President Obama and his administration have repeatedly made the following statements:
- “If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor, period.”
- “If you like your health care plan, you will be able to keep your health care plan, period.”
- “We’re going to work with your employer to lower the cost of your premiums by up to $2,500 a year.”
Those were the promises that convinced millions to believe in the promise that “hope and change” would actually make healthcare more affordable.
However, as we continue to learn more about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, it’s becoming clear that most of the administration’s claims can only be called fantasy at best and propaganda at worse. For pro-life supporters the deception is even more troubling since the law, despite denials, greatly expands abortion coverage. Georgia Right To Life urges everyone to contact their Congressional representatives and let them know that Obamacare cannot stand as written.
Links to your U.S. Senators and Representative can be found here.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines propaganda as: “ideas or statements that are often false or exaggerated and that are spread in order to help a cause, a political leader, a government, etc.”
To many, the way Obamacare has been sold apparently relies on the often-used theory that: “If you tell a lie that’s big enough, and you tell it often enough, people will believe you.”
For some, primarily the 30 to 50 million people who currently have no health insurance, the law is supposed to be beneficial, although many claim the premiums are not affordable.
Those who fall below the federal poverty line ($15,415 for an individual or $26,344 for a family of three) may be eligible for Medicaid or a federal subsidy.
In addition, the law is designed to allow persons with pre-existing conditions to be able to get insurance.
And then there’s the promise of getting the disastrous website “glitches” fixed.
After that, the picture gets darker, especially when it comes to what Obamacare will actually cost.
Despite the rosy claims, the badly misnamed Affordable Care Act is causing sticker shock for the few who have actually been able to shop the website.
Forbes Magazine says the law will raise nationwide rates for younger men an average of 97 to 99 percent, and for younger women by an average of 55 to 62 percent.
For Georgia and four other states the outlook is far worse, where premiums for young adults will double or nearly triple.
The Center for Data Analysis offers the following monthly comparisons for Georgia:
- For adults age 27, the average premium is expected to increase more than 168% from $98.12 to $263.28.
- Adults age 50 will see their premiums jump more than 70% from $263 to $448.69.
- Rates for a family of four will increase more than 21% from $732.34 to $889.32.
Rates for younger, generally healthier persons increase the most because their participation is needed to fund a major portion of the new program.
However, many are not expected to sign up because the initial “fine” (tax) for not joining is less than taking part in the program.
Beginning in 2014, anyone without health insurance will be taxed 1% of their income or $95, whichever is greater. They also will be taxed $47.50 per child, up to a family cap of $285.
In 2016, the penalty, which is added to the individual’s federal income tax, increases to 2.5% of income or $695 per individual, whichever is greater.
Not subject to the individual mandate requirement are people in prison, undocumented immigrants, American Indians and members of religious groups opposed to health insurance.
It’s impossible to predict the ultimate outcome of any aspects of the law, which is clearly a work—or train wreck—in progress.
There have already been exemptions and delays granted to various groups.
And there will be continuing efforts for even more delays, as well as attempts to amend or repeal President Obama’s signature piece of legislation.
Sources: forbes.com; foxbusiness.com; the center for data analysis; thinkprogress.org, heritage.org.