Obama Health Care

Freedom is something that has, up until recently, been enjoyed by Americans for as long as we can remember.  Now, a 2014 provision of Obama health care in which most Americans must obtain insurance seems to be in direct opposition of the Commerce Clause of the Constitution.  Citizens have never been forced to buy a commercial product; they have had the choice of whether to buy or not to buy.  If this provision does take place, it seems in some way that our rights and freedom have been lessened.

Obama health care has face many challenges since it was signed in to law, but this seems to be the biggest so far.  A lawsuit brought by attorneys general and governors from 20 states is the most prominent of many court challenges sweeping Obama health care presently.

One deputy assistant attorney general is defending the law, stating that the health care market was unique due to the unpredictability of getting sick or facing potential bankruptcy.  Ian H. Ghershengorn told Judge Roger Vinson of Federal District Court in Pensacola, Florida that consequences to the economy of not having insurance coverage, which includes the shifting of costs to others, justify that this provision should be regulated by Congress.

Lawyers representing the state officials present argued that the insurance requirement under obama health care was unconstitutional because for the first time citizens would be required to purchase a commercial product.  David B. Rivkin Jr., representative for the state officials, said that this provision of the obama health care law would leave more constitutional devastation behind it than any statute in our nation’s history.

Governors fear that the 10 percent that states will pay eventually to support the provision will burden their already strained budgets.  The 2014 provision of required health coverage under Obama health care will initially be paid for by the federal government if it does indeed go through.

According to the 2014 provision, most Americans will either buy health insurance or pay a penalty.  This penalty will supposedly be phased in, beginning at $95 or 1 percent of annual income in 2014, whichever is higher.  By the year 2016, families will pay $695 or 2.5 percent of annual income, but will pay no more than $2,085.  Those with a financial hardship or religious beliefs against medical care may avoid the Obama health care requirement.

Obama health care is a hot topic for debate; some are for it, many against.  Only time will tell how it all plays out, and whether Americans will be required to buy a product that many cannot afford and do not want.

Mark South
Obama Health Care

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On Thursday, December 2nd, President Obama met with recently elected governors to take a stance on Obama health care.  Many of the new governors are from the GOP, but the President did not waiver in the face of criticism over his signature health care bill.  The talks centered primarily around Obama health care, and the seemingly expanding reach of the federal government.

Challenged by Gov.-elect Nikki Haley (R) of South Carolina, the President denied her request to repeal the health care bill in the state.  Haley told the President that small businesses and individuals in South Carolina could not afford Obama health care, but the President held fast to his position.  He stated that under certain circumstances, he would consider letting states opt out of the mandates.  These circumstances include running exchange programs and banning insurance companies from denying coverage for those with pre-existing conditions.

While Haley and the President did not agree on obama health care, Haley did state that she appreciated the President’s openness and attention to concerns, and that she is dedicated to protecting the citizens of South Carolina.

Gov.-elect Mary Fallin of Oklahoma also challenged obama health care according to reporters, who was told that “I’m President, and I’ve got another two years to go”.  White House aides said the exchange between the President and Fallin was not contentious, but the President was firm in the fact that he still stands by the health care bill passed in March.

Even though the President was facing many Republicans who were elected in November because many voters were against Obama health care and the ever expanding reach of the federal government, Obama told the group that states could only go so far in their attempt to push the federal government out of the way.

Amidst a group that consisted of 19 newly elected Republican governors and 4 Democrats, the President also discussed how to curb spending at a time of budget shortfalls.  He told the group that he was interested in hearing from them about programs that were working well, or those not working so well.  President Obama stated, “Contrary to the mythology, believe it or not, it turns out that I would love to eliminate programs that don’t work”.

When it comes to Obama health care, the President is unflinching in his support of the new law.  It seems that this is the one topic that is not up for debate.  Some individuals even believe that the GOP’s hatred is not for the health care law as much as it is for the President himself.  This goes back to Obama health care being the exact same program that the GOP proposed a few years ago, so why is the party suddenly against it?

Mark South
Obama Health Care

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Many people are curious as to whether Obama health care played a significant role in the mid-term elections, leading to a House Republican majority.  Not only are strategists wondering about this, it is a point of contention within the Democratic Party, many of whom believe Obama health care is the reason that Republicans won the House and now have six more seats in the Senate.

Two surveys conducted recently seem to point to the fact that voters were trying to send a message opposing obama health care. One of the surveys conducted on election day demonstrated that 45%of those polled cast their vote for Republican candidates due to their dislike of the new health care laws.  According to Bill McInturff, who studied the results of the surveys, 28 percent of voters supported Obama health care and 27% were neutral in this area.

