"Ive covered Obamacare since day one. Ive never seen lying and obstruction like this."

[babylonsister]

https://www.vox.com/platform/amp/health-care/2017/6/15/15807986/obamacare-lies-obstruction


I’ve covered Obamacare since day one. I’ve never seen lying and obstruction like this.

Updated by Sarah Kliff on June 15, 2017 1:30 pm

snip//

My biggest concern isn’t the hypocrisy; there is plenty of that in Washington. It’s that the process will lead to devastating results for millions of Americans who won’t know to speak up until the damage is done. So far, the few details that have leaked out paint a picture of a bill sure to cover millions fewer people and raise costs on those with preexisting conditions.

The plan is expected to be far-reaching, potentially bringing lifetime limits back to employer-sponsored coverage, which could mean a death sentence for some chronically ill patients who exhaust their insurance benefits.

snip//

The White House has decided to deal with an unpopular bill by refusing to acknowledge the parts of the bill that the public doesn’t like. When asked in interviews about the expected loss in coverage or cuts to Medicaid, administration officials simply act as if they don’t exist.


This will all catch up to them — after the damage is done

At some point, of course, this strategy will catch up with Republicans. Promises that “every American” will receive “high-quality health care” will ring false when millions lose their health insurance. Once a law passes, it’s awfully hard to hide the consequences.

Republicans might lose elections if they pass the American Health Care Act. But that will only happen after people suffer the consequences of a rushed bill considered quickly with little public debate.

These are people like 62-year-old Cliff Hoskins, a retired coal miner who lives in rural Kentucky. He used to be on Medicaid expansion — he described it as the best insurance he ever had — and now has coverage through the ACA marketplace.

His out-of-pocket premium would likely triple under key Republican health care provisions.

“It’s going to at least take half, if not all, of my Social Security,” Hoskins says. “If I had to pay the full amount, that would not be good. That would put you back in poverty.”

snip//

Voters can oust Republicans in the 2018 midterm elections if they don’t like the health care plan. But for people like Cliff and Timmy, the damage will already be done. The election is secondary to their ability to get health insurance coverage. This is the most damaging part of the lack of public discourse around the Republican repeal efforts: There are millions of real lives at stake that could be hurt. These people would suffer the consequences that will happen much faster and matter much more than any election.

[Squinch]

1. As I see it, there is really no way to avoid this. But I keep looking at the silver lining: all

these red state people who think the ACA is great but don't want to have anything to do with Obummercare will learn pretty quick which side their bread is buttered on. Once all of them are kicked off insurance and see the light, the possibility of single payer will be much greater after the next election.

If the AHCA doesn't go through, they'll bleed the ACA to death and say, "See, those Democrats lied. The government has no business in health insurance." And tons of people will believe them, and any idea of a health plan will be ditched for another generation.

I am actually hoping for the passage of the ACHA. I know there will be a lot of suffering, but it seems to me that two years of suffering are better than a generation of suffering.

[babylonsister]

2. If the CBO gets to weigh in, it's dead in the water, I hope. nt

[Squinch]

3. But then they'll starve the ACA to death, so the ultimate result will be the same. And then

they can blame it on us. And then there will be no hope for anything to replace it in the near future.

[babylonsister]

4. I'm hoping they all wind up in the hoosegow myself.

Hope springs eternal.

[Squinch]

5. They deserve that and worse.

[Motownman78]

6. As Jesus suffered to absolve us of our sins

So must the Republican suffer to absolve themselves of their Sin. That Sin being voting for the Pumpkin-colored shit-gibbon.