Harold Pollack and Greg Anrig make the case this week that President Obama brushed past the Affordable Care Act in his State of the Union address, which is a shame because the health-reform law has become a "quiet triumph."
[S]urprising even to many advocates of health care reform, evidence is emerging that the ACA is already improving life for millions of average Americans. It is promoting long-overdue fundamental changes in our dysfunctional medical system. Moreover, because those reforms are starting to directly address heightened economic insecurities of average families -- the personal financial conditions that will largely determine this year's election outcomes -- President Obama would be wise to more forcefully and more specifically explain how his health care bill is already helping millions of vulnerable families and the country as a whole.
Sure, financially-pressured families will celebrate the derring-do of Seal Team Six. They should directly appreciate the immediate impact of improved insurance coverage and reduced medical costs.
There's ample evidence to bolster the Pollack/Anrig thesis. Much of the Affordable Care Act won't take effect until 2014 -- assuming it survives until then -- but several provisions that have already been implemented are having a positive impact.
The health care law (1) is combating fraud and abuse, which in turns saves Americans quite a bit of money; (2) has brought coverage to 2.5 million young adults; (3) is delivering major savings to seniors on prescription drugs; (4) is giving a boost to small businesses through ACA tax credits; (5) has slowed the growth of Medicare spending; (6) has provided new treatment options for cancer patients; and (7) has offered new coverage protections for those with pre-existing conditions.
These are tangible, real-world benefits, making a meaningful difference in people's lives. As Pollack and Anrig concluded, "Health reform has already improved the humanity and effectiveness of our health care system. President Obama is entitled, and obliged, to embrace his own signature domestic policy accomplishment."
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Could Rachel please interview Dr. Otis Brawley MD,co-author of "How We Do Harm"?
He is the head of the American Cancer Society, as well as a practicing oncologist. I have not read the book yet, but it looks to be an expose written by an insider. Pairing him up with Wendall Potter would be even better.
I was also disappointed at how little attention ACA got in the SOTU. It was a great opportunity to inform a nationwide audience about the benefits of the legislation...legislation that is attacked a 1,000 times in the media for every one time that it is defended.
The BBC News Magazine has an interesting article today titled "How 'Europe' Became a Dirty Word in the US Election" by Brian Wheeler who explores Europe's 'cradle to grave' welfare provision..which is at the heart of the center right government of UK and Germany.
It also shows the differences in health care, unemployment benefits, and public/privately run industries in UK, Germany, And France.
Steve, thank you so much for that link to pre-existing condition coverage information. I may be able to get insurance now that I might be able to afford.
@MsJoanne, please remember this on election day. You are now able to afford health insurance and bypass pre-existing conditions because of ACA.
That seems a little condescending. Has MsJoanne previously indicated she isn't intending to vote for Obama?
It probably didn't even cross her mind. I work with someone who's child is sick & has been almost since birth, the fact that she hasn't been "kicked off of the rolls" because her child is sick never occurred to her to thank the ACA & the President that made it part of his platform!!
Ultimately, it's the Matt Lauers and Brian Williams (to use NBC examples) who decide what was important in the SOTU. Obama did a good job of forcing the inequality issue with the proposed 30% AMT for millionaires. Matt, Brian and the "fact checkers" would have rather focused on an Obamacare statistic. The truth is somewhat irrelevant if they can find a counter argument. Politically, it's probably a good idea to let the children scream a little while longer before telling them to calm down.
Why dont we see any new polls on how Americans feel about the health care act now?When it was controversial CNN (the tea party channel) was running a new poll everyday.NBC/Marist has'nt ran any either,nor Gallup.If republicans are going to keep bashing Obama on health care lets see how it polls now.
From all of my reading, the HCA is still unpopular, but what is in the HCA is wildly popular. This tells us that too many people don't know what the HCA actually is (and is not, as in Death Panels, and all that crap).
Dems need to do a better job of explaining what the HCA is. For all most people know is that "that danged guberment is gonna force us to buy insurance we don't want."
I think you answered your own question there. They haven't been spreading the hate news about it, so they're not going to poll it, it might actually reflect the way americans actually feel about something, instead of how they are told to feel about something.
It also depends on the wording of the poll. If you ask people how they feel about Obamacare the answer comes back staunchly negative. If you ask them how they feel about the Affordable Care Act the answer come back slightly more positive. And, as has already been pointed out, if you explain what the bill does people overwhelmingly support it. If that doesn't show the dangers of repeated talking points, I don't know what else does.
If you tell anyone only the good aspects of something they will always approve of it. Try telling the horrible facts about it and people may think otherwise.
Not so much a comment, but a question on a benefit not listed on here. In August, many people may be getting refunds back from their insurance company. If I owned a business, and a significant proportion of my employees got those refunds, would that, could that, be a statistic I could use to renegotiate the contract I have with the insurance company to lower their premiums?
