Moreover, there's a lot of speculation that this rate is basically tied to the employment rate, which is a way of saying that it's not Obamacare's fault that the uninsurance rate soared under his time in office. But if that's the case, then it's ridiculous to let them claim credit for reducing this rate again, especially as there's no evidence that Obamacare mattered.
So how much has Obamacare actually helped? Team Obama has carefully avoided collecting any data on how many of the people buying insurance were previously uninsured, but private research suggests that only around 20% of those who bought policies were previously uninsured. If that's true, then we're looking at Obamacare adding 800,000 new people to the ranks of the insured... plus another 1.8 million if you count Medicaid.
Assuming these numbers are legitimate (and they aren't), that means Obama added 2.6 million people to the ranks of the insured. That works out to 0.8% of the public. Pathetic. Moreover, compared to the 11 million who slipped into the ranks of "uninsured" under Obama, that's not a great answer - and that doesn't even count all the job damage Obama has done. Our local liberal college, for example, just announced they are cutting back hours of part timers to avoid Obamacare.
What's more, these numbers are fake. The 9 million Medicaid number is all people who have signed up since the law went into effect. It does not in any way break out people who are new to the system. Attempts to figure out this number have found that less than 5% of these people are new. Suddenly, Obama's 0.8% falls to 0.5%.
The 800,000 number isn't what it seems either. Some part of those people lost their insurance because of Obama's economy in the past 5 years. If you exclude those people, then it's possible that none of the people who signed up were actually "uninsured" in 2008 or before.
So think about that. For something that has attracted far less than 0.5% of the public - when it was supposed to help 15%, the Democrats have jacked up the rates of 263 million people, driven doctors out of business, nearly broken hospitals, killed the job market at the low end, all but ended overtime and decent hours, and forced around 12 million off insurance... not to mention those who couldn't keep the insurance they liked or the doctor they liked. What a bargain.
the uninsured may well impacted by the unemployment rate. However, it should not impact the fact the rate is artificially lower. I think it will continue to go up as people continue to be under-employed and employers shift jobs to part time because it is less expensive to pay the fine than provide insurance. Obama is good at faking numbers.
ReplyDeleteWell Obamacare has brought one thing for me. It has driven our discount rate sky high. I'm not sure yet if I'll bring any mony home this month.
ReplyDeleteJed, I suspect that in the end, Obamacare will ultimately increase the rate of uninsurance... not decrease it.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of the numbers, there are three reasons they can't fake the numbers ultimately. First, they will need account for the number of people paying the fine (or avoiding the fine) as part of the budget. That will give a clear number of how many people are going without insurance.
Secondly, the insurers will complain bitterly and in statements to their shareholders about the number of people they aren't getting. That will again make it easy to see how many people aren't insured.
Third, the Democrats will turn against the system and argue for a single-payer system. To make that work, they will scream about the number of people still without insurance.
Koshcat, My cardiologist and his entire group sold themselves to the hospital last year because they said they couldn't make any money under the new system. My current GP is refusing to take any Obamacare policies (and he's a liberal!) because he says he loses money on them. He's also stopped taking Medicare.
ReplyDeleteI suspect that, ultimately, a lot of doctors will opt out of the Obamacare policies. And let me tell you, those policies aren't cheap around here... definitely not worth it.
The thing that concerns me is that we'll get single-payer unless the right comes up with a better plan than merely badmouthing single-payer.
ReplyDeleteYou hit it on the head T-Max. The GOP never tried to come up with a better plan, the Dims sold this as won the election and the majority of the people are not smart enough to figure it out..they have wanted single payer all along and they will push hard for it with Hillary if she wins..but, I think the BO will throw his support behind someone else, not Biden, maybe Rahm. Then all Hell will break loose in the Dimocrat Party..irregardless, the GOP needs a trip to OZ to pickup some courage, some heart and a brain.
ReplyDeletere the 2.1 million number.
ReplyDelete47 million people were uninsured. That means now only 45mil of those are uninsured. However, we have to add the 11mil who lost their insurance on account of Obamacare which means 56mil are now uninsured.
Obamacare has been up for 5 1/2 months. But let's go with just 5 so we can get a shorter time frame.
2mil people have been added in 5 months. At that rate it will take 140 more months, or 11 years, to get everyone insured.
And that is assuming more people are not rendered uninsured because of Obamacare.
Jeez, tryanmax, the problem is that the public is too stupid to understand that we should just let insurers compete across state lines.. bam! Instant perfection. ;-P
ReplyDeleteActually, I am starting to hear more ideas from the non-talk radio GOP.
Critch, They are starting to realize they need something better than the "compete across state lines" mantra that no one is buying. They aren't fully there yet, but their plans are getting better.
ReplyDeleteAs an interesting aside on the single payer, I'm getting the sense that that is for rhetorical purposes only. The keep talking about it, but never go through with it when they can. And the one state that has tried -- Vermont, is in full retreat now that they see the cost of it.
Check out this article about Vermont and reality: It Costs What?!