While McInturff, who handled polling in the 2008 presidential contest for Senator John McCain, believes that voters showed their strong opposition to Obama health care in their mid-term election votes, Brad Woodhouse, communications director of the Democratic National Committee has a different opinion.  Woodhouse believes that Obama health care was a neutral factor, and that the economy was the biggest factor in voting.  Woodhouse also made the point that Senators Blanche Lincoln (Ark.) and Russell Feingold (Wis.) were the only two Democratic senators seeking reelection who lost of those Democratic senators who had voted in favor of Obama health care.

It also appears that ads broadcast on television may have swayed some of the voters involved in the survey according to McInturff.  According to the polls, 70% of voters in the districts surveyed admitted to having seen television ads regarding Obama health care; of this 70%, the majority remembered that the ads they had seen were in opposition of the health care law.

While strategists disagree on the number one reason that Republicans swept the house following the mid-term elections, it is agreed that Obama health care was a factor, whether the primary factor or not.  When it comes time for 2012 presidential elections, it is a sure bet that Obama health care will be a topic front and center in the GOP nominee’s argument against President Obama.  It may not be clear whether economic issues or health care reform was the real determining factor in the results of the  mid-term election, but one thing is for certain – obama health care is a topic we will be hearing about for some time to come.

Mark South
Obama Health Care

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With Republicans now in control of the House, it’s a sure bet that Obama health care will face new scrutiny.  As Republicans vow to repeal the new health law, it won’t likely prove to be an easy feat; in fact, it will probably be all but impossible to carry out their campaign promises since the President himself is the one in control of the veto pen.

In January, the new GOP majority will be large – but the Senate is still controlled by Democrats, who lean heavily in favor of Obama health care.  Combine that with the fact that the GOP is still too small to override a veto by the President, and things don’t look favorable for repealing Obama health care.

According to Michael Cannon, director of health policy studies for the libertarian Cato Institute, says House Republicans may still have a few effective weapons in their arsenal.  Cannon predicts that now that Republicans rule the House, obama health care will become even less popular than it has been for the last year and a half, as they do everything possible to cripple or throw a wrench in the new laws.

Oversight hearings could either help or hinder Obama health care according to Cannon.  In his opinion, Republicans could actually help nail down public opinion against the health care laws by keeping bad news in the media, via hearings that would keep Obama administration health officials busy at Capitol Hill trying to actually implement the law.

On the other hand, Cannon says that numerous hearings could also give the Obama administration the opportunity to make its case, one that was often misunderstood or unheard by many during the election campaign.  Obama health care is not clearly understood by a large percentage of Americans, which is one reason it is so unpopular.

Following the recent elections, the President indicated that he may be open to a few change in Obama health care, even suggesting the repeal of increasing the number of 1099 forms that are required to be filed with the IRS by small businesses, a provision that was unpopular with small business owners.  From the looks of things, it’s a good bet that obama health care will still be in the news for the foreseeable future.

Mark South
Obama Health Care

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In the seven months since Obama health care passed, it seems that many declarations that were made regarding health reform have gone awry.  We’ve heard over and over again how Obama health care would mean families would save on premiums, health care costs would be reduced, and so on.  It almost seems that in every instance, details regarding health care have gone in a totally opposite direction from what was promised by the President.

Obama health care, according to the President, would “finally reduce the costs of health care”.  “Families will save on their premiums.”  In the last 30 days or so, media reports have announced that massive rate increases are on the way for many Americans – and much of this is due to obama health care.  The Wall Street Journal reported in early September that as a direct result of health care reform, health insurers were planning to raise premiums for some Americans.  In recent weeks, it has been reported widely that providers in several states were raising premiums.  These states included Connecticut, New York, Washington and California.

Obama health care seems to be costing Americans more instead of cutting costs; as The Seattle Times so eloquently put it, “Whopping rate increases are coming soon for many people with individual health insurance policies.”  Does this sound as though obama health care is working in favor of the American people?

The President also declared that families, businesses and the government would see a slowing in the rise of health care costs, but that seems to be a bust as well.  A study by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services revealed that since Americans will be forced to get insurance under Obama health care laws, medical spending in the United States will soar upward.

What’s really sad is the effect of Obama health care on the seniors of our country; the President promised to protect Medicare in the health care bill, and this bill contained over $200 billion cuts  to the Medicare Advantage program alone.  Now, by the end of this year, 22,000 senior citizens in Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire will lose their supplemental coverage, forcing them to look for alternative coverage.  Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, who offered supplemental coverage for these citizens, is reported to be dropping the program at years end.  According to the company’s vice president of customer service, Lynn Bowman, cuts in Medicare are being used to fund national health care reform.

