Another CMS Study Confirms Obamacare Is Becoming The Unaffordable Care Act

[cow451]

Trust us
we need to pass this thing into law quickly
and then later we will find our what's in it.

Even the goats didn't buy that line.
And now we all suffer.
Obama sure is being quiet these days?

M-Bob

And the GOP alternative is ...?

 

[Tanj]

T
Obama sure is being quiet these days?

M-Bob

It's almost like he's not the president any more.

 

[FireDragon76]

Why is this surprising? Republicans hobbled the Affordable Care Act by passing laws sabotaging key aspects of the program, nor did they try to work with Obama in good faith to smoothly implement the program. Instead, Obama faced obstruction for no other reason than partisan gain.

I don't blame Obama for the challenges to the ACA. I blame Republicans where the fault squarely lies.

12 ways the GOP sabotaged Obamacare

 

[DaisyDay]

Yes, it really is.


Crossing the Border for Care
Frustrated by long waits, some Canadians are heading to the U.S. for medical treatment.


https://www.usnews.com/news/best-co...dians-increasingly-come-to-us-for-health-care

How many Canadians come to the US for treatment compared to how many Americans seek their care abroad? 52,513 Canadians sought treatment in other countries (not just the USA) in 2014, versus 11,000,000 Americans in 2016. Now, even allowing for the difference in population, 35,540,400 Canadians in 2014 v. 324,310,011 Americans the numbers belie your contention.
Top 10 Medical Tourism Destinations in the World

In 2016, over 11 million travelers left the shores of the US in search of different countries around the world seeking affordable healthcare. In a recent report by Visa and Oxford Economics, it was stated that this figure will grow by up to 25% every year for the next decade as the competition for health tourists between countries have becomes fiercer.

Of course, the poorest can't afford the travel option either and are forced to rely on GoFundMe.

 

[DaisyDay]

Trust us
we need to pass this thing into law quickly
and then later we will find our what's in it.

Repeating
that stupid bit
of disinformation
only highlights your lack
of understanding.

When the bill was in the process of being amended
it was impossible to know
which amendments would become law
before they were voted on.

 

[LoveOurNeighbor]

Serious question: what do you think will actually work and work better than those two options or what was there prior.

Honestly, at this point I don’t believe for profit insurance can be called anything but a negative for patients and the healthcare industry in general.

private insurance is a no value add drain of resources..the best they offer you is a hassle on payments

 

[DaisyDay]

Why is this surprising? Republicans hobbled the Affordable Care Act by passing laws sabotaging key aspects of the program, nor did they try to work with Obama in good faith to smoothly implement the program. Instead, Obama faced obstruction for no other reason than partisan gain.

I don't blame Obama for the challenges to the ACA. I blame Republicans where the fault squarely lies.

12 ways the GOP sabotaged Obamacare

Insurance providers who stayed in the market relying on the ACA's provision to reimburse the cost overruns for the sickest, most expensive patients have had to take their case to the Supreme Court which heard the arguments last week. The Trump administration argued that the insurance companies are required to reimburse clients when their costs are overestimated but tough luck if their costs are underestimated. As Donald so often does, the administration has reneged on its obligations.

Supreme Court Hears Another Obamacare Case, With A Twist

 

[variant]

Serious question: what do you think will actually work and work better than those two options or what was there prior.

Honestly, at this point I don’t believe for profit insurance can be called anything but a negative for patients and the healthcare industry in general.

Even non-profit insurance didn't do much of anything to bring down costs in the healthcare industry.

Insurance is simply the wrong way to approach this issue. The actual cost of medical care is why medical care is so expensive. Insurance seems to only hide some of the true cost of the system from the patient, which I think actually helps drive up prices.

Example:

In Need of a New Hip, but Priced Out of the U.S.

Cost of hip replacement in Belgium: $13,660

Cost in the US (for example): $26,000 to you and $86,317 to the insurance.

The total bill in the US for this instance was 112,317, so there is no way "insurance" can decrease the cost better than just having a overall cost of 1/10th the price.

What did the "insurance" do in this circumstance? It doubled the price for the patient, and multiplied the real price by a factor of 10.

Why would we want to pay someone to do that?

 

[LoveOurNeighbor]

instead of always striving to be number 1 in killing capability wouldn't it be a great leadership position to strive to be number 1 in taking care of our citizens.

 

[TLK Valentine]

The subsidies remain. The mandate was eliminated.

...by the GOP.

Funny how they can break one of your legs and then make fun of your limp.

Hopefully, we'll get something better. Neither Obamacare nor Medicare for all will work out well long term.

Well, the GOP has only had about a decade to come up with an alternative... give them time.

