General Discussion

rox63

(9,464 posts) Sat Mar 31, 2012, 10:32 AM Mar 2012

Those who want to kill Obama's Health Care Reform effort should take note

The law it is modeled on is working pretty well in MA, and most of the state approves of it. 98% of Massachusetts residents have health insurance because of the law, which is the highest rate in the country. Wouldn't it be great if 98% of all Americans had affordable health coverage? Sure, I'd prefer a single-payer system, or at least a public option. But what we have in MA is much better than we had before.

http://commonhealth.wbur.org/2012/03/10-signs-health-reform

-snip-
• In Massachusetts, there have been no major court challenges or attempts to overturn the health insurance requirement.

• Backers of an initiative to repeal the individual mandate in Mass. failed this fall to get enough signatures to appear on the ballot.

• Not only did they fail to gather enough signatures, but the Facebook page for “Massachusetts Against The Individual Mandate” got only 43 ‘Likes.

-snip-

For virtually every single Bay Stater – some 98% – health reform has led to secure, affordable coverage. The mandate works when combined with employer fair share requirements, a Connector that makes it easy to shop for coverage, and sliding scale help for low income people…The Massachusetts health reform glass is very, very full – right up to the brim.

11 replies

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Those who want to kill Obama's Health Care Reform effort should take note (Original Post) rox63 Mar 2012 OP

A Massachusetts success story authored by Mitt Raven Mar 2012 #1

If he were smart, he'd be running on this success rox63 Mar 2012 #2

Reminds me of an Onion story from a while back. boxman15 Mar 2012 #4

To be fair, Mitt didn't author it. phleshdef Mar 2012 #7

True - But he did support it rox63 Mar 2012 #8

Question wendylaroux Mar 2012 #3

I believe they are those that choose not to purchase insurance but to pay cbayer Mar 2012 #6

There are also some who claim they can't afford the coverage rox63 Mar 2012 #9

The GOP ought to be claiming credit Alcibiades Mar 2012 #5

MA is a total disaster area for actual sick people eridani Mar 2012 #10

But at least they are on an equal footing with insured people everywhere rox63 Apr 2012 #11

Raven

(13,891 posts)

1. A Massachusetts success story authored by Mitt

Reply to rox63 (Original post)

Sat Mar 31, 2012, 10:47 AM

Mar 2012

Romney and he's running away from it. He doesn't think the rest of the country should have the same success. NUTS!

rox63

(9,464 posts)

2. If he were smart, he'd be running on this success

Reply to Raven (Reply #1)

Sat Mar 31, 2012, 10:51 AM

Mar 2012

The GOP was not quite as batshit crazy when the MA law was passed. I don't think he thought it would be a liability back then.

Mind you, I still think Romney is a lying weasel, and would never vote for him. And he did veto the funding for the program. But thank goodness that veto was overturned by the overwhelmingly Dem MA legislature.

boxman15

(1,033 posts)

4. Reminds me of an Onion story from a while back.

Reply to Raven (Reply #1)

Sat Mar 31, 2012, 11:56 AM

Mar 2012

"Mitt Romney Haunted by Past of Helping Sick People"

phleshdef

(11,936 posts)

7. To be fair, Mitt didn't author it.

Reply to Raven (Reply #1)

Sat Mar 31, 2012, 01:37 PM

Mar 2012

The Democratic state legislator and Ted Kennedy had a whole lot to do with it.

rox63

(9,464 posts)

8. True - But he did support it

Reply to phleshdef (Reply #7)

Sat Mar 31, 2012, 05:43 PM

Mar 2012

And it has been mostly successful.

wendylaroux

(2,925 posts)

3. Question

Reply to rox63 (Original post)

Sat Mar 31, 2012, 11:54 AM

Mar 2012

Who are the 2% not covered? What group are they?

cbayer

(146,218 posts)

6. I believe they are those that choose not to purchase insurance but to pay

Reply to wendylaroux (Reply #3)

Sat Mar 31, 2012, 01:36 PM

Mar 2012

the penalty instead.

I am sure someone will be along to correct me if this is wrong.

rox63

(9,464 posts)

9. There are also some who claim they can't afford the coverage

Reply to cbayer (Reply #6)

Sat Mar 31, 2012, 05:44 PM

Mar 2012

And apply for a waiver. They usually have a hearing, where it is decided whether they have to pay the fine or not.

Alcibiades

(5,061 posts)

5. The GOP ought to be claiming credit

Reply to rox63 (Original post)

Sat Mar 31, 2012, 01:34 PM

Mar 2012

The PPACA is based on proposals from the Heritage Foundation first floated in 1989 as an alternative to single-payer. Romneycare, which put these GOP ideas into action, passed with bipartisan support with a GOP governor in a Democratic state. It should be hailed as a bispartisan example of sound policymaking and comprmise that everyone supposedly favors, but the GOP now treats it as though it were the plague.

eridani

(51,907 posts)

10. MA is a total disaster area for actual sick people

Reply to rox63 (Original post)

Sat Mar 31, 2012, 08:57 PM

Mar 2012

50% of bankruptcies are STILL due to health care costs. People in MA who are insured are just buying the delusion that they will get help if they ever get expensively sick. Given that in every age demographic 5% of the people account for 50% of all health care costs, most will never see their delusion contradicted by reality.

rox63

(9,464 posts)

11. But at least they are on an equal footing with insured people everywhere

Reply to eridani (Reply #10)

Sun Apr 1, 2012, 07:38 AM

Apr 2012

Who are often still at risk of bankruptcy. The real solution is single-payer. But at least folks in MA can get regular health care covered by insurance.

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