Obamacare Has Reversed A Negative Trend. Researchers Call It ‘Remarkable.’

[Cigar]

For the first time in a decade, the number of people struggling to pay their medical bills has started to decline, according to a new survey (http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2015/jan/biennial-health-insurance-survey) released on Thursday by the Commonwealth Fund. The researchers attributed the historic drop to the number of people gaining insurance under the health care reform law.

Between 2012 and 2014 — as Obamacare’s main coverage expansion took effect — the Commonwealth researchers found that the number of people who had issues paying for health treatment dropped from 41 percent to 35 percent. Over the same time period, the people who skipped out on health services because they couldn’t afford them declined from 43 percent to 36 percent:

http://d35brb9zkkbdsd.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/commonwealth1.jpg
http://d35brb9zkkbdsd.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/commonwealth2.jpg

In a press release, the researchers described the declines as “remarkable.” This marks the first time since 2005, when Commonwealth started surveying people on these questions, that the number of Americans struggling to afford medical care hasn’t increased.

“Health insurance really provides people with a financial means to get care,” Sara Collins, a vice president at the Commonwealth Fund and one of the people who worked on the study, told the New York Times. “We don’t know yet that the law is improving people’s health, but this is a first indication that people are affording care that they weren’t able to get in the past.”

more
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2015/01/15/3611905/obamacare-medical-bills-commonwealth/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=tptop3&utm_campaign=tptop3

:grin: Let the crying begin

[The Sage of Main Street]

For the first time in a decade, the number of people struggling to pay their medical bills has started to decline, according to a new survey (http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2015/jan/biennial-health-insurance-survey) released on Thursday by the Commonwealth Fund. The researchers attributed the historic drop to the number of people gaining insurance under the health care reform law.

Between 2012 and 2014 — as Obamacare’s main coverage expansion took effect — the Commonwealth researchers found that the number of people who had issues paying for health treatment dropped from 41 percent to 35 percent. Over the same time period, the people who skipped out on health services because they couldn’t afford them declined from 43 percent to 36 percent:

http://d35brb9zkkbdsd.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/commonwealth1.jpg
http://d35brb9zkkbdsd.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/commonwealth2.jpg

In a press release, the researchers described the declines as “remarkable.” This marks the first time since 2005, when Commonwealth started surveying people on these questions, that the number of Americans struggling to afford medical care hasn’t increased.

“Health insurance really provides people with a financial means to get care,” Sara Collins, a vice president at the Commonwealth Fund and one of the people who worked on the study, told the New York Times. “We don’t know yet that the law is improving people’s health, but this is a first indication that people are affording care that they weren’t able to get in the past.”

more
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2015/01/15/3611905/obamacare-medical-bills-commonwealth/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=tptop3&utm_campaign=tptop3

:grin: Let the crying begin Because of Social Security, the Rethuglicans lose a lot of votes from Conservative senior citizens. They justifiably fear that public medicine will also become a Third Rail and must be nipped in the bud.

[Ethereal]

Most people who went to the exchanges signed up for Medicaid, which could have been accomplished without thousands of pages of new rules and regulations (Obamacare) being heaped on an already over-regulated sector of the economy.

[texan]

Cigar,
Do you foresee any issues with Obamacare that may be negative?

[Bo-4]

Cigar,
Do you foresee any issues with Obamacare that may be negative?

Everyone sees fixable glitches. Batshit crazy people see train wrecks that have cost millions of jobs. ;-)

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/the-train-wreck-only-ted-cruz-can-see

[iriemon]

Because of Social Security, the Rethuglicans lose a lot of votes from Conservative senior citizens. They justifiably fear that public medicine will also become a Third Rail and must be nipped in the bud.

We already have public medicine. It's called Medicare. It's far more cost effective at providing health care than the private insurance system and is universal for those 65 and older.

[Matty]

Because of Social Security, the Rethuglicans lose a lot of votes from Conservative senior citizens. They justifiably fear that public medicine will also become a Third Rail and must be nipped in the bud.



I just love l that word rethuglicans, libtards use it often. You go kid!

[Professor Peabody]

We already have public medicine. It's called Medicare. It's far more cost effective at providing health care than the private insurance system and is universal for those 65 and older.

Yea, $1350 in fraud per medicare insured vs $330 in fraud per privately insured.

