Millions in Rebates Doled Out to Insured Texans
As if perfectly cued to election season, multimillion-dollar rebates are being doled out across America by insurance companies thanks to a new rule in the federal Affordable Care Act, or ACA. Although the much-maligned “Obamacare” remains a prime target for Texas Republicans on the campaign trail, Democrats and other political consultants say the tangible benefits of the ACA now taking effect could change voters’ perspectives on President Obama's signature legislative package.
“The hardest part politically for ACA has always been that it will take a while for the program to kick in and even longer for people to realize ...
Comments (11)
Mike McCall
Simply wrong for the Government to regulate profits of competitive industries!
David Spratt
The good stuff kicks in early,,,,, the bad parts come later.. Anyone realize the 3.8% charge on the sales of homes and capital gains? How about that .09% payroll tax? How about those taxes on medical devices making them more expensive? I could go on about the 35 some odd taxes slated to kick in later or all the ones not in the law now but they will surely come up with more since nobody really knows how much this will cost in the end.
Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security have been handled so well by the government so far,,,, I can see why some people would think the government would do such a swell job of taking on this new huge unmanageable undertaking.
How about all the people that will be kicked to the curb by employers who deem it cheaper to put you into the exchange and pay the fine rather than provide decent health care? What about all the people that pay no taxes now,,,,50%,,,, that will still pay no taxes ,,,,not buy health insurance and will pay no fine either? How will the IRS collect from people who have virtually nothing to begin with?
I would keep your rebate and count it over and over again ,, treasure it,, because it is nothing compared to what you will pay later and the misery you will endure under a Government monopoly health system.
Ever wonder why they want to control it? Health care is nearly 20% of GDP,,, that's nearly 3 trillion $. It's manna from heaven,,, found money for the government. Look at what happened to Social Security. Imagine crack head parents raiding their kids piggy bank to buy drugs and leaving notes saying " I owe you $20." Imagine the government raiding the health care fund and leaving you a note" sorry I owe you a pacemaker,,, will get you one when I can afford it. Hope you are well,, try not to do anything strenuous or exert yourself unnecessarily in the meantime. Hope you make it ,,Thanks Your Government"
David Spratt
Mike,,, it's not their money,,,, they did not do that,,,,, they could not have succeeded without the roads and bridges... Since when did the government have the power to decide how much profit is enough? It is all designed to drive private sector insurers out of business and get rid of competition. The government wants the whole pie. The redistribution theory is real,,,, take everyone's money and redistribute it to the government.
GS Crispus
I love the cognitive dissonance from you two. This is a perfect example of a free market failure, because information is asymmetrical. The insurance industry has been abusing premiums and pocketing the difference to the detriment of the entire medical industry and consumers. That means rising costs for everyone, with nothing to gain for the consumer.
Do you people not realize the inefficiency in our economy when 20% of GDP goes to medical care, and we can not cover everyone, and costs are out of control? Private-hybrid systems and government run programs in other 1st world countries expend half the GDP, and attain more quality and value for their care.
Why should we expend so much of our GDP simply to protect the profit motive of one industry? Where is the benefit to that, and why could we not spend that GDP elsewhere? It is as if you two know nothing about economics and how a market system works.
audrey fisher
David S: According to your statement - those charges effect "everyone" - which is incorrect and I expect that you know that and hope that no one has done any homework regarding this topic. The "talking points" that you list are not based on facts...but whatever. When the government is backing a plan, that coordinates healthcare insurance - as in Private Health Insurance Companies - so what monopoly are you talking about? The MLR will continue to be in effect....perhaps you believe that BS / BC would improve by itself, if so, do I have a bridge for you!
Mike McC: Are you one that was complaining about the cost of gasoline? The Oil industry is supposedly competitive - so when the price of Oil increases and the price at the pump increases- your good with that, because it is after all these companies making a profit!
Bambi Clark via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Think the Republicans who rail against ACA will send the money back?
Robert Blain via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Of course not, Bambi. Just like they didn't send back their 2001 tax cut checks after Bush asked people do to so to help fight terror.
Audrey Fisher via Texas Tribune on Facebook
OK guys/girls, go to the actual article and read the comments to see how some "TP'er"? responded, it's pretty funny reading.
Adele Roberson
Obamacare myths and rumors are nothing new, but in the weeks since the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act got the all-clear from the Supreme Court, the propaganda mill has picked up steam.
http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/07/20/obamacare-lie-medicare-premiums-will-soar/
PROPAGANDA: BIASED INFORMATION. LIES
Rudy Gonzales
These Tactical Egotistical Activist(TEA) hate Obama because the PPACA(Health Care Act) has already benefited the people in insurance coverage for children, extending insurance over pre-existing conditions and making insurance companies use 80 to 85 percent of monies collected for insureds rather than compensation for CEO' and CFO's.
And now the CBO says the renamed RomneyCare, PPACA(Health Care Act), will save money. How outstanding is that? It is my contention that TEA-Republican's are astounded that Obama has accomplished so much in such a short period of time. From saving millions of jobs to ridding the world of Bin Ladin, Obama has numerous issues he has accomplished. People must take care in voting this November because TEA-Republicans are using the (R) when they really are (T).
The government is not regulating profits, but making sure money is spent on insureds rather than compensation for CEO' and CFO's. The so-called competitive industries is BS, as Insurance companies, like every other business, is in business to make money. You are not covered. The insurance companies are the one covered with small print full of exceptions, limitations and other liability curbs for the insurance companies themselves. It just like going to the local casino. It doesn't matter what you are insuring, the company is the one protected.
Medicare has been managed extremely well as those people rate Medicare better than private pay insurance. Social Security should be funded on every source of income, not with current Tax Code limitations, deductions, exclusions on different sources of income. Equal and proportional taxes on all sources will totally fund Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid well into the future. Upper limitation should be raised to 1.5 million in income from every and all sources.
With the consolidation of mega-corporations into behemoths, there is no competition and we'll be back to Standard Oil practices. Break up all the Banks, Wall street giants and every other "Too big to fail" corporation into pieces who will compete for the private sector money. America has lived through this scenario before, and it ain't working well for the everyday man. The rich keep getting richer, and the poor get poorer.
The concentration of wealth in the hands of fewer and fewer people and the concentration of power in stricter less compassionate hands has not proven effective because all those millionaires have yet to spend money hiring us out of any recession. That is one of the TEA party precepts.
Call TEA party operative what they are. Republicans are so scared of the TEA fringe, they will not disavow them as radicals and embrace their skewed notions and issues. Look at Texas where Dewhurst will not call Cruz a TEA party radical fanatic. But these radical fanatics back TEA party actions. TEA party extremes use the (R) instead of the (T) when running for office. The top dogs of the fringe showing up in Texas hoping for a killing of Dewhurst, who doesn't have the cajunas to call the TEA party extremes what they really are. Bigots on steroids.
Adele Roberson
It's a familiar refrain from Democrats that the federal budget plan from Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) would hurt seniors, but now a Republican Senate candidate is making the same claim in a new ad, paid for by Republicans.
The ad features Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.), who is challenging Sen. Jon Tester, a conservative Democrat who has cast himself as strongly independent. The spot's sponsors have bought $200,000 of airtime to run it in Montana.
"Denny Rehberg is different, an independent thinker," says the ad, before ticking off the ways that Rehberg is different.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/21/denny-rehberg-ad-paul-ryan-budget-montana_n_1617077.html