 

[DaisyDay]

The subsidies remain. The mandate was eliminated.

The Trump administration has decided not to reimburse the insurance companies who participated in the market for the promised portion of cost overages due to per-existing conditions. The Supreme Court is deciding the case.

 

[NightHawkeye]

The Trump administration has decided not to reimburse the insurance companies who participated in the market for the promised portion of cost overages due to per-existing conditions. The Supreme Court is deciding the case.

One wonders why insurance companies thought feeding at the public trough was a good idea.

Insurance companies are supposed to provide free-market alternatives to government healthcare. They knew that Obamacare was unsustainable ... but participated in the scam anyway.

"Just deserts" comes to mind. Is that too harsh?

 

[DaisyDay]

One wonders why insurance companies thought feeding at the public trough was a good idea.

One wonders why you would even think that were the case. The particular law cut both ways - if the insurance companies made too much profit, they were required to refund the excess and if they incurred too much debt from covering people with pre-existing conditions, they were to be reimbursed by the government.

Insurance companies are supposed to provide free-market alternatives to government healthcare.

No, it was not free-market - the insurance industry is heavily regulated. There were rules for participating in the market.

They knew that Obamacare was unsustainable ... but participated in the scam anyway.

The GOP has done its utmost best to make it unsustainable with no alternate solutions.

"Just deserts" comes to mind. Is that too harsh?

What is just about playing by the rules set up by the government only to have the rules changed after they paid out in good faith? Sabotage comes to mind...

 

[cow451]

One wonders why insurance companies thought feeding at the public trough was a good idea.

Insurance companies are supposed to provide free-market alternatives to government healthcare. They knew that Obamacare was unsustainable ... but participated in the scam anyway.

"Just deserts" comes to mind. Is that too harsh?

Do you know how Medicare and Medicaid and Tri Care are managed?

 

[NightHawkeye]

Do you know how Medicare and Medicaid and Tri Care are managed?

I do.

I've paid into Medicare for decades as I've worked. Medicare has been so bad that many physicians opted out of it until they couldn't any more. At some point, if I ever opt out of the work force, I'll apply for Medicare and recoup some of my investment, though I'll also pay for a supplemental policy for which I'll probably pay more than I'll ever recover in benefits from it. (Not that I'm complaining. Not using insurance is a good position to be in.) I've paid Medicare taxes for decades.

In contrast, Medicaid takes care of those in need of medical care who cannot afford it. Medicaid will claw back every dime it spends on you if you have any property though.

As for Tri-care, that's largely a benefit due service members, though they pay nominal fees for coverage.

Now, perhaps the next question should be: Do you know how Obamacare is managed?

 

[cow451]

I do.

I've paid into Medicare for decades as I've worked. Medicare has been so bad that many physicians opted out of it until they couldn't any more. At some point, if I ever opt out of the work force, I'll apply for Medicare and recoup some of my investment, though I'll also pay for a supplemental policy for which I'll probably pay more than I'll ever recover in benefits from it. (Not that I'm complaining. Not using insurance is a good position to be in.)

I've also paid Medicaid taxes for decades. Medicaid takes care of those in need of medical care who cannot afford it. Medicare will claw back every dime it spends on you if you have any property though.

As for Tri-care, that's largely a benefit due service members, though they pay nominal fees for coverage.

Now, perhaps the next question should be: Do you know how Obamacare is managed?

Do you know who processes all their medical claims? Do you know who does the bulk of network development? Private insurance companies that bid for these contracts. Just like the contractors that supply weaponry and support services for the most socialist entity in America: the United States Armed Forces.

 

[Gene2memE]

Seems to be a case of removing a wheel from a car, and then complaining that it's the manufacturer's fault its now harder to drive.

 

[NightHawkeye]

Do you know who processes all their medical claims? Do you know who does the bulk of network development? Private insurance companies that bid for these contracts. Just like the contractors that supply weaponry and support services for the most socialist entity in America: the United States Armed Forces.

One senses that you're NOT interested in a sincere conversation.

I answered your question to me ... while you ignored the only question I asked you.

 

[Fantine]

That is a very good justification for enacting a REAL national healthcare program and saving the 20 per cent and more that insurance companies charge.

 

[MorkandMindy]

...
I've also paid Medicaid taxes for decades. Medicaid takes care of those in need of medical care who cannot afford it. Medicare will claw back every dime it spends on you if you have any property though.
...

Thank you for that note of warning. I don't have any property at present, and I don't get medicare either because I only have 35 credits and need 40, but I'll carefully assess the situation if I'm ever at risk of getting medicare and owning anything.