The Obamacare Secret At The Heart Of The Shutdown: Insurers Made Billions At Taxpayer Expense!

[Reagan]

Subsidies were greatly expanded by the Biden administration during the COVID-19 pandemic as an emergency measure, but Democrats have fought to keep them permanent. Those subsidies went mostly to Democratic donors.  

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

@Big girl  @UT alum  @DCT  @Boyz N Da Hood

[UT alum]

14 hours ago, Reagan said:

Subsidies were greatly expanded by the Biden administration during the COVID-19 pandemic as an emergency measure, but Democrats have fought to keep them permanent. Those subsidies went mostly to Democratic donors.  

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

@Big girl  @UT alum  @DCT  @Boyz N Da Hood

The market picks up 20-25 million new customers, that means more income thus higher income for well run companies. Where’s the outrage over Big Pharma, companies like Boeing, Grumman, Raytheon, or the Silicon Valley giants et cetera ad nauseum. Lobby and campaign finance reform is what’s needed. 

[Reagan]

1 hour ago, UT alum said:

The market picks up 20-25 million new customers, that means more income thus higher income for well run companies. Where’s the outrage over Big Pharma, companies like Boeing, Grumman, Raytheon, or the Silicon Valley giants et cetera ad nauseum. Lobby and campaign finance reform is what’s needed. 

If the affordable care act was so affordable then why does it need government subsidies for people to afford it?!

@Big girl

[mat]

Why are republicans not willing to even discuss any type of healthcare reform? 

[Boyz N Da Hood]

Ima take a guess and throw out my opinion on the question..  ima say it gives em something to talk about after all these years, along with i bet they're lining their pockets as well.. just my guess

[thetragichippy]

3 hours ago, mat said:

Why are republicans not willing to even discuss any type of healthcare reform? 

They are - they are forcing the conversation by not funding this democratic mess

[UT alum]

2 hours ago, thetragichippy said:

They are - they are forcing the conversation by not funding this democratic mess

Well, they’ve had 15 years to converse about it and are no closer to a better plan than they were then. We’re talking over 15% of GDP here. That’s a big pile for the 1% to rake from. And here you think they’re going to shrink the pile? Funny.

[thetragichippy]

12 minutes ago, UT alum said:

Well, they’ve had 15 years to converse about it and are no closer to a better plan than they were then. We’re talking over 15% of GDP here. That’s a big pile for the 1% to rake from. And here you think they’re going to shrink the pile? Funny.

Both parties have had 15 years to fix it....yet the Democrats who created it without one Republican vote has done nothing......and it was not Republicans who put an expiration date on the subsidies.....So where is your blame for the do nothing Democrats? Any Obama supporters should be highly upset that the one big thing Obama did has turned out to be a complete failure. A failure so big, Democrats could not fix it.  We are about to see if Republicans can fix it.......

[Boyz N Da Hood]

36 minutes ago, thetragichippy said:

Both parties have had 15 years to fix it....yet the Democrats who created it without one Republican vote has done nothing......and it was not Republicans who put an expiration date on the subsidies.....So where is your blame for the do nothing Democrats? Any Obama supporters should be highly upset that the one big thing Obama did has turned out to be a complete failure. A failure so big, Democrats could not fix it.  We are about to see if Republicans can fix it.......

They can't! Only hear about it from em around elections. And folks lap it up

[Big girl]

On 11/10/2025 at 11:39 PM, Reagan said:

Subsidies were greatly expanded by the Biden administration during the COVID-19 pandemic as an emergency measure, but Democrats have fought to keep them permanent. Those subsidies went mostly to Democratic donors.  

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

@Big girl  @UT alum  @DCT  @Boyz N Da Hood

Yeah, right

[Big girl]

1 hour ago, thetragichippy said:

Both parties have had 15 years to fix it....yet the Democrats who created it without one Republican vote has done nothing......and it was not Republicans who put an expiration date on the subsidies.....So where is your blame for the do nothing Democrats? Any Obama supporters should be highly upset that the one big thing Obama did has turned out to be a complete failure. A failure so big, Democrats could not fix it.  We are about to see if Republicans can fix it.......

It is not a failure. You don't know how it works, i do,  because I am a healthcare professional. Why comment if you don't know anything about it.

[Big girl]

22 hours ago, Reagan said:

If the affordable care act was so affordable then why does it need government subsidies for people to afford it?!

@Big girl

It affordable because it gives people subsides.

[thetragichippy]

55 minutes ago, Big girl said:

It is not a failure. You don't know how it works, i do,  because I am a healthcare professional. Why comment if you don't know anything about it.

I don't care that you are healthcare professional - Obamacare is a train wreck. I can't believe you made that statement with a straight face,  I would get into details but I know you won't. You are the queen of one liners. 

[mat]

5 hours ago, thetragichippy said:

They are - they are forcing the conversation by not funding this democratic mess

I am anxious to see how the republicans make healthcare affordable to lower income people, ensure coverage for preexisting conditions, and get insurance, big pharma and the healthcare industry under control. Not holding my breath. 

[thetragichippy]

52 minutes ago, mat said:

I am anxious to see how the republicans make healthcare affordable to lower income people, ensure coverage for preexisting conditions, and get insurance, big pharma and the healthcare industry under control. Not holding my breath. 

I don't know if there is an answer.....Dem's really screwed it up.

When the Government tells a private insurance company you have to insure folks with preexisting conditions, it is very understandable why healthy people have to pay crazy premiums. 

If you have a serious preexisting condition, like cancer, they should of expanded Medicare or Medicaid and let the bulk of healthy individuals be able to get health insurance. 

There is so many things wrong with the "right to healthcare" argument.  In 1998 cigarette companies had to pay law suits for cancer victims.....still around 28 million folks still smoke. My premiums should not go up to pay for their bad decision to keep smoking. +

And before anyone blast me, I think everyone should be able to get insurance, but there needs to be an out for healthy people, and I have no idea what that should be. 

I'm lucky enough we had a new option for health insurance - $133 every 2 weeks for my Son and I. $1200 deductible, 2400 total out of pocket and $20/40 co-pays for doc/specialist visits. My company is paying the bulk of tis insurance - it can't be cheap

[Reagan]

On 11/12/2025 at 2:59 PM, Big girl said:

It affordable because it gives people subsides.

Well, yeah, anything would be affordable if somebody else pays for it.  You could afford a million dollar house if I paid for it.  But the question is -- is it right?  Should I be forced to pay for yours and mine?  

[LumRaiderFan]

On 11/12/2025 at 2:59 PM, Big girl said:

It affordable because it gives people subsides.

🤦‍♂️

[Reagan]

Democrats’ ‘Principled Stand’ on the Shutdown Is an Attempt to Pay Back Their Health Insurance Donors!

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

@Big girl  @UT alum  @DCT  @Boyz N Da Hood           I thought ya'll were anti-big business?!

[OlDawg]

On 11/12/2025 at 2:05 PM, Big girl said:

It is not a failure. You don't know how it works, i do,  because I am a healthcare professional. Why comment if you don't know anything about it.

Actually, you must not really know how it works because the individuals don’t get the subsidies. Subsidies go directly to the insurance companies. They have no incentive to lower costs any more than universities.

Now, if some type of tax credit were given directly to the individual, allow them to truly shop around, and only stipulate that all policies must cover preexisting conditions, then we’d have something a little more workable. The insurance companies would actually have to compete a little, and prices may come down via the competition. Eventually, competition may put an end to the subsidies altogether—although doubtful.

[OlDawg]

On 11/14/2025 at 3:40 PM, Reagan said:

Well, yeah, anything would be affordable if somebody else pays for it.  You could afford a million dollar house if I paid for it.  But the question is -- is it right?  Should I be forced to pay for yours and mine?  

You already do via guaranteed emergency care to all. That part is a social contract we all make.

If the Reps don't get off all these social issues like making THC illegal, trans stuff, and other niche things that aren't directly related to AFFORDABILITY, they're gonna' get their doors blown off at the midterms.

[OlDawg]

On 11/12/2025 at 4:36 PM, thetragichippy said:

And before anyone blast me, I think everyone should be able to get insurance, but there needs to be an out for healthy people, and I have no idea what that should be. 

