't so bad then now would be a perfect time, but we have so many other things to worry about why add another one to our growing list? It will pay off in 20 years, but until then our country will be in the crapper.
Posted by: BradholsonToo much power given to the federal government!!
Too much power given to the federal government!! It's allowing the government to force insurance companies to follow specific rules and guidelines which is incredible UNCONSTITUTIONAL. Period. Not to mention our country literally CAN NOT afford it at all right now AND it's a 2,000 page law that barely anyone (from both sides) has read all the way through and not a single republican supported it. How could the government be allowed to push through a law that BARELY EVERYONE READ???
Posted by: AnonymousGovernment Accounting Office (GAO) says Obamacare will bankrupt America!
Forget about the projected costs by the Obama administration for Obamacare, there are so many hidden costs (employers passing along its costs to consumers) and taxes in it (latest one is a tax on medical equipment) that it can't be trusted, and the fact that its forced on us and cannot be repealed is another negative about it. Remember Pelosi said pass it and you'll find out what's in it, like after we find out we can then judge it and do what we want with it. Well already we see its going to cost way more then Obama said it would, and that it's a tax, yet what can we do? Pelosi acted like pass it you'll see what's in it, then you'll know whither its good or bad---and apparently it's bad---so now we should have the right to repeal it, right? At least that's what Pelosi implied by saying pass it and then you'll see what's in it----only we can't repeal it now and if its going to bankrupt the country like the GAO says---shouldn't we be repealing it?
Posted by: AnonymousYou've Heard It All Before
In a capitalistic society obviously, every penny counts. Do the less fortunate and elderly deserve health care, absolutely; but to penalize someone for not being able to pay, is just downright wrong. Many Americans struggle day-to-day already to simply keep a house over there heads, cloths on there backs and food on there tables. With this ACA are they also thinking of raising minimum wage in order to offset this expense, I think not. Let's be honest, debt is going nowhere. Someone somewhere will always be in debt. That's just the reality of things.......We call them Bills.
I'm not bashing Obamacare, but I don't think it will be as effective as it could be, in maybe say; the next 20 years. Again, we really need to work on creating more jobs for the American people. Let's face it, by adding this additional "Bill" the American people are simply suffering even more. Your freedom to choose should never be wavered in anything. That's what this country was founded on. The idea of Obamacare is great, but just not right now.Posted by: AnonymousEXPENSIVE
Obamacare is not fair for homes with low incomes. I believe that all Americans should be able to have a choice of whatever health plan they want. Obamacare is forced upon us and if we don't want it we are taxed a substantial amount.
Posted by: Anonymousa joke!!!
Bad plan. Already see the detriment with the older population. Everytime they deny a patient surgery due to a diagnosis of dementia. Doesn't matter if the patient fully functional with supervised assistance just a little forgetfull sometimes...denied a fracture repair. Third case I've seen in my facility comming from the hospitals. Guess Obama care has already started. Can't wait for what else starts trickling in as denials......sad day for our seniors.
Posted by: ltlshamrockMore government based medical insurance decreases overall care.
Medicare and medicaid are already diminishing the amount that bills are paid. If we continue to increase the amount government reimburses our care, it will directly impact the need for supplemental coverage and then the demand will be so great the cost will even be greater than now. Currently medicare does not even reimburse ortho surgeons enough to cover a basic casting, if ortho surgeons begin to refuse medicare then supplemental coverage would be necessary. Then we're back to where we started those that have money/a job during their life can afford it and those that have no money or chose to have no job can't. But demanding that the government make decisions on health care makes as much sense as the insurance companies now that dictate the type of care and duration of care that a patient needs but they have absolutely ZERO medical background.
Posted by: AnonymousIf you cant afford health insurance or dont have a job you WILL BE FINED!
To the person that said you will not be fined--you obviously haven't read the Obamacare plan. See Public Law 111–148 Sec. 5000A. As of 2014, you will be required to carry a government-approved health insurance plan. If you don’t – you will be penalized (i.e. – taxed). You will be taxed for your decision not to do something.
Posted by: AnonymousNot good for health of the country, medicine, or people
There is a shortage of doctors now, Obamacare provides a disincentive to choose this profession. In addition, it provides an incentive for small companies not to grow, to be over 50 employees. It will also encourage them to offer only part time employment so as not pay health benefits; large companies may pay the fine instead of health care costs. Thus, employees will be worse off. As for the tax, do we need another increasing one? Obama seems to think that other people's money is inexhaustible. However it is a finite resource. He is setting the country up for a massive implosion.
Posted by: AnonymousYes
I am a full time college student and have a full time job. I have lots of loans and barely make 10,000 a year. Obama insists the cut off for free insurance is $9500 a year. Only $1000 off from being able to receive the free insurance, but will have to pay a penalty fee of $700 so that move right there will make me an official poor person, anybody that makes under $9500? I don't think so, anybody that makes $20000 or less cant afford an extra $700 to opt out and def can't afford the actual Obamacare insurance. I'm being penalized for something I didn't participate in to make happen. I never went to the er and didn't pay. So Obama is using us to pay off the medical debts I didn't create. What should happen is keep the Obama, let us have an opt out option that we aren't going to pay with a fine, and give all the people with preexisting conditions and disabled, veterans free healthcare, not everybody. Some of us don't need it based on our current health and lifestyles. My life is low risk for danger and diseases so why do I need healthcare? I don't and I'm not paying for it.
Posted by: AnonymousTo give some what they didn't have before requires to take from others something that they had before
My employer has always paid my health insurance premium for myself and my dependents as a generous benefit to help retain quality people. Now with the changes caused by Obamacare, they will no longer be able to cover my premiums, let alone my husband's. Now I'll have to pay for something I got for free before. I'm not some privileged rich person with a cushy job, either. I'm a normal person, and according to my income, I'm not even middle class, I'm working class! No this working class person is worse off so that some other working class person can supposedly be better off? It's just robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Posted by: AnonymousIntentions are good...
But we cannot sustain it. Why not remove the restraints on the economy to allow it to fully recover? The person over there who said "just like senators" is wrong. There are waivers and exemptions being rewarded. If the all-knowing don't want to be in it and reward waivers, what makes us think this thing is going to be good? Yes, it would be fine and wonderful to have adequate healthcare for all, but why are we discouraging private healthcare? If it is supplemental, OK. Perhaps. Medicare and Medicaid are drowning in debt and are unmanageable. The post office is broke. The depts. of education and energy are not enjoying any kind of success. How and why would a new bureaucratic organization be successful? Under what model? Am I in favor of healthcare reform? Yes. Single payer? No. Let me ask you this. Where do you see more waste? At a sit down restaurant where you pay for what you use or at a buffet? People have a nasty habit of wasting what they deem free and a right, instead of a privilege.
Posted by: AnonymousObamacare is terrible!
Obamacare sucks because once again the liberals want to take from hard working Americans and give it to lazy, stupid, people. I would like to think that all Americans want to help those who cant help themselves not those who choose not to help themselves. I'm a young single healty guy and would like my insurance policy to reflect that. But with Obama care, I have to pay the same amount as someone who smokes 3 packs of cigerette's a day eats chick fat off the floor and finishes it off with a bottle of wiskey. Why do I have to pay for a bunch of ghetto gang bangers who would rather sell drugs and cause trouble then go out and get a job. Oh that's right because they mainly vote Democrat.
Posted by: AnonymousPeople need to become self reliant
I stood in a group of people in support of Obama and heard a man say on stage, everyone deserves healthcare. I stood there shaking my head no. It's wrong to put that in anyone's mind, a person should earn what he or she gets and not expect it to be handed to them at the cost of others. What tax payers don't deserve is watered down health care. Another, our children are adults at 18 not 26. Unless they are going to school but that stops at 23. I'm thinking, are there not free clinics? Why should tax payers have watered down health care or have to spend more money so others that feel like they deserve it should get it handed to them. Sure I can feel sorry for a person and have pity on them, but I'd feel more sorry if I didn't give them the chance to make it on their own, because I crippled them on the way by not letting them grow and learn and achieve. That is another part of the American Dream.
Posted by: AnonymousEconomically stupid. WTF are people thinking!
Well if they got jobs like everyone else or made better decisions with their life they'd be able to afford it. Where do you think the money to fund the medical care comes from? People should be held accountable for their actions in life. I'm sure there are a few people that are just unlucky or got caught up in a bad situation, but why do you think it makes sense to take money away from people who work their ass off for it to fund things like this for people who are just lazy or can't live within their means. When the government gets involved everything turns to shit because there's no incentive to work hard. I see how it's a nice idea to help less wealthy or fortunate people out, but it is unfair and unpractical. My girlfriend works 20 hours a week while going to school and 60 hours a week during the summer and you want to tax her and take away her money for health care that she's busting her ass to pay for? Economically speaking it creates Dead weight loss(decrease in production and consumption in the medical business) and a negative externality to society(worse health care), and unemployment( A lot of people lose their job due to the binding price ceiling of whatever the hell the government wants it to be). So you really think it's practical to increase taxes on hard working individuals and businesses, force people to lose their jobs, and greatly hinder health care in order to provide free health care to a few that are in an unfortunate situation, but mostly people who are too lazy to get a job or can't make good decisions?
Posted by: AnonymousIt still raises taxes, and it takes away from medicare
Believe it or not, it does raise taxes on the middle class. It also takes away money that is budgeted for medicare to help pay for obamacare.
This will also force doctors to take on more medicare patients, which will add to stress and probably more errors on the doctors end. Many doctors will decide not to take medicare patients.
Although it means well, there is a better way to reform the health insurance in America. But it is not Obamacare.Posted by: AnonymousLies, deception, intervention
1) it is not what we were led to believe it was going to be. 2) It is going to be a lot more expensive than we thought it would be and we cannot afford it, we're broke. The mandates and new regulations will cost the insurance companies and the doctors more money will will only raise the cost of service since it has to be passed along to consumer or they just quit doing business. 3) It was not well-thought out and is not bi-partisan, it was done behind closed doors, like Nancy P. said, "pass it so you can read it." 4) It does not account for, among other things, inter-state competition amongst insurers, which would keep open competition. 5) There is no tort (legal damages, lawsuits, etc.) reform which is partially responsible for the crippling of our medical system. 6) It puts the government between you and your healthcare provider and the controls will only get worse.
