The US Healthcare Mass Debate

[NineBerry]

Is it common that there are garden parties at the White House to celebrate votes in the Congress or is this a first?

[Tero]

“Medical costs are the tapeworm of American economic competitiveness,” he said.

Over the course of six and a half hours, Mr. Buffett, 86, and Mr. Munger, 93, touched upon a wide range of topics, as they sipped Coca-Cola and munched on See’s candies (from two of Berkshire’s holdings). The two executives spoke about the arcana of insurance, one of Berkshire’s biggest businesses. They criticized the work of private equity firms that load enormous piles of debt onto companies they acquire. And, responding to individual shareholder queries, they also spoke about their dreams and regrets.



“Medical costs are the tapeworm of American economic competitiveness,” he said.
Warren Buffett, in Annual Letter, Offers Hymn to U.S. Economy FEB. 25, 2017
Several questions homed in on politics, and Mr. Buffett, a Democrat with close ties to former President Barack Obama, offered measured criticism of President Trump’s policies. He argued that the American Health Care Act, which passed the House this past week, amounted to “a huge tax cut for guys like me.” He also said rising health care costs, rather than high taxes, were the biggest drag on American businesses.

“Medical costs are the tapeworm of American economic competitiveness,” he said.

[Scot Dutchy]

Disagree but whom am I?

[Tero]

If they lose 5 senators, no Obamacare repeal?
http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/33 ... care-fight
Senate has
Seats 52 Republican and 46 Democreats.
Is 47 vs 46 going to pass it with 1 vote? Whatever the plan is. Then the House can still reject is as too generous.

[Tero]

Senate healthcare deal:
It’s still possible that Trump could pull this deal off — more possible than most people realize. The Senate could pass a significantly less draconian health care bill, and the House could approve it — or a compromise bill worked out in a conference committee — thereby providing survival ammunition for House members who just cast seemingly suicidal votes. Maybe only 14 million people would lose coverage. Maybe pre-existing condition protections would be significantly spared. Trump would “win.” He wouldn’t have delivered what he promised, but the political damage would be sustainable — perhaps. Such an outcome could easily help build GOP support for him, which in turn might make it possible for him to accomplish other things as well. So from Trump’s point of view, it’s worth the risk — that other people alone will carry.
(Salon)

[Brian Peacock]

The only way to keep consumer costs down under the proposed arrangement is for the government to subsidise premiums, either by direct relief to policy holders, or more likely by supporting insurers profit margins. This 'deal' is going to cost the taxpayer more and provide less than ACA.

[Tero]

Obama

“I hope they understand that courage means not simply doing what’s politically expedient, but doing what, deep in our hearts, we know is right,” Obama said, in a speech here at the John F. Kennedy Library accepting the Profiles in Courage award in honor of what would have been Kennedy’s 100th birthday.


“I expect to be busy, if not with a second career, at least a second act,” Obama said, promising more involvement.

Citing those who lost their seats after voting for the healthcare law in 2010, Obama described his “fervent hope” that current members “recognize it takes little courage to aid those who are already powerful, already comfortable, already influential — but it takes some courage to champion the vulnerable and the sick and the infirm, those who often have no access to the corridors of power.”

The contrast of an Obama celebration days after the House vote on his signature law and President Donald Trump’s repeated assertions that it’s “dead,” was on the minds of many in the room.

“It’s ironic, isn’t it?” said former interim Massachusetts Sen. Mo Cowan on his way into the event earlier in the evening.

“I think it is altogether fitting that we’re here this evening,” said Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.). “Barack Obama was able to pass the Affordable Care Act, a continuation of the vision of President Kennedy and Ted Kennedy. Today, Donald Trump is trying to destroy that vision.”

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/0 ... are-238094

[Scot Dutchy]

I think this is all a staged game. The House approves Trumpy's bill. Senate writes its own bill which is a big enough compromise that it hardly affects Obamacare which is then approved by the house. Everybody is satisfied. Trumpy gets 'his' bill and everyone else keeps Obamacare just with another name.

[Sean Hayden]

600.00 a month on top of everything else, woo-hoo Obama Care!

[pErvinalia]

Obama

“I hope they understand that courage means not simply doing what’s politically expedient, but doing what, deep in our hearts, we know is right,” Obama said, in a speech here at the John F. Kennedy Library accepting the Profiles in Courage award in honor of what would have been Kennedy’s 100th birthday.


“I expect to be busy, if not with a second career, at least a second act,” Obama said, promising more involvement.

Citing those who lost their seats after voting for the healthcare law in 2010, Obama described his “fervent hope” that current members “recognize it takes little courage to aid those who are already powerful, already comfortable, already influential — but it takes some courage to champion the vulnerable and the sick and the infirm, those who often have no access to the corridors of power.”

The contrast of an Obama celebration days after the House vote on his signature law and President Donald Trump’s repeated assertions that it’s “dead,” was on the minds of many in the room.

“It’s ironic, isn’t it?” said former interim Massachusetts Sen. Mo Cowan on his way into the event earlier in the evening.

“I think it is altogether fitting that we’re here this evening,” said Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.). “Barack Obama was able to pass the Affordable Care Act, a continuation of the vision of President Kennedy and Ted Kennedy. Today, Donald Trump is trying to destroy that vision.”

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/0 ... are-238094

What, a vision of handouts to corporations? What a joke.

[Tero]

That's how we do it in Merika. If corporations are not involved it's socialism. Corporations listening and tracking your shopping is OK. Gubment doing it? Big Brother!

[Forty Two]

That's how we do it in Merika. If corporations are not involved it's socialism. Corporations listening and tracking your shopping is OK. Gubment doing it? Big Brother!

Well, no, as corporations listening and tracking without your consent is illegal. But, to a socialist, the State listening and tracking without your knowledge or consent is fine, and in fact they should be the only entity that can do it (even with your consent).

[Forty Two]

It's getting hard to keep up here.... wasn't Obamacare really just a giveaway to the big insurance companies? Wasn't it just a Republican plan anyway, the same thing Mit Romney would have passed? Why do we want it, again? Was Mit Romney's plan, which basically Obamacare was taken from, a good thing?

[Forty Two]

600.00 a month on top of everything else, woo-hoo Obama Care!

$600 a month? Looxury... That's almost as low as I paid for my family before Obamacare kicked in.... those were the days.. . the days when insurance was unaffordable. Now, the same policy is 2-3 times more expensive, and as such, far more "affordable." I feel so privileged.

[Forty Two]

The only way to keep consumer costs down under the proposed arrangement is for the government to subsidise premiums, either by direct relief to policy holders, or more likely by supporting insurers profit margins. This 'deal' is going to cost the taxpayer more and provide less than ACA.

The ACA only costs $700 billion in subsidies alone. Annually. That's about $7000 per family. LOL. No wonder my family's premium costs me almost $15,000 per year with a deductible over $6,000 per person. LOL

The "Affordable" care act.

Oh, quick question... what does the ACA provide which the AHA would not?