The Affordable Care Act, aka, Obamacare is in full swing and is now up for a review. The current law addresses the need to cover all citizens with "affordable" healthcare. The law is intended to reduce costs while ensuring the uninsured.
Republicans in Congress who did not like the law did nothing to fix it. The reason begins with their idea that people who are uninsured are just out of luck. They ignored the fact that uninsured individuals loaded the emergency rooms and drove up the cost of hospital care for everyone.
Republicans wanted the "private" system to take care of the problem, but it didn't. That is because "for profit" enterprises are not in business to address social responsibility without intervention by the government.
Getting past the first hurdle requires electing representatives to Congress who are not corrupted by capitalism.
Next, addressing the problem of excessively high healthcare costs requires removing excess profit-takers from the system. That is, health insurance providers are paid to insure customers by charging fees for administration plus a profit.
Government solutions aim at reducing or eliminating the profit on administration. Private sector advocates believe that commercial firms can manage more efficiently and for lower costs. That is most debatable.
Healthcare costs in America are too high by international standards. The problem must be addressed by competent elected representatives who are devoted to all constituents. Ignoring the problem without producing a solution is unacceptable.
"Obamacare rates will rise by 25% in 2017, US government says
The law known as Obamacare is a key part of the president's legacy
The cost of healthcare insurance in the US under the Affordable Care Act is expected to rise by an average of 25% in 2017, according to the government.
About one in five consumers will also only be able to pick plans from a single insurer, it said.
But it said federal subsidies would also rise, and about 70% of people will find plans for less than $75 (£61) a month.
The healthcare law known as Obamacare is a major part of President Barack Obama's legacy.
The enactment of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010 mandated that every American had to purchase private insurance and prohibited insurers from turning away the sick. It also provided subsidies.
But Republicans want to repeal it.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-37758742
Image from the National Review
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