Posted by: DowelistCan't afford it.
The working class will not be able to afford insurance. Some employers will not be able to offer coverage because they won't be able to afford it. How is that good for the middle class? We suffer to pay for the ones who can't afford insurance and don't work. Just does not seem fair, does it?
Posted by: AnonymousForcing Americans to buy something like health care when it may not be needed is immoral.
America is a country of, by, and for the people. It isn't a country of, by, and for the government. The federal government has greatly and unconstitutionally overstepped its grounds. We need to understand the true meaning of freedom. The government is supposed to 'promote' welfare, not 'provide' it for us.
Posted by: AnonymousI dont support the Obama dream
Let's face facts, all these bleeding heart liberals out here are wrecking everything our founding fathers fought for. These great Americans who founded our nation went toe to toe and blow for blow against anybody who wanted to bring tyranny to it. Now we have a commander in chief who is taking away our right to choose if we have health care or not, and its going to come out of my paycheck? I don't care if you are less fortunate than I am, and I don't believe those people deserve what I work hard for everyday. I earned everything I have, and I don't like having it taken away from me. Get real America, if you're not willing to earn it, you don't deserve it.
Posted by: AnonymousIt does not fix anything about our current system.
Many pro-Obamacare supporters believe our health care system to be a capitalist system, and since it is failing a capitalist health care system is the wrong system. However, there are many aspects about it, like lack of competition between insurance companies due to citizens only being able to select from companies within the state of residence, that hardly make it capitalist in any way. Obamacare does not address any way of lowering health insurance premiums and costs, but rather to take money from some and give it to others. And with no real estimate of the costs from the CBO and almost 300 waivers from the bill already made, I highly doubt this will be a success.
Posted by: AnonymousFREEDOM OF CHOICE
Government needs to listen to the citizens cried out for JOBS right now to put food on the table,and pay utilities bill NOT healthcare.I have to cut my cable off,not dining out to safe money to pay my mortgage and bills ,so this Obamacare insurance is another big bill on top of it.I do not oppose the insurance reform but I have the right not to buy it if I do not want .Government is taking my right to freedom away.We need to united to protest this government for trying to dictate our life.Obama let women to choose abortion that kill unborn ,free healthcare for those who do not works, but will fine me $700 if I do not purchase the insurance because I work and make more than $9500 a year.That is WRONG.STOP THE GOVERNMENT FROM SPENDING NOW.
Posted by: PresidentWashingtonObamacare subsidizes disease care
American medicine does not heal, cure or promote wellness. It promotes addiction to an unhealthy lifestyle, and drugs, expensive diagnostics, high tech surgery in a money making industry. Most of the health care dollars are spent within the last year of peoples lives or on people who continue choosing bad lifestyle activities.
Posted by: AnonymousIt will cost more in total to everyone
The us postal service is not profitable but companies like FedEx are. The us government is notoriously inefficient and thus costs more to run. Also it is better financially for companies to pay the penalty tax than provide coverage. When employees cut from company plans are financially forced to rely on the government for care (because the government can under sell any company because the government can work for a loss then recover funds from other sources like taxes / higher taxes, something businesses can't do) we will be more dependent on government. The more we are forced to rely on the government the more we are controlled by the government and I don't want to be forcibly controlled by the government.
Posted by: AnonymousObamacare supports all arguments that liberals are greedy people.
Obamacare doesn't give free healthcare to seniors because the socialist left-wingers don't want to provide those people with social security entitlements. If you're 65 and you walk into a hospital with a broken leg, you will have to either have your own insurance, or be ready to pay the bill, Obamacare doesn't cover senior citizens. And also it's good to note that a majority of older people are conservative folk and this would cut down republican voting.
Posted by: The-young-conservativeThe Security of Freedom is At Risk
The very fact that government wants to take part in our healthcare system is scary. I am a republican and I know that many democrats will disagree on the nature of government, but I think that we can all agree that it is taking government to a whole new level. With the trust in someone else to do such a crucial task in the daily lives of Americans, we, as citizens, are giving up our freedom to choose and to take a hold of our own future. Moreover, it is a form of socialism. By taking money for everyone to make everyone have something in common IS socialism. Who are we trying to trick here? The basis of the American economy has always been a free market. True, some people have tried to take advantage of the in the past, but this is the edge of the line. When the government interferes with the economy it takes away money from it simply to put it back in BAD results come around. Just as an example, look at Andrew Jackson; with the specie circular. He created a massive depression which fell on the shoulder of the next president, Martin Van Buren. Look, I'm only 15 years old. I am a student. I could really use extra money. I do NOT oppose this program because I think everyone doesn't deserve a good healthcare plan. The government has grasped us in its fist and is crushing the breath out of us like a viper closing in on a mouse. Do we want a future government that pokes its finger in our jobs, our health, our future, our families--our lives? I say no!
Posted by: voice1510We are running out of options
My family has its own health insurance from work, and we pay our taxes and such. Our bills are already high enough from this economy. This year our taxes are being raised again because of Obama. Also with this small companies are gonna be shut down because they are going to have an increased tax for not providing insurance for employees. Small mom and pop stores is what this country needs to run. With small companies in a town it keeps the money circulating in that area. Only have huge corporations send the money to there HQ where they keep it. I feel that this will just put us in more of a hole then we are already in.
Posted by: AnonymousTeaches you to sit around and let other people take care of you.
Obamacare is just the beginning of a more than worthless society, waiting around for someone else to pay for all you can't afford instead of bettering yourself to get the things you need. Simply disgusting! Look around at how many people actually work for what they have instead of sitting around waiting for a handout. Quite sad.
Posted by: Anonymousno freedom
Three key points:
1. Obama took 6 billion dollars away from medicare to pay for obamacare, therefore you are taking away from the elderly and disabled. Medicare already pays 50% less than private insurance, doctors are starting to not take patients on medicare.
2. You are taking away from the right to freedom, we should be able to choose whether or not we want health insurance.
3. There are a lot of people who do not have jobs to be able to pay for insurance, so why not start there first with jobs , instead of making people pay a fine they cannot afford because there job they had been working at for 60+ years laid them off trust me i wish everyone could have healthcare too but its not realistic , you at messing with a hesitate system that's had been successful for centuries. Bottom line work on getting American jobs before charging a fine because they simply can't afford it. If someone doesn't want healthcare they should not be forced to do so. I thought we lived in a free country.Posted by: Anonymousyes
what if they cannot afford another household bill,do we throw them in jail removing the only moneymaker in the home or do we,make available cheaper health clinics open to public for urgentcare? as needed basis?
Posted by: Anonymousyes its bad
It forces you to pay money towards copays and the cost of the policy itself. Which most people don't have
They won't beable to pay other bills because it will go towards insurance
The insurance company's will be happy though. They will profit immensely over this lawPosted by: AnonymousI will accept all of this to be ok if all goverment has the same
if this is good enough for me and my family then it should be good enough for those emposing it on us. same with other things like retirement, if the government wants the people to accept and use anything they have to offer they should also be expected to get the same as they give us.
If it affects them the same then perhaps they would think different.Posted by: AnonymousLand of the Free?
Being forced into doing something that one may not want to do is not freedom and is not what America is about. This is crazy. What about people out of work who can't afford health insurance? Is this still the America which our people bleed and died for? I'm being to have my doubts with things like Obamacare. STOP THIS NOW!
Posted by: AnonymousIf I am not working why should I have to pay for Insurance?
With this new bill I will be forced to pay for insurance even though I am a single mom who has been unemployed for almost a year and my benefits ran out a long time ago. That isn't fair just one of my sons medications cost $300.00 and I had to get Medicaid just to cover that, but I got a letter the other day from the state saying that if Obama Care goes through that I could lose my medicaid and be forced to buy insurance. Now just how in the heck am I suppose to do that when I'm not working? One of friends has already seen an increase in her insurance premiums at wok because of all this. Where has our freedom gone? This was a freedom of choice country until four years ago.
Posted by: AnonymousHigher costs, more taxes.
This will be yet another government entitlement program paid for by the working people who are already taxed to death. This will cause private insurance to be priced out, effectively forcing the American people into a socialist health care system that will bankrupt the economy. We already have Medicare and Medicaid that is broke.
Posted by: AnonymousYour Money?
People think that they are being given money and FREE health care but in reality, they are just taking money that was earned by hark working People. Obama's new plan will increase tax bt 45% for peole 18-24 years old!
"He isn't giving us ANYTHING! He is moving around the deck chairs on the Titanic!"
-Mark Levin.Posted by: AnonymousShortage of doctors
The lower profits of private practices would cause the doctors to move back to institutions, reducing 80% of their clinical duties and more focus on research.
And for those who don't work, most of them are perfectly healthy. They are just to lazy to work, because it's too easy to get free food and housing and health care, why bother working?Posted by: AnonymousObamacare
The bill is called Obamacare, they added that affordable health care title later on. The immigrants and people that cant afford health care (disabled, lower class)do what they have always done: Medicaid. They have health care already in line for them. It's not about that, it's about the government trying to take control and make money. If I'm healthy and make good choices I should pay less than someone who smokes and drinks. And above all else this is a free nation. The government should not be allowed to force me to do anything other than pay taxes. And if you don't get this Obamacare that's what will happen. You will have to pay more! There is a major health care issue in America but this is not the solution! Many people will lose their jobs and go out of business because of this bill! If you want to live in a socialist country then move. I for one want America to stay a democracy: for the people.
