Panelists answered the following: Do you believe the new healthcare law will survive the problems with its rollout?
Marty Richman: “Yes, but in a decade it will be unrecognizable. The ACA does not address the real problem which is the cost of healthcare. All it even claims to do is find a way to distribute the costs differently, not to analyze and figure out how to control and/or reduce them. Right now all sides are too interested in a political, not a practical solution to the problem. Just today the U.S. Air Force announced that the cost of healthcare was seriously crippling their budget – since everyone is the military and their dependents are by covered government supplied health care, it indicates that the basic problem is cost, not coverage.”
Mary Zanger: “Yes. The Affordable Care Act has already survived two huge obstacles. First was the government shutdown. Second was the Web/Internet glitch. In spite of obstacles Americans want healthcare. The problem is that healthcare is not a commodity that can be packaged and sold for profit. Everyone needs healthcare. This act sets up a marketplace of choices and creates incentives to join. It is one small step in the direction of caring for more Americans.”
Jim West: “Yes. Change is never easy; even change for the better. And in the case of the Affordable Healthcare Act Obamacare’s inept role out has given opponents a lot of ammunition. But the goal of affordable/universal healthcare, like Social Security, the minimum wage, and equal rights will ultimately prevail.”
Richard Place: “The closest thing to eternal life is a government agency.”
Ruth Erickson: “No, too many people already have problems the way Obamacare has affected them negatively.”
Richard Herrera: “Yes. President Obama and other top officials have discussed their plans to improve things and provide much-needed healthcare for Americans.”
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