Wow - I kept meaning to read this and glad I saved it. I'm on Medicare and I wonder how this could affect that as well. Assuming no one would be unaffected somehow? Just proves how messed up the costs of health care are in this country.
This feeds into the guiding principle of the Democratic Party which is essentially what both John and John Q. Adams said was the purpose of government, to wit “to improve the lives of the people.” It is time to triple down. Take those two presidents’ principle and make it the mantra of the party, an overarching North Star that transcends (but does not in any way exclude) the particular motivations of individual party factions. To drive home the importance of this and related issues and to send the message that these are no ordinary times, change the name to The Democracy Party.
Aren't there a lot of Republicans who would be upset to have health insurance premiums quadrupled? As long as you call it Affordable Health Care Act, many seem to like and are dismayed when you tell them it is the same as Obama Care.
It seems everything is sliding backwards. I remember Hilary Clinton's attempt at reform. Many people I knew in Philadelphia were on her focus group panels. We were so excited about her plans. She went to Congress, and at first they loved her plan and praised her. Then the Insurance companies started running big ads and commercials that brought up ridiculous claims of the harm being done. That was that for reform.. Thank the Insurance companies, Lawmakers, and the courts for our declining health and lifespans.
Did you know people in Costa Rica have a longer life expectancy than the US. They live to be over 80 because most of their healthcare money is spent on Primary and preventative care. They spend a fraction of what we do and live longer
Special interest groups have the power to control our government. Until we get them out of campaigns and lobbying we will not have adequate health care in this country.
Excellent explanation and breakdown as always, Jonathan! I appreciate your use of those dying genres: facts and data. Temporarily extending the tax cuts allows the Republicans to avoid the pain until after the mid-terms. Schumer and Jeffries (and Ken Martin) are not the leaders for this moment. Nothing can be temporary now because the far right is playing for the destruction of our country. The overarching issue is wealth inequality. There are hard numbers out there about how much the rich benefited from tax cuts, how much big oil and other industries (anyone remember Elon Musk?) get in corporate welfare, and how much wealth has moved to the rich at the expense of the rest of us under Republican leadership. Republican policies benefit the wealthy. Professor Reich has so much material on this. Why Democrats can't stick to that message is mind boggling.
The deficit hawks will oppose continuing the ACA subsidy expansion. It will take a veto proof majority to enact extension of the expanded subsidy. This means a substantial number of Republican legislators willing to stand up against the MAGA agenda will need to vote for it.
Jonathan, You are to commended for the extraordinary amount of work and research you put into this comprehensive article. It's time to see if Republicans care about ordinary folks or just the billionaire donor class and Trump. Democrats should go into this fight with a laundry list of demands all designed to bolster the prospects of the ordinary, hard working Joe's. They should come out now and illuminate the public on their intention to deliver for the American people. All of them. If the Republicans balk, then shut it down and hang the albatross around their lying necks.
Do industry experts foresee this issue coming under the soft secession movement? Would/could states that have already formed Healthcare Alliances (1 in the west and 1 in the northeast) band together to pool insureds or are there legal hurdles to that? I can definitely see cultural other risk factors that would make single state payer systems a more likely step but this really hurts small population states.
If the government does not shut down the Republicrats will be the clear winners and business as usual will continue with the T. Rump criminal enterprise running the show. If the government shutdown scheduled for the end of this month actually happens it will probably trigger a declaration of a 'national security emergency ' by The Don who will grant extraordinary powers to the duly elected administration to deal with the 'emergency'. Since the Legislative and Judicial Branches are now irrelevant to the operation of the duly elected T. Rump criminal enterprise funding will continue under the new powers now operating without opposition for the duration of the 'emergency'. In a best case scenario Congress and SCOTUS can take a much needed vacation for however long. The worst case scenario plays out about like it did in 1861. History is a hoot.
WTF are temporary extensions going to accomplish??? Nothing! Absolutely nothing! A stay of execution for the GOP cucks in Congress who have sat in their chair and watched the MAGA regime rape the USA. No. No temporary extensions. All those representatives from red states who say "hell no" deserve what's coming to them. There cannot be mercy here, for the other side doesn't understand it. You cannot meet an honorless foe with honor — they'll just cut your throat and call it a victory. Don't bail them out, let them feel the consequences of their own actions. I think the conservatives call that "tough love". Maybe it's time for them to feel how it is.