Posted by: AnonymousThe socialist agenda our president has, is proven not to work, and our country can't afford it1
This would be a bad idea even if our economy was doing great, which obviously it isn't. Even though I think it would be great if everyone, including my girlfriend, had health insurance, it is not a basic right to have it. also I resent the government telling me I have to have it. Although our system is not perfect, ours is the best in the world. Look at the poor care givin in other countries that already have socialized health care. If you've been maxed out on all your credit cards you don't or shouldn't try to think of dumb ways to put more on it! We are a free nation founded on the premise that you work for what you get and not wait for a hand out for everything. It's time for some people to wake up and pull their head out of the sand.
Posted by: AnonymousTRILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DEBT
I don't think that anyone realizes that we are currently in debt not hundreds, or thounsands, or millions, or billions, but TRILLIONS of dollars in debt right now, and for our government (which is made up of liberal buttheads) thinks we need to spend millions of tax payers dollars of things we don't need? Of course some people need help, the poor and the needy. But the pot smoking, high school drop outs, that are unemployed and sitting on their couch, don't need to be helped in the same way. America was founded on conservative values and hard work and determination to give economic and business competitiveness to sustain a good market and economy. but health care takes all of that competitiveness out so soon the doctors are going to get paid as much as a garbage man even though the doctor works and worked twice as hard to get there, which essentially will make doctors take an easier job like a garbage man. so basically our economy falls apart and we are screwed in the ass THANKS OBAMA
Posted by: Anonymousbad for health care
it distorts the open market place and it drives up premiums.
Posted by: AnonymousThe Bad outweighs the Good
What's blowing my mind is how people who support it have such incredible tunnel vision. Yes, Obamacare DOES help some people, but it's hurting more in the long run. I simply don't believe the magic numbers the government is showing us, and I'm shocked that so close after the housing crisis, people are letting the government stick their big fat noses where they don't belong again, only, this time, everyone is going to have to pay.
Posted by: AnonymousSmall businesses are better off to not offer employee insurance.
A lot of small businesses will drop their employee's insurance including mine. Costs are already going up for them. I am hoping that my husband's employer will keep providing theirs, but it is also a smaller business. It is going to be much cheaper for a business to pay the $2000 a year penalty per worker than to pay for the actual insurance policies. If the very few predicted costs of insurance policies that I could find are correct ($19,000-29,402 a year for a family of 5), there will be no way for my family to afford the costs of the health insurance policies, and we make too much to get any kind of tax break. We will be much better off to just pay the penalty which will be $695 per person a year by 2016. Still, even the penalty will be more than we are paying for our family's insurance now. Our plan is just to get all the procedures that we have been putting off done in case both my and I both lose our company furnished insurance. I think it's a very scary situation.
Posted by: AnonymousIRS Implementing Obamacare
How many of you are bombarded in the myriad of strangling regulations of the IRS? And you want Obmacare when the IRS is will be the agency implementing it? In light of the IRS scandal, this worries me to no end. The IRS is a part of the executive branch of govt. How many of you want one branch of the govt with so much control over your lives?
Posted by: AnonymousParents must pay for 26 year old child's health insurance.
What's wrong with this picture? The new law mandates that a child must stay on parent's health care plan or provide proof of insurance. So hypothetically, you can have a child who refuses to take responsibilility, terrorizes you in your own home, spends money on everything but health insurance, is. Reckless ultimately needing medical attention, yet, parents have no rights to their health information. There is something wrong with this and I truly feel this health care act is the beginning of all our freedom taken away.
Posted by: Anonymousno freedom
Three key points:
1. Obama took 6 billion dollars away from medicare to pay for obamacare, therefore you are taking away from the elderly and disabled. Medicare already pays 50% less than private insurance, doctors are starting to not take patients on medicare.
2. You are taking away from the right to freedom, we should be able to choose whether or not we want health insurance.
3. There are a lot of people who do not have jobs to be able to pay for insurance, so why not start there first with jobs , instead of making people pay a fine they cannot afford because there job they had been working at for 60+ years laid them off trust me i wish everyone could have healthcare too but its not realistic , you at messing with a hesitate system that's had been successful for centuries. Bottom line work on getting American jobs before charging a fine because they simply can't afford it. If someone doesn't want healthcare they should not be forced to do so. I thought we lived in a free country.Posted by: AnonymousObamacare is wrong for the country.
This country has a $16 trillion debt and a high unemployment rate, and this healthcare has already laid off over 60,000 workers. With all the new taxes that do not even go toward anything but government spending, it's time to put this bill to its grave and get rid of Obamacare. That's the next best for this country.
Posted by: AnonymousDoctors won't want to accept Medicare patients
Since Obamacare reduces Medicare payments to doctors by nearly 30%, there is no incentive for them to accept Medicare patients. This will mean that in general, the better doctors won't accept these patients and long-term, the quality of care by Medicare-accepting doctors will diminish. This is on of the many ways this maddening Act is bad for America.
Posted by: AnonymousObamaCare is too drastic!
I believe that Obama passing the health care only creates more problems, and furthers the tax burden on citizens. A more appropriate way to address the health care crisis would have been sweeping reform in the legal system, capping damages in medical malpractice suits. This, in turn, would help insurance rates decrease for doctors, and in turn, that savings would be passed on to the patients in the form of lower rates and more affordable health care insurance.
Posted by: EdsBIondeYes
If we cannot afford health insurance how can we be penalized. How can Obama and the government tell me what I have to do with my health. This isn't a free country any longer since Obama got in office. Obamacare needs to be voted out. I am voting for Romney and I am a Democrat!
Posted by: Anonymousits bad for the US
The jobless rate is bad enough now, employers won't hire they will lay off. For those who can't figure that out I hope yours are the first jobs to go,or get cut to part time.
I don't understand how people can be so blind.
I agree with a portion of the plan, but not it as a whole.
People should not be denied due to an existing condition.
I think greed is driving up the price of health care along with those that can't pay.
Well guess what they still cant , that won't change.Posted by: AnonymousIt's evil
If people want to kill their children in the womb it's between them and god. If the fed forces me to pay for murder then it's between me and the fed. Stand up America and say no to federal taxes until this country becomes the moral America we once knew.
Posted by: AnonymousObamacare cuts money to a lot of things.
Obamacare doesn't give health care to everybody and it cuts money to a lot of things that need that money and would be better if that money was still with them. Obamacare cuts $716 billion from Medicare. $716 BILLION. Medicare needs that money to take care of the seniors. I wonder what's going to happen to them.
Posted by: AnonymousFreedom is more important than life.
The healthy policies won't balance out the risky ones. The majority of people live paycheck to paycheck. When it comes to which bills to pay, health insurance comes after mortgage, car, food, phone, entertainment, etc... It's not a priority now and it won't just magically become one. Most of the new policies won't have good credit. So who cares about not paying the bill? The tax penalties only cover half the cost and not until after the third year of implementation. Investors will invest based on the expectation that bills will be paid. When more and more people stop paying, insurance companies and hospitals will be in red ink. (This should remind you of the mortgage crisis in 2008). The coverage that will be supplied by the government will go directly to the national debt. Most importantly all the unforeseen effects of the act won't be good. It can only be worse than expected, not better.
The major flaw of liberal politics is not accepting behavior as it is but rather trying to change it by social engineering others the way they want them to be. Human life is too important to let the government screw it up.Posted by: AnonymousYes, because employers with at least 50 employees now must purchase insurance.
Employers that employ 50 employees or more must provide health insurance,
or they will be penalized or fined $2000 per worker each year, thus, creating a hardship.Posted by: AbrasiveAntonio93Call it what you may.
Call it what you may. Site your reasons. And defend you points. But the long and short is we as a nation cant afford it. There is no constitutional right to it. All the "progressive nation?" That have government health care have worse systems than ours. Bad move.
Posted by: AnonymousIts hurting the hard working people of America
How can this be a good thing. Companies are laying people off so they can afford to stay afloat. Why should we pay for people to eat have cell phones and now insurance. When we give out money to these 3rd world countries. Why don't we stop helping them so we can help ourselves.
Posted by: AnonymousCommon sense
When government mandates the direction a business takes it legislates a commonality (least common denominator) that defeats one of the root benefits of the capitalist market, quality, competitive healthcare. Certainly those incapable of affording reasonable health care should be cared for by the people as a whole. Please name any business the government has "taken over?" That is doing better then if it were in the private sector.
Posted by: AnonymousSay no to OBAMACARE!!
I want to live. And with obamacare there is no hope for that. The government can deny you life saving medications. Lines for transplants are long. Its a mess and one of the worste things the government has ever come up with. I cannot believe anyone would want this healthcare. We need to edgucate the genral public on how bad obamacare really is for the USA.
Posted by: AnonymousObamacare - still trickling down from previous bad ideas
As "anonymous?" Pointed out below, we have no business forcing someone to have coverage. They'll show up in the emergency room and Medicaid will step in and pick the tab, and any bills laying around from the previous 3 months anyway. Did our court not recently decide it's unconstitutional to "force?" Someone to purchase affordable care even if the employer offers it? Medicaid even went so far as to reimburse individuals with lower incomes for premiums paid out of pocket if that insurance was more affordable than the $350-some paid to group providers monthly per person for my state's wonderful family health plus program. Not surprisingly, many of those being reimbursed for paying their own lower premiums from employer-provided medical insurance dropped the insurance and kept receiving (and spending) the state's premium reimbursement. Remember, this started way before Mr. Obama took office. I'm pretty sure hillary clinton made medical care one of her personal causes when bill was still in office. They've opened the flood gates and said medicaid for everyone. If you are pregnant and your husband or sig other happens to be ceo of the latest trendy restaurant, or some such, company with less than 50 employees, guess who's paying for his baby. Mommie applies for medicaid and both she and baby will be covered by medicaid, baby until 1 year old. Does that give us visitation rights? We're footing the bill. Daddy only has to make the baby, not pay the bills. Oh, and to the other "anonymous", we already have the death panel. They decide who receives the transplant organs, them? Or us? I'm betting it'll be "the?" We need to s the entire medicaid program and start over. From scratch. We need to take the words 'profit' and 'shareholders' out of the equation (aig proved that to the world). If 46 million don't have coverage, why? I doubt they're all excess income. We've already dropped the resource limits for medicaid. You can vacation in your 2 florida homes, on your yacht, but if you don't have a "paycheck", medicaid will pick up the tab. Stocks, bonds, and other resources don't count unless it's 'income'. Which leaves me to ask: why are we so fast to call for medicare cuts? If they're getting ss retirement, they've paid their dues, worked 50-60 years to support our sorry selves. We overspent our allowance so now we want to take from our seniors. I'd rather we start with medicaid cuts. Go back to counting resources, make daddies pay for their own . With this huge increase in medicaid applications, I'm guessing the emergency rooms aren't any emptier.
