Obama care collapsing.....

A2SG · Dec 2, 2025

essentialsaltes said:
GOP faces a familiar dilemma: What to do about Obamacare?
Republican leaders have found themselves in a familiar place: pledging to make major changes to the Affordable Care Act, citing rising health care costs and a looming deadline - but far from agreeing on how to do it.

Republicans promised a mid-December vote on how to proceed on the expiring subsidies, in exchange for support from some Democrats for ending the government shutdown in November. Democrats have argued that the simplest and most politically popular option is to extend the subsidies, which were implemented in 2021 and meant to help defray the cost of health coverage during the covid-19 pandemic. But many GOP lawmakers have campaigned for years on pledges to “repeal Obamacare” and say that continuing to fund the subsidies is a nonstarter, calling instead to shift the money to Americans in the form of health-savings accounts.

“The White House has a solution for cost-sharing,” [can we see it? The last one the WH rolled out vanished in less than a day] Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, said Sunday on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” predicting that “people are going to work this out” by Christmas.

“We don’t want to cause panic for the folks who are worried that they’re going to lose the thing that they have,” Hassett added.

Thirteen House Republicans, mostly from liberal-leaning states, sent a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) during the shutdown warning that a failure to extend a version of the subsidies would “risk real harm to those we represent.”

However, many Republicans oppose extending the subsidies - arguing that they are a pandemic-era relic - and instead see the debate as an opportunity to revisit health care reforms the party has sought in the past.

The problem lawmakers of both parties face is they don't want to lose the millions of dollars the for-profit health insurance industry funnels into their reelection campaigns. This money is largely why the GOP first promoted the Heritage Foundation plan as it was market-based and relied on private, for-profit health insurance. It's also why Democrats supported it later on, and that's the only reason the GOP now has a problem with it. But, the problem there is, they haven't come up with any idea that actually provides health care coverage AND relies on for-profit health insurance (protecting their own campaign bottom lines). The only idea I've heard floated about is health savings accounts, which seem like a good idea...if you have money. If you don't, it isn't.

Then again, when has the GOP ever really cared about people who don't have money?

-- A2SG, except when they vote Republican, of course....

essentialsaltes · Dec 4, 2025

essentialsaltes said:
'No-win position': GOP careening towards crisis on health care plan

essentialsaltes said:
GOP faces a familiar dilemma: What to do about Obamacare?

They don't seem to have figured it out.

Frustrated GOP barrels toward key health insurance vote without a clear plan

Republicans say they won’t have their alternative proposal to address rapidly rising insurance premiums ready in time for next week’s vote, leaving some GOP senators dissatisfied about the lack of a clear strategy to counter the Democrats’ bill.

A group of centrist Republican and Democratic negotiators worked over the Thanksgiving recess to make progress toward a bipartisan deal, but they said it won’t be ready in time for next week’s vote, either. This is fueling pessimism about any deal being reached this year.

[Since] The GOP has no consensus on how to proceed on the issue, which may spur a group of Republican senators to cross the aisle next week and vote for a Democratic bill to extend the subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Shaheen, who has been in touch with House colleagues, said that even if the Senate passes a bill, it’s becoming clear that the Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) will not bring it up for a vote.

“What I’m hearing is that it’s unlikely that Speaker Johnson will take up any bill and that it would have to be done by a discharge petition,” she said.

essentialsaltes · Dec 5, 2025

ObamaCare anxiety rising among House GOP centrists: ‘To do this is buffoonery’

Frustration is mounting among moderate House Republicans as various competing health care plans appear to be going nowhere, with less than 10 working days left on the calendar before millions of Americans see their health insurance premiums spike.

A small but animated group of GOP centrists is imploring party leaders to extend the ObamaCare tax credits set to expire at the end of the year. But they’ve run into a wall of opposition from Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who’s cold to the idea, and a larger group of conference conservatives, who are openly fighting to have the subsidies end.

The White House floated its own plan to temporarily extend the subsidies for two years, paired with reforms similar to those included in the various House proposals. But the leaked framework was quickly pulled after a mountain of internal GOP criticism.

Have they tried the Splunge Plan? It restores and doesn't restore the subsidies, and it isn't indecisive.

essentialsaltes · Dec 5, 2025

Democrats will force a Senate vote on a 3-year extension of Affordable Care Act funds

The legislation is all but guaranteed to fail next week due to widespread Republican opposition and become a key issue in the 2026 elections as insurance premiums rise.

“Republicans have one week to decide where they stand: Vote for this bill and bring health care costs down, or block this bill and send premiums skyrocketing,” Schumer said on the floor. “That’s what’s at stake when we vote next week. It’s going to be one of the most important votes we take.”

The vote is the product of a promise that Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., made to Democrats in discussions to end the record-long government shutdown last month. Thune reiterated Tuesday that the Senate will vote next week on any bill Democrats propose — but it will require 60 votes to pass, meaning at least 13 Republicans would need to support it.

iluvatar5150 · Dec 5, 2025

essentialsaltes said:
ObamaCare anxiety rising among House GOP centrists: ‘To do this is buffoonery’
Frustration is mounting among moderate House Republicans as various competing health care plans appear to be going nowhere, with less than 10 working days left on the calendar before millions of Americans see their health insurance premiums spike.

