Panelists answered the following this week: One year later, do you consider Obamacare a success?
Cesar Flores: “While I have not needed Obamacare, I know individuals who now have health services and on their way to better health and perhaps a happier life.”
Ruth Erickson: “No! Various doctors haven’t signed up because reimbursements for them and hospitals don’t cover the cost of treatment. There are customers who have previously signed up but can no longer afford the skyrocketing cost of premiums and higher deductibles, which the patient is responsible for. Too many people are finding that they can’t see their own doctor and can’t find local treatment needed, so must now go out of their area often for long distances. There are too many things which don’t seem to be accounted for, and the 3,000-plus pages of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) keep increasing.”
Mary Zanger: ”Yes, in spite of the need to simplify information gathering and decision making, 30 million more Americans are happily receiving health care. Simplifying would be to base the system on social security numbers with one system of payment, the taxpayers, and with no insurance middlemen. That would lead to the next step of reducing health care costs and improving outcomes. Final success would be quality health care for everyone including good epidemic control while simultaneously reducing costs.”
Nants Foley: ”No.”
Jim West: ”Yes. Because it happened—it’s finally the law of the land. It isn’t perfect because it isn’t finished, but more people have health insurance than ever before and given time the program will evolve. Not finished but moving in the right direction.”
