Whither Obamacare?

[CountDeMoney]

Republicans are still Republicans, man.  Trumpism is clouding your judgement.

[grumbler]

Murkowski knows that ending the mandate ends the insurance program, if pre-existing conditions can't disqualify applicants from coverage.  If people only need to buy "insurance" after they need the coverage, the premiums will equal the cost of treatment, plus profit for the "insurance" company.  So, no one will buy insurance before they need medical care, and no one will buy it after they discover the need for care.

Best not to get sick or injured at all, or to die quickly if you do (for the sake of your family).  It's moronic.

[Eddie Teach]

I don't really see anything wrong with getting rid of the individual mandate. If we start to see health care as a government service, that tax is highly regressive. Bring on single payer.

[grumbler]

I don't really see anything wrong with getting rid of the individual mandate. If we start to see health care as a government service, that tax is highly regressive. Bring on single payer.

There is no way that the healthcare insurance industry will allow single-payer.  Germany works just fine with what is effectively an individual mandate.  Just copy the German system.  It's far cheaper and far more effective than anything the US has even attempted.

[DGuller]

I don't really see anything wrong with getting rid of the individual mandate. If we start to see health care as a government service, that tax is highly regressive. Bring on single payer.

That thinking would actually make sense if single payer were an option.  But in the world where we have to choose among the available options, choosing the best available option is generally the way to go.

[CountDeMoney]

But in the world where we have to choose among the available options, choosing the best available option is generally the way to go.

Profound.

[11B4V]

But in the world where we have to choose among the available options, choosing the best available option is generally the way to go.

Profound.

Is there any other way. 

[Eddie Teach]

But in the world where we have to choose among the available options, choosing the best available option is generally the way to go.

Profound.

Those Philosophy of Accounting courses paid off.

[Jacob]

It may seem obvious, but it appears lots of people still struggle with the concept.

[Eddie Teach]

I disagree that single payer is out of the question. I think if voters demand health care, they'll get it. And ultimately, the for profit insurance model isn't the best option.

[CountDeMoney]

I think if voters demand health care, they'll get it.

I demanded it, but derspeiss and the rest of you cocksucking cunts decided you wanted me dead instead.  So fuck you.

[Tonitrus]

The Federal-level pols will likely never have the guts to put in a single-payer system.

Though individual states could...California, Washington, or Oregon would be those most likely to be politically amenable.  At least two of those could do so by voter initiative (and I am surprised peeps in Washington haven't tried it yet).  Of course, the biggest hurdle to doing SP at the state-level might be that you'd have to enforce residency requirements pretty strictly (and in WA's case, probably move from the sales tax to an income tax...almost a political third rail there).  Dunno about any potential federal/imperial entanglements.

[Eddie Teach]

I think if voters demand health care, they'll get it.

I demanded it, but derspeiss and the rest of you cocksucking cunts decided you wanted me dead instead.  So fuck you.

You should be encouraged by all the failed Obamacare repeal bills.

[CountDeMoney]

You should be encouraged by all the failed Obamacare repeal bills.

Ya fucking hoo.

[The Minsky Moment]

Turns out there is something worse than repeal.  It's taking a complex and sensitive administrative task like ACA and putting it in the hands of a moron with a nasty streak.