Reflections on Obamacare
Mike Walker, Col. USMC (retired)
All,
Being dismayed by TV reporting is becoming a chronic condition, whether the source is NBC News or Fox News or CNN.
Political ideology has nothing to do with it and Obamacare is an excellent case in point.
The software malfunction – in and of itself – was only a passing embarrassment.
The “seven million” figure is also of limited importance.
After spending nine years on the board of directors for a non-profit health care provider, I can tell you that what is important is the make up the patient pool – not how many people are in it.
Is the pool healthy or sick and if sick then how sick? That is crucial information.
And that leads us to the source of my dismay: Why the TV media obsession about the outer edges of Obamacare while ignoring what really matters?
First, it is impossible for either detractors or supporters to declare Obamacare a success or failure.
No one in America has ever seen Obamacare in operation. NO ONE. We are like the blind guy feeling the elephant.
There are provisions originally not intended to go into effect until next year or later. Since the ugly rollout, no less than two dozen additional provisions (I lost count), some minor, some significant, have been either suspended or modified.
Here is the reality: 2014’s version of Obamacare bears little resemblance to the law passed in 2009. The jury on this one will be out for years.
Second (and far more important), the ONLY BIG STORY is determining how many previously uninsured Americans now have health care.
THAT WAS THE REASON FOR THE LAW.
That is the only thing that matters!
That is why tens of millions of us supported the idea of Obamacare.
Its Republican critics have to face the reality that when they held power they did NOTHING to get the 10% of uninsured Americans covered.
Taking care of the most vulnerable Americans is a just and noble deed and President Obama deserves a lot of credit for taking action.
But things are not so rosy for the Democrats either.
Trying doesn't cut it in America. We demand success and that is a good thing.
Aye, there’s rub!
Obamacare changed the entirety of the health care system. It now touches everyone from Washington to Wall Street to Main Street.
It touches babies and seniors, it changed how 20-somethings get insurance to 80-somethings using Medicare Advantage. It is pervasive in its reach.
And that gets to the big fear of the Democrats.
If the Republicans are guilty of the sin of omission on this issue then the Democrats are facing the sin of commission.
One lasting lesson of the website rollout, both at the Federal and State level, was a painful demonstration of just how inefficient government can be compared to the private sector.
What will happen to the champions of “Washington-centric solutions” if, when Obamacare is in full force in a few years, we find out that the law imperfectly messed with health care of the whole 100% while failing to address the needs of the most vulnerable 10%?
One thing is for sure: It will be ugly.
A political goal of Obamacare was to gain the attention of the entire country and it succeeded.
Good luck with that in the years to come.
Mike
