Quote:
Originally Posted by nfotiu
I think the problem is that it didn't help enough people. If you are in the narrow income range that gets full subsidies for premiums and also subsidies that keep the out of pocket expense low, then it is fantastic. The next income group up who get subsidized premiums, but not subsidized deductibles would be fairly happy I assume. People who benefited from expanded medicaid in some states are probably in favor as well.
But that's just not enough people who benefited to have enough impact on elections. People who buy their own insurance and don't qualify from any subsidies probably don't feel any better off now, and may feel worse off. People on employer plans weren't affected much, but like to unfairly blame Obamacare for rising premiums.
Obamacare would have probably been much more popular if the subsidies went up to higher income levels. Obamacare's biggest flaw is that it did nothing to lower overall health care costs. If they could have figured out some kind of tort reform to reduce malpractice costs and then it could have been very popular.
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There is no doubt that it didn't go far enough or help enough people but those it did help do not want it to go away. I disagree that there aren't enough people it helped to turn an election...the margins were slim.
The problem is people never understood what it actually was. They fall into their political camp and therefore it is good or it is bad no matter what it said. However, from the very beginning study after study and poll after poll showed if you stripped away the name (Obamacare) there was significant support for each item. Right now you have people connecting "Obamacare" with those items they liked. And they don't want to lose it.
You say it's not enough to turn an election...I'd say it is clear that those thoughts are very much influencing the moderate republicans and those from states that greatly benefited from it. It's why a party in complete control of congress, the senate and the presidency can't get anything done. There are still some non-ideologue republicans that are actually listening even if it's for job preservation.
The ACA is getting more popular everyday. Last poll I saw had 50% approval of the law and only about one third support repeal. The bulk of Americans want to see improvements on the law using the existing law as the backbone for those improvements. Perhaps the GOP will start listening after this embarrassing set back. Well clearly not but when repeal and replace later fails maybe then. It isn't going to take long for the immediate repeal be colored for what it is....tax break for the rich on the backs of everyone else. Tax breaks for the rich is the only thing the GOP cares about and what their entire agenda from taxation to healthcare is based on.
It doesn't absolve the Dems. Now is the time to reach across the aisle to moderate republicans and start making fixes.