I agree. But we can't know if it will work unless we try it. If it doesn't, it can be modified. What we do know is that the current system is unsustainable. He's right, but many of the contractors and the small businesses are doing quite well. Small businesses are not being destroyed but the paradigm is shifting. Those that do not change with the times will be left behind just like the ones that could not make the jump to computers or the change from catalogs to websites. I own three small businesses, all sole proprietorships with no employees. I contract out all services and tasks. I never have to worry about caring for employees or exploiting them in any fashion. The people who work for me are their own bosses and set their own prices and either of us can move on when we need to. Yet together we all make money, just like traditional small businesses. Or succeeds. But I suspect it is not going to be an all or nothing proposition as the Republicans insist beyond all reason. No doubt some parts of the ACA will be popular and are here to stay while other parts will prove to be unworkable and will be dropped or modified. All it takes is some cooperation and willingness to compromise. The Tea Party is a millstone around the traditional republicans neck in this regard. If the republicans are hanging their hats on the single issue politics of Obamacare, don't hold your breath. The democrats still have all of the liberals and most of the moderates. Hillary will draw the rest of the moderates and she's not married to Obamacare. She will carry it on immigration, women's issues, tax policies, scientific realism, sound foreign policy, Clintonian economic policy, civil rights, her own vision for health care . . . plus the ever-popular Sir William of Smooth, the Explainer in Chief, will be in the White House with her. "Hey, where'd they move the intern's office?"
Red said: "I own three small businesses, all sole proprietorships with no employees. I contract out all services and tasks. I never have to worry about caring for employees or exploiting them in any fashion. The people who work for me are their own bosses and set their own prices and either of us can move on when we need to. Yet together we all make money, just like traditional small businesses." Do they have healthcare? I doubt you know and economically speaking, you don't care. These folks will go to the trough and even though they are making money, "we the people" will fund or supplement their insurance. I think. There is no fine for not providing healthcare, but there is an expense. This massive shift in the employment model is why the cost continue to skyrocket. I will concede all further points. I HATE this stuff, I left this quagmire to teach 8th grade math!
Perhaps. Only time will tell. I suspect the insurance companies are apprehensive now, but will adapt to new models as they arise if they want to stay in business. Actually I do know if they have healthcare. The professionals I hire in the consultant business all have other jobs with benefits as I do, my forester and timber contractors have private coverage, and my technical services and landscaping contractor is on his wife's plan. Masochist.
What new models? From what I can tell, they are mandated as to what they can sell and how much they can charge.
There are certain mandates as in any regulation, but insurance companies are not told how to run their businesses. They are going to be making lots of changes.
There is a lot of noise that the option to keep your existing plan at no increase is not happening. I have read many articles where individuals have had increases of 300% to keep the same plan. If accurate this will create a swelling tide against it. As many know I think Obamacare is a weak attempt at so called reform and its implementation has been poor and yes the rs fighting it every step has not helped. Unlike the Rs I think it should be allowed to fail on its own. I am sure it will and while failure will have painful consequences for many there is no other way to demonstrate its weaknesses. Maybe then the country can address the issue with the seriousness the problem deserves.
Fair enough. Most Republicans fear that the public will like Obamacare and are desperately trying to prevent it from happening, even at the political cost of shutting down the government. I agree . . . let it succeed or fail on its own merits. It can always be changed. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opini...29187a-246a-11e3-b75d-5b7f66349852_story.html It should also be noted that the skyrocketing costs of health insurance over the last two decades have slowed since the passage of the ACA, not gotten worse. http://thinkprogress.org/health/201...inues-to-decrease-since-passage-of-obamacare/
Me too. Min went down 2007, 2008, and 2009. It seems highly unlikely that my current plan will even meet the bronze level as it is HDHP, and unless the rules change I will have to buy a much more expensive plan, even though I don't need one. I mean shit, I can cover my deductible. My plan covers everything after that. But that isn't good enough. I have to have a 20 dollar co pay and pay thousands more in premiums to not get sick.
