[quote=ucodegen] This whole ACA is kind of OT to the original thread; but adding a point here that should be considered, particularly due to your ‘links’ reference. When you make participation in the ACA mandatory to the point that fines are as significant as they are, it is not really valid to count the number of people who have signed up or are now on insurance as a validation of the success of the ACA. It might really be the success of the fine and NOT the ACA. (This stick might be more successful than the meager carrot here). Now anecdotally here; I have paid out more, just for mandated coverage in one year, than I paid out over the entire year when I was very sick and turning jaundiced (and I footed that entire bill myself).
What I have noticed, though not so anecdotally, is that a greater amount of the cost is now administrative. Some doctors have avoided doing insurance covered work because they don’t want the costs, but now with the ACA being mandatory, there really is no choice. They may feel that forgoing the entire business might be a better choice for them.
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I’m not sure who you think used the number of people signed up as a measurement of success of the ACA in this thread. Certainly not me. I used the number of people (children specifically) on private insurance to counter the bullshit claim that most children are on government insurance.
But nonetheless, the number of people who signed up for insurance, whether through a federal or state exchange is a precise measurement of the success of the ACA. It’s primary goal was to get people insured. It worked. A higher percentage of the population is insured now than at any other time. Arguing that it’s the fine is just stupid. The fine IS an integral part of the ACA.
Administrative costs are not higher now. As a matter of law, they’re capped. As part of the law. If you’re referring to providers administrative costs going up, there is no evidence to support the claim. Most providers have been dealing almost exclusively with insurance, whether private or government, for decades. There was virtually no change with this as a result of the ACA. EMR’s changed. And every medical provider has had to adapt to the modern world. That’s not administrative. That’s actual provision of service. I’d prefer to keep doctors practicing modern medicine rather that medicine of the 1950’s.
