Eight years ago, the ACA was signed into law.
A year ago, the House of Representatives pulled the bill that became the AHCA because they did not have the votes.
They pulled it because of public protest. They pulled it because they saw the outrage coming. They pulled it because the policy made no sense and it would make even less sense on its own internal coherency going forward.
And last night, the Senate talked about Silver Loading a lot:
McConnell touts that Collins bill “would end the practice of ‘silver loading,’ which unnecessarily costs the taxpayers tens of billions of dollars.” (Dems like silver loading because it increases ACA subsidies).
— Peter Sullivan (@PeterSullivan4) March 22, 2018
So Happy Birthday ACA:
Baud
Still chugging along. Really remarkable.
Mary G
“Thanks, Obama!”
Really, and thanks Nancy SMASH and thanks Harry Reid, and thanks every Democrat who knew their “yes” vote would cost them their job and voted anyway.
It’s battered and bruised from all the crap Twitler, ZEGS, and the turtle could throw at it, but it’s still alive and if we can take back the Congress, we can fix it up.
Yes, we can.
Frankensteinbeck
I’ve said this once or twice before, but it bears repeating: Thank you for these posts, Mr. Anderson. Very few of us know enough to say anything, so they get few comments, but you’re doing this blog and us a lot of good by giving us access to real information on this incredibly complicated subject.
WereBear
@Frankensteinbeck: I agree! It’s complicated, probably more complicated than it should be, but Mr. Anderson has increased my intelligence!
Therese B Kakalios
I second Frankensteinbeck
Like many here, your knowledge and insight is invaluable in helping me navigate these waters, Mr. Anderson. We have great insurance but my adult children are not as fortunate and this has been a great resource in making informed decisions. Thank you.
Matt
Shorter McConnell: “Insurers figured out how to route around our previous sabotage, so we’re working to sabotage more”
Introducing crap like this should permanently put Collins on the “lying wingnut” list, pretensions of moderation be damned.
MomSense
I’m wishing Collins had been smart enough to get a clam digger kickback or something because CSRs are a big problem here. We used to have really good cost sharing silver plans with low deductibles, out of pocket, co pays, etc. I don’t know how to explain the situation but everyone I know who had a silver before is now paying double for a bronze with high deductibles – $6,000 range. It’s basically catastrophic insurance. Gold plans were way out of reach as were the silvers.
We are a small state of just over a million people spread out over a large area. We are the oldest state in the union. We had a very high rate of uninsured before the ACA so lots of deferred medical needs. There is a fair amount of competition. Somehow our little co-op hangs on. The insurers needed the risk pool subsidies on the back end because of the problems in our small insurance pool.
John Gabriel
David Anderson @ Top:
So Republicans – or McConnell at least – have finally figured out that funding CSR isn’t a compromise to Democrats. Or, assuming they already knew that, they finally figured out that no one else is buying their attempt to sell it as a compromise.
John Gabriel
@Frankensteinbeck:
Seconded.
(Or thirded. Or fourthed.)
John Gabriel
Deleted by author, due to formatting error.
Ohio Mom
@John Gabriel: and Fifthed.
Thank you also for reminding us of this wonderful anniversary. The longer the ACA stays in place, the more likely it stays in place.
One day people will hardly believe pre-existing conditions were a thing. They will be listed along dial phones on “Do you remember when…” lists.
David Anderson
@MomSense: I am having a hard time seeing what you are saying in the data for subsidized folks.
In 2018 in Cumberland County, a 40 year old non-smoker pays $176 less for the least expensive Bronze than the Benchmark Silver. In 2017 that person could save $45/month by going to the least expensive Bronze plan compared to the Benchmark Silver. In 2018 the Bronze plan (unsubsidized) costs $337 while in 2017 it was $295/month
In 2017, the least expensive Gold plan cost $131 more than the Benchmark Silver at a premium of $472 for a single 40 year old non-smoker while in 2018, the least expensive Gold was “only” $56 more than the Benchmark Silver at a non-subsidized premium of $570/month.
Bronze for a 40 year old in 2018 is the optimal plan as the difference in premiums for that compared to Silver is less than the difference in maximum out of pocket spending.
public.tableau.com/shared/8837QB2D4?:display_count=yes
Yarrow
David, thank you so much for your posts. I have learned so much from them and have even been able to explain how some of this works to others. Your efforts are greatly appreciated!
The ACA was so well crafted it’s been hard for the Republicans to destroy it. Obama and the Democrats did a great job at creating that piece of legislation, especially given the various prima dona members of Congress they had to placate. It’s far from perfect but I’m so very grateful for it. Thanks, Obama!
MomSense
@David Anderson:
I’ll look at the table but that was not what any of us found last year. Even the youngs were finding that in 2016 they could purchase a silver for $25-$30 per month and this year it went to $65-$110 for a bronze with no real change in income.
I was paying $336 for a silver in 2016-17 and now pay $542 for a bronze. I don’t know anyone who is getting a better deal this year so something is really off.
David Anderson
@MomSense: were you getting a subsidy? that is the key question
Kelly
I join in thanking David for his useful, easy to understand work. The Republican trifecta left me massively anxious about going back to pre Obamacare health insurance. I really thought the axe would fall. The public outcry shows liberal ideas are way more popular than even mainstream Democratic politicians believe.
Noah Brand
There’s a fairly good chance I’m alive because of Obamacare. Both sleep apnea and depression are often fatal in men my age, and I wasn’t able to obtain proper treatment for either of them until Oregon got those sweet Obamacare bucks and was able to massively expand the Oregon Health Plan, its Medicaid program. Suddenly, what had been impossible to deal with became easy. Suddenly, I was getting treatment.
Another Scott
@Noah Brand: Excellent. Glad you’re with us to tell your story.
Cheers,
Scott.