Why so many candidates what to build on what we already have.

[sheshe2]

DO NOT stop at the first paragraph. READ IT!

Name the much-criticized federal program that has saved the U.S. $2.3 trillion. Hint: it starts with Affordable

By EZEKIEL J. EMANUEL

MARCH 22, 2019



snip

March 23, the ninth anniversary of the ACA’s passage, presents a good opportunity to examine its legacy on cost control — a legacy that deserves to be in the foreground, not relegated to the background behind the exchanges, Medicaid expansion, and work requirements.

One month after the ACA had passed, the Office of the Actuary of the Department of Health and Human Services projected its financial impact in a report entitled “Estimated Financial Effects of the ‘Patient Protections and Affordable Care Act’, as Amended.” The government’s official record-keeper estimated that health care costs under the ACA would reach $4.14 trillion per year in 2017 and constitute 20.2 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).

Fast forward to December 2018, when that same office released the official tabulation of health care spending in 2017. The bottom line: cumulatively from 2010 to 2017 the ACA reduced health care spending a total of $2.3 trillion.

In 2017 alone, health expenditures were $650 billion lower than projected, and kept health care spending under 18 percent of GDP — basically a tad over where it was in 2010 when the ACA was passed. It did all of this while expanding health coverage to more than 20 million previously uninsured Americans.

Compared to the 2010 projections, the government’s Medicare bill in 2017 was 10 percent ($70 billion) less, and spending for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program was a whopping $250 billion below expectations (partially — but only partially — due to the failure of some states to expand the program). The actuary had predicted in 2010 that employer-sponsored insurance would cost $1.21 trillion in 2017, but it came in at $1.04 trillion, a difference of $170 billion for that year.

Put another way, health care spending in 2017 was $2,000 less per person than it was projected to be. And for the 176 million Americans who have private employer-sponsored insurance, their lower premiums averaged just under $1,000 per person.

Read More: https://www.statnews.com/2019/03/22/affordable-care-act-controls-costs/

The ACA was always meant to be expanded upon. Biden wants to do that.

Do not tear down a solid basis that has been shown to work. When you have a strong foundation , you build on it.

[guillaumeb]

1. 2.3 trillion.

Recommended.

[Cha]

2. Joe Biden

Last edited Fri Jul 19, 2019, 03:01 AM - Edit history (1)

wants to build on it.. one reason he's my candidate.

And, he's in Good Company!

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Progressives Support Shoring Up ACA Before Tackling Medicare For All

Despite a large division in the Democratic party over the best health care solution ― single-payer or a continuation and possible expansion of something like Obamacare ― progressives in Congress appear to be in lockstep with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s priority of shoring up the ACA before tackling anything like Medicare for All.

“I’m happy to support any provision that strengthens the ACA and plug some of the gaps that we’re seeing, particularly as it’s under assault by the president,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) told HuffPost on Wednesday. “I think it’s part of a longer-term vision, at least for me, towards guaranteeing ― truly guaranteeing ― health care for all Americans.”

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142293852#top

Looks like the House Progressives are with former VP Joe Biden

Here's Beto..

Link to tweet

Bernie Sanders opposes House bill to strengthen the Affordable Care Act.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/128739743#top

Link to tweet

Thanks for your Excellent OP, she!

[Vegas Roller]

3. Shoring up the ACA with a public option

is the only sensible and doable way.

MFA is a fairy tale

[sheshe2]

5. Thank you.

I am far to tired to fight the naysayers any more. They are wrong. Full stop.

[highplainsdem]

4. K&R

[George II]

6. "The ACA was always meant to be expanded upon." That was the whole plan....

...both before and after it was passed and became law.

Obama said that even as he was signing it. Biden thought it was a "big f-ing deal" then, and he does now.

Why scrap something that's working and helping millions of Americans and replace it that isn't even completely written yet?

[sheshe2]

7. Exactly.

Why scrap something that's working and helping millions of Americans and replace it that isn't even completely written yet?

I will stop here and not say all that I am thinking.

Thank you.

[oasis]

8. K and R

[marylandblue]

9. Thanks. I'm a Warren backer, but I hope she adopts ACA expansion as a transitional measure, and

Lets M4A grow organically, assuming it really is preferably to private insurance.

[sheshe2]

10. Agree, 100%.

Thanks, marylandblue.