Posted by: AnonymousSO WHY IS THE PLAN SO GOOD?
THINK ABOUT IT,ANYTHING THE GOVERNMENT EMPOSSES ON THE PEOPLE THEY SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO THEMSELVES.
I don't see Obama chomping at the bit to get on this piece of plan,hmm why is that,oh I see he is better than us, but will force us to get it by mandate.
Social security medicare and all they need to be on the same plan no exceptions.
perhaps they would make better decisions.Posted by: williamtellAMERICA - LAND OF THE FREE!.. Right?
The government has no authority to mandate the American people to enroll in services that many can't afford given our current economic stance or simply don't want. And the audacity with which they impinge a punishment of payment on those who refuse or are unable to comply is unconstitutional and unacceptable. Where is our freedom? We are supposed to live in a democracy so why is our government and president forcing services and fees on the American people without their consent or even a chance at a vote? Why do we no longer have the ability to make choices for our own lives? Yes, healthcare for everyone would be ideal but most people are barely scraping by as it is, some barely surviving. Forcing more debt, more fees, more bills will only impede or halt our recovery entirely. If healthcare is going to be mandatory why doesn't Obama just have healthcare fees deducted as taxes? Oh right, that's Socialism. AMERICA - HOME OF THE BRAVE. We need to stand up to a government that has proven time and time again to be unfit and unworthy. We need to be brave and we need to be free.
Posted by: AnonymousUnconstitutional
They called it a ''tax'' in order to make it so they aren't forcing citizens to buy a product. However, with the fine increasing each year, it will force a person to buy insurance. If they really can't afford it, the ER's will be even more overrun than they already are. And what of those who are unemployed and don't meet income guidelines for assistance with insurance? How do they afford it? What about a stay at home mother who's husband's company doesn't offer coverage for spouses? It's going to be a mess and I urge people not to give in. Don't let the government tell you what you need to buy. Tell them to regulate how much these doctors are charging patients if they want to be involved. Make healthcare AFFORDABLE in the first place. I've had insurance for many many years and it's never covered what I needed - even a simple xray. What a joke.
Posted by: AnonymousGood Idea...bad form
This healthcare plan is crazy. First off, it is not working for all countries. Look at Ireland and Greece. How have they been doing...oh that's right...severe financial difficulties, on the verge of collapse. I think we get the picture. But I guess I’m a little bias. I’ve worked to stay healthy, sure I’m only 23 and am working hard to pay my bills, but at this point in my life I would much rather use my healthcare money to invest in a stronger future not only for myself, but for my girlfriend (who if I’m lucky enough will someday become my wife), my future kids, and even my parents when they get old and gray through continuing education, paying off my debt early (feel free to take notes DC), creating a business that I could be proud to pass down to my kids, and investing in Roth IRA (that’s right...people I don’t want the government in charge of my retirement account – they’re just not what I would call financial experts). Now I’m not saying we should give up on these individuals that require healthcare, but rather Obamacare should be reformed to ensure that is available for those individuals that actually want healthcare, but otherwise could not afford it. When it first came out, the argument was that for this form of healthcare to be successful everyone would need to pay into it. Now it may just be me, but that just seems like a bad business structure. If the government wanted to compete in the healthcare industry than it should allow other businesses to compete rather than creating a monopoly for itself (with which by the way many members of congress just so happen to have stock in—potential insider-trading issue?) But, otherwise, we already provide unemployment wages that are so good we have people leaving the workforce (side note: I had a friend in college that received unemployment and it was fairly comparable to what I’m even making now after having been graduated a year), we already provide food stamps (which by the way provides access to very high quality foods that I can’t even afford), we have various charities that assist these families. Why not have them pay for their healthcare through their unemployment wages? The purpose of government is not to provide a living, but to ensure the opportunities are available for individuals to MAKE a living. Let’s make a healthcare plan that works for the people…not one that strips people of their rights. Also, on a side note from the whole Obamacare. I was just at the polls and saw the whole gay rights sections. Really why are we voting on this, it should not be government choice anyway (remember the part about separation of church and state) it should be up to associate church to decide who they will marry. Let’s just make sure that these couples have a place that they can get married (if nothing else have the state perform the matrimony), and stop pushing churches to violate their beliefs.
Posted by: AnonymousYes! It heals some but kills many who cannot afford to pay it.
We need universal healthcare for all. Anything else is depraved indifference. We are the only country in the world who does not have it. When I became a nurse, we took the "Do No Harm" oath.
Back in the 70's some of our family members moved to Canada because of the U.S. System being unaffordable. We call it the U.S. Healthcare mafia or your money or your life.Posted by: AnonymousHealth care should not be forced
Healthcare should not be forced. It should be up to an individual to decide whether to have it or not. I believe this is a flawed system and that Obama will ruin healthcare for all if he is reelected. Also, under Obama care, if a person is over 70, they are not eligible to go to the doctor and receive surgery for any reason. They are left to die.
Posted by: Anonymousstop giving handouts
It is just another handout that we simply cannot afford. One of the reasons we're in this position. Handouts. I agree seniors and children with disabilities should receive SOME help from the government, however all of you lazy people with lame excuses do not. Hard work Is what this country was founded on. And thats how it should be now. Too many rely on these hand outs. It is no good. No Obama care, no more ebt
Posted by: AnonymousThe US government is COMPLETELY inefficient.
It is IMPOSSIBLE for this to work. The Fed. Gov. is biased and OWNED by outside influences. My policies have already, in the last 6 months, seen an increase in over 20%.
Small businesses will suffer... and so will us all.Posted by: AnonymousInsurance Companies say it will raise our premiums 100 - 400%
Internal cost estimates from 17 of the nation's largest insurance companies indicate that health insurance premiums will grow an average of 100 percent under Obamacare, and that some will soar more than 400 percent, crushing the administration's goal of affordability.
The report found that individuals will face "premium increases of nearly 100 percent on average, with potential highs eclipsing 400 percent. Meanwhile, small businesses can expect average premium increases in the small group market of up to 50 percent, with potential highs over 100 percent."Posted by: AnonymousYes, I will now be working until I die.
The new plans will make the people work longer. The age of retirement was set to the age 65 because people usually died at 66. It's the future now and there is new technology, new discoveries, and new ways to avoid death. Now people are living until 80. This will make people work until they die because it changed the retirement age set to a much higher value around 80. This is horrible because most start working around 20. I understand that it is terrible for our economy on how the government has to pay for the people to be in retirement homes, but imagine walking into a store and you see a 80 year old with a walker trying carry you the new TV you bought at a store. Do you really think that they are healthy enough for that? Maybe when the average death age is around 100 we can change it to 80, and hopefully the old man is fit enough to carry that TV you bought like a regular 40 or 50 year old.
Posted by: AnonymousJust another thing to worry about.
My uncle was a doctor in Canada for years, when he needed heart surgery he had to be put on a waiting list. By the time he was to be scheduled for surgery, he had died. Need I say more! I'm afraid the ones who will suffer will be our older generation, who are the ones we need to be taking care of the most.
Posted by: AnonymousInsurance costs will increase and become unaffordable for some.
My insurance has already gone up, with the company citing Obamacare as the reason. In 2014, I will lose my health insurance coverage because I have a basic health plan that has coverage limits that don't comply with the ACA, and the waiver period ends in 2014. Because I have individual insurance (not employer coverage), my current plan will no longer be offered, and I cannot afford any of the other plans my company offers.
Posted by: AnonymousIs the passing of ObamaCare bad for the American public?
The real problem with healthcare has not even been addressed. The problem, has never been who pays for it. The problem has been the cost. I find it amusing that Canada according to the WHO has a far superior health care system (though of course not perfect). The government is the problem, not the solution. Every election and every bill proposed, it seems is bought and paid for. The AMA and AHA and Big Pharma have always made huge campaign contributors. The ABA has also. Every one of the before mentioned take a big bite out of our healthcare dollars. Until costs are controlled, what is will be. Corruption is the problem and I do not believe the ObamaCare addresses this in a positive way. I do find it amusing that his "smoking penalty" largely affects the folks that voted for him though. The proportion of smokers is much larger there.
Posted by: AnonymousJust the prelude to single payer
This whole plan is so poorly implemented on purpose so that it will fail and single payer will be the only alternative. No one has even mentioned how the poor will be required to pay deductibles, imagine their shock when that happen, it might kill some of them expecting free healthcare. It also will penalize all low end service employees requiring them to have 2 jobs now just to get by and never again will them actually get overtime.
Posted by: AnonymousIt will mean death to older people.
No one seems to know the truth about what happens to older people under ObamaCare. It seems that a death panel will make the decision. It's nothing but EVIL. All of you older people, are you happy you voted for Obama? Are you awake yet? If you are not, it's passed that time.
Posted by: AnonymousWhat about the US?
This is a horrible idea; cutting some of the working class people back to 28 hours or less is crazy. How are we going to live even better, how are we supposed to pay for this if we are not getting hours 2-3 jobs is ridiculous when some of us had our jobs for multiple years and have got cut back due to this ridiculous thing taking money. The president the senate the government as a whole they don't need fancy cars and planes and all this stuff that we pay for; quit paying to help other countries when ours is suffering so severely already!
Posted by: AnonymousFirst banks bailout, now handout to insurance corporations collected by irs .
Obama has done nothing to improve this economy, but instead directed all his political influence to force citizens to buy a fraudulent product called "health insurance." Instead of encouraging people to live healthily and take personal responsibility, the taxpayer again will be indebted to another corrupt special interest. Out-of-control medical costs driven by pharmaceutical special interests, Medicare fraud, and lawlessness. Insurance companies are parasites, like wall street banks. Obama will be packing in 2013 back to his "hometown" (sic) Chicago.
