ObamaCare vs. Affordable Care Act

Informal polls by newspapers and comedians and formal polls by Fox and CNN indicate that more people prefer the Affordable Care Act than Obamacare.

The Affordable Care Act contains a number of provisions that most people agree with:
(1) Children can stay on their parents’ healthcare plan until age 26.
(2) Insurance should be available to everyone without regard to preexisting conditions.
(3) Health insurance should follow people and not be cancelled if they leave their job.
(4) Insurance companies should be required to pay out most (85 percent) of the premiums they receive in benefits. (By comparison, the federal government pays out 97 percent even though most people believe private insurance companies are more efficient.)
(5) Most people believe it’s unfair that seniorsmust pay 100 percent of their drug costs above $2,700 up to over $6,000.
(6) Most people believe that access to preventative care will lower future healthcare costs.
(7) Most people believe that small businesses should get tax breaks for providing healthcare to their employees.

The Affordable Care Act does all that. So does Obamacare. They are the same law. Because a slice of voters hate President Obama, the Affordable Care Act, a Republican idea, has become the symbol of all that is wrong with government.

The day before Obamacare opened last week, various opponents on Fox News said:

“Pray we don’t get sick.”

“My mother can’t get her meds anymore.”

“My doctor had to close his practice.”

“Obamacare is the largest government program since World War II.” (Not close. Medicare Part D in 2006 – meds for those over 65 – cost more.”)

And that’s before Obamacare even started.

Almost 18 percent of every dollar spent in the United States is for healthcare. Someone – businesses, people, or the government– must pay for it. If businesses are saddled with healthcare costs, their products cost more and become less competitive in global markets. Few people can afford 18 percent of their income for healthcare; under Obamacare, the maximum is 9.5 percent. If government pays for healthcare, tax increases bring the wrath of the voter.

By covering the military and veterans, the poor, and the elderly, government pays close to half the national healthcare bill, but tens of millions of Americans aren’t in those categories and don’t have employer healthcare. Obamacare is for them.

Fifty years ago, Republicans objected to Medicare, health insurance for those over 65. Not so today despite the 2.9 percent wage tax that pays part – though not enough – of the cost. They don’t want to risk the wrath of 55 million voters who receive Medicare.
Here’s the real problem. If Obamacare works, that’s a lot of votes, so Republicans decided to shut down the government rather than provide healthcare to 30 million lower income Americans under age 65. Sen. Cruz (R-TX) was wrong to compare Obamacare to “Green Eggs and Ham.” Every parent knows that Dr. Seuss was saying, “Try it; you’ll like it.”

The political process is teaching people to hate government and to hate government assisted healthcare unless, of course, it’s their healthcare. Medicare is good government healthcare. Obamacare is bad government healthcare.

It’s all in the name.