The RAND study just killed a heap of Republican ACA talking points

[mercury14]

Let me preface this by saying it doesn't count the late-March surge and about the last 3.5 million signups.

"At least 9.3 million more Americans have health insurance now than in September 2013, virtually all of them as a result of the law.

That's a net figure, accommodating all those who lost their individual health insurance because of cancellations."

http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR600/RR656/RAND_RR656.pdf

http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-mh-rand-20140408,0,6208659.column#axzz2yNfgBkTQ

 

[mercury14]

A moment of silence as a conservative talking point passes into the afterlife....

"The Rand study confirms other surveys that placed the number of people who lost their old insurance and did not or could not replace it [/B]-- the focus of an enormous volume of anti-Obamacare rhetoric -- at less than 1 million. The Rand experts call this a "very small" number, less than 1% of the U.S. population age 18 to 64""

 

[mercury14]

A surge in employer-based insurance was the exact opposite of the conservative predictions.....

The number of people getting insurance through their employers increased by 8.2 million. Rand said the increase is likely to have been driven by a decline in unemployment, which made more people eligible for employer plans, and by the incentives in the Affordable Care Act encouraging more employer coverage. The figure certainly undermines the contention by the healthcare law's critics that the legislation gave employers an incentive to drop coverage.

 

[mercury14]

Even ACA-hating Avik Roy flounders with the study and has to focus on data he knows is going to counter the right-wing narrative as the rest of the signups come in. And he brings up an interesting point. A lot of people in the survey don't acknowledge having Medicaid because their state calls it something different. So the actual figures are likely higher.


http://www.forbes.com/sites/theapot...ously-uninsured-individuals/?partner=yahootix

 

