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You are here: Home / Politics / Domestic Politics / Good news, I think

Good news, I think

by Kay|  December 14, 201112:27 pm| 47 Comments

This post is in: Domestic Politics, Election 2012

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This is a really popular provision:

The number of young adults lacking medical coverage has shrunk by 2.5 million since the new health care overhaul law took effect, according to a new analysis the Obama administration is to release Wednesday.
That drop is 2½ times as large as the drop indicated by previous government and private estimates from earlier this year, which showed about 1 million Americans ages 19-25 had gained coverage.
Administration officials said they now have more data. They say they’re also slicing the numbers more precisely than the government usually does, trying to pinpoint the impact of a popular provision in an otherwise politically divisive law.
Under the health overhaul, children can remain on their parents’ health insurance plans until they turn 26, and families have flocked to sign up young adults making the transition to work in a challenging economic environment. But the fate of President Barack Obama’s signature domestic accomplishment remains uncertain, with the Supreme Court scheduled to hear a constitutional challenge next year, and Republican presidential candidates vowing to repeal it.

I want Sherrod Brown to do ads in Ohio where real people who have benefitted under the ACA appear and talk about that. I think the only way we’re going to hear any ordinary person is if candidates buy time.

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Reader Interactions

47Comments

  1. 1.

    amk

    December 14, 2011 at 12:30 pm

    It’s high time dems stopped being quislings and solidly stand by what they themselves fucking passed.

  2. 2.

    Violet

    December 14, 2011 at 12:32 pm

    Since it’s a popular provision, expect Republicans to try to claim it exists because of something they did. If Dems don’t stand up and own this provision, it’ll turn into a GOP-provided benefit.

  3. 3.

    EriktheRed

    December 14, 2011 at 12:35 pm

    I want Sherrod Brown to do ads in Ohio where real people who have benefitted under the ACA appear and talk about that. I think the only way we’re going to hear any ordinary person is if candidates buy time.

    Hell, Dems in general should buy ads like that in every state a Republican is running for re-election.

  4. 4.

    JCT

    December 14, 2011 at 12:39 pm

    And in these ads they need to provide clips of the Republican vowing to repeal it — as in “elect this guy and this protection goes away”. Over and over again.

  5. 5.

    Violet

    December 14, 2011 at 12:39 pm

    I love that Obama has used the pejorative “Obamacare” and turned it into “Obama Cares.” I think they can build on that idea. Republicans want to throw you to the wolves. Democrats want you and your family to have a fighting chance.

  6. 6.

    c u n d gulag

    December 14, 2011 at 12:43 pm

    Oh, those poor 26 and under children!

    To be exposed to socialized medicine
    FOR SHAME!

    How will they ever learn the value of a free market and personal responsibility if they’re covered by Mommy and Daddy if they get sick?

    Better to die in freedom, than heal under Obama’s Godless Muslim Communist Heathen Health Care bondage.

    WOLVERINES!

  7. 7.

    meander

    December 14, 2011 at 12:44 pm

    I’ve been wondering if the ability for 26 year olds and under to be on their parents’ insurance thanks to the ACA is doing anything to spur entrepreneurship. Difficulty in getting affordable health insurance for new companies is a huge impediment to start a business. With that impediment out of the way, are young folks starting more businesses?

  8. 8.

    Served

    December 14, 2011 at 12:44 pm

    I am one of the 2.5 million who has received coverage under the ACA and it’s allowed me to move into freelancing and start a new career in a new location. I am volunteering for the Obama campaign this year because of it.

  9. 9.

    Punchy

    December 14, 2011 at 12:48 pm

    Enjoy this until about June of next year, when Thomas the Turd Engine nullifies the whole thing.

  10. 10.

    cintibud

    December 14, 2011 at 12:54 pm

    @meander: I know my daughter, who graduated this past June was able to pick up a great intership at a highly respected firm in her field without having to worry about the lack of benefits. That’s going to help her career a lot more then another job with benefits that might not even be in her field.

