When Republicans LIE, and they do ALL the time, about the Affordable Care Act or what they love to call disparagingly "Obamacare" the truth was told by the MIT health care expert who helped Romney write for Massachusetts essentially the same bill. All you need to know basically are the following FACTS about Obamacare or more properly called the Affordable Care Act:
1. INSURANCE COMPANIES CANNOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST THOSE WITH PREEXISTING CONDITIONS OR CANCEL INSURANCE WHEN THE TREATMENT GOES ABOVE THEIR PREDETERMINED AMOUNT;
2. THE INDIVIDUAL MANDATE WHICH IS SOMETHING CONSERVATIVE THINK TANKS WANTED AS POLICY will make the expense of it go down over time. Call it a tax, call it chicken soup, who cares the "tax" is minimal. If one cannot afford it one will NOT have to pay it. There is no penalty for not paying it. It accounts for a mere 1% of those who pay the tax in Mass. or will have to pay it nationally;
3. There will be subsidies to make insurance affordable if one cannot afford it i.e. exchanges.
THAT'S IT! That's paring down Affordable Care Act benefits to understandable levels.
Would I have preferred single payer -- of course but our obstructionist bought out by big money Congress -- mostly Republicans but some blue dog Democrats too -- would not hear of it. I am happy with what we as progressives could get and think, like Medicare and fine wine, it will ultimately improve with age.
Onward to Re-Elect the President and Elizabeth Warren to the US Senate from Mass.!
