Krugman: Lousy Medicaid Arguments

[ProSense]

Lousy Medicaid Arguments

By PAUL KRUGMAN

For now, the big news about Obamacare is the debacle of HealthCare.gov, the Web portal through which Americans are supposed to buy insurance on the new health care exchanges. For now, at least, HealthCare.gov isn’t working for many users.

It’s important to realize, however, that this botch has nothing to do with the law’s substance, and will get fixed. After all, a number of states have successfully opened their own exchanges, doing for their residents exactly what the federal system is supposed to do everywhere else. Connecticut’s exchange is working fine, as is Kentucky’s. New York, after some early problems, seems to be getting there. So, a bit more slowly, does California.

In other words, the technical problems, while infuriating — heads should roll — will not, in the end, be the big story. The real threat remains the effort of conservative groups to sabotage reform, especially by blocking the expansion of Medicaid. This effort relies heavily on lobbying, lavishly bankrolled by the usual suspects, including the omnipresent Koch brothers. But it’s not just money: the right has also rolled out some really lousy arguments.

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Meanwhile, many states are still planning to reject the Medicaid expansion, denying essential health care to millions of needy Americans. And they have no good excuse for this act of cruelty.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/21/opinion/krugman-lousy-medicaid-arguments.html?_r=0

This is the biggest problem, not the friggin glitches. These will be fixed, like other similar rollouts (http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023818383) The coverage doesn't begin until January 2014, but low-income Americans in states that rejected the expansion will still lack access. Note: Half of the 17 million people who became eligible for Medicaid will gain access. It's the half residing in states that are blocking the expansion who will suffer.

Remember, the law originally mandated the expansion, and the SCOTUS decision made it optional.

The Cruelty of Republican States in One Chart
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023790604

ACA repeal crusade over, 'delusional folks' notwithstanding
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023847911

There have been successes and good news.

Obamacare needs young people to sign up. And it looks like they’re starting.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023832392

Thanks To Obamacare, Oregon Cut Its Unsinsured Population By 10 Percent Over The Past Two Weeks
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023873997

Kentucky GOP Senators Were Wrong That State Didn’t Want Obamacare
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023864125

Kentucky's success makes a mockery of GOP Obamacare foes
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023779107

Under Obamacare, Disney World Will Promote Its Part-Time Workers To Full-Time Status
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023767654

Enrollment options:

Apply for ACA Exchanges IN PERSON at HRSA Clinics.
http://www.hrsa.gov/about/news/2013tables/outreachandenrollment/
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023826338

Apply online, by mail, or in-person; plus links to download applications
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023826338#post1

[ProSense]

1. Kick! n/t

[ProSense]

2. Another. n/t