  11. 11.

    kay

    December 14, 2011 at 1:01 pm

    @cintibud:

    I know my daughter, who graduated this past June was able to pick up a great intership at a highly respected firm in her field without having to worry about the lack of benefits. That’s going to help her career a lot more then another job with benefits that might not even be in her field.

    If you could rephrase that using the words “liberty” and “freedom” I would appreciate it. “Gave her the LIBERTY to pick up a great internship…and the FREEDOM to work in her field”

    Plus, you’ll be wearing a flag.

  12. 12.

    cintibud

    December 14, 2011 at 1:10 pm

    Sure thing Kay! You can film me in front of Steve Chabot’s office too!

  13. 13.

    daveNYC

    December 14, 2011 at 1:11 pm

    @cintibud: Which of course is a classic example of the Democrats working to undermine the nuclear family by having women out in the workplace, as opposed to being in the kitchen making sandwiches.

  14. 14.

    sparky

    December 14, 2011 at 1:12 pm

    credit where credit is due: allowing people up to 26 to be on their parents’ policies is a plus. that said,
    first, as to comment #10, all this does is enable the employer to provide no benefits. it is unclear to me how exactly that is an improvement. once the employee turns 26 there will be no insurance at all.

    secondly, from the same article:

    Other early coverage expansions in the health care law have not worked as well, including a special program for people with health problems who got turned away by private insurers. Many applicants found the premiums unaffordable.

    this is the point people like me have always tried to make–private sector insurance provisions are worthless if the premiums go through the roof. uninsured because you cannot afford it is uninsured as if you are denied coverage.

  15. 15.

    sparky

    December 14, 2011 at 1:14 pm

    moderation? seriously?

  16. 16.

    slag

    December 14, 2011 at 1:15 pm

    @kay:

    “Gave her the LIBERTY to pick up a great internship…and the FREEDOM to work in her field”

    Only if she has the LIBERTY to work 60+ hours a week and the FREEDOM to not get paid for it. Otherwise, you’ll be accused of Orwellianism.

  17. 17.

    Villago Delenda Est

    December 14, 2011 at 1:15 pm

    @c u n d gulag:

    The irony here is, if they went down to a recruiting office and signed up for the military, they’d get free soshulist health care.

  18. 18.

    cintibud

    December 14, 2011 at 1:17 pm

    @slag: Just to clarify slag, she is well paid.

  19. 19.

    Mary G

    December 14, 2011 at 1:21 pm

    When I saw that this morning, I thought that some photogenic young person who got the insurance and then came down with a serious illness would be powerful in a political commercial, but it’s hard to wish serious illness on anyone.

  20. 20.

    Violet

    December 14, 2011 at 1:24 pm

    @Mary G:
    What would be really impressive is if they could find someone from a Republican family to do the commercial. Maybe someone whose parents were against the healthcare law, but then their kid couldn’t find work after college, so they put him/her on their insurance, and the kid got diagnosed with someone awful or got in a bad accident. Those people probably exist, but finding them and having them be willing to do an commercial is something else entirely.

  21. 21.

    Horrendo Slapp (formerly Jimperson Zibb, Duncan Dönitz, Otto Graf von Pfmidtnöchtler-Pízsmőgy, Mumphrey, et al.)

    December 14, 2011 at 1:28 pm

    I want Sherrod Brown to do ads in Ohio where real people who have benefitted under the ACA appear and talk about that.

    I like that, too, only be sure whoever stands up for the ad is ready to have their lives turned inside out. They won’t stop at countertops to discredit anybody this law has helped.

  22. 22.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    December 14, 2011 at 1:36 pm

    I think it was Barnacle on MJ that said this very same thing. His 20 something son has just had very much needed surgery and was covered cause he is still on his parents policy.

    Personally I think more and more of these stories are going to be coming out the more people realize that they are benefiting from the new law.

