JMHO Loc: Utah

The short answer is; "no, and it never will."

http://townhall.com/columnists/johncgoodman/2014/09/13/is-obamacare-working-n1891034?utm_source=thdaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nl

robert66

Is Obamacare working? Yes according to Krugman ,blah ,blah, but they are cheerleaders for the law. Okay, that's a good point I guess but your reading this on Town Hall , that would say it wasn't , no matter what.

Dummy Boy Loc: Michigan

Apparently, the 38 million people that needed decided it was too expensive, maybe that number was a bit inflated? Is the current tally still less than 10 million, I lost interest.

mcjwelles

Still, it is the only alternative offered up to a system that was clearly NOT working. It isn't Entirely a failure, only parts.
It might be better to decipher What the specific problems are and try to fix them.
The emotional approach to this bill is ludicrous and only promotes hand-wringing and partisanship- not progress.

JMHO Loc: Utah

"a system that was clearly NOT working???????????" In what ways was it not working? If it was not working, why do patients travel to the USA from foreign countries, many whom have socialized medicine, to get MRI's and operations not available in their own countries? Why are "paid out of pocket" private health centers becoming more popular in several European countries with socialized medicine? Could it be the longer waits and lower quality care in their government run socialized medicine system? Did our old system have some faults, and need some reforms? Yes, but socialized medicine is not the answer. We are currently taking in record amount of tax dollars into the Treasury, and we're still running a $589 billion deficit. Obamacare is estimated to take up to 19% of a deficit ridden national budget when it is fully implemented. Doctors are already saying many are retiring early, others are leaving the industry, and others not entering the profession in our colleges. Obamacare will create doctor shortages, longer waits, lower quality care, higher healthcare costs, and shorter life expectancies for seniors. And, for the senior citizens in this forum, don't count on medicare because that is slated to be rolled over into Obamacare...and, good luck trying to get a medicare supplement insurance plan, at least one that will not cost an arm and a leg.

Remember, if Obamacare was so great, why has Obama delayed full implementation until 2015? This program is just in it's infancy, just wait until the full horrors of it come to fruitation with full implementation. The GOP has come up with several good ideas on how to reform the system, but the LSM won't cover them, and you socialists don't want to hear them, you just want something for nothing...just another entitlement program paid for by the taxpayers.

mcjwelles

I wish I could be more brief, that all my blather might carry your attention to the end but here goes:

First, whereas that was once true- that patients come here for their procedures, that has not been as true over the last decades. Also they came for, primarily the high-tech medicine we have been so good at and not general or prophylactic healthcare per se. During that period of declining influx of foreign patients our own stats of health and longevity have plummeted- Life expectancy, infant mortality, preventable disease- like Diabetes, a MAJOR contributor to the growing ranks of disabled- out of the workforce and onto the dole.
Our pharmaceuticals are too expensive compared with most other countries with no safety issues actually differentiating most. THe Pharmaceutical R&D cost still afford a handsome living for the companies...

The profit motive in the medical field has produced high earning Specialists but few GP's or Internal Medicine docs- so we have created a system that provides catastrophic intervention but not Preventative Care, which is FAR less expensive and kinder to basic quality of life in our population.

The cost of that specialized version of mechanical medicine is huge, not unlike never maintaining your car- no oil changes, no tires, no belts, etc and suddenly having a $3500 rebuild at 100,000 mi or a new car to replace a total loss.

In addition, using the ER for the common cold- e.g. basic healthcare, is like going to a brain surgeon for a splinter. That same situation of ER VS a previously unaffordable family practitioner creates indigent or scofflaw shortfalls that are made up through the escalating costs (medical as well as insurance) and us taxpayers, that means you.

It only stands to reason that the more (Currently) healthy who are Paying Ahead for the almost inevitable probability of of needing medical intervention at some point- or by better maintaining the vehicle against that probability- will create a System that is better quality health for all.