If you knew when you were going to need it, what for, and how much, you wouldn't need it. You could save up for it yourself.

What you're proposing would require everyone to submit to a prescreening and lifestyle questionnaire before being accepted on an insurance plan. You'd also need to submit to regular screenings. Then, the insurance company could accurately gauge risk. This would have to include employer-based plans as well for the risk pool. How would you feel about that? You'd have to be acceptable to cover for medical insurance before you were hired...

Not sure you'd be happy with that policy.

My wife developed chemical engineering processes that many of you use every day in your lives when you use toothpaste that whitens your teeth, environmentally friendly cleaners/detergents/disinfectants, healthcare uses, and even fuel for rockets. Now--as y'all know--she is basically helpless on her own because of something totally out of her control. What would you do? Just throw her to the curb since we can't work any more? After a productive career that helped us all, it's now Logan's Run time?

Some of you need to count your blessings you have your health. You may not have it tomorrow.

[thetragichippy]

 

[thetragichippy]

17 minutes ago, OlDawg said:

If you knew when you were going to need it, what for, and how much, you wouldn't need it. You could save up for it yourself.

What you're proposing would require everyone to submit to a prescreening and lifestyle questionaire before being accepted on an insurance plan. Then, the insurance company could accurately gauge risk. This would have to include employer-based plans as well for the risk pool. How would you feel about that? You'd have to be acceptable to cover for medical insurance before you were hired...

Not sure you'd be happy with that policy.

My wife developed chemical engineering processes that many of you use every day in your lives when you use toothpaste that whitens your teeth, environmentally friendly cleaners/detergents/disinfectants, healthcare uses, and even fuel for rockets. Now--as y'all know--she is basically helpless on her own because of something totally out of her control. What would you do? Just throw her to the curb since we can't work any more? After a productive career that helped us all, it's now Logan's Run time?

Some of you need to count your blessings you have your health.

I think you missed the part where I said I think everyone needs to have health insurance available.

i also said I don’t have an answer.

Something  does need to change.  There’s a single mom that works for the same company I do. She pays insurance premiums out of her paycheck, and has two kids that are sick a lot. The doctor visits cost around $150 a kid, they’re usually both sick at the same time so that’s a $300 doctor visit. She told me that the last couple times her kids were sick she took them to the ER to avoid paying the Dr…..while not right, she could not afford to go to the doctor die to the high deductibles. 

[OlDawg]

1 hour ago, thetragichippy said:

I think you missed the part where I said I think everyone needs to have health insurance available.

i also said I don’t have an answer.

Something  does need to change.  There’s a single mom that works for the same company I do. She pays insurance premiums out of her paycheck, and has two kids that are sick a lot. The doctor visits cost around $150 a kid, they’re usually both sick at the same time so that’s a $300 doctor visit. She told me that the last couple times her kids were sick she took them to the ER to avoid paying the Dr…..while not right, she could not afford to go to the doctor die to the high deductibles. 

I didn’t miss it. I’m just astounded by the glibness in some of the posts about this topic. (Not necessarily just yours.)

How about these simple concepts for starters?

Make every insurance company that deals with Medicare/Medicaid/ACA either be non-profit, or use a non-profit arm of the company.

Do away with ‘children’ 26 and under being able to stay on their parent’s plan. Set the age lower. 26 is ridiculous.

Allow ANYONE to purchase a catastrophic plan with a high deductibles/OOP, no routine doctor visit coverage, testing, or prescriptions, and it must include preexisting coverage. Basically, an umbrella policy that pays nothing until you hit a large $$$. Set different ranges that cost different amounts per range.

Prescription coverage could be totally separate plans. Look at their formulary, and pick the best one for your needs. Or, pick none.

To me, insurance companies shouldn’t be for-profit anyway. If the law requires us to have the insurance, a for-profit company shouldn’t be able to insure it. Insurance companies should be run like credit unions. Shared communities sharing risk for the benefit of their members.

Of course, politicians from either side would never entertain any of these thoughts because the insurance lobby wouldn’t fund their campaigns or pet projects then.