The Conservative Cave
Current Events => General Discussion => Topic started by: Chris_ on July 02, 2012, 10:52:01 AM
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What's Obamacare? A studious Reddit user has read the mammoth 955-page Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and outlined the important points of what the new law actually does, with specific citations.
What people call "Obamacare" is actually the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. However, people were calling it "Obamacare" before everyone even hammered out what it would be. It's a term mostly used by people who don't like the PPACA, and it's become popularized in part because PPACA is a really long and awkward name, even when you turn it into an acronym like that.
Anyway, the PPACA made a bunch of new rules regarding health care, with the purpose of making health care more affordable for everyone. Opponents of the PPACA, on the other hand, feel that the rules it makes take away too many freedoms and force people (both individuals and businesses) to do things they shouldn't have to.
So what does it do? Well, here is everything, in the order of when it goes into effect (because some of it happens later than other parts of it):
(Note: Page numbers listed in citations are the page numbers within the actual document, not the page numbers of the PDF file)
Already in effect:
•It allows the Food and Drug Administration to approve more generic drugs (making for more competition in the market to drive down prices) ( Citation: An entire section of the bill, called Title VII, is devoted to this, starting on page 747 )
•It increases the rebates on drugs people get through Medicare (so drugs cost less) ( Citation: Page 216, sec. 2501 )
•It establishes a non-profit group, that the government doesn't directly control, PCORI, to study different kinds of treatments to see what works better and is the best use of money. ( Citation: Page 665, sec. 1181 )
•It makes chain restaurants like McDonalds display how many calories are in all of their foods, so people can have an easier time making choices to eat healthy. ( Citation: Page 499, sec. 4205 )
•It makes a "high-risk pool" for people with pre-existing conditions. Basically, this is a way to slowly ease into getting rid of "pre-existing conditions" altogether. For now, people who already have health issues that would be considered "pre-existing conditions" can still get insurance, but at different rates than people without them. ( Citation: Page 30, sec. 1101, Page 45, sec. 2704, and Page 46, sec. 2702 )
•It forbids insurance companies from discriminating based on a disability, or because they were the victim of domestic abuse in the past (yes, insurers really did deny coverage for that) ( Citation: Page 47, sec. 2705 )
•It renews some old policies, and calls for the appointment of various positions.
•It creates a new 10% tax on indoor tanning booths. ( Citation: Page 923, sec. 5000B )
•It says that health insurance companies can no longer tell customers that they won't get any more coverage because they have hit a "lifetime limit". Basically, if someone has paid for health insurance, that company can't tell that person that he's used that insurance too much throughout his life so they won't cover him any more. They can't do this for lifetime spending, and they're limited in how much they can do this for yearly spending. ( Citation: Page 14, sec. 2711 )
•Kids can continue to be covered by their parents' health insurance until they're 26. ( Citation: Page 15, sec. 2714 )
•No more "pre-existing conditions" for kids under the age of 19. ( Citation: Page 45, sec. 2704 and Page 57, sec. 1255 )
•Insurers have less ability to change the amount customers have to pay for their plans. ( Citation: Page 47, sec. 2794 )
•People in a "Medicare Gap" get a rebate to make up for the extra money they would otherwise have to spend. ( Citation: Page 379, sec. 3301 )
•Insurers can't just drop customers once they get sick. ( Citation: Page 14, sec. 2712 )
•Insurers have to tell customers what they're spending money on. (Instead of just "administrative fee", they have to be more specific).
•Insurers need to have an appeals process for when they turn down a claim, so customers have some manner of recourse other than a lawsuit when they're turned down. ( Citation: Page 23, sec. 2719 )
•Anti-fraud funding is increased and new ways to stop fraud are created. ( Citation: Page 699, sec. 6402 )
•Medicare extends to smaller hospitals. ( Citation: Starting on page 344, the entire section "Part II" seems to deal with this )
•Medicare patients with chronic illnesses must be monitored more thoroughly.
•Reduces the costs for some companies that handle benefits for the elderly. ( Citation: Page 492, sec. 4202 )
•A new website is made to give people insurance and health information. (I think this is it: http://www.healthcare.gov/ ). ( Citation: Page 36, sec. 1103 )
•A credit program is made that will make it easier for business to invest in new ways to treat illness by paying half the cost of the investment. (Note - this program was temporary. It already ended) ( Citation: Page 830, sec. 9023 )
•A limit is placed on just how much of a percentage of the money an insurer makes can be profit, to make sure they're not price-gouging customers. ( Citation: Page 22, sec. 1101 )
•A limit is placed on what type of insurance accounts can be used to pay for over-the-counter drugs without a prescription. Basically, your insurer isn't paying for the Aspirin you bought for that hangover. ( Citation: Page 800, sec. 9003 )
•Employers need to list the benefits they provided to employees on their tax forms. ( Citation: Page 800, sec. 9002 )
•Any new health plans must provide preventive care (mammograms, colonoscopies, etc.) without requiring any sort of co-pay or charge. ( Citation: Page 14, sec. 2713 )
reddit.com (http://www.reddit.com/tb/vbkfm)
These are only the current regulations. The article also covers what goes into effect in the future and when.
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Paul Pilsner sums it up like this. The more government involvement, the less efficient, and almost always the less effective.
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I didn't see any of the negatives included in that list. lower limit on section 125 deductions and what can be covered under it. New taxes on medical equipment.
How is making something more expensive helping to lower medical costs?
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Is reddit a left wind site? Looking at the article (I went to the page and read some of it) makes me think they are because they didn't put anything negative in it.
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It creates a new 10% tax on indoor tanning booths.
Its the democrats war on the jersey shore
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Its the democrats war on the jersey shore
Jesse "High" Jackson would approve. Maybe even Johnny Cochran.
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I didn't see any of the negatives included in that list. lower limit on section 125 deductions and what can be covered under it. New taxes on medical equipment.
How is making something more expensive helping to lower medical costs?
Did you click the link? Those go into effect in 2014. They are only showing what has already gone into effect on the quote Chris_ posted. There's tons of negatives on the link. :-)
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Did you click the link? Those go into effect in 2014. They are only showing what has already gone into effect on the quote Chris_ posted. There's tons of negatives on the link. :-)
Of course. Just like the Dems to hand all the "freebies" out, and then hit you with huge tab. Some of the negatives have already taken effect though.
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Of course. Just like the Dems to hand all the "freebies" out, and then hit you with huge tab. Some of the negatives have already taken effect though.
Yes they have, negative to people footing the bill, not so much to the freeloaders.