[NiceNastyMann]

~~~~~

 

[mercury14]

To put this into perspective - if the 7 million number is correct - a group of people just a tad larger than the population of Cook County Illinois - less that 2% of the total population of the US - is touted as an unqualified success.

Okay.

Hmmm.

Can I paraphrase Steve Jobs on this magnificent achievement?

You are all fired.

Just sayin'

Why on Earth are you comparing the number of ACA signups to the total size of the US population and not the size of the uninsured US population? Other than your bullshit spin was just debunked and you're floundering for new spin.

 

[mercury14]

Total ACA coverage, all sources: (13.7 M - 32.8 M)

7.5M exchange signups now.

acasignups.net

 

[RobDownSouth]

Predicted responses today:

• The Vettebigot will parrot the inevitable Breitbart deflection editorial this afternoon as a refudiation
• Contrifan will "explain" the numbers downward and invoke Hitler when challenged
• Dazzle will dismiss the number without providing any reason or rationale
• Busybody will make not less than 6 nor more than 10 racist posts in an attempt to draw away attention

Wingnut nation is moving through the 5 stages of Kubler-Ross loss, albeit slowly. They're progressing from outright denial to anger.

America won. They lost.

 

[Busybody]

Gallup: Uninsured Rate Up Since Obama Elected

Roughly 3.6 million more uninsured since Bush administration.

 

[patient1]

Why on Earth are you comparing the number of ACA signups to the total size of the US population and not the size of the uninsured US population? Other than your bullshit spin was just debunked and you're floundering for new spin.

I agree with you on that. What was the size of the uninsured population before ACA took effect? If you can't find real numbers, I'd accept an Obama campaign speech figure for purposes of discussion.

 

[BettyPoop]

A moment of silence as a conservative talking point passes into the afterlife....

Now the Koch brothers sponsored posters on here will have to work a little harder, since they'll never learn to work smarter.

Actually they'll have to add even bigger graphics/attachments.

 

[dan_c00000]

Now the Koch brothers sponsored posters on here will have to work a little harder, since they'll never learn to work smarter.

Actually they'll have to add even bigger graphics/attachments.

They wish the Koch brothers would pay them. They either 1. really believe the bullshit they post or 2. are trolls. I'm going with 2.

 

[KingOrfeo]

Objectivists should sue RAND for using Ayn's name!

 

[RobDownSouth]

I agree with you on that. What was the size of the uninsured population before ACA took effect? If you can't find real numbers, I'd accept an Obama campaign speech figure for purposes of discussion.

We've been over this before.

Long story short: there are about 10 million ineligible uninsured due to Fuck-You-Mexican provisions in the ACA legislation that Republicans insisted on.

There's another 10 million or so that MIGHT have been covered under Medicaid expansion authorized under the ACA, but Republican governors chose to not implement Medicaid expansion in their states. Politics over people.

That leaves another 10-15 million, of which the ACA has now covered seven million.

It's a very good start, and the biggest single positive change in years.

 

[headdoctor]

What's both predictable and astonishing is that Republicans seem to resent the impressive number of people who now have health insurance. They are stuck having to decry the fact that more people are covered. This is a losing battle for the GOP, but then again so is their *entire* platform. It can't be easy campaigning against health care, the environment, women, the gay and lesbian community, New Americans and immigrants, the poor, and reality itself. What else can they do except feed on people's fear and anger?

 

[Busybody]

Morgan Stanley Report: Americans’ Health Insurance Premiums See Largest Spike In Years, Says Obamacare To Blame….




Note to Chuck Schumer: No, you haven’t “turned the corner” on Obamacare.

Via Daily Caller:


Americans have recently been hit with some of the largest premium increases in years, according to a Morgan Stanley survey of insurance brokers.

The investment bank’s April survey of 148 brokers found that this quarter, the average premium increase for customers renewing an insurance plan is 12 percent in the small group market and 11 percent in the individual market, according to Forbes’ Scott Gottlieb.

The hikes — the largest in the past three years, according to Morgan Stanley’s quarterly reports — are “largely due to changes under the [Affordable Care Act],” analysts concluded. Rates have been growing increasingly fast throughout all of 2013, after a period of drops in 2012.

While insurers were hiking premiums since 2012 by smaller amounts, the lead-up to the Obamacare’s launch has seen the average rate at which premiums are growing fourfold.

The small group market saw a jump from a growth rate of close to 3 percent during Morgan Stanley’s September 2013 survey to just above 6 percent three months later in December — the month before a surge of Obamacare regulations hit insurance companies.

Over the next three months, the rate doubled again to the current average small growth premium growth rate of 12 percent.

 

[Busybody]

Only a NIGGER can give you insurance no juan takes

congrats to all those that now have insurance

and

paying thru the NOSE

NOW

WHO

IS

GONNA TAKE THAT SHIT?

tee hee

Obama Supporter Finds First 96 Doctors She Contacted Wouldn’t Accept Her New Obamacare Insurance…




And like a good Obamabot, she still supports the law.

Via Ebony:


“I’m sorry, we are no longer accepting that kind of insurance. I apologize for the confusion; Dr. [insert name] is only willing to see existing patients at this time.”

As a proud new beneficiary of the Affordable Health Care Act, I’d like to report that I am doctorless. Ninety-six. Ninety-six is the number of soul crushing rejections that greeted me as I attempted to find one. It’s the number of physicians whose secretaries feigned empathy while rehearsing the “I’m so sorry” line before curtly hanging up. You see, when the rush of the formerly uninsured came knocking, doctors in my New Jersey town began closing their doors and promptly telling insurance companies that they had no room for new patients.