I retired early (55) with a health care benefit from my employer (until I am 65 and go on medicare) that paid 100% of most stuff after a deductible. They increased my deductible and dropped coverage to 90% and blamed the affordable health care act. The said they were going to drop it again to 80% this year but they have not. Who knows if it was just an excuse or not but I don't think they should not change my plan after I retire. It is too late to change my mind. I still have a pretty good plan and I am grateful but my retirement income is pretty small until I draw S.S. and start taking my IRA money when I reach 62. I could be in trouble if they continue to cut and my heath care costs go up.
Don,
I could copy your entire post and put my name over it. My question is "Without the AFA would they have raised it even more and collected more profits?"
This act impacted me in a couple other ways. My grown daughter was recently diagnosed with cancer. As we were working through the possible future outcomes she said that even if the cancer went into remission she would be stuck in her job forever because of it being a preexisting condition.
As her parent I have felt so powerless to do anything for her so I was grateful to tell her that, "No, that is against the law now"
My 92 year old Grand mother lives on $900 a month. When she was at the drugstore to pick up her monthly medicines she was suprised when she didn't need to give her usual $40 payment. I tried to explain it but I don't really know if she understood. How health care and the AFA works is an vast mystery.
I think a lot of America is like my grandmother. How health care and the AFA works is an vast mystery to most of us. From my perspective, it has helped me and the ones I love and I'm grateful for the help. There maybe some bad parts in it but at least someone tried to do something.
Not complaining. I have it better than most. Before the affordable health care act I did have a lifetime limit and that has been eliminated so they had to provide less somewhere else.
It is indeed a problem that everything we hear about this bill comes only in the form of its cost, not its benefits. And worse, the only thing we hear about the cost is not even a factual analysis, just some Republican claiming something that hasn't even taken full affect is causing the bankrupt of the country.
In the midst of all the negative campaigning that has been going on in the Republican Primary, one would like to think that this is exactly the kind of positive outcome some people want to hear about.
I think at this point the Obama SuperPac and his campaign should spend their money in exactly this kind of messages. Point out what he has done right and have that pounded into the head of the American people. The negative campaigning can wait until all the circus work is over. One of the thing I find appalling from all the Republican campaigns are their way of answering any questions we all have: "President Obama has made things worse and anybody can do better." yet, I have not heard any one of them bother to answer how they can do better.
I would like to hear one of them explain how somebody with cancer and is currently on chemotherapy can do better with a $5000 voucher when they can't get a medical insurance. The cost of drugs for the chemotherapy for 8 weeks is about $800. On top of that (s)he will have to get an MRI to monitor the cancer, each MRI cost around $1500. These cost does not include doctor fee, lab fee, transportation fee, etc, etc.
There was a reason why none of the Republican Governors who opened their mouth criticizing about the program never took the President challenge of opt-ing out from the program if they have a better solution for the people in their state.
Can we please compare these benefits and their costs thus far with the CBO predictions? Also, is there a continuing track effort with re: MA Health Plan? Those of us who believe in the Fed plan are going to need solid arguments...the RParty want's it's repeal so much, that every Pres. Nomin. Candidate promises just that. God help us.
Just an anecdote: a right-leaning colleague of mine last spring said to me, "I don't like Obamacare, but at least my son (just graduated from college, not yet working full-time with benefits, living at home) can be covered under my husband's insurance."
Translation: "I don't like Obamacare except when it benefits me. All the others who benefit are just a bunch of free-loaders." I hope you took the chance to enlighten her a little bit!
Someone ought to do a scientific poll where they ask people about the different parts of the Affordable Care Act without actually mentioning ACA and then see if they are for or against it. I would love to see their results!
Obama and the Dems have to sell the health care bill. Romney is going to draw attention to his bill if he attacks the health care bill in the elections.
Romneycare is one of the reasons his own party's voters despise him. I really can't see any attack on Obamacare being effective. It's too easy to refute simply by pointing out the programs' similarities.
Romney is such a whore for votes that he will promise to repeal "Obamacare" and that will paint him into a corner. Then Obama can move in for the kill.
Rachel, im one of those people who could have used help for the last 3 yrs and cant get any assistance from the gov since my cobra, unemployment, and working fortunes ran out. Im disappointed in that respect because my medical conditions will last forever and the quagmire that is Social Security because of the process wont help me either. Even with employment the options the state of Ill and the gov offers arent cheep and I still havent had insurance in over 4 yrs so there is still tons of work to do. That being said before I got sick I was a social worker and helped others get the things they needed such as this and financial support , now that im in their shoes I cant get anything, its frustrating but even having said that I know their are people out there worse off than myself so I feel blessed to still fight for a better day. Keep pushing america a ton of folks really need the help and we need to be unified and not angry in order to get there !