A small but animated group of GOP centrists is imploring party leaders to extend the ObamaCare tax credits set to expire at the end of the year. But they’ve run into a wall of opposition from Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who’s cold to the idea, and a larger group of conference conservatives, who are openly fighting to have the subsidies end.

The White House floated its own plan to temporarily extend the subsidies for two years, paired with reforms similar to those included in the various House proposals. But the leaked framework was quickly pulled after a mountain of internal GOP criticism.

Have they tried the Splunge Plan? It restores and doesn't restore the subsidies, and it isn't indecisive.

Oh, NOW they’re concerned about buffoonery?

essentialsaltes · Tuesday at 8:26 AM

Why Senate Republicans aren't uniting behind a health care plan

Three days before a high-profile vote on a Democratic proposal to extend expiring Obamacare subsidies, GOP senators are nowhere near coalescing behind any single alternative that could be put up alongside it.

For Republicans, the risk of proceeding Thursday with a side-by-side vote is clear. While Democrats say they will have their entire 47-member caucus behind the three-year extension, any GOP plan right now is likely to fall well short of complete unity — and highlight the divisions in their party.

“What signal would that send if Republicans say, ‘Yeah, we’re going to say no to the Democrats’ plan, but we’re not going to offer anything?’” Sen. Josh Hawley(R-Mo.) said. “The message that will send is, good luck to the American people, and we don’t really care.”

[Isn't that what motivated you to cut the subsidies in the first place?]

One of the aides said Republicans will be prepared to make the case they have plenty of ideas and are ready to talk with Democrats once they move off a proposal that won’t get the 60 votes needed to advance.

[Well, plenty of concepts of an idea, anyway.]

Say it aint so · Wednesday at 11:14 AM

Why is it that every other industrialized nation has figured out healthcare, less the US?
Every one in the US not only knows, but feels the problem given healthcare in the US.
Doing nothing is not a solution.
It's not that we can't, we can if those in power are willing.
Some are.
But rest assure, this coming action by the SCOTUS will further remove any incentive for those in power to chose who they come through for:
Supreme Court Grapples With Whether to Lift Campaign Finance Limits.
Till the US does something about a political system that is tantamount to legalized bribery, sad to say nothing will change.

BCP1928 · Wednesday at 11:46 AM

essentialsaltes said:
“What signal would that send if Republicans say, ‘Yeah, we’re going to say no to the Democrats’ plan, but we’re not going to offer anything?’” Sen. Josh Hawley(R-Mo.) said. “The message that will send is, good luck to the American people, and we don’t really care.”

What's wrong with that? That's the message Trump is sending continuously.

Say it aint so · Wednesday at 12:18 PM

BCP1928 said:
What's wrong with that? That's the message Trump is sending continuously.

The grand Trump et al GOP plan is to provide seed money of $1,000 for people ages 18 to 49 and $1,500 for those 50 to 65 for people earning up to 700% of the poverty level for a Health Savings Account. The catch is, and wait for it, in order to get the pre-funded HSA, people would have to buy a bronze or catastrophic plan on an Obamacare exchange. Yes, the exchange they are trying to kill. It is a non solution solution. It is I guess that Trump plan to make healthcare better and cheaper "the likes no one has ever seen" he has had for the past 9 years.

essentialsaltes · 2025-12-11T08:19:16-0600

Trump still hasn’t endorsed a plan to avoid impending Obamacare hikes for millions

President Donald Trump has not endorsed a plan to prevent Obamacare rates from spiking in three weeks, leaving Republicans without a clear path ahead of a key vote.

On Thursday the Senate is expected to vote down the only GOP plan on the table, an effort by Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho).

White House policy teams are “looking at a lot of different avenues” and doing their own “analysis,” said one White House official, granted anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

That has left Republicans on Capitol Hill without detailed direction from Trump and a very small legislative window to act, creating a chaotic scramble to coalesce around a solution.

“I love the idea of money going directly to the people, not to the insurance companies, going directly to the people. It can be in the health savings account, it can be a number of different ways,” Trump told reporters on Tuesday night. “And the people go out and buy their own insurance which can be really much better health insurance, health care.”

[He doesn't have a concept of a plan; nor does White House staff.]

Desk trauma · 2025-12-11T10:25:22-0600

Say it aint so said:
Why is it that every other industrialized nation has figured out healthcare, less the US?

American exceptionalism.

Oompa Loompa · 2025-12-11T10:47:58-0600

Desk trauma said:
How’s that replacement plan going? Any concepts?

I believe the plan that has been tossed around was to give people vouchers directly so they can buy whatever health insurance they want. Better than throwing more money at insurance companies so they can raise rates and profit margins.

essentialsaltes · 2025-12-11T11:00:20-0600

Trump healthcare plan just dropped.

