Obama’s health law is proving successful

[babylonsister]

http://thehill.com/opinion/columnists/juan-williams/218001-obamas-health-law-is-proving-successful

Obama’s health law is proving successful
By Juan Williams - 03/26/12 05:00 AM ET


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In my world of people and politics there are two relevant issues. First, does the law provide better medical care for Americans? And is it reducing the cost of healthcare?

While the new law will not be fully implemented until 2014, the parts that have been enacted show that the indisputable, factual answer to both questions is “yes.” But at the moment, the facts do not seem to matter in the court of public opinion. Republican opposition remains as solid today as the day the act was signed into law.

snip//

Also, due to new enforcement powers given to the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services, $4.1 billion in fraudulent Medicare claims were stopped in 2011. This constitutes the single largest sum ever recovered in a single year from individuals and companies attempting to defraud the American taxpayer.

The bottom line is the reforms are leading to higher-quality care and increasing consumer protection while bending the cost curve of healthcare.

Back in 2009, then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Congress must pass healthcare reform so the American people can find out what is in it. This was an unfortunate statement. It led GOP critics to say Democrats want the public to buy the metaphorical “Pig in Poke.”

But based on what the nation has now seen of the law, the pig is looking like a blue-ribbon winner, a good deal for seniors and the middle class. The only question is whether a good idea can survive bad-mouthing from GOP politicians and hard-right politics on the Supreme Court.

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1. It's saving my bacon right now

My husband is in the ICU right now fighting for his life and the only thing that is keeping us from financial ruin is the ACA which eliminated lifetime caps on insurance. We've been paying premiums for 30 years yet we were going to be cut off because my husband exceeded the insurance company's arbitrary lifetime cap.

Thank you, President Obama, for saving my family from a complete and utter financial catastrophe.

Diane
Anishinaabe in MI

[babylonsister]

2. Thank you for sharing, Diane, and I

sincerely hope your husband pulls through.

[catbyte]

4. Thanks so much

I'm really scared but at least I don't have to worry about losing everything we own on top of worrying about my husband.

[zipplewrath]

3. Significant over statement here

The only health care costs it is particularly lowering, is for people affected by the Donut hole. Even that is just shifting the cost from the individual to the feds. They don't actually lower the cost of medications by closing the donut hole. Other than that, even the White House doesn't claim it is lowering the cost of health care. It has slowed the rate of increase to the feds, mostly by controlling the costs of Medicare and Medicaid. But the vast majority of Americans continue to pay more and more each year for their health care. And there doesn't seem to be much hope of that slowing down anytime soon. There are specific individuals who are benefitting, mostly those who couldn't even get insurance, or were reaching limits. Their costs will continue to rise going forward, but they saw a huge decrease in their out of pocket expense by keeping/getting insurance. But going forward from here, everyones costs will continue to rise, and at rates that are unsustainable.

[catbyte]

5. Not true, zipplewrath

Do you know how much a bed in ICU is per day? My husband has been there since 3/16 and if they were able to cut us off like they could have done we would be wiped out very quickly.

[zipplewrath]

6. Re-read what I wrote

I acknowledged that certain individuals who would have been cut off, or couldn't get insurance to begin with would benefit. But even their costs will climb going forward.