[lynn]

The are seeing a decline is because people are choosing not to get medical care.

[Professor Peabody]

For the first time in a decade, the number of people struggling to pay their medical bills has started to decline, according to a new survey (http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2015/jan/biennial-health-insurance-survey) released on Thursday by the Commonwealth Fund. The researchers attributed the historic drop to the number of people gaining insurance under the health care reform law.

Between 2012 and 2014 — as Obamacare’s main coverage expansion took effect — the Commonwealth researchers found that the number of people who had issues paying for health treatment dropped from 41 percent to 35 percent. Over the same time period, the people who skipped out on health services because they couldn’t afford them declined from 43 percent to 36 percent:

http://d35brb9zkkbdsd.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/commonwealth1.jpg
http://d35brb9zkkbdsd.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/commonwealth2.jpg

In a press release, the researchers described the declines as “remarkable.” This marks the first time since 2005, when Commonwealth started surveying people on these questions, that the number of Americans struggling to afford medical care hasn’t increased.

“Health insurance really provides people with a financial means to get care,” Sara Collins, a vice president at the Commonwealth Fund and one of the people who worked on the study, told the New York Times. “We don’t know yet that the law is improving people’s health, but this is a first indication that people are affording care that they weren’t able to get in the past.”

more
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2015/01/15/3611905/obamacare-medical-bills-commonwealth/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=tptop3&utm_campaign=tptop3

:grin: Let the crying begin

Stink Progress? :rofl:

[Common]

Cigar,
Do you foresee any issues with Obamacare that may be negative?

I can ask of you, do you see any issues that are positive with obamacare

[Common]

The ACA is here to stay whether you agree or not. This could have been done so much simpler without throwing the country into a frazzle by just putting everyone on medicaid that couldnt afford insurance and making necessary changes to it.

We need to focus on how to make it better. The gop has tried to get rid of the ACA over 50 times and its already been to the Supreme Court and passed.

[Matty]

The ACA is here to stay whether you agree or not. This could have been done so much simpler without throwing the country into a frazzle by just putting everyone on medicaid that couldnt afford insurance and making necessary changes to it.

We need to focus on how to make it better. The gop has tried to get rid of the ACA over 50 times and its already been to the Supreme Court and passed.


That still does not make it right. It is a bitter pill. Think of it! Your government can force you to buy something and will use punishment by the corrupt I R S as the enforcer. The premiums have gone up, the co pays have gone up, the deductibles are very high. The networks are narrow, Americans now find it much harder to find and pay for healthcare. And that is totally a malady the democrats have imposed on the country. The only happy people of course are the ones who got their freebies!

[Matty]

We already have public medicine. It's called Medicare. It's far more cost effective at providing health care than the private insurance system and is universal for those 65 and older.


Medicare is going BROKE!

[Common]

That still does not make it right. It is a bitter pill. Think of it! Your government can force you to buy something and will use punishment by the corrupt I R S as the enforcer. The premiums have gone up, the co pays have gone up, the deductibles are very high. The networks are narrow, Americans now find it much harder to find and pay for healthcare. And that is totally a malady the democrats have imposed on the country. The only happy people of course are the ones who got their freebies!

Whether some think its right or some think its wrong DOESNT MATTER now, its here and its not going anywhere. So the intelligent thing to do is make it the best it can be. Tweak it so it costs less and does more and works more fluidly.

The biggest problem with the ACA is and has been that states had the right not to expand medicaid with the govt money offered.

In fla Rick Idiot Scott refused the money and didnt expand medicaid and we have the most uninsured in the country. Heres the kicker. WE STILL PAY FOR THEIR HEALTHCARE everytime they get sick or injured and hit the emergency room.

This entire argument that has had the country at a standstill for 6 yrs is bullshit. The time to defeat it was when it was being put together. Or right after by the supreme court, neither happened.

[PolWatch]

Is the ACA the best program? no Did the repubs introduce the solution they had been promising since the Clinton years? no Did the nation want reform of the system? yes...the last presidential election was a referendum on health care and those who wanted reform won.

Those who yell for eliminating it publicly are also the same ones who voted to fund the ACA in December 2014.

[Peter1469]

It is back up at the Supreme Court and it may not pass this time. The issue of the federal run exchanges and the tax breaks (subsidies).
The ACA is here to stay whether you agree or not. This could have been done so much simpler without throwing the country into a frazzle by just putting everyone on medicaid that couldnt afford insurance and making necessary changes to it.