Under Obama health care, it was understood that Americans would be able to keep their current health plan if they were pleased with it.  Now, that doesn’t seem to be the case either; recently, the 3M Company has confirmed that health-insurance will eventually not be offered to retirees, and Obama health care is the primary reason for this decision.

All of the bright promises made around Obama health care sounded good, but now it’s becoming painfully clear that those who opposed it from the start – and continue to oppose it – may have been able to see into the future.

Mark South
Obama Health Care

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A New York teacher’s union, Jack in the Box and McDonald’s are just a few of the companies recently exempted from certain obama health care rules.  According to the Wall Street Journal, McDonald’s was considering dropping health care coverage available to approximately 30,000 employees if some of the new health care rules were not bent by the Obama administration.  Officials with HHS and McDonald’s denied this story.  Apparently, there are some rules in Obama health care that companies feel they cannot afford.

Although the Obama administration says these waivers are simply a stopgap measure, critics warn that allowing certain companies to be exempt from the rules could result in employees losing their health care coverage.  According to these critics, the reputation of Obama health care suffers when the president issues waivers to certain companies that make threats regarding skyrocketing premiums under the new law.

Robert Laszewski, CEO of Health Policy and Strategy Associates, stated to Bloomberg New that the huge political issue raised is that Obama made promises that individuals would not lose the coverage they presently have, and now, just a month prior to the election, the companies being exempted represent 1 million people who would do just that – lose their present coverage.

obama health care has banned the type of low-benefit insurance similar to that offered by McDonald’s, which has a benefit cap of $2,000 per year.

A New York teacher’s union, the United Federation of Teachers, is the largest beneficiary of the waiver put in place recently under Obama health care.  This union is one of the Presidents key political backers.  The 30 companies, unions and health insurers approved for federal waivers will not be required to gradually phase out limits on annual health coverage like everyone else will be required to do.

Patrick Semmens, spokesman for the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, stated that big labor spent millions of dollars promoting Obama health care, which is stuffed full of union giveaways.

A few of the other companies that received waivers from certain rules pertaining to Obama health care include Aetna, BCS Insurance Group, Denny’s and CIGNA.

Under Obama health care, individuals who do not have health care coverage with their employers will be able to buy health insurance from marketplaces that are subsidized by tax credits by the year 2014.  Fines will be imposed on those large employers who do not cover employees adequately.

It seems that when it comes to Obama health care, some companies and organizations get preferential treatment.

Mark South
Obama Health Care

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Several provisions of the still questionable Obama health care reform bill go in to effect today.  As of September 23, 2010 here are a few of the changes going in to effect:

Children can remain on their parents’ insurance policy until age 26, unless they work for an employer who offers health insurance.  Some states implemented this change months ago, and a few states already allow dependents to stay on a parent’s policy until they reach the age of 30.

One positive aspect of obama health care is that insurance companies, as of today, can no longer drop a person when they become ill; neither can they search for mistakes on an insurance application in order to deny payment for a service when the customer gets sick.

New health care plans are required to cover numerous preventative services, including colonoscopies and mammograms without a deductible or co-payment.  Health care plans already in force must provide first-dollar coverage for preventative services by 2018.

President Obama, in defense of Obama health care, said at a backyard gathering in Falls Church, Virginia on September 22nd that those who want to repeal the health-care overhaul should have to look in to the eyes of people who cannot afford insurance and tell them “Sorry, you can’t buy health insurance.”  According to the President, increasing health-care costs are the biggest factor in the continuing rise of the federal deficit.
Polls continue to show shifts in support of obama health care.  In May, when the health care reform bill was signed in to law, 49% of Americans supported it.  Now, a full 56% of Americans disapprove of health care reform.

Other provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that take effect today include:

Insurance companies will no longer have the ability to set lifetime limits on coverage

Children age 19 and under with pre-existing health conditions can no longer be denied coverage

New tax credits will be available to small businesses to help offset insurance premium costs

Mark South
Obama Health Care

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Joel Hansen, candidate for Nevada Independent American Party attorney general, stated that when you are forced to purchase a product he believes it is involuntary servitude.  The statements were made in a lawsuit challenging Obama health care; Hansen feels that the new health care laws impose a form of slavery on the nation.

According to Hansen, Obama health care violates the 1st Amendment which is freedom of religion.  He believes that socialism is a form of religion, and that the Obama administration is imposing this so-called “religion” on all citizens whether they want it or not.

