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ProSense

(116,464 posts)
Thu Jan 9, 2014, 10:42 AM Jan 2014

Despite what the critics say, Obamacare is working

Despite what the critics say, Obamacare is working

By Harold Meyerson

Despite the treasured right-wing talking points, it’s increasingly clear that Obamacare is a success. Moreover, in places where Obamacare is not succeeding, it’s also clear that the right wing is to blame. Well, it’s clear to any who look at the state-by-state numbers of the newly insured. A whole lot of Americans will have to look, however, for the program’s success to redound to Democrats’ advantage.

Charles Gaba, an enterprising Web site designer, has taken it upon himself to track the number of Americans who have gained health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Tallying those who have signed up on the state and federal exchanges (2.1 million), those who have obtained Medicaid coverage (4.4 million) and those who gained coverage through the law’s requirement that private plans allow parents to cover their children up to age 26 (3.1 million), he cites more than 9 million newly insured through Obamacare.

The meaning of that number is, to be sure, a little fuzzy. To begin, it’s a gross, not a net, increase. Some of the 2.1 million who purchased insurance on exchanges did so after their previous plans were altered or canceled. In some states, the increase in those insured through Medicaid does not distinguish between those not eligible previously and those who are simply renewing coverage.

All that said, whether the total is 9 million or 7 million, it’s a big number and it’s rising rapidly: December sign-ups far exceeded those in November, and the number is expected to continue growing through 2014.

- more -

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/harold-meyerson-despite-the-critics-obamacare-works/2014/01/08/bad2227a-77d3-11e3-af7f-13bf0e9965f6_story.html

ACA Signups: RI Medicaid jump, WaPo mention & a Poll to vote on
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/01/09/1268310/-ACA-Signups-RI-Medicaid-jump-WaPo-mention-a-Poll-to-vote-on

The federal exchange is working well, and even a Maryland Democrat is suggesting switching to it.

Maryland Might Want To Switch To HealthCare.gov
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/maryland-healthcaregov-john-delaney

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Despite what the critics say, Obamacare is working (Original Post) ProSense Jan 2014 OP
Kick! n/t ProSense Jan 2014 #1
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