My shiny, never used Horizon health card is as effective as a dollar bill during the Great Depression. In fact, an expert tells CNN, “I think of (Obamacare) as giving everyone an ATM card in a town where there are no ATM machines.” According to a study 33% of doctors are NOT accepting Medicaid. Here in Jersey, one has a dismal 40 percent chance of finding a doctor who accepts Medicaid – the lowest in the country.

 

[Bry1313]

congrats to all those that now have insurance

and

paying thru the NOSE

NOW

WHO

IS

GONNA TAKE THAT SHIT?

tee hee

Obama Supporter Finds First 96 Doctors She Contacted Wouldn’t Accept Her New Obamacare Insurance…




And like a good Obamabot, she still supports the law.

Via Ebony:


“I’m sorry, we are no longer accepting that kind of insurance. I apologize for the confusion; Dr. [insert name] is only willing to see existing patients at this time.”

As a proud new beneficiary of the Affordable Health Care Act, I’d like to report that I am doctorless. Ninety-six. Ninety-six is the number of soul crushing rejections that greeted me as I attempted to find one. It’s the number of physicians whose secretaries feigned empathy while rehearsing the “I’m so sorry” line before curtly hanging up. You see, when the rush of the formerly uninsured came knocking, doctors in my New Jersey town began closing their doors and promptly telling insurance companies that they had no room for new patients.

My shiny, never used Horizon health card is as effective as a dollar bill during the Great Depression. In fact, an expert tells CNN, “I think of (Obamacare) as giving everyone an ATM card in a town where there are no ATM machines.” According to a study 33% of doctors are NOT accepting Medicaid. Here in Jersey, one has a dismal 40 percent chance of finding a doctor who accepts Medicaid – the lowest in the country.

You know why she supports the law? Because if she breaks her arm now, it's covered, whereas before that could have bankrupted her.

 

[Busybody]

You know why she supports the law? Because if she breaks her arm now, it's covered, whereas before that could have bankrupted her.

lunatic

 

[julybaby04]

Wasn't there like 30 or 40 million that had no insurance...or some number like that? Wasn't the complete overhaul due to the fact that those people had to be insured?

If it is 7 million, 7.5 , 8 or whatever....doesn't seem like it solved the problem.

I am sure some of those were the people who are here illegally, and they should not be included until they are legal citizens.......I am sure some of those millions are those caught in the medicaid black hole, but states do not have to go into debt because obama says so.....

So where are the other millions that are not covered? Doesn't look like it covered as many as thought....even with the threat of penalty under the law!

 

[RobDownSouth]

Wasn't there like 30 or 40 million that had no insurance...or some number like that? Wasn't the complete overhaul due to the fact that those people had to be insured?

If it is 7 million, 7.5 , 8 or whatever....doesn't seem like it solved the problem.

I am sure some of those were the people who are here illegally, and they should not be included until they are legal citizens.......I am sure some of those millions are those caught in the medicaid black hole, but states do not have to go into debt because obama says so.....

So where are the other millions that are not covered? Doesn't look like it covered as many as thought....even with the threat of penalty under the law!

Thirty years of neglect isn't going to be fixed with a six month open enrollment period. I'm sure if any of your children bring home anything less than 100% from school, you call them a failure...because that's what a good pseudo-Christian mother does.

 

[KingOrfeo]

What's both predictable and astonishing is that Republicans seem to resent the impressive number of people who now have health insurance.

What they resent is Obama's name on it. If President McCain or Romney had introduced the exact same legislation with the exact same effects (and either of them might have; the ACA is practically modeled on Romneycare), the Pubs would be cheering and gloating.

 

[Busybody]

Only sick peeps signed up

Premiums skyrocket

No doctors take NIGGERCARE shit anyway

SICK DIE

Death panel



Study Finds Sicklier Enrollees in Earliest Stage of Health Law

»

People who signed up early for insurance through the new marketplaces were more likely to be prescribed drugs to treat pain, depression and H.I.V. and were less likely to need contraceptives, according to a new study that provides a much-anticipated look at the population that signed up for coverage under the new health care law.

The health of those who enrolled in new coverage is being closely watched because many observers have questioned whether the new marketplaces would attract a large share of sick people, which could lead to higher premiums and ultimately doom the new law.

The study, to be released Wednesday by the major pharmacy-benefits manager Express Scripts, suggests that early enrollees face more serious health problems and are older than those covered by their employers. The study also showed a higher use of specialty drugs, which are often used to treat diseases like cancer and rheumatoid arthritis; the use of such drugs could hint at more costly medical problems.

Over all, early users of marketplace plans appeared to be filling prescriptions for drugs at rates similar to people with coverage through their employers. Another pharmacy-benefit manager, Prime Therapeutics, said it was seeing slightly higher rates of prescription-drug use among its marketplace customers.

“I think this gets under the hood of not only who is enrolling, but what kind of health care challenges do they have,” said Karen M. Ignagni, president of America’s Health Insurance Plans, which represents insurers. “Pharmacy claims are often an indicator for medical claims, and it’s often the case that they provide a real insight into overall trends.”

