By Jane M. Orient, M.D.
As Republicans contemplate repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA or “ObamaCare”)—seriously, not just as a political gesture—alarms are sounding about millions of individuals losing coverage.
So soon we have forgotten about the millions who lost coverage they had had for years because ObamaCare outlawed it.
ObamaCare resulted in perhaps five times as many losers as winners—even counting just those who ended up with more expensive or less desirable coverage. If you count the taxpayers, the tally of losers is much higher. But with government largesse, the losers—the ones who have their earnings taken away—are “forgotten men.”
Anyone who has government-funded benefits taken away, on the other hand, becomes a victim.
The best poster children are cancer victims. They face a premature, particularly nasty death. Who would deny someone’s mother or 4-year-old daughter the chance of a cure, even if the chemotherapy costs more than $100,000?
ObamaCare would. Exchange plans have excluded the best cancer hospitals from their narrow networks. Medicaid would. It might call the treatment “experimental” or “not cost-effective.” Medicare would, possibly just because the patient is “too old” or “too young.” Unless the particular victim can be featured in a PR campaign to “save ObamaCare,” she might be “better off with the pain pill,” as President Obama put it.
And let’s not forget how the FDA has driven the costs of drug approval sky-high, suppresses therapies that have no prospect of turning billion-dollar profits, and protects manufacturers against competition when the drug is about to go off patent. The anti-leukemia drug Gleevec, for example, cost $26,000 per year in 2001, a price called “high but fair,” considering the cost of research and the need for profits. It is $146,000 a year today, but the introduction of cheaper generics in the U.S. is being delayed.
https://aapsonline.org/sick-people-lose-obamacare/
This is a disgusting and deceptive description of ACA. People may have been forced to change coverage and a small amount may have been worse, but that cancer patient might not have coverage at all. You know this, you should be ashamed.
sorry the ACA is absolute shit coverage , its a TAX and just a TAX no healthcare
yes because Doctors dont know anything about the ACA
The ACA provides real health insurance for sick people.
Health care is right, not a luxury just for the rich or those without preexisting conditions.
Yes, it requires that people pay for coverage and that is how it should be. There are subsidies for the poor.
My employer based health insurance is expensive too. Rates go up every year.
you can always tell someone who does not have Obamacare
Doctors like insurance…….makes getting paid easier.
The Affordable Care Act was first a structured attempt by The Heritage Foundation to address healthcare reform. Romney introduced the plan in Massachusettes. It is by no means perfect but to throw it out completely will leave millions uninsured. I know people who saw their premiums rise but I also know many people who have benefitted from the ACA including a good friend who was between jobs and was soon after diagnosed with cancer and was unable to get insurance but got coverage through the ACA. Reform is not easy and it takes time ,many attempts and everyone on board working towards a similar outcome: coverage for all Americans at an affordable price.
Nice try repeal the healthcare tax now
8:02 & 12:44 – You should know by now the RW Blog has its own alternative facts. When you present real ones, you’re given a “nice try” participation trophy from the chief cornflake.
than try for a change to present real ones