We know they always wanted to get to single payer. They’ll do whatever they have to in order to push toward that goal. The question is whether or not the Republicans and voters let them get away with it. Of course, a few lawsuits would help as well.
Category Archives: Health
Discussing ObamaCare
A conversation between Instapundit and Mickey Kaus. Don’t miss Glenn’s rant channeling Mark Levin.
The “Benefits” Of ObamaCare
The U.S. Supreme Court held that the Congress exceeded its authority by “mandating” the purchase of health insurance, but it saved the law by construing the mandate as a tax on being uninsured. Being surprised that the uninsured would object to such a tax is like being surprised that yacht owners would object to George H.W. Bush’s luxury tax on yachts.
In short, what ObamaCare means to the uninsured who were not uninsurable is higher prices for a product they already were disinclined to buy, along with a punitive tax on not buying it. That seems more like a mugging than a benefit.
How many of the uninsured lack insurance because of pre-existing conditions? It’s hard to know, but it would appear the proportion is not high. A September Kaiser Family Foundation study reported that “the high cost of insurance is the main reason why people go without coverage.” It includes a pie chart with the following breakdown of reasons for lacking insurance: Insurance not affordable, 31.6%; lost job, 29.4%; other, 17.4%; no offer, 11.2%; aged out/left school, 8.8%; no need, 1.5%.
Arguably the problem of the uninsurable was a market failure that justified government intervention of some sort. If ObamaCare’s architects had approached the matter intelligently, they would have conducted research to identify the extent of that precise problem and carefully targeted their response. Government is quite capable of implementing even modest programs disastrously, but the hubris of demanding “comprehensive reform” gave us a law that had to be marketed via massive consumer fraud, and that harms almost everyone it affects.
The next time this clown circus approaches any policy issue intelligently will be the first.
Another ObamaCare Court Case
Could this be the one that kills it?
More Self-Identifying Rubes
Some thoughts on the latest eager victims of con-man Barack Obama.
The World’s Smallest Pacemaker
…can be implanted without surgery.
It’s an age of miracles, if the government doesn’t screw it up.
Hundreds Of Books To Sign
…and I’ve come down with tendonitis in my right (as in “write”) wrist. Got a brace on it, taking ibuprofen and hoping it clears up by next week, when books come.
[Update a few minutes later]
Speaking of the book, does anyone know what’s going on with this? Who would be trying to sell used versions of the book for more than retail cost for new? A couple days ago, they were asking a thousand bucks for them. And the descriptions are false, since it doesn’t have a dust cover.
[Update a while later while decorating tree]
For those curious, I’m highly confident that this is my problem. The symptoms match to a tee. Fortunately, there’s no numbness, just pain when I bend the wrist.
ObamaCare
…has lost the uninsured.
As he notes, the fact that 55% would prefer to go back to the old system means that the Republicans could run on a simple repeal platform, even without offering a replacement. Though they should offer one that allows severability of employment from health insurance and purchasing across state lines.
Hitler’s Health Insurance
…is cancelled.
Julia
The real life: