(1) If they repealed Obamacare and you had an issue they deemed a "pre-existing condition", you'd be kicked to the curb, despite your insurance. (2) Who is talking about Hillary? (3) Of course I'd have to deal with the repeal as well, that's why I was so opposed to it! Holy shit! (4) The current system needs to be fixed, not scrapped. (5) I don't mind if the government manages healthcare so long as I'm not denied coverage when I'm paying for it. (6) The rates have been rising for decades. Employers are cutting benefits, they have been for years. Bad combo.
WHN - you seem like a smart guy, but you don't have a clue on this topic. You are parrotting talking points:
1) Wasn't even true before Ocare. Once you had a policy, you could not have it taken away from you due to a little law called HIPAA. Now, if you were in the first year of your policy and lied on your application, you could lose it. But that should be the case. After the first year, you could not lose it. And those with pre-ex, in many states, could purchase coverage in the High Risk pool for that state. And here's an interesting thing - those high risk pool premiums are lower than Obamacare's rates today!
4) The current system could be fixed - but it would need radical changes. For insurance to work, rates must reflect, to some extent, health status. Otherwise healthy and young folks are paying way too much for insurance (think the 3-1 age rating limitation). It artificially inflates young people's premiums and artificially deflates older folks, and sicker folks (70%+ of health claims are directly tied to a person's health habits - for example, BMI). I applaud young people for not falling for the trap of overpaying for health insurance. Now, if the companies were allowed to rate appropriately for age and health status, it would bring in more young and healthy folks - which would reduce rates overall significantly. People do have significant control of how much health care they need, starting with their weight. Obviously, this is a huge area concern for our country in terms of future health care costs.
6) True, rates do rise every year. You can thank hospitals, docs and Rx for that. Insurance companies' margins, typically 2-4%, do not change. But the underlying costs keep rising. But the cost increase, beginning in 2014, has been much more dramatic. For example, in Iowa premiums are 250% of what they were in 2013. But here's the kicker - in addition, the average deductible has doubled - which is a hidden additional 100% increase. So they really are 350% higher than 2013. That is the cost of insuring the unhealthy and charging them the same cost as those who are healthy and not overweight. Costs prior to 2014 didn't go up 350% in 4 years - that I can guarantee.
The ACA has done some great things to help people of limited means get insurance. But the total number of people covered in the private market for individuals hasn't changed much. Yes, the Medicaid population increased signficantly, and that is a good thing. All we have done is replace those folks who were buying insurance, to have it before they got sick, and replaced them with people that are already sick - and now have access to insurance. Yes, that is a good idea - but the cost increase has driven those who normally purchase insurance, and do not get a tax payer subsidy, out of the market.
Adding all these unhealthy folks to the market, but yet charging them the same as healthy folks - well, imagine if states required auto insurers to charge the same premiums for good drivers and those with 11 DUI's - obviously the rates would skyrocket for everyone.
One last thing - as I know it is coming, as it is what Duff always does.... if you Duff can't respond without personal insults and name calling, then please don't. You typically don't add much to these discussions other than name calling, etc. You are not the only one that does this, of course, but are usually one of the most vocal .....
