Conservatives fret GOP is blowing Obamacare repeal

[Cyber Liberty]

Good comments.  Part of my plan is predicated on allowing costs to come down.

Add tort reform to bring down the cost of Malpractice Insurance premiums and you're really on to something.

[INVAR]

Right but there are some people on it who didn't have "health care" before. Kicking them off would have terrible "optics" as they say. I'm wondering how you deal with that. Saying "touch cookies" isn't really realistic.

MediCare.  That's where the majority of ObamaCare policy holders have been shifted to anyway.

Look the Left is going to scream that infants, minorities and women are being kicked out of the hospitals bleeding to death and dying in the hallways no matter who attempts to return this issue to the People- rather than making it a province of Government, and no matter what anyone says to assuage all the fear-mongering.

There is a mob to gin-up to protect Obama's Legacy and the Left's stranglehold on the country.  They are not giving it up without a fight.

Massaging it, and tinkering with keeping it viable simply surrenders the issue in total to the Left and Big Government Statism will remain in perpetuity - having precedent to make us buy other products and services the Statists demand we must have in order to breathe and exist here.

[skeeter]

MediCare.  That's where the majority of ObamaCare policy holders have been shifted to anyway.

Look the Left is going to scream that infants, minorities and women are being kicked out of the hospitals bleeding to death and dying in the hallways no matter who attempts to return this issue to the People- rather than making it a province of Government, and no matter what anyone says to assuage all the fear-mongering.

There is a mob to gin-up to protect Obama's Legacy and the Left's stranglehold on the country.  They are not giving it up without a fight.

Massaging it, and tinkering with keeping it viable simply surrenders the issue in total to the Left and Big Government Statism will remain in perpetuity - having precedent to make us buy other products and services the Statists demand we must have in order to breathe and exist here.

If it is indeed true that the IRS has been directed to ignore the did-you-have-insurance-last-year box, as has been reported, then the teeth have been kicked out of the ACA anyway.

I couldn't be more delighted.

[Sanguine]

MediCare.  That's where the majority of ObamaCare policy holders have been shifted to anyway.

Look the Left is going to scream that infants, minorities and women are being kicked out of the hospitals bleeding to death and dying in the hallways no matter who attempts to return this issue to the People- rather than making it a province of Government, and no matter what anyone says to assuage all the fear-mongering.

There is a mob to gin-up to protect Obama's Legacy and the Left's stranglehold on the country.  They are not giving it up without a fight.

Massaging it, and tinkering with keeping it viable simply surrenders the issue in total to the Left and Big Government Statism will remain in perpetuity - having precedent to make us buy other products and services the Statists demand we must have in order to breathe and exist here.

Medicare or Medicaid?

[Idaho_Cowboy]

Right but there are some people on it who didn't have "health care" before. Kicking them off would have terrible "optics" as they say. I'm wondering how you deal with that. Saying "touch cookies" isn't really realistic.

When thousands of folks had their insurance rates double triple or quintuple they were told "tough cookies" it's for the better good. Mind you the rate increase wasn't even for a comparable plan.

The way to sell is to offer some real reforms as a solution. Torte reform and opening insurance up across state lines for starters.

[truth_seeker]

Repealing the law without a replacement will unleash the political furies.   The ACA can be fixed with a few simple and easy-to-communicate changes.

And those "few simple and easy-to-communicate changes," would be exactly what?

What "conservatives" of many varieties seem to be great at talk, but little beyond that.

But they can "fret," when it is necessary to act.

[skeeter]

When thousands of folks had their insurance rates double triple or quintuple they were told "tough cookies" it's for the better good. Mind you the rate increase wasn't even for a comparable plan.

The way to sell is to offer some real reforms as a solution. Torte reform and opening insurance up across state lines for starters.

Yes, it would be nice if some mind were paid to those of us who've suffered a bit of economic discomfort, to put it nicely, because of the damn act.

As it is ACA is just another wealth redistribution scheme. Like any such program the piggies will squeal bloody murder if a hand is laid on it. But if a four year old entitlement cannot be undone or reformed then there is zero chance of reforming any of the old legacy welfare programs.

[Cyber Liberty]

And those "few simple and easy-to-communicate changes," would be exactly what?

What "conservatives" of many varieties seem to be great at talk, but little beyond that.

But they can "fret," when it is necessary to act.

I always get a hearty laugh when liberals tell me what's "conservative," or when atheists tell me what's "Christian."

Edited to add:  @truth_seeker , I realized upon rereading this page of the thread you might have gotten the impression I think you're a liberal.  Nothing could be farther from the truth.

[INVAR]

Medicare or Medicaid?

According to my wife the RN with all the letters after her name, BOTH - depending on the age of the insurer.

A huge chunk of ObamaCare enrollees (like 10 million or so documented) were simply added to Medicaid rolls to cover low income and illegals to get subsidized insurance, the older folks got pushed into medicare, which is in it's own certain death spiral considering Obama apparently gutted almost a trillion bucks from medicare over 10 years to cover the new subsidies being handed to the 40 million so-called 'uninsured' to guarantee coverage.

[Idaho_Cowboy]

According to my wife the RN with all the letters after her name, BOTH - depending on the age of the insurer.

A huge chunk of ObamaCare enrollees (like 10 million or so documented) were simply added to Medicaid rolls to cover low income and illegals to get subsidized insurance, the older folks got pushed into medicare, which is in it's own certain death spiral considering Obama apparently gutted almost a trillion bucks from medicare over 10 years to cover the new subsidies being handed to the 40 million so-called 'uninsured' to guarantee coverage.

