Stop Obamacare before it stops healthcare

“The essence of the entitlement state is government giving away free stuff. Hence Obamacare would provide insurance for 30 million uninsured, while giving everybody tons of free medical services — without adding “one dime to our deficits,” promised Obama. This being inherently impossible, there had to be a catch. Now we know it: hidden subsidies. Toss millions of the insured off their plans and onto the Obamacare “exchanges” where they would be forced into more expensive insurance packed with coverage they don’t want and don’t need — so that the overcharge can be used to subsidize others.” ~ Charles Krauthammer

Obamacare Is Rapidly Imploding: Will the Republican Congress Finally Do Something About It?

And, Dr. Krauthammer did not mention:

(1) If you refuse to sign up for Obamacare, then the IRS will penalize you and the penalty will increase each year.

Starting in 2014, anyone not buying “qualifying” health insurance – as defined by Obama-appointed HHS bureaucrats — must pay an income surtax. For 2016

1 adult: 2.5% AGI/$695

2 adults: 2.5% AGI/$1390

3 adults: 2.5% AGI/$2085

(2) Obamacare was sold to Congress on the promise that it would “improve the quality and reduce the cost,” of healthcare to the taxpayer. Instead Obamacare has reduced the quality and increased the cost overall. Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) original projection of a $938 billion price tag (over 10 years) now surpasses $1.3 trillion. A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report revealed a possible $6.2 trillion addition to the long-term federal deficit. Obama claimed he would not sign a plan that increased deficits by “one dime.”

(3) Obamacare was passed by an unconstitutional process. Obamacare was sold to Congress and they voted on it without reading the final versions or consolidating the final versions of the bill, which is an unconstitutional process. The final version of the bill never received a vote by both houses of Congress.

(4) In May, 2016, federal judge Rosemary Collyer ruled the Obama administration does not have the power to spend money on “cost sharing reduction payments” to insurers without an appropriation from Congress. “Cost sharing reduction payments” are billions of taxpayer dollars paid to insurance companies participating in ObamaCare so they can reduce customers’ out-of-pocket costs for low-income people. In the suit, the House GOP argued that the administration was unconstitutionally spending money on these payments without Congress’s approval. The ruling is stalled pending appeal by the Obama administration.

(5) Obamacare does not include meaningful malpractice reform. Physicians will continue to practice “defensive medicine” – running unneeded tests, and hospitalizing patients because they fear that if they don’t, they will be sued. Lawyers can continue to sue doctors and hospitals for unlimited amounts.

(6) Obamacare was 100% partisan. No Republican in the Senate or the House voted for Obamacare. The largest and most expensive social program passed in the lifetime of most living Americans was passed by only Democrats. Since it was passed, the House has voted 56 times to repeal Obamacare. But there are not enough votes to override President Obama’s veto.

(7) The Obamacare website is a scandal all by itself. Bloomberg (not part of the vast right wing conspiracy) estimates that the Obamacare website alone and fixes have cost “about $2.1 billion so far.” State Obamacare exchanges are failing one after the other. These exchanges were built with over $5 billion in federal taxpayer funds. The federal government is seeking reimbursement. Meanwhile, the federal government is paying dozens of mostly leftist organizations $67 million to help people “navigate” health insurance exchanges. For example, see SEEDCO scandal. http://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/2013/08/obamacare-multi-million-dollar-corruption-central/

(8) “You can keep your insurance if you like it,” Obama and Democrats promised. No, not necessarily. Your policy must conform to Obamacare standards. Many insurance companies have cancelled policies and many states have shut down their Obamacare exchanges. As of September, 2014, over 6 million Americans had their policy canceled.

(9) “The typical family will save $2,500 a year.” False. Some have seen lower premiums, others higher premiums, and just about everyone has higher deductibles. Average Americans saw their costs double or more. Many have switched to lower coverage.

(10) “Nobody will deny you coverage due to a pre-existing condition.” Not necessarily. There are still many things Obamacare and Medicare will not cover. Only 107,000 people took advantage of this provision over the first three years of Obamacare.

(11) “Health care reform will have little impact on employment.” No. CBO projected Obamacare-induced projected loss of 2 million jobs by 2017. Three Federal Reserve banks report healthcare providers are either cutting jobs, shifting workers to part-time status and/or increasing the employee contribution to their health care plans — all as a result of Obamacare. Employers have begun to move millions of workers from full to part time to avoid punitive new costs under Obamacare.

(12) Obama and Democrats promised, “If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor.” No, not necessarily. Doctors have left the medical profession because of the effects on their costs from Obamacare, and insurance companies have been forced to rearrange their policies because of Obamacare provisions and costs. Millions of Americans have lost their doctor. A survey of 699 doctors nationwide taken in 2013 by the Doctor Patient Medical Association found that 83 percent considered leaving their practices because of Obamacare.

(13) Obamacare will not increase taxes. False. There are 20 new taxes in Obamacare. Two examples: If an employer does not offer health coverage, and at least one employee qualifies for a health tax credit, the employer must pay an additional non-deductible tax of $2000 for all full-time employees. Applies to all employers with 50 or more employees. If any employee actually receives coverage through the exchange, the penalty on the employer for that employee rises to $3000. If the employer requires a waiting period to enroll in coverage of 30-60 days, there is a $400 tax per employee ($600 if the period is 60 days or longer). Bill: PPACA; Page: 345-346

Obamacare Excise Tax on Comprehensive Health Insurance Plans (Tax hike of $32 billion takes effect Jan. 2018): New 40 percent excise tax on “Cadillac” health insurance plans ($10,200 single/$27,500 family). Higher threshold ($11,500 single/$29,450 family) for early retirees and high-risk professions. Bill: PPACA; Page: 1,941-1,956

(14) 60 Minutes revealed Medicare payment fraud to be over $60 billion per year. Then Obamacare opened the door for more fraud. “When the government wastes money, it is wasting OUR money. It is cutting OUR pay. It is damaging OUR lives,” said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform. “And the Obama administration is treating us with contempt.” https://www.atr.org/watchdog-finds-billions-possible-fraudulent-obamacare-payments