EDITORIAL: Obamacare's health hazard--Implementing new law represents danger for Democrats

The Washington Times ^ | September 30, 2010 | Editorial

[jazusamo]

Bill Clinton predicted a year ago that Obamacare's passage would yield electoral gold for congressional Democrats. "The minute the president signs the health care reform bill," the former president told the Netroots Nation convention in August 2009, "approval will go up, because Americans are inherently optimistic." Last weekend, he admitted the prognostication had been a bit off. "First of all, the benefits of the bill are spread out over three or four years," Mr. Clinton explained to NBC's "Meet the Press." "And secondly, there has been an enormous and highly effective attack on it."

Leave it to Bill Clinton to blame the situation on spin. As the reality of Obamacare begins to sink in, Americans are discovering it may be hazardous to their health.

The main selling point for government-run health care, at first, was cost control. An April study by actuaries at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services found that "national health expenditures under the health reform act would increase by a total of $311 billion (0.9 percent) during calendar years 2010-2019." The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that Obamacare would drive up insurance premiums by around 30 percent in the individual market and up to 3 percent in the small-group market. For the average family, this will mean an additional $2,100 in health care costs. At a Sept. 10 press conference, President Obama admitted that "we knew that."

"We didn't think that we were going to cover 30 million people for free," he said. So much for savings.

[jazusamo]

It's coming back to bite them.

[MissH]

Yeah Bill - I hear people raving about how great it is everywhere I go! (sarc)

[ChildOfThe60s]

It's coming back to bite them.

Unless the Republicans can bury it, the damage to the Dems will be short term, in the long run.

I don't wish to sound negative, but we could assume 60%+ of the House and Senate seats and it will not mean much 3 years from now if ObamaCare is not killed.

Government run health care is a Republic killing disaster no matter what party is in charge.

[yldstrk]

and guess what Bill

you

are

wrong

[HiTech RedNeck]

Republicans aren’t disposed to want an Obamacare system anyhow, and are not deaf to poll after poll saying Americans are overwhelmingly disgusted with the idea. The GOP gets control, it’s a safe bet that Obamacare will be starved if not killed.

[ChildOfThe60s]

I hope in the not too distant future that you will be posting a note to me saying “I told you so!”

[GailA]

BOOTS ON THE GROUND

WE THE PEOPLE BY RAY STEVENS

[GailA]

Email, print, hand out, not every one is on line.

How ObamaCare Guts Medicare
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703649004575437311393854940.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEFTTopOpinion

Health law’s heavy impact by Paul Guppy
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/mar/28/health-laws-heavy-impact/

Monthly premiums to rise for 7 of top 10 Medicare prescription plans in 2011
http://www.startribune.com/business/103642009.html?elr=KArks:DCiU1OiP:DiiUiacyKUnciatkEP7DhUr

Harvard Pilgrim cancels Medicare Advantage plan
http://www.boston.com/business/healthcare/articles/2010/09/28/harvard_pilgrim_

Seniors’ coverage options dwindle as Medicare Advantage programs close shop
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/DN-advantage_22bus.ART.State.Edition1.3c912a9.html

ObamaCare has just made me Sicker!
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/bamcare_has_just_made_me_icker_c1dBRZ6M3yuH27rAVnLsvN

In the notice, EmblemHealth told Gowland, who is healthy, “The proposed rate increase includes two components: a basic increase on your type plan and an increase due to the cost of enhanced benefits required by the new federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.”

Mayo clinic stops taking Medicare patients
http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=517004

Survey in New England Journal of Medicine 46% of US Doctors Will Quit Obamacare Passes http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2798380/shocking_survey_in_new_england_journal.html?cat=75

Principal To Cut Jobs, End Med Insurance Business
http://www.kcci.com/money/25224059/detail.html

Obama: We knew health costs would go up
http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/health-reform-implementation/118079-obama-we-knew-health-costs-would-go-up

[jazusamo]

Thanks!