Posted by: AnonymousYes, because I work hard for my health insurance, and don't feel all people just deserve free health care.
I work hard to keep good health insurance, and don't think some people should just float along with free health care. I do think it is a good idea for minors and seniors, who either haven't had the opportunity to contribute, or have already contributed. But there are just too many other adults who would take advantage of the system, which is unfair to those of us who work hard.
Posted by: R4v4g3rJohnObamacare will lead to higher medical costs with more employers dropping medical insurance for their employees.
Obamacare actually gives employers incentives to drop out of providing medical insurance to their employees. (The fee to pay penalty is less than cost per employee covered.) This will lead to more employers dropping insurance and the taxpayer picking up more costs. Individuals will lose incentive to make prudent choices on healthcare costs because someone else will be paying for it.
Posted by: ddeathnoteViolation of fundamental individual rights
Each of us has a sovereign individual right to life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness. Being forced by a government to buy a health care payment plan with services mandated by the government and more likely than not incompatible with one's personal needs is clearly a violation of our right to life, liberty, our property right in our own bodies and minds, and to our pursuit of happiness. My body and mind do not belong to a collective, they belong to me and to me only. Having a government rationing board deny me a life-saving operation or making me wait months in pain for medical attention is not conducive to my happiness. Obamacare forces government to do harm to many and to make doctors do harm in violation of their Hippocratic oath.
Posted by: AnonymousHealth Heart Heaven
It's 2013, 2000 years since Jesus walked the Earth and how far have we come if among us are people who choose not to embrace a program that would save countless lives, save thousands of families from bankruptcy, give elderly quality of life and bring down prescription cost that are putting families in the poor house. If we as society say nothing about 57% of our taxes going to the destruction of mankind (military) but complain about 17% going to social programs then we have not learned anything from our past or from Jesus.
Posted by: AnonymousTo give some what they didn't have before requires to take from others something that they had before
My employer has always paid my health insurance premium for myself and my dependents as a generous benefit to help retain quality people. Now with the changes caused by Obamacare, they will no longer be able to cover my premiums, let alone my husband's. Now I'll have to pay for something I got for free before. I'm not some privileged rich person with a cushy job, either. I'm a normal person, and according to my income, I'm not even middle class, I'm working class! No this working class person is worse off so that some other working class person can supposedly be better off? It's just robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Posted by: AnonymousYes, it is very dangerous.
Wait until some petty bureaucrat has the power of life or death over you or a loved one. Mark my words YOU WILL ALL SOON BE SORRY. Think Death Panel.
The nerve, expecting your neighbors to pay for you health care. You deserve everything you will eventually receive.Posted by: AnonymousIt's not free health care
People say healthcare is amazing in Europe, and its so cheap, but the money comes from somewhere. Europeans taxes are insane, and that's how ours will be if the plan goes into effect. We'd still be paying for health insurance and paying for others health care as well, like a heroine addict who overdoses and has no insurance. Plus, waits at doctors will be hours long, appointments will have to be made well in advance, and less people will want to be doctors since they won't make as much money and will have trouble paying off 12 years of college.
AnonymousPosted by: bdljfffObamacare is very bad for America
To support my argument, I have collected facts from www.endoftheamericandream.com. All of the facts found on this website were researched and collected from public government websites. The first reason why Obamacare is bad for the American public is: The federal government has said that under Obamacare you will be forced to buy private goods and services. This is literally, in a nutshell,taking away freedom from Americans. The second reason is: we become a nanny state. We already are socialized and a nanny state, but his will just add to our "nanny like" state. The next reason is the IRS now has permission to seek out Americans with no health care. The Obama Administration even paid the IRS five hundred million dollars to do so. Again, this is live reason number two on why Obama care is not the right decision for the American Public. This is an invasion of privacy and doesn't promote the American dream at all. One of the last reasons of why Obama care is not good for the American public: Obama care imposes twenty new taxes on the American people.
Posted by: Anonymousyes
no body can read the bill. duh! stop passing laws n reg just cause people. evil is done under darkness. good is done in the light. ask yourselfs; why cant i read this health plan?????
Posted by: AnonymousWhy should we pay for someone else?
It is funny how liberals say that this is okay. While there are people who are legitimately trying to find jobs, there are many people who are making more money on welfare than in any real job. Those people are making a living off of our taxes, and now they want us to pick up their healthcare bill. I honestly don't know how people got Obama re-elected. Would you return to your own vomit and eat it? No! Re-electing Obama is the exact same thing.
Posted by: AnonymousIt gives free healthcare to the welfare hogs!
Not only are those welfare hogs hogging food stamps, they are also getting free healthcare! I don't want to pay for someone else's healthcare when they don't work! Why should I have to do that? When it is underfunded, all hell with break loose. Also, to help with the welfare hogs, I think there should be quarterly inspections for everyone who is using welfare checks.
Posted by: AnonymousThis is not free enterprise, what our country has been founded on.
When our government has gotten involved in any program we see MASSIVE FRAUD, WASTE, inefficiency!!!! Look at our military, social security, Medicaid, Medicare, Congress, Senate.
America is broke, past broke and we cannot afford to cover every person in America. Lets give everyone a new car, a new house, a 3 week paid vacation. If you want to BUY votes like the Democrats - SURE!!
Makes me sick! Not the country I was raised in, it has turned into a democratic bunch of freeloaders!
God is watching!Posted by: AnonymousTaxes will be highly increased.
Taxes will rise and the middle and lower class will face being even more poor. Spending needs to be cut! Twenty new and higher taxes totaling to about 500 billion dollars. Taxes will be raised on one million individuals with an annual income about a threshold of $200,000. In 2018, insurance companies will be assessed a 40% excise tax on “Cadillac” health plans. Companies will have to provide government-determined health insurance for their employees or face federal fines. By 2014, employers are required to offer health plans to all employees who work more than 30 hours per week or pay $2,000 as a penalty fee to the government. Companies are concerned they will not be able to afford the costs potentially causing them to close locations and lay off workers.
Posted by: AnonymousAlready paying more
It hasn't even gone into full affect yet and my insurance has jumped 200 a month more. I'm not even middle class. No good can come from this. I really don't feel like working hard while the people who don't want to work ride on my coat tails. Maybe if this was Star Trek and everyone did their part but it isn't. This is going to really hurt America in the end if it is allowed to continue.
Posted by: AnonymousObamacare is taking us down the wrong path.
As of a month ago, I figured out that thousands are already getting laid off or just plain fired because of Obamacare, and this is just in the small medical offices. It is still going to affect the hospitals and more also. Another thing that I found out was that 21 new taxes will be made. To find out more just go to www.obamacarefacts.com, and it will help you find out all the facts that may be bad or good to you depending which side you are on.
Posted by: AnonymousI don't want socialism in the US
Why should the government be involved in my medical affairs? I don't want or need them to be!
Forcing an American to buy health insurance that they already can't afford is a bad idea. Then if you don't get insurance, you get fined. It's a lose-lose for many people . ObamaCare is not for me & mine. Stay out of our business. Stop taxing us to death. If I have to buy into ObamaCare, then so should the Obamas!Posted by: AnonymousLiberals and Math.
Recently in the news the fiscal cliff has been a major issue. What can be taken out of this is that liberals, socialists, and Democrats are very bad at math and holding their word. Obama is an intricate healthcare system that requires immense amounts of money that we as a nation do not have. Obamacare is also against all American ideals. Why should one person be forced to take a worse health care plan as well as help pay for someone else's insurance with their tax dollar. Obamacare takes capitalism and power to make decisions away from the public. This is not even socialist really, it is communist. Obamacare will also cause the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs due to the major economic hits the private health care system will take as well as millions of jobs it will take due the major blow it will give to the economy as a whole.
Posted by: AnonymousI want my health freedoms.
I am severely allergic to allopathic medicine, and go to alternative care doctors. I would rather die healthy at a ripe old age. I do not want the government dictating to me what I should and should not do. Also, too often doctor's misdiagnose and that dishonesty will wind up on my records. How do I get it off?
Posted by: AnonymousThere is no free lunch, and thus the middle class has to pickup the tab of the so called "affordable" health care costs.
Any insurance is a cost/benefit analyzed scheme. If everyone (including the pre-existing condition patients) is qualified to get health insurance, then it can only be possible mathematically if the average medical insurance costs on others are increased to cover the so called at-risk patients. Why should I be paying for someones benefit?
Posted by: AnonymousNot all healthcare fits all
The idea of everyone having equal access to healthcare is very noble. however government mandated health insurance does not guarantee access. It only partly insures some payment of what health care is recieved. What it does in setting criteria for care is discriminate between those who have better insurance or finances and those who have medicaid for example. The more costly procedure that could save someones life or at the very least make it a better quality life would be denied on the basis of money,which is no different than before but the restrictions are tighter.
Posted by: AnonymousI agree that ObamaCare is bad for the American public due to increasing costs for heath systems and less reimbursement from the government.
It is not wise to extend congratulations to people that are lazy and do not want to work. If people do not want to work and have health insurance, that is their own issue. Also, many health care workers will be put out of a job when hospitals stop receiving as much reimbursement for their services.
Posted by: 5h4bbyIamoObamaCare is bad
ObamaCare is obviously idiotic. I have friends who are doctors and are very stressed because they spent so much money on learning to be a doctor, then they get payed way less than they should because of ObamaCare. Sure seniors and younger people should get support from the government because they are either to old to work or haven't gotten a good job yet. But for everyone else it is not fair for people to have to pay for other people's healthcare if those other people could easily be working. If you were born in America then you went through our amazing school system, if you moved to America you must have been educated enough so that you could afford to move to America. Either way you have been educated and should be able to get a job. There is a fine if employers do not give health insurance to their employees so if you are working they you should have health insurance.