Still, she and others cautioned that it was too early to properly evaluate the health of those who were signing up. The study by Express Scripts looked at a sample of 650,000 consumers who received coverage in January and February and did not capture information about those who signed up closer to the enrollment deadline. Insurers have said anecdotally that those who signed up later tended to be younger and were presumably healthier.



Julie Huppert, vice president for health care reform at Express Scripts, said she expected to see the picture change as the year progressed. But she said this early glimpse was crucial for insurers, which were already setting their rates for next year.

“There may not be enough time to assess much more than this,” she said.

The study found that six of the 10 most costly drugs in the marketplace plans, in terms of total spending, were specialty drugs, in contrast to four of the top 10 drugs in employer plans. The higher use of specialty drugs could point to additional health care costs, some said.

“The medication is only the tip of the iceberg,” said Daniel N. Mendelson, chief executive of the consulting firm Avalere Health. “What goes along with that is a need for physician visits and, often, hospitalizations associated with complications from the conditions.”

In addition to finding increased use of drugs to treat pain, seizures and depression, the study also found that 6 in every 1,000 prescriptions in the marketplace plans were for drugs that treat H.I.V., a number that was nearly four times the figure among those with employer coverage.

The overall costs for Atripla, a three-drug pill to treat H.I.V., were the highest of any pharmaceutical in the marketplace plans; the treatment came in at 18th for people covered through their job. Another H.I.V. pill, Truvada, was the sixth-costliest drug in the marketplace plans, but 51st on the list for employer plans.


Carl E. Schmid, deputy executive director of the AIDS Institute, an advocacy group, said the findings demonstrated that the new law was working.

“This is really good to get people with H.I.V. on medication and into care and on treatment,” he said, noting that many people with the disease were previously unable to get coverage from private insurers because they had an existing medical condition. Insurers are no longer permitted to turn down consumers because of their health.

“People with H.I.V. were basically frozen out of the private insurance market up until now,” Mr. Schmid said.

But he expressed concern over the high out-of-pocket costs associated with many of the marketplace plans. The Express Scripts study found that consumers with such plans paid a greater percentage of their drug costs in the first two months of this year compared with those in employer plans. The cost to health insurers for prescription drugs was 35 percent higher per member in employer plans than for those in the marketplace plans.

That may even out as the year progresses and more consumers in the marketplace plans reach their deductibles or out-of-pocket maximums, which are capped at $6,350 a year for an individual, Ms. Huppert said.

Some consumers who signed up for marketplace plans said they were shocked when they made their first visit to the pharmacy this year. Lawrence Cwik, a photographer in Portland, Ore., said his monthly contribution for Atripla increased to $1,018, from $40, when he switched to a new marketplace plan after his old plan was canceled. Both were through Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon.

Mr. Cwik, 55, said he complained and the insurer agreed to reduce his out-of-pocket payment to $40 for the rest of this year, “but beyond that, I’m pretty much out of luck.”

A spokeswoman for Regence said the company’s new plans covered a wider range of drugs and combined medical and drug costs under a single deductible, allowing some customers to meet their limits earlier. She also said that customers might be required to contribute more toward drug costs if a less expensive medication was available that treated the same condition.

Mr. Cwik said Atripla was working well for him and he did not want to change medications.

Perhaps because they are being asked to shoulder more of the cost, consumers in marketplace plans are more frequently using generic drugs, which are cheaper, Express Scripts found. Prime Therapeutics said it was seeing higher use of generic medications among consumers who signed up early.

Michael Showalter, chief marketing officer of Prime Therapeutics, said the company was seeing more consumers signing up for 90-day prescriptions, which are typically used to treat chronic illnesses and are less expensive than shorter-term prescriptions. The findings, he said, could show that customers were looking for ways to save money. But, he said, it also raised a question: “Was there a chronically ill population that really was underserved that is maybe getting a lot of benefit from having coverage?”

Mr. Mendelson, of Avalere, said insurers weren’t necessarily looking for a healthy population, but for reassurance that their guesses were correct about those who signed up. He said many insurers set premiums based on expectations that the newly covered would have different health needs.

“The plans knew what they were getting into,” he said. “They understood that this population was going to look really different.”

 

[cjh]

Those fuckers should just die.

Were they civilized and if they truly appreciated the civilized country in which we live, they would do just that.

Greedy fuckers, taking advantage of health care. If they'd just go ahead and die, America would avoid the ignominy of socialism and the rest of us would get along just fine.

 

[Busybody]

Those fuckers should just die.

Were they civilized and if they truly appreciated the civilized country in which we live, they would do just that.

Greedy fuckers, taking advantage of health care. If they'd just go ahead and die, America would avoid the ignominy of socialism and the rest of us would get along just fine.

that's what ObamaBuddy Reich and Emanuel say