We need universal health care. It is ridiculous. We were on ACA for a long time and I am SO GLAD we had it... but... if this was what we were faced with? Catastrophic.
Democrats need to demand full restoration of Medicaid & ACA benefits or they will lose their core constituency. We never needed tax breaks for billionaires
Many Americans when polled said they really like the Affordable Care Act, but hate Obamacare. I onboard employees at my company and when I discuss our healthcare benefits and how preventative care is covered in full, etc. I intentionally alternate between calling it ACA and Obamacare because the messaging on the right has people not understanding that they are the same thing.
I say don't create a crisis but also don't try and stop a crisis if it is the natural course of events.
Each Democrat should vote for whatever is best for their district which is why they were elected in the first place. Don't turn this into a vote for the national Democratic Party. Democrats shouldn't demand anything each member should vote for or against. I assume most will vote against but keep the leadership out of any attempts to negotiate with Republicans or whip the caucus into uniting for the final vote. Let the Republicans take all the risks of passing this garbage bill.
Definitely don't shut down the government over items that can be negotiated and then unilaterally rescinded by the Republicans or ignored by Trump.
When and if the subsidies are taken away and insurance is lost for their constituents I doubt they can campaign on "It was a big mistake and the Democrats let me do it!" Meanwhile Democrats can actually campaign on what was lost and promise to restore that. This is more powerful than "Vote for me because I saved you from losing your insurance because we threatened to shut down the government!"
Also shutting down the government actually would enhance Trump's ability to direct discretionary money wherever he wants.
"They say it’s bad for health care and bad for the economy, especially given that the money ultimately comes from taxpayers." Yes, and the taxpayers paying for it are the working class because billionaires get to write off a yacht and a new plane and god knows what else. We can't even write off our costs for getting to work, let alone the car we commute in. In whose mind is it fair that somebody who works 2 or more minimum wage jobs pays a larger percentage of their income in taxes than Elon Musk?
I don't understand why Republicans believe that rich people shouldn't pay taxes. Is it JUST because those rich people keep getting them elected or is there truly a policy reason why they believe this. Please don't say "trickle down" economics. Nothing ever trickles downs except the cost of everything we give to billionaires showing up as taxes or lost benefits for the poor and the working class (there is no longer a middle class in the United States -- professionals are in the same boat we are -- mostly from student loans).
It’s because rich people fund their campaigns to keep them in their seats. If Citizens United was repealed, Republicans would have to run on their lousy policies & would lose
That's what I think too. I was just hoping that some former Republican could explain it in a way that doesn't mean they are all corrupt. I just keep hoping...
Darn, when I read this over, the "it's bad for health care" part hit me right between the eyes. HOW is it "bad for health care"? We are the only (former) liberal democracy in the world with for profit health care. It isn't bad for health care, it's bad for health care corporations who shouldn't even exist. Medicare works great. If I lost my health insurance because we moved to Medicare for All, I would pay a bigger copay when I went to the doctor, but that's a sacrifice I'd be willing to make for my fellow Americans. Of course, I haven't done the math and I'm getting older, but I might even have more money at the end of the month since I wouldn't be paying $250 a month for the insurance.
We pay over $300 a WEEK! Over $16,000 a year for our portion of the premium. We moved to a self insured plan a couple of years ago. In one meeting alone there were 4 of us from my company, 3 insurance brokers, 1 rep from the insurance company, 2 reps from the pharmacy benefit manager, and a rep from the captive. It's hard to think of a more inefficient system.
I understand that I'm lucky -- I worked for the government for 38 years. My brother-in-law retired from the local school system and will be automatically enrolled in Medicare next month. The $187/month for Medicare is no problem but his insurance through his retirement plan, due to some complex family stuff, will go UP $600.00 a month. For profit medicine is a license to steal.