Posted by: Anonymous
First of all.. stop calling it ObamaCare..
it is UNIVERSAL health care for everyone.. the kind our senators get, the type that everyone moaned about politicians having and are now angry over getting it. The debt argument is worthless because the whole world is in debt, there is no first world nation not operating in debt because debt is the new currency amongst nations.. debt in nations is valuable and is traded amongst countries.. the world runs in a perpetual debt cycle.
Businesses get tax credits for supporting this health care and it is only good for the people e.t.c. e.t.c. what's already been said blah blah.. but I'm assuming those "conservative values" folk would rather have privatized medicare and medicaid as proposed by the Republicans.. you want a business denying you your care, just like the insurance industries.. isn't that a laugh n a half.Posted by: AnonymousFellow Americans: You disappoint me.
The Affordable Care Act is important to us all and supports the well being of future generations (your children), especially those of us without coverage. It's amazing to me that whenever our society decides to make a major change or decision, to help us progress, people freak out. What is true about the ACA is that the change will be difficult, it will be time consuming, and it will cost individuals (among others). Nobody said these changes would be easy and most likely many didn't realize how drastic these changes could become. I am among those who feel that it's wrong to force a bill, or mandate, or tax upon individuals (who often already can't afford things like health care); but at this time, I also feel that if we don't step up together and try to make this happen- we will be wasting all the time, energy, and billions of dollars already spent- increasing debt, recession, and eventually a social breakdown. There is no looking back anymore, times are changing and though it will be challenging, we are committed. The thing that bothers me the most about all this, is the utter lack of humanity people have for one another regarding the ACA: most people are against it simply because they don't wanna pay for someone else! It's absolutely pathetic how little we care for our fellow man. I know it's frustrating to learn the money we spend goes to other people instead of ourselves and to procedures we may not agree with, but if everyone gets involved and the ACA works, the cost will even out over time. Now regarding the people arguing over things like covering birth control or abortion cost, things that might bother someone religiously: like you, I will not have a choice in what happens to the money I pay and where it goes. I may not like that my money is going to help the guy that just robbed my bank, and got shot because of it, but it doesn't mean that he shouldn't get the health care. Human beings, although on morally different levels, deserve to have health care that works for them- not for other people's religious beliefs; it's my body. So to those of you who have not gotten my point yet, have some humanity. One day, unforeseen circumstances may leave you in a position to have to take on Medicaid: if you lost your job and can't pay your bills, or need to provide for your child- how would you survive without it? I know some will argue that we already do but I disagree on the respect that simply going without health care, is not surviving. To those of you without an open mind on these matters, all I ask is to that you try to help make thie ACA work, because whether we agree on all subtopics or not- we are indeed committed and cannot turn back. Together we can make this big circle-of-life healthcare reform work and help us smooth out the kinks for better future practices- so that, no matter what, we (you) will always be covered.
Posted by: AnonymousHealthcare is a basic human right.
No matter what your wallet may say, healthcare should be a BASIC human right for everyone. No life should be deemed less important or valuable just because they can't afford health care. My parents have ALWAYS been employed and work long hours every day and still can't afford to provide us with health care because they are state employees. With Obamacare not only do I have available health insurance for the first time in years, but I can actually afford to fill prescriptions without having my parents worry. Americans need to get over this idea that we shouldn't pay for our services. We pay some of the lowest taxes for a first world nation and yet we are falling behind in science, engineering, school, health, and reputation. This isn't fascism and it's barely socialism. It's providing basic human rights and if you can't accept the fact that money should not determine one's ability to health care and survival, you have a lot to reevaluate. People come first, over money and material items any day. Stop hiding behind your bank accounts and do something good for one another and most of all, get over yourselves and stop whining. There's a reason the foreign community looks down on Americans.
Posted by: AnonymousBetter, not perfect
Everyone who expresses dislike toward the Affordable Health Care Act - Come up with a better idea - try to please everyone - then complain about it - Seems that everyone who dislikes this Act wants to gripe about it instead of supporting a better idea, or come up with a better one!! I feel like the 'NEW' American way is to just gripe about something instead of making life better for everyone (on the cost of care or medicine - what good is it if the person who needs it, cannot afford it?)
Posted by: AnonymousI think ObamaCare is a potentially positive action towards the health of the American public by lowering the cost of care.
While ObamaCare is still in its early stages, I think it could be very beneficial to the American public. By regulating insurance companies and forcing Americans to have insurance, it becomes a more regulated system. By allowing young people to remain on their parents' insurance longer, it aids in the promotion of preventative care, which is far less costly than treatment in the long run. Also, by making each American have insurance, the influx of insurance consumers would cause the overall cost per person to decrease.
Posted by: TigerArtusDon't go broke from a car accident .
Imagine you just had a car accident and it wasn't even your fault. You fractured your leg badly, have a concussion and even lost some teeth. If you are already short on money, this could mean the end for you! It is important to give everyone the chance to live a healthy life, and face it, to boost the U.S. economy. Healthy lives that don't rely on government financial support are VITAL!
Posted by: AnonymousManaged Healthcare is Not Working in Canada!
Just saw an interview on TV where a gentleman from Canada relocated to the US to get away from managed healthcare.....only to find out that the U.S. will be implementing a similiar program. Obama has divided the nation and now wants to make sure we are dependent on government. And Obama has the nerve to make Americans pay a fine if they aren't covered by insurance.
Posted by: AnonymousSimplification of a complex issue.
Many people who are part of the working poor cannot afford health, dental or vision insurance. Many of the "Yes' posters are making an empty argument. Having a healthy populace that receive preventive care, instead of sick care, actually cost us less. I do understand your concerns about folks that don't want to be productive, receiving insurance, but even they end up flooding our emergency rooms, receiving Medicaid, etc. and costing even more. I don't smoke, am healthy and workout daily. I, too, dislike when people don't take personal responsibility.
Posted by: AnonymousNo, but that could quickly change
The main impacts of Obamacare wont be put into effect until 2014, but one of its provisions that is active is that insurance companies cannot deny coverage to people based on pre-existing conditions. It also allows millions of others to be able to have health insurance, however if years from now the costs of Obamacare are understood and drastically outweigh the benefits Obamacare provides, then it could be bad for the public in terms of cost and debt.
Posted by: imabenchAsk the citizens of Massachusetts....
Romney is the original creator of ObamaCare. The people of Massachusetts are just fine, even those who originally opposed RomneyCare, are now admitting that it's just fine.
The biggest failure of the Obama administration is the fact that so few people understand what the Affordable Care Act does for us.
If you oppose it, I suggest you do some research...and NOT just on right wing websites.Posted by: AnonymousYou're all overreacting.
Our country is not so weak that it's going to break into a million little pieces because of one stupid bill. It passes, we see if it works, and if it doesn't we make a new one. It's not that big of a deal. What is, is how much both sides are trying to sabotage one another. Seriously, just because I disagree with someone doesn't mean they're Satan. We're supposed to reach a compromise.
Posted by: AnonymousA U.S. Citizens right.
Every U.S. citizen should be entitled to (6) basics: 1)Clean Air, 2)Clean Water, 3)Safe food,4)Protected borders,5)A K-12 education & 6) Healthcare. And if the wealthiest, most progressive nation in the world cannot provide this to all its citizens we have failed as a civilized country.
Posted by: AnonymousUniversal health care good for the economy http://bangordailynews.com/2012/08/20/opinion/universal-health-care-good-for-the-economy/
I worked for a bus manufacturing company that had plants in America, Canada, and Mexico. I had to do a project in Winnipeg, MB, Canada for six months, where I met my wife. I got to see how great Universal Health Care worked. And, everyone has coverage and no one goes without great care. My wife got to see specialists very quickly as did her kids and the rest of her relatives. And, my wife’s income tax rate was not higher than people making the same income in the USA – I know, I am a CPA that does tax returns as a side business.
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It is the egregiously profitable health insurance companies that are behind the dishonest politicians, mostly all Republicans, Libertarians and Tea Partiers that are spreading lies about Universal Health Care and trying everything to convince us that it not good, mainly by misstating information and lies. All these politicians should be in jail!
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And, this nonsense that thousands are being laid-off because of the Affordable Care Act is more Fox News Bull crap – total lies and nonsense. It is FEAR MONGERING!
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-fear-mongering.htm
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It is funny that Fox had a special about how well small businesses and all companies do in Canada. Those companies do very well despite having Universal Health Care since 1971, over 41 years, and the minimum wage in Canada is about $10 per hour, even for waitresses who get $10 per hour plus tips. So, you are hearing more lies from folks at FOX, like that phone sex freak that did not get convicted because he paid off the lady he worked with, Bill O'Reilly.
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Those in the Plutocracy in American, (the major stockholders of all mega corporations) want to keep Universal Health Care (i.e. a single payer system) out of America because those dishonest insurance companies make huge profits and discriminate against the sick; but, pay billions annually in dividends that are mainly paid to the Plutocracy, who own 93% of all wealth in the USA. The Plutocracy continues to get wealthier, but millions of Americans can’t afford insurance. TOTAL BULLCRAP! The wealthy, the Plutocracy, does not care about the middle class or poor, and could give a rat’s butt about anyone but themselves and hording their wealth.
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We will have Universal Health Care despite what the misinformed at this debate site think.
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Power to the People, the 99%! All in the Plutocracy need to be destroyed! All businesses need to be employee own. America needs to become totally socialistic, even to the point of following the economic system that Karl Marx and Engels talked about in the Communist Manifesto.Posted by: GWL-CPADon't go broke from a car accident
Imagine you just had a car accident and it wasn't even your fault. You fractured your leg badly, have a concussion and even lost some teeth. If you are already short on money, this could mean the end for you! It is important to give everyone the chance to live a healthy life, and face it, to boost the U.S. economy. Healthy lives that don't rely on government financial support are VITAL!
Posted by: VfB_StuttgartI believe ObamaCare will provide good quality health insurance to all Americans.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act brought forward by President Obama will provide great relief to most American families. ObamaCare will create close together the gap between private insurance policies and government run programs allowing for medical care for those once left behind.
