A Failure of Public Policy and of Empathy
One unintended virtue of the government shutdown is that it has led many people to take a much closer look at the mechanics of Obamacare (or the Affordable Care Act, the official, much less-polarizing, name.) It's a big, confusing bill. But now that opposition to it has caused the government to shut down—and may cause a national default in two weeks—we're studying how it works. My instinct is that people will like it more as they learn more. Read this very interesting piece by Alex Koppelman, "Why Obamacare might help the man on Fox," explaining how the bill would change the insurance options for one pundit.
And this morning there's a devastating story in the New York Times about a failure of public policy involving the bill. The ACA is supposed to help everyone get health insurance. For many people who aren't well off, it does this through subsidizing their purchase of health care on exchanges. For very poor people, it does this through an expansion of Medicaid. But states are allowed to opt out of the Medicaid expansion and because the Affordable Care Act has become such a polarizing issue, many states run by Republican governors have indeed opted to decline the federal subsidies. As a result, there's a group of people who are totally left out: they're not poor enough to get the Medicaid that states currently offer but they're too poor to qualify for the exchange subsidies. A disproportionate number are people of color. The NYT interviews a woman living with her brother in Virginia who is thinking of moving back to Maryland, even though it might mean she has to live in her car.
There have been some rays of hope in the negotiations in the last day. It's not inconceivable that the mess will end by combining good Republican ideas (like indexing inflation more accurately) with good Democrat ideas and good American ideas (like not letting one faction in one party threaten economic calamity every time there's a need to increase the debt ceiling). Let's hope that happens—and that we figure out a solution to the current Medicaid mess. It's not rational; it's not sensible. It's not good social policy to have a class of people who would be helped if they were just a little bit richer or a little bit poorer.
Photo: Nata-Lia/Shutterstock.com
Covenant University, Cameroon
9yno policy can ever favour everyone at the same time but it will eventually favour all if individuals decide to participate
The Wright Words - Owner/Author - Concise Professional Copy
11yAnother packed house preaching to the quire. Seriously what is enought and. What do any of you rely know or care about the needs uf the working poor? Their jobs took away insurance & benefits, outsourced their jobs, and their stock rose. Not enough? Come on over and learn as we tour the working poor. People who have worked all their lives and are throwaways '@ 65. You should be ashamed to justify an attack on democracy like the shutdown . If I were in the 1% I would be grateful and keep a low profile. Not "stage" politics and bemoan a fical burden created but GOP LEADERS and try to blame it on America's first black president. Don't like it? Criticism is cheap, do something to help that doesn't snack of cronyism and self interest.
HIGH PERFORMANCE DRIVING INSTRUCTOR at H.P.D.E. INTL LLC
11yThe mechanics of Obama (not only OBAMACARE) is to convert our country into the UNITED STATES SOCIALIST REPUBLIC. We can notice the Marxist tendencies of is presidency.
Executive Assistant to the Chairman at W. Silver, INC.
11yThis whole thing is smoke and mirrors. REALLY you believe they want to shutdown Affordable Care Act. Then you better take a long hard look at the players in this scenario. 1. Who is the contractor hire to roll out ACA. General Information Technology who by the way bought Vangent just after it was awarded the contract....(check out who sat on the board of this company in the last 5 years......) 2. Who is the subcontractor who was hired to run the call center you ask BLACK-TURTLE whose offices are based in Mumbai, New Dehli and Bangalore, India. Where is the call center located you ask? Layton, UT in the Mormons and Orrin Hatch (R) (big republican) back yard. One of the same Republicans who is saying "ObamaCare" is sooooo bad for the country. It is interesting to me that we couldn't possibly find a company in the US that could handle this without shipping OUR TAX DOLLARS out of the the Country. I also find it interesting that the biggest blowhards seem to fall into 1500 or more jobs for their so called constituency that think the whole act should be scrapped. ACA has turned out to be two things 1. a way to get into EVERYONES private medical information. 2. a PORK BARREL and Federal TEAT both Democrats and Republicans are enjoying. So if you think that either of them want this to shut down. Just try and pry either side from their TAX DOLLAR SUCKING MOUTHS.
BSN RNC OB, C-EFM, C-ONQS Celebrating 37 years in Obstetric Nursing.
11yAs a nurse and a mother of a 28 year old with no insurance......the ACA is just one big tax.....it is sold as an answer to provide health care for the masses at last fair for all. It in the end may cost me my job......hospitals will shut down due to decreased reimbursement or in some instances no reimbursement at all then possible fines if it does not comply that will shut down hospitals.....the list is too long to list here......ACA yes it needs to be looked at and real practicing Dr.'s and nurse's give imput. The more I hear the less job security I feel.