Everyone knows individuals can negotiate the best healthcare prices possible!

camille70 · 2025-12-11T11:54:03-0600

Oompa Loompa said:
I believe the plan that has been tossed around was to give people vouchers directly so they can buy whatever health insurance they want. Better than throwing more money at insurance companies so they can raise rates and profit margins.

Who are the vouchers payable to?

Belk · 2025-12-11T12:51:58-0600

Oompa Loompa said:
I believe the plan that has been tossed around was to give people vouchers directly so they can buy whatever health insurance they want. Better than throwing more money at insurance companies so they can raise rates and profit margins.

So we are going not give money to health insurance by giving people money to give to the health insurance?

Aryeh Jay · 2025-12-11T13:02:03-0600

Belk said:
So we are going not give money to health insurance by giving people money to give to the health insurance?

View attachment 374363

So's Law!!! Hunter's cocaine! Hillary's laptop! Benghazi!

essentialsaltes · 2025-12-11T13:03:38-0600

Senate rejects ACA funding and a Republican alternative with premiums set to spike

Two bills failed to secure the necessary 60 votes to break a filibuster and advance Thursday. Congress has no deal ahead of a Dec. 31 deadline to avoid premium hikes under Obamacare.

The bill offered by Democrats on Thursday would have extended the enhanced Affordable Care Act funds for another three years. The legislation failed by a vote of 51-48, with Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both Alaska Republicans, joining Democrats to support it.

The [GOP] bill, written by Sens. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and Bill Cassidy, R-La., failed by a vote of 51-48. Along with all Democrats, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., voted “no.” Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., missed both votes.

Oompa Loompa · 2025-12-11T16:00:22-0600

camille70 said:
Who are the vouchers payable to?

I assume it goes toward insurance premiums. Which, in a sense, is practically what is happening now. The only difference, as far as I can tell, is that people are no longer limited to selecting only what is available on the Obamacare marketplace. However, I can see a floodgate of fraud with pop-up fake insurance companies begging for your voucher money. I am afraid that the only solution is stop all subsidizing, and premiums will drop like a rock. When insurance companies realize that Uncle Sam is no longer giving everyone $2,000 per month to cover premiums, premiums will almost instantly drop by $2,000 within weeks, and their profits will crumble.

camille70 · 2025-12-11T18:43:26-0600

Oompa Loompa said:
I assume it goes toward insurance premiums. Which, in a sense, is practically what is happening now. The only difference, as far as I can tell, is that people are no longer limited to selecting only what is available on the Obamacare marketplace. However, I can see a floodgate of fraud with pop-up fake insurance companies begging for your voucher money. I am afraid that the only solution is stop all subsidizing, and premiums will drop like a rock. When insurance companies realize that Uncle Sam is no longer giving everyone $2,000 per month to cover premiums, premiums will almost instantly drop by $2,000 within weeks, and their profits will crumble.

When you stop subsidizing, then the insured pays 100%, which is what will happen if a solution isn't found. So people will most likely drop coverage, or choose a junk plans that don't meet aca standards of coverage. As I've posted before, those were supposed to be temporary plans lasting no more than 4 months, but Trump changed the rules so they can last up to 3 years.

The subsidy model isnt new with the ACA. It's the same model with employers. Employees pay part and the employer subsidizes the rest. Since its the govt exchange the govt takes on that role.

Aca participants have more choice than employees do. Short of changing to Medicare for all, this is the model we have to work with.

The profits wont crumble though, higher prices just get.passed on to the rest of us. Hospitals are still required to provide emergency care. We will be paying higher prices to compensate for the uninsured.

Oompa Loompa · 2025-12-11T18:46:50-0600

Swe o

Belk said:
So we are going not give money to health insurance by giving people money to give to the health insurance?

View attachment 374363

See post 258.

Obama care collapsing.....

Gumby

GOP faces a familiar dilemma: What to do about Obamacare?​

Fact-Based Lifeform

'No-win position': GOP careening towards crisis on health care plan​

GOP faces a familiar dilemma: What to do about Obamacare?​

Frustrated GOP barrels toward key health insurance vote without a clear plan​

Fact-Based Lifeform

ObamaCare anxiety rising among House GOP centrists: ‘To do this is buffoonery’​

Fact-Based Lifeform

Democrats will force a Senate vote on a 3-year extension of Affordable Care Act funds​

Well-Known Member

ObamaCare anxiety rising among House GOP centrists: ‘To do this is buffoonery’​

Fact-Based Lifeform

Why Senate Republicans aren't uniting behind a health care plan​

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Fact-Based Lifeform

Trump still hasn’t endorsed a plan to avoid impending Obamacare hikes for millions​

[redacted]

Well-Known Member

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Newbie

Senior Member

Stuck on a ship.

Fact-Based Lifeform

Senate rejects ACA funding and a Republican alternative with premiums set to spike​

Well-Known Member

Newbie

Well-Known Member

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