The Affordable Care Act H.R.359

1. The Affordable Care Act H.R.359 Healthcare was framed by republicans as gov’t takeover of healthcare. Too Late! The government’s already a majority stakeholder. -The federal government accounts for approx. half of all healthcare spending. -Federal spending on health care grew faster than private spending in 2009. Why? BABY BOOMERS….

2. Healthcare in its current form is UNSUSTAINABLE! • Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, report shows that health care accounted for 17.3% of the U.S. economy in 2009. • The increase in health spending, from $2.34 trillion in 2008 to $2.47 trillion in 2009, was the largest one-year jump since 1960. If unchecked total U.S. health spending in 2019 will be $4.5 trillion.

3. Average Jane and Joe just can’t afford it.

4. In the last decade from 2000-09 insurance premiums rose 3 times faster than inflation and wages

5. Federal DeficitThe Big Picture Republican Untruths The FACTS Factcheck.org calls this claim “bogus”. According to the non-partisan CBO, the law will reduce the deficit by $230 Billion. Nope, CBO actually puts those costs at roughly $10 billion to $20 billion over the next 10 years. • “The bill would add over $700 billion in red ink over the next decade.” • “The law will cost $115 billion to administer.”

6. Families • Children up to age 26 covered • Can save over 2k in premiums • Close the donut hole for coverage • Preexisting conditions accepted • Limit out of pocket payments

7. Small Business • Help in retirement coverage • Savings in health costs • Lower health care costs • Prevent job lock • Higher percent of small business offer healthcare coverage

8. Overall • Higher GDP • Lowered deficit • Many more people covered • Less healthcare spending

9. The moral of the story is…. • The healthcare reform law was a necessary antidote for an ailing system. A system that fostered inequality, financial burden on the country and its citizens, and inadequate healthcare, had to be fixed. While the new healthcare law may not be a perfect solution, it is a step that had to be taken; inaction was not an option.

10. What is the policy?Strengths and weaknesses. • Provides better health security. • Lowers health care costs. • Garantees more choice. • Enhances the quality if care for all Americans. • Government takeover of healthcare • Government spending will create a larger deficit. • Government infringment on capitilistic ideals.

11. Compelling reasons to support the bill • Ensure that all Americans have access to quality health care • Relief to small businesses • Prohibit denials of coverage based on pre-existing conditions • Limit out of pocket costs • Provide sliding-scale subsidies to make premiums affordable

12. contined • Holds insurance companies accountable for how our health care dollars are spent • Clamp down on insurance companies abuses • Invest in preventive care

13. Political Question • Is the government intrusive? • The Affordable Care Act will place individuals in charge of their health care need and not the federal government. • The employer based health insurance market will show growth by giving subsidies to qualified businesses. • The only real regulations are geared around protecting the interest of the consumer.

14. Continue… • The new health reform bill will but a stop to all the insurance companies abuse. • The health care bill has huge economical and political implications, however individuals may look at it, insurance companies abuse must end.

15. Continue • For families and individuals that don’t have access to affordable health care coverage, they will receive a tax credit to help them purchase health insure within the PRIVATE MARKET. • No where in the Affordable Care Act does it stipulate a government sponsored healthcare program. Its also not a single payer program.

16. Insurance companies abuse • The White House subcommittee on oversight and investigations reported that three major health insurance providers dropped more than 20,00 people from their coverage to avoid paying over 300 million in medical claims over a five year period. • A Nurse was dropped from her insurance plan after she was diagnosed with progressive breast cancer. The insurance companies reason was because she failed to disclose a visit to the dermatologist for acne.

17. In Summary: Why Reform? • Healthcare costs steadily rising for decades. Outpacing wages 3x over. • Reform is centered around insuring majority, while keeping costs affordable through multiple private AND public options. • Uninsured people hinder society economically and socially.

18. The Industry • Insurance Industry stands to profit greatly from this (Individual Mandate) • Regulations are mainly for consumers interest (pre-existing conditions covered, premiums locked) • Consumers have option of private or public insurance, in various programs. More choices than before (by 2014)

19. The Distrust • The assumption federal government is unable to run a national welfare program is rampant. • Budget Issues • Free Markets • The CBO has calculated a savings of $230 billion dollars after 10 years of reform. • Taxes would rise, especially on top-earners. Tax Credits for Small business, middle to poor income.

20. The (Not-so) Free Market • Ideological belief that government should not be involved in commerce, AT ALL. • The free market is a myth. Not practiced in any advanced economies, yet. • Government regulation is necessary to protect the interests of those not financially relevant to business interests.

21. Free market wrap up • Capitalism tends to keep resources towards the top. Gov’t job to insure that doesn’t happen. • Healthcare is a basic service joining the long list already provided in this country.