President of the Democrat Party Barack Obama says that his signature law will have “glitches” for at least several months. Who’s shocked?
(Fox News) The sales pitches for and against ObamaCare have all been made. It’s now up to Americans to judge whether the law works as advertised, as the so-called insurance “exchanges†launch Tuesday.
Against the backdrop of the aggressive congressional showdown over ObamaCare — and partial shutdown of the federal government — Tuesday is the day that Americans can finally log on to the insurance-purchasing websites to take a test drive and decide for themselves.
Exactly what will happen when millions attempt to buy insurance on the federal and state-based websites remains uncertain — considering the well-documented software glitches in the prelude to enrollment day.
Yet broader questions also will be have to answered before federally subsidized coverage begins on Jan. 1, 2014.
Among the issues is whether premium costs will be higher or lower compared with customers’ existing policies, and will Americans’ confusion about mandatory changes to the U.S. health care system become clear. Perhaps the ultimate question: Will the country benefit when an estimated 48 million uninsured Americans get access to coverage or will ObamaCare be the job-killing “train wreck†critics say it will be?
Many other questions will take a bit longer to shake out. Ones like
- Will we see rationing?
- Will all these folks getting insurance through the Exchanges cause problems for the rest of us in terms of care?
- How many doctors and medical practices will close shop or restrict access?
- Will doctors and medical practices refuse to take Exchange insurance?
- How much will these subsidies cost the American People?
- How many will get the insurance vs. those who say “I’ll pay the tax”?
- How many companies will drop their coverage next year before the employer mandate kicks in?
I’m sure you can come up with your own.
At the heart of it all is the notion that Congress has effectively exempted themselves from this. Nor will the people at the White House or Supreme Court have to obtain it. If it’s not good enough for them, why is it good enough for the rest of us?
More: Unsurprisingly, the Exchange websites are a mess, with many not working. The Lonely Conservative notes that Dems can’t blame the GOP for the NY Exchanges being #Fail. Nina Owcharenko notes the reasons the Exchanges will fail.
You ask a series of relevant questions but end with a zombie lie about Congress and Federal Employees being exempt from the ACA.
By virtue of the fact that all of DC (politicians in office) have federally funded premiere healthcare, and will not ever ever have to use the healthcare exchanges that they foisted on the American public.
This does not include those who received waivers as favors from the president; but it does include people whose employers have been forced (or simply have chosen to for the company’s bottom line purpose) to drop spousal coverage. Or
If these exchanges are so efficient (hahahahaha) let’s see the whole of the three government branches and their staffs go for it!
Jeffery,
It is not a lie.
How you phrase it is the lie.
The ACA required Congress and staffers to go through the exchanges. That was part of the bill. There was no provision in the bill that allowed Congress and staffers to do anything but go through the exchanges.
Yet Obama and the OPM exempted Congress and staffers from the provision requiring them to go through the exchsnges and instead increased the benefits package for Congress and staffers outside of the law on federal wages.
So Congress is not “exempted” from the ACA, but rather is exempted from the provision in the bill that specifically applied to Congress.
Interesting, Jeffrey. Yet, you failed to provide any substance for your assertion.
I wonder if Congresses plans will be considered “Cadillac” ones when that tax rolls around, Trish?
Obamacare – passed at night on a holiday weekend using sketchy congressional rules after NONE of the Democrats read it and wouldn’t let anyone else read it either. Then they all exempted themselves from it. Obama randomly and illegally changes the law at will because it’s such a disaster. Companies laying people off, work hours being cut, Obamacare ‘navigators’ are members of SEIU and Planned Parenthood who will now have YOUR info. Death panels DO exist and we’re all required to fund abortion. Tons of taxes and regulations and fines. And day one, it’s been a total disaster.
NO OBAMACARE!
And Mr. Vice President, we know that’s you using ‘Jeffrey’ as a handle.
Willaim,
Of course, when someone (you) makes an assertion (Congress is exempt), that someone would provide the supporting evidence.
You typed: “At the heart of it all is the notion that Congress has effectively exempted themselves from this.”
It’s a “zombie lie” because it keeps coming back to life.
A Google search turns up hundreds of reliable “hits” refuting the zombie lie.
e.g.,:
http://blogs.rgj.com/factchecker/2013/09/28/is-congress-exempted-from-obamacare/
“0 out of 10 on the Truthmeter”
http://www.politifact.com/ohio/statements/2013/jan/16/chain-email/did-members-congress-exempt-themselves-complying-h/
“Pants on fire false”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/04/25/no-congress-isnt-trying-to-exempt-itself-from-obamacare/
“No, Congress isn’t trying to exempt itself from Obamacare”
http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2011/12/08/congress-exempted-from-obamacare/
“Here’s the surprise – come 2014, when the lion’s share of the ACA provisions come on line, Members of Congress and their staff will be required to buy their health insurance on an exchange.”