There are two problems with arguments that advocate repealing Obamacare…It’s really not so different from what we had before, so why bother? And Republicans and Democrats agree on the idea of the legislation, exempt the government class from policies that cost consumers more and provide less (while preserving their own benefits) in order to save government money.
Before Obamacare needed health care services were too expensive for American citizen wallets and that barrier to health care. Not the finite costs of checkups, but NEEDED HEALTH CARE. Money, remains for consumers. Arguably Obamacare worsens the situation because its mandated coverages have provided health insurers with an excuse to raise rates, yet the problem remains, NEEDED HEALTH CARE SERVICES ARE TOO EXPENSIVE FOR CONSUMERS.
Before Obamacare insurance companies narrowed provider networks to limit their costs and post-Obamacare insurers have narrowed their networks to limit costs, obviously a barrier to care if you have a choice of few providers who accept your health insurance. Arguably Obamacare worsens the situation since, as reported on July 16, 2015 on CNBC.com and elsewhere, “Obamacare policies on average had 42 percent fewer oncology and cardiology specialists available to patients,” Obamacare health plans: Enough doctor choice?” CNBC.com, DAN MANGAN, 7/16/2015. NARROW PROVIDER NETWORKS LIMIT CHOICE AND ARE A BARRIER TO CARE.
Before Obamacare millions of Americans were priced out of the health insurance market and post-Obamacare millions of Americans are left out of the health insurance market. Arguably, Obamacare worsens the situation since the government has reduced its payments to hospitals for the expenses of treating the uninsured. MILLIONS OF UNINSURED AMERICANS. This persists in spite of the law’s individual mandate that taxes many Americans who do not purchase health insurance.
Before Obamacare billions of dollars paid out by insurers and government on fraudulent claims, usually by providers not individuals were unrecovered and those costs were passed onto consumers. Arguably Obamacare worsens the situation by expanding payouts for premium assistance which have been found to be fraught with fraud, “Obamacare has a fraud problem,” July 15, 2015, Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar. GOVERNMENT AND INSURERS ARE NOT DOING ENOUGH TO AVOID WASTING MONEY ON FRAUDULENT PAYOUTS AND INSTEAD PASS THOSE COSTS ONTO CONSUMERS.
Before Obamacare many Americans were under-insured, in possession of policies that would leave them broke if they got sick. Arguably Obamacare worsens the situation by taking a vital consumer power away from citizens, the option to NOT purchase a faulty product. CONSUMERS OFTEN PURCHASE AN INSURANCE PRODUCT THAT LEAVES THEM AT RISK OF FINANCIAL RUIN IN THE FACE OF ILLNESS.
And the second problem: Republicans and Democrats agree that saving government money by taking more from consumers is the way to go.
When it comes to repealing Obamacare there is no purpose that benefits consumers. On the other hand, consumers must advocate meaningful changes to the law to protect our interests, an effective health insurance product that will actually protect us from financial devastation while we’re facing illness…The same problem we had before Obamacare.