Wow - I kept meaning to read this and glad I saved it. I'm on Medicare and I wonder how this could affect that as well. Assuming no one would be unaffected somehow? Just proves how messed up the costs of health care are in this country.
This feeds into the guiding principle of the Democratic Party which is essentially what both John and John Q. Adams said was the purpose of government, to wit “to improve the lives of the people.” It is time to triple down. Take those two presidents’ principle and make it the mantra of the party, an overarching North Star that transcends (but does not in any way exclude) the particular motivations of individual party factions. To drive home the importance of this and related issues and to send the message that these are no ordinary times, change the name to The Democracy Party.
Aren't there a lot of Republicans who would be upset to have health insurance premiums quadrupled? As long as you call it Affordable Health Care Act, many seem to like and are dismayed when you tell them it is the same as Obama Care.
It seems everything is sliding backwards. I remember Hilary Clinton's attempt at reform. Many people I knew in Philadelphia were on her focus group panels. We were so excited about her plans. She went to Congress, and at first they loved her plan and praised her. Then the Insurance companies started running big ads and commercials that brought up ridiculous claims of the harm being done. That was that for reform.. Thank the Insurance companies, Lawmakers, and the courts for our declining health and lifespans.
Did you know people in Costa Rica have a longer life expectancy than the US. They live to be over 80 because most of their healthcare money is spent on Primary and preventative care. They spend a fraction of what we do and live longer
Special interest groups have the power to control our government. Until we get them out of campaigns and lobbying we will not have adequate health care in this country.
This should be the very minimum that Dems ask for.
Excellent explanation and breakdown as always, Jonathan! I appreciate your use of those dying genres: facts and data. Temporarily extending the tax cuts allows the Republicans to avoid the pain until after the mid-terms. Schumer and Jeffries (and Ken Martin) are not the leaders for this moment. Nothing can be temporary now because the far right is playing for the destruction of our country. The overarching issue is wealth inequality. There are hard numbers out there about how much the rich benefited from tax cuts, how much big oil and other industries (anyone remember Elon Musk?) get in corporate welfare, and how much wealth has moved to the rich at the expense of the rest of us under Republican leadership. Republican policies benefit the wealthy. Professor Reich has so much material on this. Why Democrats can't stick to that message is mind boggling.
The deficit hawks will oppose continuing the ACA subsidy expansion. It will take a veto proof majority to enact extension of the expanded subsidy. This means a substantial number of Republican legislators willing to stand up against the MAGA agenda will need to vote for it.
Jonathan, You are to commended for the extraordinary amount of work and research you put into this comprehensive article. It's time to see if Republicans care about ordinary folks or just the billionaire donor class and Trump. Democrats should go into this fight with a laundry list of demands all designed to bolster the prospects of the ordinary, hard working Joe's. They should come out now and illuminate the public on their intention to deliver for the American people. All of them. If the Republicans balk, then shut it down and hang the albatross around their lying necks.
Jonathan, thank you for your work.
Do industry experts foresee this issue coming under the soft secession movement? Would/could states that have already formed Healthcare Alliances (1 in the west and 1 in the northeast) band together to pool insureds or are there legal hurdles to that? I can definitely see cultural other risk factors that would make single state payer systems a more likely step but this really hurts small population states.
If the government does not shut down the Republicrats will be the clear winners and business as usual will continue with the T. Rump criminal enterprise running the show. If the government shutdown scheduled for the end of this month actually happens it will probably trigger a declaration of a 'national security emergency ' by The Don who will grant extraordinary powers to the duly elected administration to deal with the 'emergency'. Since the Legislative and Judicial Branches are now irrelevant to the operation of the duly elected T. Rump criminal enterprise funding will continue under the new powers now operating without opposition for the duration of the 'emergency'. In a best case scenario Congress and SCOTUS can take a much needed vacation for however long. The worst case scenario plays out about like it did in 1861. History is a hoot.
WTF are temporary extensions going to accomplish??? Nothing! Absolutely nothing! A stay of execution for the GOP cucks in Congress who have sat in their chair and watched the MAGA regime rape the USA. No. No temporary extensions. All those representatives from red states who say "hell no" deserve what's coming to them. There cannot be mercy here, for the other side doesn't understand it. You cannot meet an honorless foe with honor — they'll just cut your throat and call it a victory. Don't bail them out, let them feel the consequences of their own actions. I think the conservatives call that "tough love". Maybe it's time for them to feel how it is.
