Repeal Obamacare? Then What? - A Common Sense Alternative

Denver Business Journal ^ | 9/27/13 | Brian Joondeph

[tips up]

Obamacare’s popularity is waning in public opinion polls. Republican lawmakers talk of defunding or repeal, despite the current political improbability with Democratic control of the Senate and White House.

Pending the outcome of the 2014 elections, repeal may be an option. But what then? A return to the status quo of unsustainable health care spending, with an insurance system that leaves many with inadequate or no coverage at all, may avoid the many problems with Obamacare. But it’s hardly a solution.

[tips up]

Simple common sense alternative. Rather than criticizing the Obamacare rollout, as the Republicans are doing, they should go after the ideology of Obamacare and suggest simple, easy to understand alternatives.

[WayneS]

Repeal Obamacare? Then What? - A Common Sense Alternative

The only real common sense alternative is the free market.

[dinodino]

Remove the tax deductions so insurance is no longer part of compensation. Remove all government interference and open it up to the free market. Anything less just perpetuates government meddling and creation of perverse incentives.

[RightLady]

Repeal Obamacare? Then What? - A Common Sense Alternative
The only real common sense alternative is the free market.

What we had before is by far better than what we now have. This “law” was passed on FALSE pretenses.

[WayneS]

2. Require everyone to purchase, at a minimum, a $2,000 deductible policy providing catastrophic and preventative services only, with subsidies to offset the deductible based on means testing.

He lost me at step 2...

"Require everyone to purchase" = "Forget about individual self-determination, I know what's best for YOU"

I have found, as a general rule, that people who talk about "Common Sense" Laws/Solutions/Alternatives are trying to mask their intent to restrict individual liberty.

[WayneS]

Agreed.

Since a true free market solution is most likely out of the question, at least for the time being, I’d settle for hitting the reset button and going back to the ‘sorta’ free market we had before this debacle began.

I’m sure there’d be a bit more turmoil, but in a year or so we’d be back to ‘normal’.

[grobdriver]

I have found, as a general rule, that people who talk about "Common Sense" Laws/Solutions/Alternatives are trying to mask their intent to restrict individual liberty.

Right on.
If the buzz-phrase "Commong Sense" doesn't slap you upside the head when someone uses it, you're not paying attention.

How 'bout some more "Common Sense" gun laws?

[tips up]

If not, then need to remove requirement that hospitals provide emergency care without regard to ability to pay. I don’t think that would fly.

[Ben Ficklin]

"What we had before"

We still have that. Most people, something over 80%, are insured thru employer based group policies and Medicare, plus some get healthcare from VA and medicaid. And many people will continue to be insured thru individual policies because they want and can afford to buy high quality insurance.

This guy writing this article wants change what over 80% have to facilitate insurance for a relatively small number of people. The tail wagging the dog.

I have an idea: Let Americans buy into the Canadian healthcare system.

[Labyrinthos]

The only real common sense alternative is the free market.

How do you know that will work since we haven't had a free market health care system in many decades?

In all seriousness, how do you purpose providing health care to a signifcant minority of the population that is too stupid, lazy, arrogant, etc. to participate in a free market system? How to you get these people who insist on immediate gratification to give up their big screen TV sets, endless array of the latest gadgets, $500 per month cell phone and cable tv habits, and $200 sneakers, in exchange for a free market health care policy? And what about those hard-working, honest, decent people who really do work long hours at low pay to take care of themselves and their family without government assistance (they are out there), who barely make enough money after taxes to pay for food , rent, and clothing, let alone buy a health insurance policy in the free market? These a hard questions and I don't know the answer. I do know, however, that the solution will require more than the "Sean Hannity talking points."

[Labyrinthos]

purpose = propose

[elpadre]

return to system in place before Obama. Then address problem areas. Perhaps SSI can be modified to handle “pre-existing conditions” complaints. Working poor who do not qualify for Medicaid can be taken care of with modifications to allow a class of Medicaid who pay a low premium. And those who do not choose to buy, well that is there right.

[originalbuckeye]

Our best in the world health care system has already been destroyed. They have been destroying for over 3 years. The health care system will have to be rebuilt from the ground up. And don’t require us to come into compliance with ‘standards’ out of Switzerland. Those who feared that the Bushes were trying to incorporate a One World Government are getting it compliments of the Socialists now in charge.

[Walmartian]

Tort reform

[PowderMonkey]

"Pending the outcome of the 2014 elections, repeal may be an option. But what then?"

Nothing. Zip. Just go away. Have we not seen enough of this crap? EPA, IRS, NSA, HHS, DOD, DHS…$500 hammers.
- $6 million dollar "conferences."
- Tens of millions of dollars "missing" from "slush funds."
- Unlimited EBT cards.
- Three consecutive generations dependent upon government largess.
- Government agencies turned against political opponents, and weaponized against the American people.
- $100 million for a healthcare website that does nothing.
And, through it all, zero accountability, and the incessant demand "FEED ME!" with an unlimited debt ceiling. When it comes to government programs, there is no such thing as common sense, or "simple, easy to understand alternatives." Ya'…there's a good idea. The Repubs should come up with another government program? No, thanks. They already did more than enough by creating DHS.

[NTHockey]

>>In all seriousness, how do you purpose providing health care to a signifcant minority of the population that is too stupid, lazy, arrogant, etc. to participate in a free market system? How to you get these people who insist on immediate gratification to give up their big screen TV sets, endless array of the latest gadgets, $500 per month cell phone and cable tv habits, and $200 sneakers, in exchange for a free market health care policy?<<

You don’t. I know that sounds cold and heartless, but if they prefer cell phones, cable TV and $200 sneakers rather than health insurance, let them. But don’t expect the rest of us to pay for them.

[SampleMan]

The alternative is for people to work, pay for what is important to them, and if they choose not to be insured, then they lose everything they own and go on Medicaid should their decision not pan out.

If I drive a car, don’t buy insurance, and then hit a Mercedes, what happens?
- I start riding the bus.
- I become responsible for the damage to the Mercedes, and my property, wages, etc. can be taken by the owner of the Mercedes (after the lawsuit).

[MrB]

That’s part of it... a big part, and already shown to be successful in Texas in past years.

Tort reform
Interstate insurance competition
Tax free HSAs
Tax free premiums on catestrophic health insurance

[MrB]

What it comes down to is that the taker class wants the maker class to provide for all their needs
so that they can spend any income they have on their wants.

[Ben Ficklin]

There is a difference between the healthcare system and the healthcare delivery system.

If your healthcare system charges you $7 for an aspirin or a bandaid, there's a problem