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Economist Puts Obamacare 'Fantasy' to the Test
CBN ^ | Wednesday, June 24, 2015 | CBN

Posted on 06/24/2015 6:46:27 AM PDT by xzins

The U.S. Supreme Court will soon rule on one aspect of President Barack Obama's healthcare law: whether subsidies offered to millions of Americans are legal.

If not, 6 million people could lose their tax credits to buy health insurance.

"If the court were to rule that the administration's interpretation was wrong, then there would be 34 states where people would no longer be able to get these tax credits for buying coverage on the exchange," Ed Haislmaeir with the Heritage Foundation, said.

That means the cost of health insurance could rise again. Depending on your state, monthly premiums could jump by hundreds of dollars.

But even if Obamacare is allowed to stand, the Wall Street Journal warns of major consequences for the healthcare industry, including the potential creation of one massive healthcare system run by the government.

In an editorial entitled "Obamacare's Oligopoly Wave," the paper says America's five largest health insurers are thinking about consolidating into "one monster conglomerate," creating "oligopolies, with the predictable results of higher costs, lower quality, and less innovation."

"This is just one more example of a law that has all sorts of unintended consequences and adverse effects for all sorts of people," Haislmaeir said.

Meanwhile Stephen Moore, chief economist with the Heritage Foundation, says the notion that Obamacare is working is a "fantasy."

"Make no mistake. The new health law has disrupted coverage for millions, and driven up costs for millions more," he wrote in a June 12 Forbes op-ed.

Moore says that if the court strikes down the subsidy, Republicans need to prove to voters they can provide better quality of care -- with more choices and to more Americans -- in a way that doesn't bankrupt the country.

Given the fiasco of Obamacare, Moore says that shouldn't be hard.

***Stephen Moore will talk more about the shortcomings of the Affordable Care Act on Wednesday, June 24. Check your local listings or check CBNNews.com after 11 a.m. for the interview.


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: obamacare; scotus

1 posted on 06/24/2015 6:46:27 AM PDT by xzins
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To: All
"Make no mistake. The new health law has disrupted coverage for millions, and driven up costs for millions more," he wrote in a June 12 Forbes op-ed.

The notion that Scotus turning down subsidies will throw people into danger is foolish. They're already in danger.

ObamaCare does NOT work.

2 posted on 06/24/2015 6:46:51 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Pray for their victory or quit saying you support our troops)
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To: All

I’m thinking that Scotus will divide the heat. They rule against ObamaCare and for Homosexual Marriage or vice-versa. Everyone then will have a win and a loss, and it will calm their nerves.


3 posted on 06/24/2015 6:49:30 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Pray for their victory or quit saying you support our troops)
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To: xzins
Republicans need to prove to voters they can provide better quality of care ...
Wow, politicians now possess health care proficiency too!

I mean, come on. Congress can't even manage its own checkbook. How arrogant of them to cabin the functioning of health care.

4 posted on 06/24/2015 6:50:57 AM PDT by Cboldt
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To: xzins
But even if Obamacare is allowed to stand, the Wall Street Journal warns of major consequences for the healthcare industry, including the potential creation of one massive healthcare system run by the government.

Well of course. That's the whole point of it.

5 posted on 06/24/2015 6:52:41 AM PDT by facedown (Armed in the Heartland)
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To: xzins
-- I'm thinking that Scotus will divide the heat. They rule against ObamaCare and for Homosexual Marriage or vice-versa. Everyone then will have a win and a loss, and it will calm their nerves. --

You have a good handle on how the outcomes are determined. Finding a legal rationale to go any which way is trivial; and there is no requirement that the court be consistent - there are always enough distinguishing qualities to admit all manner of rhetoric justifying the preselected outcome.

To be fair, I doubt the justices talk in such blunt terms as "which outcomes for which cases," they use the legal mumbo jumbo to telegraph what they are willing to consider, and eventually, which side of the outcome they intend to take. But the outcomes are not determined by reference to law or precedent. That part comes after.

6 posted on 06/24/2015 6:54:48 AM PDT by Cboldt
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To: xzins

That means the cost of health insurance could rise again. Depending on your state, monthly premiums could jump by hundreds of dollars.
++++
Wrong. The cost is the same. Who pays the bill is the what will change.


7 posted on 06/24/2015 6:59:56 AM PDT by InterceptPoint
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To: xzins

Meanwhile, in my profession if you get caught trying to set up an agreed upon fee for services with other professionals you’ll be brought up on racketeering charges so fast your head will spin.

These laws are only for the little people


8 posted on 06/24/2015 7:07:52 AM PDT by Lorianne
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To: InterceptPoint

True but I think it will be both.
The article is trying to conflate two different things (which is what the media is born to do).

1. The cost of health insurance is going up.
2. People will not be subsidized so their personal out of pocket cost for insurance coverage will go up either way.


9 posted on 06/24/2015 7:09:54 AM PDT by Lorianne
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To: xzins
ObamaCare does NOT work.

I'm repeating myself, but I'm going to say what I've said since 2009. ObamaCare is working exactly as planned. It was not designed to work, at least not for those who couldn't afford insurance. It was designed to be so bad, that the clamor for something else would come. When it does come, the excuse will be that we can't go back to what we had, it wasn't fair, and we can't keep what we have now, so let's push right on in to fully socialized health care.

10 posted on 06/24/2015 7:17:34 AM PDT by IYAS9YAS (Has anyone seen my tagline? It was here yesterday. I seem to have misplaced it.)
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To: xzins

It doesn’t matter what is planned to “improve” obamacare, to remove obamacare, or do nothing about obamacare, the CBO projects that it will cost billions more. (Billions more than what?)

WTH?


11 posted on 06/24/2015 7:39:08 AM PDT by CPOSharky (I was born with nothing, and I still have most of it.)
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