Don't forget a lot of business that threw in the towel on providing their employees insurance because of the costs of Obamacare. Obamacare was a failure of the largest proportions. It was a yuge failure, I really mean that. Believe me, I know failure. Nothing failed like Obamacare failed. Just ask Sean Hannity.

[Sanguine]

According to my wife the RN with all the letters after her name, BOTH - depending on the age of the insurer.

A huge chunk of ObamaCare enrollees (like 10 million or so documented) were simply added to Medicaid rolls to cover low income and illegals to get subsidized insurance, the older folks got pushed into medicare, which is in it's own certain death spiral considering Obama apparently gutted almost a trillion bucks from medicare over 10 years to cover the new subsidies being handed to the 40 million so-called 'uninsured' to guarantee coverage.

Good grief...luckily we've got nurses in the family too, so we might be able to get some level of care in old age.

[Idaho_Cowboy]

Good grief...luckily we've got nurses in the family too, so we might be able to get some level of care in old age.

And thanks to Obamacare I'll be able to get maternity coverage even when I'm 80 year old guy...

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

And thanks to Obamacare I'll be able to get maternity coverage even when I'm 80 year old guy...

That absolutely needs to go, along with support for tranny ops, and other garbage. Also the payout max ban needs to go.

[Bigun]

And thanks to Obamacare I'll be able to get maternity coverage even when I'm 80 year old guy...

Ain't that wonderful? /s  God save us from central planners!

How about we just repeal every last word of Obamacare and let the marketplace work it's magic!

(I know you've said that about a hundred times already @INVAR)

[Sanguine]

Ain't that wonderful? /s  God save us from central planners!

How about we just repeal every last word of Obamacare and let the marketplace work it's magic!

(I know you've said that about a hundred times already @INVAR)

I hear you, Bigun, but I agree with WTF that it's got to be compassionate or it will never get repealed. 

[Cyber Liberty]

I hear you, Bigun, but I agree with WTF that it's got to be compassionate or it will never get repealed.

No matter what the GOP proposes, it will be characterized as "not compassionate."  Much work will have to be done to cut through the demagoguery.  This is why the GOP Congress is hesitating:  They don't want to do that work.

[Sanguine]

No matter what the GOP proposes, it will be characterized as "not compassionate."  Much work will have to be done to cut through the demagoguery.  This is why the GOP Congress is hesitating:  They don't want to do that work.

But, if they do it well and make sure they provide a an opportunity and a way for people to transition to taking care of their own health care, they stand a much better chance of success.

[Cyber Liberty]

But, if they do it well and make sure they provide a an opportunity and a way for people to transition to taking care of their own health care, they stand a much better chance of success.

Correct.  And if they fail, it won't be the first time they blew it because of their inability to articulate the conservative position.

[Bigun]

No matter what the GOP proposes, it will be characterized as "not compassionate."  Much work will have to be done to cut through the demagoguery.  This is why the GOP Congress is hesitating:  They don't want to do that work.

Exactly!  Nor are they interested in any swamp draining! 

[corbe]

House GOP floats option to deal with Medicaid expansion

 By Peter Sullivan - 02/15/17 06:11 PM EST 

A key House Republican in the healthcare fight said Wednesday that lawmakers are considering a way to deal with their dilemma on ObamaCare’s Medicaid expansion by increasing payments to states that rejected the expansion.

Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.), the vice chairman of the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on health, told reporters that one option under consideration is to freeze new enrollment in the 31 states that expanded the program, while increasing certain payments to the 19 states that did not expand.

The proposal would increase funding known as Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments in the states that did not expand Medicaid. Meanwhile, expansion states would get to keep the expansion, at least for people currently enrolled.

The idea seeks to solve Republicans’ problem of how to satisfy lawmakers from expansion states who do not want to lose out on their extra federal money and coverage, while also not disadvantaging states that did not expand.
Differences on Medicaid expansion are one of the main obstacles for Republicans to overcome as they look to repeal ObamaCare. Some conservatives simply want to repeal the expansion altogether.

“One of the proposals was, do you allow states to freeze who's already on the expanded [population]?” Guthrie, who chaired a Medicaid task force started in 2015, told reporters. “So no new members, but nobody is removed, and then the states that didn't expand, how do you make that fair?”

<..snip..>

http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/319780-house-gop-floats-option-to-deal-with-medicaid-expansion

[Idaho_Cowboy]

Exactly!  Nor are they interested in any swamp draining! 

Some are. Most just want to be liked and be the cool kids on the block.

[geronl]

If it is indeed true that the IRS has been directed to ignore the did-you-have-insurance-last-year box, as has been reported, then the teeth have been kicked out of the ACA anyway.

I couldn't be more delighted.

Last week the online tax estimator still took off the penalty, but I just went through Turbotax and it didn't take off any penalty. I'm not sure if that's why since there has been no confirmation that the tax/fee/fine is really suspended. It would be really good news, though.

[geronl]

A key House Republican in the healthcare fight said Wednesday that lawmakers are considering a way to deal with their dilemma on ObamaCare’s Medicaid expansion by increasing payments to states that rejected the expansion.

 

Throw money at the problem, nobody's ever tried that before. lol

[corbe]

Last week the online tax estimator still took off the penalty, but I just went through Turbotax and it didn't take off any penalty. I'm not sure if that's why since there has been no confirmation that the tax/fee/fine is really suspended. It would be really good news, though.

@geronl I'm sure that was covered by his EO last week requiring all his departments to lessen the obamacare burden as much as they could.

[skeeter]

Last week the online tax estimator still took off the penalty, but I just went through Turbotax and it didn't take off any penalty. I'm not sure if that's why since there has been no confirmation that the tax/fee/fine is really suspended. It would be really good news, though.

This will be the second year in a row I've had no policy. So yeah, it would be good news for me, too.