  23. 23.

    Dreggas

    December 14, 2011 at 1:38 pm

    *pokes head in briefly to see if he still knows anyone here*

    There’s stories and numbers popping up all over the place like this. There was recently an op-ed in the L.A. Times from a woman who used to mock “Obamacare” but thanks to it she was able to get treatment for breast cancer and is cancer free now.

  24. 24.

    slag

    December 14, 2011 at 1:40 pm

    @cintibud:

    Just to clarify slag, she is well paid.

    See…If she were a real American, she wouldn’t be bankrupting the country this way. My buddies didn’t die face down in the mud so that your kid could have decent healthcare AND a decent wage! Hasn’t she ever heard of “shared sacrifice”?

  25. 25.

    rb

    December 14, 2011 at 1:43 pm

    @Mary G: Well not anyone anyone, but yeah I take your point.

  26. 26.

    rb

    December 14, 2011 at 1:46 pm

    @Horrendo Slapp (formerly Jimperson Zibb, Duncan Dönitz, Otto Graf von Pfmidtnöchtler-Pízsmőgy, Mumphrey, et al.): They won’t stop at countertops to discredit anybody this law has helped.

    She’s got wooden floors!

  27. 27.

    Belafon (formerly anonevent)

    December 14, 2011 at 1:47 pm

    @sparky: I think everyone who supports this bill from us to Obama to Congress would agree that this bill is not perfect. But, once again, it was about the only thing that was going to pass, so I’ll take it over nothing. It’s already helped a bunch of people.

  28. 28.

    jl

    December 14, 2011 at 1:53 pm

    I’m not surprised that that previous forecasts underestimated the increase in coverage. The insurance companies and prepaid healthcare organizations understand the ‘dangers’ of providing affordable insurance to the uninsured: too many people will sign up for it, too many of whom will demand some services, hurting the bottom line.

    They even have a name for it: the ‘woodwork’ problem. That is, new enrollees who will produce demand for services will ‘come out of the woodwork’. Hurts the bottom line.

  29. 29.

    boss bitch

    December 14, 2011 at 1:55 pm

    Word cloud of terms voters use to describe Romney:

    http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/4570365/Romney_word_cloud

    You must click. its hilarious.

  30. 30.

    amk

    December 14, 2011 at 2:03 pm

    @boss bitch: How did ‘honest’ get in there ?

  31. 31.

    jl

    December 14, 2011 at 2:04 pm

    @boss bitch:

    Not sure Romney’s word cloud is that bad. ‘OK’ is right up there at number for four or five in prominence. Those are probably all the ex TPaw people, but still, tentative signs of a nascent would be developing future possible juggernaut.

    I’m a little surprised that ‘Mormon’ is almost bigger than everything else combined. Not sure what that means, though. For a lot of GOP voters, it probably signals ignorant bigotry.

  32. 32.

    Violet

    December 14, 2011 at 2:06 pm

    @boss bitch:
    Apparently it takes Java, so I can’t see it. What’s it say?

  33. 33.

    jl

    December 14, 2011 at 2:06 pm

    @amk: ‘Honest’ is pretty small. For positive signs, I prefer to go with that very noticeable ‘OK’.

    Edit: to bolster my argument, notice that ‘OK’ is almost nearly as big as ‘NO’.

  34. 34.

    amk

    December 14, 2011 at 2:10 pm

    @jl: willard doesn’t have it even in small print.

  35. 35.

    boss bitch

    December 14, 2011 at 2:12 pm

    @Violet:

    Well “Mormon” takes up a shit load of space followed by “flip flop” – “no” -“good” -“OK”. Smaller words include wishy washy religion, slick, like, crook, loser, business, honest, possibility. The one thing Mitt is desperately trying to be – “conservative” is one the smallest words.