We need universal health care. It is ridiculous. We were on ACA for a long time and I am SO GLAD we had it... but... if this was what we were faced with? Catastrophic.
Thank you for this!
Democrats need to demand full restoration of Medicaid & ACA benefits or they will lose their core constituency. We never needed tax breaks for billionaires
Why don’t you call it by it’s proper name: ACA
Many Americans when polled said they really like the Affordable Care Act, but hate Obamacare. I onboard employees at my company and when I discuss our healthcare benefits and how preventative care is covered in full, etc. I intentionally alternate between calling it ACA and Obamacare because the messaging on the right has people not understanding that they are the same thing.
I say don't create a crisis but also don't try and stop a crisis if it is the natural course of events.
Each Democrat should vote for whatever is best for their district which is why they were elected in the first place. Don't turn this into a vote for the national Democratic Party. Democrats shouldn't demand anything each member should vote for or against. I assume most will vote against but keep the leadership out of any attempts to negotiate with Republicans or whip the caucus into uniting for the final vote. Let the Republicans take all the risks of passing this garbage bill.
Definitely don't shut down the government over items that can be negotiated and then unilaterally rescinded by the Republicans or ignored by Trump.
When and if the subsidies are taken away and insurance is lost for their constituents I doubt they can campaign on "It was a big mistake and the Democrats let me do it!" Meanwhile Democrats can actually campaign on what was lost and promise to restore that. This is more powerful than "Vote for me because I saved you from losing your insurance because we threatened to shut down the government!"
Also shutting down the government actually would enhance Trump's ability to direct discretionary money wherever he wants.
"They say it’s bad for health care and bad for the economy, especially given that the money ultimately comes from taxpayers." Yes, and the taxpayers paying for it are the working class because billionaires get to write off a yacht and a new plane and god knows what else. We can't even write off our costs for getting to work, let alone the car we commute in. In whose mind is it fair that somebody who works 2 or more minimum wage jobs pays a larger percentage of their income in taxes than Elon Musk?
I don't understand why Republicans believe that rich people shouldn't pay taxes. Is it JUST because those rich people keep getting them elected or is there truly a policy reason why they believe this. Please don't say "trickle down" economics. Nothing ever trickles downs except the cost of everything we give to billionaires showing up as taxes or lost benefits for the poor and the working class (there is no longer a middle class in the United States -- professionals are in the same boat we are -- mostly from student loans).
It’s because rich people fund their campaigns to keep them in their seats. If Citizens United was repealed, Republicans would have to run on their lousy policies & would lose
That's what I think too. I was just hoping that some former Republican could explain it in a way that doesn't mean they are all corrupt. I just keep hoping...
Darn, when I read this over, the "it's bad for health care" part hit me right between the eyes. HOW is it "bad for health care"? We are the only (former) liberal democracy in the world with for profit health care. It isn't bad for health care, it's bad for health care corporations who shouldn't even exist. Medicare works great. If I lost my health insurance because we moved to Medicare for All, I would pay a bigger copay when I went to the doctor, but that's a sacrifice I'd be willing to make for my fellow Americans. Of course, I haven't done the math and I'm getting older, but I might even have more money at the end of the month since I wouldn't be paying $250 a month for the insurance.
We pay over $300 a WEEK! Over $16,000 a year for our portion of the premium. We moved to a self insured plan a couple of years ago. In one meeting alone there were 4 of us from my company, 3 insurance brokers, 1 rep from the insurance company, 2 reps from the pharmacy benefit manager, and a rep from the captive. It's hard to think of a more inefficient system.
I understand that I'm lucky -- I worked for the government for 38 years. My brother-in-law retired from the local school system and will be automatically enrolled in Medicare next month. The $187/month for Medicare is no problem but his insurance through his retirement plan, due to some complex family stuff, will go UP $600.00 a month. For profit medicine is a license to steal.