Abraham Lincoln said
“The legitimate object of government is to do for a community of people whatever they need to have done, but can not do at all, or can not so well do, for themselves – in their separate, and individual capacities.”
The senate has taken a second attempt this week to repeal and replace obamacare and failed. Trump has stated publicly that he would have no problem just letting it fail with what its currently projected to do. The problem is that will only cost the national debt more trillions of dollars, and essentially all the American people.
According to Forbes.com the Affordable Health Care Act spent $590 billion dollars on healthcare in 2016. https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnmauldin/2016/11/02/thanks-to-obamacare-government-debt-is-worse-than-you-think/#2cc3d4f15f90
Think about $590 billion dollars, its such an abstractly large number its hard to get your brain around it.
Insuransce companies meanwhile are enjoying record breaking bottom lines. In 2015 under the affordable health care act Aetna reportedly had 60.3 billion dollars of revenue. In the second quarter of 2016 United Health reported 46.5 billion dollars in revenue.
Again I repeat these numbers are in the billions, and these are actual numbers that are reported to the federal government. https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/health-insurance-industry-rakes-in-billions-while-blaming-obamacare-for-losses-110116.html
How is it that our countries health has become some a ludicrous business? The premise of the affordable health care is that it should be affordable and accessible for everyone. Great I agree. However, under the current law, it would appear that the federal government is throwing money at something they are not themselves using. The people in Congress are agreeing to spend Americans tax $$ for the Americans...but most American's dont actually ever see that $$. Which is weird and not how commerce should work?
Because the government "cares" so much about everyone having healthcare - they are throwing money into the market inflating prices of doctors and insurance premiums for people whose healthcare they are already paying for in medicaid and medicare. The law has also promised decreasing premiums for everyone...that just hasn't been true.
Its like the price for me to take my kids to the doctor to get a physical is $50. However because I'm "low income" I only have to pay a $3 "co-pay". Great! Except the doctor doesn't get their money yet - they get $3 - so the doctor jacks the price up to $150, they call it administrative costs - or something. They can do that because the insurance will pay it up. Kinda, the insurance will pay the cost which is slated to be $50 and then the insurance can inform the government of their "costs" and bill the government the other $100.
Now, these are made up numbers, but the point being - why can't I just work with the doctor, and get some health insurance if I need it? I dont need or want any middle men in my healthcare making money on me possible being sick. And "health insurance" companies won't be screwing over our wasteful government spending practices skyrocketing our debt.
Like Lincoln said, the governments role is to do what we can't do for ourselves. We can work with doctors and insurance if needed. Historically been hospitals, medical centers, and incredible communities that have provided healthcare for those that can't access it on their own. Those stories will be for another time...but people are awesome and will actually come along side those who get dealt a bad hand when they need it...we dont need the fancy suits on the hill telling us how we can and can't manage our health...plus they are terrible at it...