  36. 36.

    boss bitch

    December 14, 2011 at 2:17 pm

    @jl:

    that’s a bad word cloud. The word “conservative” is in the smallest font size. “Flip flop” is bigger than all the good descriptions. Romney wants to convince voters that he’s a Conservative and that he’s not a flip flopper. That word cloud is pretty depressing for Romney imo.

  37. 37.

    jl

    December 14, 2011 at 2:22 pm

    @boss bitch: I agree. I was joking before. You are right, it is hilarious, if you are into black humor.

  38. 38.

    boss bitch

    December 14, 2011 at 2:29 pm

    @jl:

    Well, I am but I LOL’d because Romney doesn’t talk about his religion (as far as I know) and its the biggest one there. Really really really big.

  39. 39.

    Violet

    December 14, 2011 at 2:35 pm

    @boss bitch:
    Thanks. Not sure why Java isn’t working and don’t have time to figure it out. That’s a bad sounding word cloud for Romney. Although Mormon is probably biggest because it’s what people know about him. What demographic was used to create the word cloud? Republicans? All voters? Tea Party folks?

  40. 40.

    boss bitch

    December 14, 2011 at 2:45 pm

    @Violet:

    Here’s the link to Pew. The word cloud was from the general public but when just talking with Republican voters, MORMON, is also the number 1 description.

    http://www.people-press.org/2011/12/14/top-one-word-reactions-to-gop-frontrunners/?src=prc-headline

  41. 41.

    ChrisNYC

    December 14, 2011 at 2:45 pm

    @sparky: This argument is fine in the abstract. “Some complain that coverage is unaffordable.” In real life, it helps to flesh things out to see real effects.

    I’m buying my own insurance now in NY. When I started a few months ago, the ACA provisions had not yet kicked in. My choices were a hospitalization policy for about $200 a month or a medical and hospital policy, the cheapest of which was $700 a month.

    Had I started buying coverage now, thanks to the ACA, I would have been able to choose between four different policies, three of which are between $300 and $400 a month and one that is $600. All of these policies are decent too and are carried by companies that are way better on actually, you know, paying claims than the crappy company that currently insures me. That made things better for lots of my fellow NYers.

  42. 42.

    rikryah

    December 14, 2011 at 2:50 pm

    this is so obvious, and the ads need to get on every college campus.

  43. 43.

    kay

    December 14, 2011 at 2:55 pm

    @sparky:

    It’s just crappy, sloppy news coverage. The high risk pools were rolled out quickly, and they’ve evolved. The premiums were quite high initially, but were then (further) subsidized, and are now much more reasonable.

    This is a good article on them.

  44. 44.

    Phoenician in a time of Romans

    December 14, 2011 at 3:32 pm

    I want Sherrod Brown to do ads in Ohio where real people who have benefitted under the ACA appear and talk about that.

    “Granite countertops”.

  45. 45.

    Redshift

    December 14, 2011 at 3:58 pm

    This annoyed me:

    trying to pinpoint the impact of a popular provision in an otherwise politically divisive law.

    No, almost all the actual provisions of the law are popular; it’s only “politically divisive” because Republicans have lied about it outrageously (and created a “we have always been at war with Eastasia” about mandates) to manufacture a partisan issue.

  46. 46.

    debbie

    December 14, 2011 at 7:00 pm

    Brown should definitely do real-people ads. It certainly worked for the SB5 vote — especially that great-grandma ad. They just need to keep an eye and react quickly when the Republicans try to screw with them.

  47. 47.

    JoeShabadoo

    December 14, 2011 at 9:03 pm

    Of course this is popular.
    Most college grads I know go through at least a small period of unemployment and I imagine it’s worse for hs grads.

    This is also a great way to actually get people out to vote.
    People say old people get what they want because they vote but there is something else to think about.
    Government programs like medicare and medicaid disproportionately affect old people so they have immediate reasons to vote.

    I’m not saying things like this will suddenly make participation skyrocket but it certainly will make them more active because it will be obvious how the laws will directly affect them if somebody tries to take something like this away.

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