This is, of course, hard to swallow for the years of immortal youth period of our lives- particularly when entry jobs are so hard for the youth to come by...

Airforceone

Why the hell would anybody listen to a propaganda site like Town Hall. The mandate was delayed only because small business needed a little more time to implement. It's the GOPTP that fights the very part of the ACA that was a big part of there healthcare package put out by the Heritage foundation (mandate). Town Hall numbers are just a flat out lie. I have been reading the ACA and it's boring but what Town Hall has posted is a flat out Lie.

They are playing with numbers and just for example we are now seeing a decrease in Medicaid with people moving over to the ACA and paying premiums instead of free government assisted healthcare. Yes they receive a subsidies depending on there income but they are purchasing this insurance from the private sector. So what's better being covered 100% by the gov. Or covered in the private sector with subsidies.

Stop listening to News Day. They share the same facts as Fox news.

bahmer

Amen to that.

son of witless

If Obummer had not delayed the really bad stuff in Obummercare his poll numbers would be even worse. Talk to people who work in ERs and they will tell you that the slugs who know how to work the system, are still working the system. Under Obummercare they are still uninsured and getting their health care in the emergency rooms for free. These slugs just show up, drugged up, do not listen to any advice on taking responsibility for their own health, and do not care about the burdens they place on the ER staff.

Then you have people who have lost their health care plans due to the Obummer economy and job loss, or Obummer care declaring their plan " substandard ". These poor souls do not come into the ERs until they are almost dead because under Obummer they can not afford to ever get sick or injured. These are Obummer's victims. They do not know how to game the system like the slugs do.

son of witless

Why don't you crawl out from under your rock and see the sunshine. Do you know anyone who has been helped by Obamacare? Do not call it the Affordable Care Act because it is not ! I know people who have lost their jobs and their health care . They have told me that they cannot afford Obamacare and even if they could, the plans are really bad.

mcjwelles

Stop being so hysterical and panicky! Of COURSE there are large numbers of real people who have benefitted from ACA! Me for instance! I can afford decent insurance for the first time in 20 odd years. I don't know anybody, or of anybody, who has lost a job over ACA. I live in MD.
Q: why do you want universal healthcare to fail so badly- that you only read the info of detractors? Is it a statement about a well informed assessment of the bill or more a means of vilifying this president that you have learned to h**e so completely? I have my own issues with some of his policies but I also recognize some accomplishments I fully can endorse. It isn't an all-or-nothing proposition. He isn't running again- where is the dog in this fight?


quote=son of witless]Why don't you crawl out from under your rock and see the sunshine. Do you know anyone who has been helped by Obamacare? Do not call it the Affordable Care Act because it is not ! I know people who have lost their jobs and their health care . They have told me that they cannot afford Obamacare and even if they could, the plans are really bad.[/quote]

Ronald Hatt Loc: Lansing, Mich

As of 2016, "Obama care", will be in full swing, & the "death panels" will be "active", so.......SENIORS.......If you are ailing, you just might have to go to Canada, for treatment.......How is that for the "worm being turned"? All the Conservatives in the world, "probably" won't be able to "nullify" this "Obamanation", of a "forced" health bill, that will destroy our medical system, & America, as we have known it!

Ronald Hatt Loc: Lansing, Mich

This "bill" doesn't "have to" work.........[ any knowledgeable v**er, "KNOWS" it won't work, except in a "socialist" nation.

robert66

If they lost their jobs thereby having no income they could get insurance. This sounds like people who are not really trying but just making a protest at their own peril. My conservative friend says he will not even look into the plans, that he will just pay the fines, because he doesn't like the law. Sounds like this may be the case with people you know.

bahmer

Also according to the unaffordable care act there were a lot of individuals that were taken off of 40 hour full time with a healthcare plan and placed on under 30 hours with no healthcare plan because of this monstrosity. Around me people had to sell homes and try and downsize because of this unaffordable care act.