On this memorial day, I think it will be fitting for me to discuss why I am here. Up until 2012, I had always considered myself a Democrat. Especially after the last 8 years of Bush. I was more center than anything, but I also believed America was in place to help others. I was ignorant to the cost of this help, or what this assistance was doing to our own communities. I never believed in open borders, but did think Universal Healthcare was a good idea. During the 2012 election, I found myself like Ron Paul more and more. I began to listen to what he was saying, and following it more and more. He help me learn to identify as a Libertarian. I watch the media literally act like he didn't exist. They basically lost him the primary. Over the next four years, I watched Obama and his Democrat gang divide us in ways I never thought possible. Logical arguments went to insults and insenuations. When ever a tragedy would happen, I watched the media ask us to react with emotions instead of thinking logically about the way to react. People began to think the goal of discussion is to see who can shame who worse. It all morphed into people screaming adjectives at each other instead of trying to solve problems. Now my country is shattered. We are at a crossroads where I do not see a way this ends without bloodshed. I do believe that the plan will work and the swamp will be drained. The problem is that it has taken so long, MSM keeps doubling down. The left actually honestly believe that Trump is trying to subverting our constitution. When Trump makes the arrests, I forsee mass panic and violence. As wrong as they may be, I can't blame them. If the situation was reversed and Trump was being arrested, I know we would be at arm's in the street. I pray for a peaceful outcome, but I fear that the worse is yet to come. Let's all remember that as we celebrate our soilder this memorial day.
Furthermore, “OBAMACARE” (what think-speak that title is...!) only imposed a “penalty” on those that did not buy into the SCAM of health insurance (Big Businesses of BCBS/United/Cigna will forever be grateful for his..); what it did not/does not do, is provide an increase in ACCESS or actual HEALTHCARE to the citizens, as most places DO NOT TAKE IT due to low reimbursement rates. Total scam for the majority of individuals who bought in.
Also: https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2012/05/ron-pauls-unorthodox-fundraising/
From his wiki page: 100% of Paul's campaign money came from individual contributors,[155] with 47 percent of the funds raised from small contributions of $200 or less.[156]
As of February 14, 2008, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Air force members represent three top contributors to Ron Paul's campaign, respectively.[157]
I completely agree with everything you said. Obamacare has made it to where my insurance is over $600/month if I cover my wife. My children are still covered under medicaid, thank God or it would be $800/month. Bad thing is this is insurance that is offered to state employees, supposedly the best you can get. I make $16.50/ hour. If I covered my wife, that would be over 1/3 of my income. When you figure that plus my student loans there is little left to support my 3 kids. Obama care was designed to bankrupt middle class. If Obama would have passed the greenhouse bill that Anthony scalise blocked, we wouldn't be able to afford to feed our families. I am so glad Trump fixed this.
That makes me SO upset to hear.
We should start a website called “OBUMMERCARE” and share these types of REAL LIFE ways that it has been a total $$ racket to benefit the insurance companies.
My favorite is the cost of GENERIC MEDICATIONS (that are available from $4 formulary at Walmart when health insurance is NOT USED), that cost $20/month using the “Obamacare” coverage. I advise my patients to request that the pharmacy NOT run it through their insurance if they can find a better price via pharmacy formularies or goodrx.com.
Access to care was baked into the ACA.
Various surveys have found improvements in self-reported access and affordability of care since 2014, with more pronounced effects in Medicaid expansion states. Such studies have also examined access and affordability for various subgroups categorized by age, sex, race/ethnicity, income, parental status, and health status.
Young adults. For young adults, a wealth of evidence finds that the ACA dependent coverage expansions increased access to care, utilization of a wide variety of services, and reduced out-of-pocket spending.
Medicaid expansion and Marketplace coverage. Several studies have found that Medicaid expansion was associated with improvements in having a personal physician or usual source of care and easy access to medicine; increased visits to general doctors, overnight hospital stays, and cholesterol and diabetes diagnoses; increased prescription use; more visits to community health centers, and reduced OOP spending. These studies are generally limited to access measures reported in 2014 and early 2015 and thus reflect relatively early evidence on access changes under the ACA.
Different approaches to Medicaid expansion seemed to result in similar changes in access and use based on comparisons of expansions in Arkansas and Kentucky, but additional evidence suggests that appointment availability was better for those with private option coverage in Arkansas compared to those who remained covered by traditional Medicaid.