Supreme Court upholds ACA

[KarmaContestant]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

Okay, I get the notion that the president''s health insurance mandate is supposed to enlargen the pool of healthy individuals in the insurance pool. And there will be a mandate to buy insurance or pay a penalty. But what isn't clear to me is what this will mean to the individuals who are not currently covered and are just initiating private coverage to comply with the mandate. Today, a barebones individual health insurance plan is around $5K/year (with a huge deductable). Under the mandate, do these insurance premiums decrease by law, or do private insurance companies get to charge whatever they like (as they do currently). Yes, the ultimate objective is to make healthcare more affordable for everyone, but so far I am not hearing about the concessions that insurance and healthcare companies are making to truly expand access to coverage. If people could not afford coverage before, how are they expected to afford it after it's mandated if everything else remains the same?

I'm no expert on the details, but the information is out there if you look. If you cannot afford insurance (which is determined by income - not lifestyle) then you can get a subsidy to help pay for it. It will not cover 100% of the cost. The example I read yesterday said that a family with an income of 60K could expect about 5K in assistance for insurance premiums, but the balance falls on their shoulders.

The poorest of poor, up to 1.3 times the Federal poverty level are able to enroll in Medicare. This alone will provide coverage to about 30 million of the 57 million uninsured.

There is no legal requiremnt to lower the cost of premiums, because we are a free-enterprise capitalist economy, and price controls are considered a no-no; so yes, the insurance companies will continue to determine the rate of premiums.

As far as this: "I am not hearing about the concessions that insurance and healthcare companies are making to truly expand access to coverage":.

No denial for pre-existing conditions
No dropped coverage when you get sick
No price gouging based on health, age, smoker, etc...
Children can stay on parental insurance plans until age 26.

Granted, these aren't concessions, but legal requirements of the Affordable Health Care Act. One cannot expect a for-profit industry that makes billions in profits by price gouging and denying coverage to make concessions, but the idea is that the pool of funds will be greater when more peope are covered, and the cost of services could drop. How? If premiums are to decrease, Americans will really need to get serious about preventative care. Going to the doctor every six months for regular checkups and physicals. Getting off their fat asses and engaging in physical activites. Putting down the starchy carbs and eating fruit and vegetables. It's time to move away from treating (and extending) illnesses with expensive therapies and begin preventing illnesses with affordable lifestyle changes.

This can be argued, but I believe the prices of premiums will be determined by the free-market (as in, you and I). Be healthy and reduce the costs of care so that the costs of premiums can decrease as well. Or - continue to engage in unhealthy lifestyle choices and watch the fat-cats laugh their way to the bank as premiums continue to increase at the same rate as greed and laziness.

Personally, I support the Affordable Health Care Act, but prefer a socialized health care system where 100% of services (or close to 100%) are covered for 100% of the population, and all paid for with taxes. Denmark, Sweden, France - all are great models for what we should have here.