ReplyDeleteKit, True. Their rate is pathetic. And don't forget that the population will keep growing, so it will take longer, plus, this 5 million is a vastly overstated rate because (1) it is new and (2) it is compressed by the deadline. In other words, if they are adding a million a month now because they are getting all the easy ones who are worried about the deadline. They won't be adding anywhere near the same numbers in April through November.
ReplyDeleteActually, when asked by The Committee Who Asks These Questions, Sec't Sebelius still cannot answer how many have actually paid premiums and why she does not know the answer.
ReplyDeleteAnd still no one who built this monstrosity can/will answer what happens when someone doesn't/can't pay their Obamacare exchange premium - you know, those people who do not fit into the "subsidy" category, but who have overleveraged their paychecks...
Oh, and this is the latest cute taxpayer-wasting drivel from the WH 'cause the people who are brought you the ACA really think that young people are just his stupid.
ReplyDeleteACABrackets. But insteand of March Madness basketball brackets! It's the ACA Brackets! How, like, timely and, like, ironic and how...stupidly embarrassing.
Bev, What's funny is that Obama has exposed just how bad the Democrats are at reaching the young. The presumption has always been that conservatives can't reach the young, but liberals can. Now it turns out that liberals can't either.
ReplyDeleteIronically, the young aren't that hard to understand... just don't treat them like idiots. But that seems to be beyond most people.
As for Sebelius, I find it amazing how many numbers you know she must be tracking that she's not tracking. If I were the CEO of her company, I would fire her for either lying or incompetence... there is no third alternative.
Srsly!? Cat GIFs! Why not just have Joe Biden wear a baseball cap backwards?
ReplyDeleteThe GOP might come off as condescending and stuffy, but at least they seem authentic. The WH looks like they hired the nerds as cool consultants.
"So this is what the kids these days are are into, eh Poindexter?"
"Oh yeah! *snort* I read on a message board that GIFs are totally back!"
T-Max - I can't tell WHAT these people are thinking except that the MUST market to the "Youts" of America who apparently don't have brainz.
ReplyDeleteOf course these are the same people who are trying their hardest to make sure that our children don't learn to read or write if someone else can't read or write 'cause it just ain't fair!
Oh, btw, did you all hear the one where Sec't Sebelius slipped in oh so quietly that, well, exchange premiums, might kinda probably have to go up next year....and, oh, yeah, deductibles might have to go up too...{{{as she runs out the door on Friday}}
Bev, It sounds like you are unhappy that a group of people who are proving to be brutally incompetent have taken it upon themselves to remake our entire healthcare system, a system they know nothing about. I can't imagine why this would bother you?
ReplyDeletetryanmax, Honestly, their outreach strikes me as just as bad as when Republicans do it. They seem to go to old people and ask them, "What do you think young people are into today?" And the answers are beyond condescending and out of touch. It really is fascinating to see that Mr. Hip himself is so bad at reaching yutes.
ReplyDeleteActually, I am delighted that brutally incompetent people have taken over our healthcare system. But it seems there are some "youts" who are just not happy - Ah, Youts...
ReplyDeleteActually, I really feel for this girl. It is heartbreaking the first time one has one's naïve beliefs shattered by someone that you see as perfect. And that your parents and others who are older and wiser might just be worth listening to. It is one of the hardest lesson of youth. I am not being facetious. I really mean that.
Bev, I don't think her beliefs are shattered. She's only angry at Obama for not being liberal enough. She seems to have gone full hipster, saying that everyone in government is stupid (well, actually, that may not be too much of a stretch), and that she's going to enlighten people with la-dee-dah peace and laugh, er, love hippy philosophy. In conclusion, I don't think she's learned anything. Sigh...another true believer. (And that's just too bad. She's pretty easy on the eyes.)
ReplyDeleteBTW, Andrew, I don't know if you're familiar with Spike TV's "Bar Rescue," but the host, Jon Taffer, gave some interesting advice last year for bars to survive Obamacare. Any thoughts?
Bev, That's great! LOL! Those are the very things we've been pointing out here for a long time as to why the left should be outraged at him.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of feeling sorry for her, I don't. Having blind faith in people you don't even know is not healthy.
Rustbelt, That's an interesting idea. The danger is that they declare you and the other bar a partnership and add the hours together. You would need to be very careful about making sure to point out that both jobs are totally independent.
ReplyDeleteAndrew - If you aren't an idealist when you're young, when ARE you a true idealist? That's why I feel for her. Her young world is very black & white and sweeping change is possible. But as adults, we know that is just not the way it is. She just hasn't gotten into the very grey world of reality, but there is an awakening for her. That is why I "feel for her". It's hard to become an adult. Of course, it did not escape me that she is still misguided in WHAT (i.e. "the government") is the problem and that she wore a provocative clothing, so people (i.e. "men") would make her an YouTube sensation, but, hey, youth is for the young, right?
ReplyDeleteBev, LOL! Provocative is right. This was definitely an attempt to get noticed.
ReplyDeleteI get what you mean about idealism, but her idealism seems a little lazy at best. She just thought she's vote for Mr. Perfect and everything would work out and now, years later after totally tuning out, she's surprised to find out it didn't. That pretty indifferent idealism in my book.