Posted by: backdreamThe passing of the Obama health care bill is a good thing for the American public.
The American health care system is very bad and expensive for the public. The change in legislation, thanks to the Obama initiative, is going to offer some better options and it is going to make health care in the United States more universally accessible. It's still is going to be far from those good European health care systems, but it is a step in the right direction.
Posted by: l0olllooiHello, people!
If you can't afford health insurance and don't have a job you won't be fined! To the person who said Obama took 6 billion dollars from Medicare, you're wrong. H etook it from Medicaid. I am a doctor and I love this idea! We generate more money because you see more patients, HELLO!
Posted by: AnonymousStupidity Just Might Be Contageous
Ok First of lets just address the facts please. I am not venting just trying to educate some of the less diligent whom of which have a propensity to spew out wrong interpretations of an otherwise clear solution to a huge problem in America. Why? 2 reasons, 1. They have NOT read the plan. and 2. They have an agenda that does not apply to reasonable hardworking Americans. How to spot these less educated wind bags: When they use words like, no freedom, unconstitutional, Nazi, Stealing from Medicare, stealing from the elderly and disabled, or it costs too much. These are clear signs that they have not read the plan or at the very most skimmed through a few pre highlighted lines of it or had someone else explain it to them. FACTS: If you don't have a job, you don't pay. If you have Medicare, you can keep it, add more to it or drop it, whichever makes sense for you. If you already have insurance, you pay nothing and can choose to keep your existing insurance or switch, the choice is yours. If you’re a small business, nothing changes. If you’re a large corporation you pay into it no higher than the rates that were in effect during the Clinton administration. What is the biggest change? Americans have more control over how they pursue their own health care and less of it is in the hands of the insurance companies. Bottom Line MONEY, Insurance companies keep less of it, and more goes to actual health care. Which is why we have an argument in the 1st place. Insurance companies only make money when they don't pay claims; they need profit, so why would you let them write the policy or support their misinterpretations? Educate yourself people!
Posted by: a6aprilFrom the Start
Obamacare has pissed off quite a few people, and that is completely understandable. There are some provisions in this act I simply do not agree with. But it is a start.
Our Declaration of Independence, signed on the 4th of July, the day we celebrate every year. At its conclusion, a final sentence states 'All men are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.'
The government has a sworn duty to protect the life of its populace, and that is what Obamacare strives to do. We cannot have an opt-in program, because what happens when you don't opt-in? Are we just going to let you die? Let you wallow in debt (as we do now/have done previously)? We are the only country in the modern world with this unnecessarily capitalistic approach to healthcare. Healthcare is a right for all people, and yes, that means we should advocate universal healthcare. Call it socialism, I'd rather think of it as 'ensuring the lives of the populace.'
There will be exceptions, we shouldn't let people abuse the privileges bestowed on them, and there should be extensive fines for doing such a thing. To put it simply, it is the best thing we have right now. It's a start, now we need to get to work on making it better.Posted by: AnonymousNo
First of all, none of the arguments that I've read so far have made a connection between being in debt and something bad happening. We are already trillions in debt so there's no reason that a little more spending is going to somehow destroy us all. The next argument on the yes side is that people don't think it's fair that they work for their health care and people will now get it for free. 1 in 6 Americans don't have healthcare. Maybe you think that's okay because they weren't responsible to get healthcare, but think about this? someone without healthcare gets a contagious disease. They don't see a doctor because they don't have healthcare. So while they're walking down the street they're infecting people that could potentially be you or your loved ones. They infect one of your family members and they die because that person didn't have health insurance. If that person had free health insurance they wouldn't infect anyone because they would have gone to a doctor in the first place. The next argument is that people don't want to pay for it with taxes. Those people should refer to the above scenario.
Posted by: AnonymousAmericans need afforadable health coverage
It works in the U.K.... It works in Canada. So why wouldn't it work here? I can tell you why the richest 1% of americans who control 40% of the nations wealth don't like it. Because they're the ones who are gonna have to foot the largest part of the bills. As they should. Hell I have medical coverage and still can't afford to pay my medcal bills. Why? Because the current system is ran as a business venture rather than as a system to help those in need of it's services. Stop and open your eyes for once people.
Posted by: AnonymousI DON'T WANNA DIE and LOL Anonymous below The-young-conservative
So, I don't live in the United States so I have little knowledge about Obamacare. However, I have done research on Obamcare and have found out enough to make my decision. I live to the North in Canada, and here we have free healthcare for everybody. What does this mean? It means we don't have to choose between our house and our health. We can have BOTH!! We can have the cake AND eat it!!!! WOAH!!! Bet some Americans have never heard of that!! Obamacare wants some Americans to experiance that. I use this opinion section to vent sometimes and mock other's opinions (e.g. LOL Anonymous).
Posted by: ishallannoyyoAll Americans should have access to affordable health care.
The health care act establishes an affordable way for people to be able to receive preventative health care. Those who are not able to pay for preventative care are causing the cost of health care to skyrocket in this county. That causes those who do pay for insurance and their health care to indirectly pay for those who chose not to pay for insurance or who can't afford to pay for insurance. It is the way to make everyone take responsibility for their health care costs.
Posted by: AnonymousMaybe its not a good idea to go more in debt.. but..
To the person who said that the people who are high school drop outs or pot smoking shouldnt be treated the same. That person is right. because those people CHOOSE to do that. ( or most of them) but what baout the poor immigrants who cant afford health insurance or the handicapped person who cant work or the person who got robbed. how do they pay for health insurance???
Posted by: AnonymousHow many have actually READ it?
Healthcare should not just be for the rich. People tend to like the idea, until Obama's name is put into it. Just because it is a liberal idea does not make it a bad one. The law has its ups and downs, but every law does. In the end, it is good for America, at least better than the alternative.
Posted by: AnonymousAll the other large countries have it.
When one looks at large successful governments besides the United States, they will notice all other countries have National Health Care. The American system works well and has in the past, however national health care will not hurt America, it will only help it. Especially those who have to no health care currently.
Posted by: C0rn4GamerNo, the passing of ObamaCare is not bad for the American public, because everyone deserves adequate health care.
Everyone likes to say how we have the best health care system, the best medicine and the best doctors in the world. While that is true, it is only affordable for about 20% of the population. Almost every other western society offers free or very inexpensive health care for it's citizens, especially in Europe. Everyone should have access to great affordable health care, regardless of income.
Posted by: labusyForgive Me, But...
...I have a tumor on my spinal cord that's going to kill me, AFTER it totally paralyzes me and after the tremors on the right side of my body leave me immobile. The people against universal healthcare already have insurance and are healthy. ObamaCare will not start quickly enough to save me, and I'm a single mom. The surgery costs $108,000. I've already been through two house fires, and I've been denied a medical card. My son will soon be without any parent. There's no excuse for this. None. NONE. So don't you dare tell me that ObamaCare is a bad thing, when it could save, or could have saved, my life.
Posted by: AnonymousWhat's more valuable your wallet or your life?
People that don't have health insurance and go to the Er and if they have long term illness like cancer or blood clots they die. Even if you have the money to pay in your pocket the dr offices treat you like shit if you don't have insurance.
Posted by: AnonymousEmergency Room Visits for Healthcare will Now be Paid
We already provide FREE health care via Emergency Room visits. Many families visit the emergency room every time they or their children have a cold. This results in the general public paying higher health care fees. Now, those same people will be forced to purchase insurance so those costs will be covered.
As an employer, my rates we already increase 2-4 times each year for the past 10 years. Health insurance is already unaffordable. At least now more people will pay into the system and it may stabalize costs in the future.Posted by: AnonymousGreat job Obama!
How can you be against everyone getting healthcare? Some people are just awful humans. I understand why different countries consider Americans selfish. How can someone claim it's a privilege to get health insurance? It's definitely not a privilege! Everyone should be entitled to get health insurance, but excuse me for caring for other's who are less fortunate.
Posted by: AnonymousThe America Cares Act improves life for the uninsured and those with preexisting conditions.
The America Cares Act is a controversial piece of legislation but, to those of us who can't afford insurance or have preexisting conditions, this law is a godsend. Everyone is entitled to health care, especially those already sick. The health insurance changes will actually provide some competition between health insurance companies, and give us options and market pressures. When those of us without insurance hear someone call it ObamaCare, we tend to hear people who don't care if we die or not.
Posted by: FlakyHerb64It's a great start in the right direction
It is my fondest hope that this will eventually lead to a single payer system. For a country like ours to be so far behind other countries in the free world is shameful. In my opinion, healthcare is a human right. I think after Jan. 2014, everyone will come to realize that it was as is the right thing for the country.
Posted by: Anonymousmore taxes, less income, more debt, less freedom.
As a small business owner (54 employees with private insurance and individual choice), are going to see an increase in their monthly rates. We already increased about $2,000 a year. Because I have to pay more, they have to pay more. As a devout Christian, I shouldn't have to pay for abortion, or contraception. That's against my religious rights. But I'm a christian, so that doesn't matter right? If I held any other religious belief, I 'd have a lawsuit on the way. Also, the care given now would be in jeopardy, with bureaucrats dictating where you go and see a doctor which would most likely a clinic.
I want to choose who I see and when I go to see him/her. And with another $20 trillion in debt to pay for this entitlement, where do you think it comes from. And you wonder why small businesses are closing up shop.Posted by: AnonymousNot for the already insured
My insurance premiums will go up in 2014 and my coverage will go down according to the insurance reps from my company.
I have no problem with affordable healthcare...So long as the insurance I have been paying for ten years stays the same. Wth...Wtf...? Doesn't make any sense to me.Posted by: AnonymousIt screws america
While one may cite some of the good things e.G you can't drop coverage for frivolous reasons (a.K.A you can't drop someone as long as they're being paid). It comes at a great price. Over half of Obamacare is payed by taxes fees and penalties and 716 billion cuts to medicare over 10 years. It also restricts professionals causing many to leave the profession despite the billion doctor shortage. Obamacare also hurts the employer because healthcare insurance is expensive. They have found a loophole to avoid this. If employers work under 20 hours, they don't need to pay for health insurance. This hurts the employee because they have less money and might make them financially dependent on the government.