While people are and will continue to be helped, the basic framework of the program is still unsustainable b/c it did not eliminate the healthcare-for-profit model based on insurance companies looking to maximize shareholder value. With enough regulation, the ACA should be fairly effective at improving access and affordability of healthcare, but it is, structurally speaking, a bandaid that should be used for no longer than it takes to ram universal care into law.
Amen to that! We need "Medicare - Part E" > Medicare for Everyone. It is cheaper than you think and would save most people and employers serious $$. It would increase the medicare tax from 1.45% each to about 6.5-7.0% but we would all get our health and welfare insurance premiums back. In my own case, it works out to approx. $1500 cheaper for both me and my employer.
Part E for Everyone. That's very catchy. Someone should campaign on that slogan.
Thanks. And I have done the math, using my own stats. I'm a union carpenter in MN. I have good ins. But I started with the total healthcare bill for the nation. you can find all this online with a little searching.
I wish someone WOULD campaign on that slogan
To all the people out there who spent their days ranting against universal health care, do any of you know what it means?
I am a Federal retiree, and I was very surprised that my Federal Health Insurance premium went DOWN for the first time in years!
I read this on a friends Facebook wall and want to know if it's true:
"President Obama and HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius recently announced that Catholics MUST pay into insurance policies that cover abortion, contraception, and sterilization -- NO conscience clauses will be accepted. "
Can anyone out there verify or deny?
Any business that provides medical services to the public, such as Catholic hospitals, must provide contraception or provide information on where the patient can acquire contraception upon admittance to the hospital. The hospital cannot opt out on religious grounds. No hospital is forced to provide abortion services, but they are forced to provide women's health care services (which would include ovary removal or tube tying). Catholics aren't being forced to pay into anything beyond any other particular individual- this is just saying that a religious institution that provides public health services, again like an emergency hospital, cannot opt out to provide health services to women. Doing so would be a violation of the Civil Rights Act and the 14th Amendment.
Also, CHURCHES are still exempt from providing health insurance coverage for birth control and abortion, just other institutions (i.e. hospitals) affiliated with the Catholic church cannot deny such coverage to their employees (many of whom are not Catholic.) Also, studies show more than 95% of Catholic women use birth control at some time in their lives.
I'm so glad to see people benefitting from the ACA, so many Republicans ignore the fact of what will disappear if they repeal this important step in Healthcare Reform. Healthcare should be a right not a privilege.
Unfortunately i fell through the cracks, was dropped from my health insurance. 21 Y/o college student, am not supported by parents, don't even live with them, and don't have coverage themselves which they lost and how i lost mine. Medicaid told me no once. I hope i can find a job with health benefits when i graduate, it does eat at my nerves sometimes. Though Im grateful that I'm young, and healthy.
We need Medicare for All, people can still purchase supplemental private insurance, but everyone has access to healthcare. I feel there will still be too many people who fall through the cracks, especially if the Republicans undermine the ACA.
The shock will come when unemployment goes up due to the new health care bill. My brother's wage is getting cut in half and his hospital has layed staff off twice in the last 3 months to prepare for the loss in revenue because of the new healtcare bill.
This may just be an excuse his employer is using. With the exception of a possible reduction in the amount of Medicare reimbursement, I am not aware of anything in ACA which would affect the payment to hospitals from private health insurance companies. However, lots of employers may make claims that pay cuts and lay-offs are related to the ACA when they are actually not.
Has anybody looked at how repealing Obamacare and Medicare and Medicaid and Medicare Prescription D benefits would affect our economy. The Republicans keep screaming about doing away with everything, but that would take billions of $$$ out of our economy. Oh sure, the 1% and those with good insurance would be able to pay. But I'm 68 with an auto-immune disease. There is NO WAY I could get any kind of insurance. One of my treatments costs $17,000, plus the 14 other medicines I take every day. Now think about the millions and millions of elderly getting part D benefits not going to pharmacies any longer, or hospitals, or doctors, or clinics, or getting MRI's or X-Rays and you get the picture.
Huge response of comments. Always since its inaugural signing and implimentation of the bill has there been a great amount of debate. Certainly there are many sides to this controversy although what stands to be currently is that the program is available now.
Those that have conditions such as Diabetics, cancer, heart conditions and diseases,strokes and many more can now get major medical full comprehensive affordable coverage that they deserve. Check for eligibility by visiting the www.preexistingconditioninsuranceplan.com site for details.
What the future holds for the reform remains to be seen but for now we do have it.
The reform has created much concern and controversy. For the moment those with conditions such as Diabetics or health conditions like heart disease or cancer diagnosed today can get medical care that they are needing to recover. WHile no other carrier will take the risk which would be very costly no other choices would be available to them. The pcip plan http://preexistingconditioninsuranceplan.com is available to assist them in getting coverage.
Hopefully it will be ironing out the wrinkles to find the happy medium to satisfy everyone but for now seems to be ongoing debate. As for the moment it is available for the future, I think we are all unsure.