That's right, I said it. Obamneycare. And before Jindal "accidentally" said it. That's because while there is much wailing and gnashing of teeth (also lots of rejoicing) in the national arena today, it's all pretty amusing to observe. Obama's healthcare law is pretty close to Romney's as governor as MA. The Republicans are predictably all in disarray, with predictions of impending economic collapse now. Concurrently, the other side is a bit happier since they get to maintain the right to now demand healthcare all the time. (Another reform is actually needed, but that's a discussion for another time.)
Of course, quietly wading throughout the whole fray was the health insurance industry. Though some companies have recently come out saying they'll keep popular provisions, they really weren't very interested in the law while at the same time loving it. The law guarantees them the entire country as a customer base, and the country is still growing. That's guaranteed money.
What they didn't like was guaranteed expenses. The provision requiring them to make 80%/85% of expenditures be for patient treatments instead of on distributions to shareholders will make it very hard to continue to pay shareholders much of a profit. I can definitely see the government having to step in and "shore up" a couple insurance companies in the nearing future as the baby boomer generation continues to get on in age while simultaneously clamoring for the latest miracle treatments. Better to do that now preemptively rather than wait to react later.
Of course, quietly wading throughout the whole fray was the health insurance industry. Though some companies have recently come out saying they'll keep popular provisions, they really weren't very interested in the law while at the same time loving it. The law guarantees them the entire country as a customer base, and the country is still growing. That's guaranteed money.
What they didn't like was guaranteed expenses. The provision requiring them to make 80%/85% of expenditures be for patient treatments instead of on distributions to shareholders will make it very hard to continue to pay shareholders much of a profit. I can definitely see the government having to step in and "shore up" a couple insurance companies in the nearing future as the baby boomer generation continues to get on in age while simultaneously clamoring for the latest miracle treatments. Better to do that now preemptively rather than wait to react later.
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