Posted by: AnonymousObama Gone Forever!
Obama is a mason and is taking over everything, he needs to be stopped and soon. I show no respect for him because he hasnt done anything for us and I havent seen anything. He isnt an American and he should not be able to run this country because he doesnt know how.
Posted by: AnonymousI believe that providing all Americans access to affordable health care is beneficial to the health of our nation.
46.3 million Americans do not have health insurance. I believe the government must intervene by regulating the insurance companies and helping to provide health care for all Americans so our country can have a healthy workforce. I also believe that providing health care would give many Americans financial freedom and allow for more entrepreneurship, as people would not be afraid to leave a job with health benefits in order to start a new business.
Posted by: evilfruitWithout Obamacare comes consequences
What happens if you need a heart transplant? Do you want to waste all life savings for it? May as well get Obamacare and save your money and your or a loved one's life. While you may not need it because you're affluent, what about the needy who will suffer greatly when they need an expensive operation? Think about others please.
Posted by: AnonymousObama Doesn't Care
ObamaCare is nowhere near as good as they say it is. The people of the government are totally unaffected by ObamaCare. If this legislation was so good for the public or the people in general, then the entire government would be wanting it for themselves too. Not just for the general public. Not only that but if you do not give in and buy this health insurance then you will be fined. So since this has been passed we are screwed anyways. Whether or not we buy the health insurance, or if we just wait to get taxed, the government wins. We as Americans shouldn't be forced to pay for things we don't feel we need or we just don't want. This nation was founded by the people and for the people. The government taking control like this is an absolute outrage.
Posted by: AnonymousEvery US citizen deserves affordable healthcare
All citizens deserve affordable healthcare. No one should do without medical care and no one should be able to go to the ER for healthcare and have the rest of us pay for it! If this plan (Obamacare) does not work when implemented, then we should all be under a one-payer plan or have a small group of competitive payers to choose from (maybe 5). Then all Americans would effectively be in five HUGE group plans which would make premiums very small and eliminate the multitude of fat-cat opulent insurance companies and their extremely wealthy corporate officers, CEOs, CFOs, presidents, etc. Get those people out of the picture forever!
Posted by: AnonymousThe founding fathers passed a similar law in the 1780s
In the 1780s the founding fathers serving in congress passed a law requiring sea men to purchase insurance. They approved this kind of law! They also passed a bill requiring all Americans to purchase a firearm! The constitution states that congress can tax it's citizens for their security and general welfare under the commerce clause. History proves that the founding fathers of our nation would approve PPACA or Obamacare!
Posted by: AnonymousObamaCare works!
This brilliant plan can only be beneficial to folks due the fact that the average bloke has the option to opt out of the jolly good government health care if it suits his fine fancy. I personally wish to storm and raid the house of every ignorant idiot who disagrees with this plan and sit him/her down to a cozy fireside chat as to why this magnificent bill should stroke a fine tuned note on every good sir's fiddle.
Posted by: AnonymousA comparison of healthcare systems
The European and Canadian models of healthcare, the one deemed socialist by most Americans, is actually far more effective than the one we have. In the 2000 report by the World Health Organization, the U.S. finished overall at the 37th spot. The European countries along with Canada were ranked as having better systems. Italy who had the most socialized system finished at number two. Fast forward to 2010 and there was a ranking of 7 countries by the Common Wealth fund on who had the best healthcare system. Of the 7 countries, the U.S. finished in last place. The U.S. was also shown to have the highest expenditure per capita. The Netherlands, which ranked number 1 in this study, was also the best in terms of timeliness , safety, and access. Its cost per capita was also half of that of the United States' costs. Clearly, socialized medicine has proven itself in real world application to be more effective than our current model. A side note: The U.S. did not finish in the top 2 in any category. This study can be found at commonwealthfund.org
Posted by: JB.UTHuman beings are worth something more than everything else
I feel that humans are worth helping because nothing in this world is worth more than the human life. A person will get sick at sometime and will need medical help. It seems that the people that are against health care for everyone, feel that they should not pay for someone else to receive it, or they feel that that somehow we are giving up control over our lives somehow when we let the government provide healthcare. Maybe I am crazy but what is so wrong with helping my fellow human to get better by letting them go see a doctor? Think about this, I had a good engineering job, took very good care of myself yet was a victim of layoffs during the recession/depression of 2000-present and lost my health benefits. Then suddenly I find myself with an unexpected health problem and no insurance. I go to er rooms and free clinics but there is only so much they can do for me. Now I am stuck and with a family that depends on me for help, I cannot help myself without healthcare. With healthcare I can get better and if need be, pay back what was given to me to help to help someone else. I just do not understand why we humans, who have evolved into civilized beings, cannot bring themselves to help everyone who needs healthcare. We really are saying let the person die as it is their problem that they do not have health coverage. This is why peace on this earth cannot be a possibility when we do not care for everyone. Yes, resources are limited but that still should not stop us from trying to help everyone who needs it. After all, we leave everything here eventually what is the big deal helping someone along the way? I support the spirit that Obama had in the healthcare law even if it is not what it should be, free care with no strings attached.
Posted by: DR_HANS_SCHWANTZI Should Get To Dictate What Everyone Else Is Doing
Why don't you people love free stuff? I mean, it's not like doctors are highly trained specialists that take 10 years and several hundreds of thousands of dollars to train. It also isn't like those highly trained specialists are incentivized to over bill in an attempt to keep the looming threat of bankruptcy at the hands of a massive and unchecked legal system.
Judges don't routinely award maximal punishments for "suffering" (an opaque and ambiguous term) knowing full well the insurance market will be forced to pick up the tab for their activism. And those insurance companies aren't forced to realign massive, multi-million dollar captive funds to stay ahead of the every increasing costs of services by jacking doctor premiums in a vicious, self destructive spiral.
That's not how insurance works, folks. Insurance is a mystical black hole that spits out money at the drop of a hat. And those fat cat, black hole hording fascist insurance companies are always rich, even when their profit margins are lower than they've been in 40 years.
And another thing. You deserve universal health care named after some raging narcissist that decided to upend the entire system for his own personal glory. It's your god given right. Why, better yet, rather than having healthcare at an affordable price, you should have the liberty to just jump into coverage without evidence of insurability, because let's be real; other similar experiments along these lines, including Massachusetts health care, public parks, public facilities, public transportation,...Have not all been looming disasters that repeated show public property is not valued and regularly defaced, vandalized, or mistreated.
The curse of the commons is not a real thing.
Neither are positive incentives. It isn't like ranging studies too numerous to count (such as the work by Lucas, Campbell, or Goodhart) have repeated demonstrated that microeconomic "incentive" based models are essential for successful implementation of policy - corporate, public or otherwise.
No, my fellow 'mericans (with an apostrophe), we should just have the liberty to do whatever we want without bothering to think things through ever. That's "liberty" with a "liber"-, like liberal; the way you should all be voting. Things like debt or consequences don't matter, since they only effect people who have "stuff". And since 'merica isn't the most prosperous country on Earth, it's not like we have tons to lose, right?
Keep up the good work 'merica, and collect them dollar bills, because you are all so awesome, and everyone likes you.Posted by: AnonymousA good start
This is a major piece of legislation that aims to correct the massive problem we have in this country with our health insurance. It may not be perfect but there are a lot if good provisions in it. It is a good foundation to work from. Repeal it? And replace it with what?
Posted by: ChitownJimmyBeing a good country is caring for everyone - rich and poor.
Fact is ..I Being from outside the US - and you not having universal healthcare (or the limited version which is named Obamacare) gives us and many other countries a huge competitive advantage over the U.S in business. By gutting even further what health protection you have will just place the U.S low and middle class citizens in ever more difficult position as health care expenses rise. As a company you only want to invest in country with a healthy population. Not everyone can be wealthy and will be able to afford private health insurance. Sickness could very easily wipe out the savings of the middle class. So ask yourself do you want (the U.S) to be able to compete in a global environment over the long run, or not.
Posted by: AnonymousI do not think the passing of obamacare is bad for the American public because it will help those in need.
Obamacare brings the US into line with the rest of the civilised and western world. In a civilised country, it should be normal for everyone to receive basic health care along with food and shelter. These are basic human needs and take people beyond the basic animal when we provide for others.
Posted by: babynewNo.
I have yet to hear a compelling argument as to why Obamacare should be banned. Out of all the western industrialized nations, America is the only one without universal healthcare. Now the affordable care act is not universal healthcare. In actuality, it is a republican plan to begin with. Just ask Bob Dole and Mitt Romney. All it does is make healthcare more affordable, and makes sure every American has healthcare. What is so wrong about making sure a health insurance company can't turn someone down or raise their because of their health conditions? What is so bad about making sure a poor family doesn't go broke because they can't afford a lifesaving procedure? What is so bad about making sure all Americans have healthcare? It has worked in Massachusetts. Why can't it work in the rest of the country?
Posted by: slydessertfoxThe Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a necessary first step towards truly universal care in this country.
My only complaint is that it doesn't go far enough. ObamaCare will ensure that 20 million more Americans are covered by 2014. It stands up to the insurance companies, making it so you can't be denied due to pre existing conditions, allowing children to stay on their parents' plans for longer, and eliminating unjustified fees. Finally, The Affordable Care Act will reduce the deficit by $210 million over the next ten years. One last note: a close friend of mine died of breast cancer four years ago. Maybe, just maybe, if she had received access to annual wellness doctors visits, like ObamaCre provides, she would still be alive today.
Posted by: UltraConformity Rules Again
Virtually every other civilized nation has universal health care, from canada to the netherlands. So why is the U.S. the 'greatest country in the world' the last one to the party? I have personally experienced the. Health care system in the Netherlands and it was cheap, efficient and provided adequate care. Nearly 60% of bankruptcies in america are caused by health care related issues. Know how many there are in the Netherlands? 0.
Posted by: Anonymous