We need to focus on how to make it better. The gop has tried to get rid of the ACA over 50 times and its already been to the Supreme Court and passed.

[Matty]

Whether some think its right or some think its wrong DOESNT MATTER now, its here and its not going anywhere. So the intelligent thing to do is make it the best it can be. Tweak it so it costs less and does more and works more fluidly.

The biggest problem with the ACA is and has been that states had the right not to expand medicaid with the govt money offered.

In fla Rick Idiot Scott refused the money and didnt expand medicaid and we have the most uninsured in the country. Heres the kicker. WE STILL PAY FOR THEIR HEALTHCARE everytime they get sick or injured and hit the emergency room.

This entire argument that has had the country at a standstill for 6 yrs is bull$#@!. The time to defeat it was when it was being put together. Or right after by the supreme court, neither happened.


You keep saying that. But do you know the democrats made sure the insurances get their money no matter what. If enough do not enroll the taxpayer will be on the hook to give the insurance companies so they receive their promised wealth. Now that's what I call wealth redistribution!

In Fla the idiot Rick Scott refused the money because he knows as do 36 other states that the money only flows for a short period of time and then the entire cost is dumped onto the state's.
Now obummer has allowed millions of illegals into the country to take jobs and resources. Democrats do not have the ability to look beyond their noses and see consequences. The absolute only thing a Democrats can do well is tax and spend.

tsesk it my ass. The only right way to tweak it is to do away with the mandate! And the subsidy to the insurance companies!

[Matty]

Is the ACA the best program? no Did the repubs introduce the solution they had been promising since the Clinton years? no Did the nation want reform of the system? yes...the last presidential election was a referendum on health care and those who wanted reform won.

Those who yell for eliminating it publicly are also the same ones who voted to fund the ACA in December 2014.


Yes, Republicans did offer alternatives. The democrats being in the majority shut them out. This mess is stamped squarely on the Democrats forehead. The biggest tax ever levied on the backs of the middle class. Thank the democrats!

[PolWatch]

when repubs had the opportunity to actually provide reform (which they had promised) they did nothing. They waited until it was being crammed down their throat (which it was) to decide they wanted to do something.

The ACA will not go away. Both parties realize they stand to make lots of $$$ from big pharma & insurance. The only thing we can do is hope that some benefits dribble down to those who actually need it.

[Ransom]

when repubs had the opportunity to actually provide reform (which they had promised) they did nothing. They waited until it was being crammed down their throat (which it was) to decide they wanted to do something.

The ACA will not go away. Both parties realize they stand to make lots of $$$ from big pharma & insurance. The only thing we can do is hope that some benefits dribble down to those who actually need it.

Nonsense. You're confused on what reform means. Liberals when they speak to reform....are speaking to health care reform, the government taking over health care. Republicans are concerned for health care insurance reform. Competition across state lines. A lizard on tv, a commercial about taking you 15 minutes to save you 15% on health insurance.

What you Libs should have done, PolWatch....is fix the VA issue first. Because Americans understand the VA health care system is the one stop shop health care system Liberals want for America. The fact that our Vets are not getting health care ignored while you admittedly shoved your version of reform down GOP throats. Why not take care of your current federal responsibilities before pretending you can take care of my family. No no...just like any issue, Obama plays politics, passes this colossal piece of dung on Xmas eve night, denies the Senate a vote after Scott Brown's election.....you blew it.

This isn't a GOP mistake, it's yours. It's a leftist, Left leaning boneheaded colossal mistake and we're gonna hang it around your pretty necks at election time. Try to get a Republican President elected...and kill this albatross.

[PolWatch]

I'm confused because you think the ACA & the VA system are the same? I think you have been not listening to that lizard but chewing on his tail.

fyi: the VA situation is not something new. Some of us have known there was a problem for many years.

Keep believing in magic...if everyone just claps their hands & gets the repub Tinkerbell elected, all problems will end! Thank you boys & girls.

[texan]

Here are some facts not being talked about that are not clear as you liberals take a victory lap.

The a graduate of Harvard Medical School and an expert in this field was on with Maher Friday night and said this trend started before Obama started and at this time they don't know what to contribute it too yet. Uh Yes started 2 years before Obamacare!


Carry on.