Obamacare Arrives

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright March 22, 2010
All Rights Reserved.                                

       High-late-night-drama on Capitol Hill resulted in President Barack Obama’s $940 billion health care reform bill passing the House [219-212], a stunning victory for the president and the Democratic Party.  Not a single Republican voted for the bill, that’s designed to reign-in insurance company abuses and insure some 32-milllion Americans currently without health coverage.   While the results on Barack’s sagging approval ratings remain unknown, Wall Street, the nation’s best barometer of future economic trends, reacted positively with the Dow Jones Industrial Average jumping nearly 44 points or .44%.  Since inaugurated Jan. 20, 2009, the GOP has insisted that Wall Street has an aversion to the 48-year-old president, despite the DOW rocketing up nearly 2,500 points or 30%.  Wall Street has a funny way of showing presidents whether they’re on the right track.

             Wall Street’s reaction to Obama’s health care overhaul bill bodes well for the economy, that, despite its costs, it’s expected to reduce the federal budget deficit by some $138 billion over 10 years. But whether the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office is correct or not, the idea of providing coverage to the nation’s uninsured or controlling runaway costs appeals to anyone with common sense.  Before the dramatic vote, House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) begged for the bill’s defeat on the grounds that it violated the intent of the Founding Fathers, the same impassioned pleas made before Medicare passed in 1965.  Screaming racial epithets at black lawmakers before the vote, the so-called Tea Party activists revealed some unsightly motives.  Hearing racism on the steps of Capitol Hill gave free X-ray into the Tea Party movement.

             When the dust settles and some of the uninsured Tea Party folks stop listening to Rush Limabaugh and other right-wing preachers, they’ll realize that the president pushed through one of the most humanitarian pieces of legislation in U.S. history, perhaps more so than Social Security [1935] and Medicare [1965].  Whatever the effects on the U.S. economy, Barack’s health care reform commits a substantial portion of U.S. Treasury to providing health care for its citizens.  As House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said before the vote, health care is now a “right” not a privilege for U.S. citizens.  Boehner and Cantor, and others in the GOP, believe it’s reserved only to the well-heeled.  Obama and Pelosi gambled with the idea that more healthy citizens benefit the U.S. economy.  Like other Western democracies, the U.S., too, will find national health care pays rich rewards.

             Before listeners or viewers of right-wing multimillionaire TV and radio talk shows denounce Obamacare, they should keep an open mind about the benefits they stand to gain under the new program.  While most benefits are still years away, conservatives should take a hard look of what their families stand to gain.  Going into effect immediately, all insurers will be required to cover subscribers’ children until age 26, provided they have no other insurance.  Insurers are forbidden from canceling coverage for sick subscribers or rating up premiums.  Obama’s plan cuts the popular Medicare Advantage plan, costing the government 13% more than traditional Medicare.  Medicare Advantage Plans, while lowering deductibles and co-payments, actually ration medical care to seniors to make for the lavish benefits.  Ending Medicare Advantage plans help pay for Obamacare.

             Requiring all Americans to pay for health insurance is no different than the current payroll tax on Medicare and Social Security. Tax credits and expanded Medicaid coverage should help defray out-of-pocket expenses to individuals unable to afford premiums.  Families-of-four earning less than 88,000 would be eligible for government assistance in paying premiums.  “It’s no all black-and-white, sometimes it’s gray,” said James Firman, president of the National Council on Aging, referring to ending Medicare Advantage programs. “Overall, we think this plan is very good and will provide some significant benefits to seniors.  There will be some pain among some people on Medicare Advantage plans,” attesting to expected changes. Tea Party-types, currently receiving Medicare and Social Security, should keep an open mind.  Multimillionaire pundits don’t worry about paying for health care.

             Obamacare offers the best possible compromise to what many liberal Democrats wanted in true universal health care.  Republicans left an indelible mark on the bill by forcing liberals to compromise and abandon the so-called “public option.”  Instead of expanding Medicare to include adults and children, Obamacare makes use of the private insurance market to provide coverage.  Contrary to incendiary right wing rhetoric, Obamacare, as imposed on by the GOP and conservative Democrats, is not a “government takeover.”  Like Medicare or Medicaid, subscribers pick their own private doctors, hospitals and clinics to provide medical care.  Instead of the government paying the bills, private insurers write the checks.  While there’s much to be desired, Obamacare is a good first start toward the ultimate goal of providing quality affordable health care to all U.S. citizens.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.