The Affordable Care Act isn’t going away

Do you remember the saying “Too big to fail?” It was born during the bank and large investment firms meltdown several years ago.  AIG was one of the financial firms it aptly was applied to because that company was so large and financially intertwined throughout the world that its collapse would cause global financial disaster.  So it was bailed out.

It would appear that this term could be revived once again when it comes to the notorious Affordable Care Act, or more commonly called Obamacare.

 

The repeal of this act has become the centerpiece for all the Republican presidential candidate wanabees.  However, the reality is the Affordable Care Act has been quietly gaining steam and it’s probably too late to stop it because of the economic ramifications.

Over 9 million formerly uninsured persons are now insured, including those with preexisting conditions formerly unable to get health insurance.   Young people are permitted to continue coverage under their parents’ plan until age 26 giving them time to find employment and get their own coverage. Thirty-one (31) out of the 49 states have bought into the Medicaid expansion funding under Obamacare.  And last, but by far the most important, insurance companies throughout our nation have spent millions of dollars devising new plans to accommodate the changes and have adjusted their premiums accordingly.

Do you really believe all these changes would not create major economic problems and even louder public outcry if the Affordable Care Act were suddenly defunded as promised?  It would cause some serious economic problems not only for the insurance companies but for the 31 states already invested in the increased Medicaid funds.  Additionally, it would harm those presently involved in the system.  Do you really believe the insurance companies would roll back the premium increases they attributed to Obamacare if the plan were wiped out?  And what about all the Medicaid recipients who would no longer be eligible for medical services under the expanded funding?  Hospitals would again be forced to service these individuals in emergency room settings with NO compensation.

Talk is cheap and to state that if a Republican were elected Obamacare would be totally defunded is total deception on the part of the potential candidates.  It has a nice ring for a political buzz phrase, but that train left the station about three years ago.  It’s simply “Too big to fail,” and to advocate otherwise is blatant political hogwash.

Besides, contrary to what the candidates would prefer, though the precise numbers vary a bit from survey to survey, the majority of the public doesn’t support repealing the concept of the law.  Some people who are included in the disapproval category of the present Affordable Care Act, like the idea, but wish it went even further. Additionally, many reporting dissatisfaction don't even participate in it but simply want to jump on the fashionable anti-Obama train.

I hope all the potential presidential candidates will eventually get around to telling us how they will solve the major issues this country faces worldwide, and how they intend to end the politically created divisiveness that has polarized our citizenry and is destroying our nation.   But please remember not to be disappointed if a Republican takes over the reigns as President, and most of the Affordable Care Act remains.