The lawsuit was filed by Hansen in the first days of September, and Hansen claims that the suit is the most comprehensive filed against the health care law so far.  Prior to this suit, the state of Virginia has filed suit regarding obama health care, and a joint suit has been filed by several other states.  Hansen claims that while those lawsuits focus for the most part on the 10th amendment, his suit takes things much further.  For example, this suit alleges that the First, Third through Fifth, Ninth, Tenth and Thirteenth amendments are violated by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Two of these amendments regard the quartering of soldiers and slavery, which may seem odd to those reading this.  What does obama health care have to do with these two issues?  Hansen believes that the new health care law is equivalent to “Peonage” which is the coercing of an individual to work off a debt by threat of legal sanction.

Hansen has been a lawyer for 32 years, and is a Brigham Young University alum.  He states that Obama health care violates First Amendment rights because many people are pro-life and the new health care laws will force them to pay a portion of the costs for abortions.  Many religions are strictly against abortion, and being forced to participate in contributing to abortions is a violation of religious freedom.

While Hansen is vehemently against Obama health care, his sister edits a newsletter in Nevada in which she regularly warns people of the state the world is in, and even recommends readers both in the media and online to refer first to their Bible and then begin stocking up on canned goods.

Legal challenges against Obama health care will be “vigorously defended” by the Justice Department according to a statement issued in March.

Mark South
Obama Health Care

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obama health care still doesn’t seem to be going over well with the majority of Americans; in fact, a recent report shows that 56% of U.S. voters favor revoking the national health care bill.  A recent telephone survey conducted by Rasmussen Reports found that 40% of people are not in favor of repealing Obama health care, so there still are some that appear to be satisfied with the plan at least for the time being.

Of those polled on their views concerning Obama health care, it appears that there was no difference in the opinions of those individuals who are covered by health insurance and those who are not.  Of the 56% who favor repeal of the bill, 46% feel strongly that the health care bill should be repealed.  Around mid-August, 60% of people felt that Obama health care should be repealed, and 33% of those in favor of repealing felt that doing so would create more jobs.  Overall, opinions haven’t changed greatly since the health care reform bill was passed by Congress in March.  Since that time, the number of people polled feeling that the law should be repealed has remained between 52% and 63%.

Since Obama health care passed, opposition to the health care law remains strong; only about 36% of voters feel that the plan will actually be beneficial for the country.  That number has varied from between 32% and 42% since the bill passed.

The majority of people included in the poll who do have health insurance feel that their coverage is satisfactory and even excellent, but wonder if Obama health care will result in them being forced to change their coverage.  Of the 81% who feel their coverage is good, 42% believe it is likely that health care reform will eventually result in them changing their insurance.  Voters who are neither Republican nor Democrat along with those who are Republicans feel strongly that obama health care is detrimental to the well-being of the country, while Democrats tend to lean in the opposite direction, feeling that the health care law is a positive move for America.

While it has been about 5 months since Obama health care passed and was signed in to law, it seems that many people still feel uncertain about the effect it will have on the country.  Regardless of whether voters feel that the law should be repealed, over 1/2 of voters in the United States feel that the requirement that every American must buy or get health insurance coverage is unfair.

Mark South
Obama Health Care

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Now that Obama health care is law, many individuals have been concerned about the affects on Medicare, particularly those who are approaching or who are already of the age where they will receive benefits.  Recently, the President claimed that seniors are already benefiting and that Medicare is on stronger financial footing due to the implementation of the obama health care law.

According to the President, “Reform has actually added at least a dozen years to the solvency of Medicare, the single longest extension in history.”  Costs to seniors for health care have been cut, and  efforts by the administration to halt fraud, abuse and waste in Medicare have made the program stronger and more stable.  Obama health care, according to some, will help Medicare stay afloat for many years longer than previously expected; this data was reported recently in the annual report of the trustees who oversee Medicare.  Previously it was believed that Medicare would run short on money in 2017, but now it is believed that the program will be financially sound until around 2029.

As Obama health care ramps up the efforts in the years to come, the President says that seniors will save about $200 annually in premiums and about the same amount of money in out-of-pocket expenses.  While the future of Medicare is uncertain, seniors will be provided financial aid for prescription drugs and free preventative care according to the President, who also says that Obama health care will provide new authority that allows the government to review rate increases in insurance companies, and reject those they feel are unreasonable.

The extended life of Medicare hospital insurance was credited to the fact that with the passage of obama health care, there will be a dramatic gain due to significant health care savings in the years to come.  While this all sounds like very positive news for seniors, officials caution that time will tell if significant savings are realized in the health care industry.

Mark South
Obama Health Care

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