A recent Gallup poll found that the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare, ACA) by name is at an all time low. It’s approval is down to 37% and its disapproval is up to 56%.
In contrast, another recent Gallup poll showed that those who are directly getting their insurance via the government exchanges are very happy with it. 74% think the quality of care is excellent or good. 71% think their healthcare coverage is excellent or good.
Why the divergence? It is simple. Very poor reporting versus reality. Very few Americans are on the losing side of Obamacare. The promise of Obamacare was that it was going to get most Americans affordable health insurance. The bill unlike what most other presidents pass when they pass massive important and necessary social welfare legislation, was paid for. That promise was fulfilled. If it was going to be paid for it meant somebody had to pay for it.
Who are on the ‘losing’ side? Those who could afford health insurance had to buy it or pay a penalty. After all if that uninsured person gets injured all tax payers ultimately foot the bill. Wealthy investors who receive preferential tax treatment with their investments — they pay lower tax rates than the average American — had to pay a bit more. Employers with over 100 workers without insurance had to pay a penalty. After all, responsible employers were at a competitive disadvantage since it cut into their profits while taxpayers foot the healthcare bill of the underpaid employees of the irresponsible employer.
Every American is affected by Obamacare in a positive manner whether they get their policies from the government exchanges, their employer, or privately. Why? Because Obamacare lay down rules that prevent insurance companies from taking advantage of the insured. Insurers cannot be deny or charge more if one has a pre-existing condition. Insurance cannot be cancelled as they were before when the insurer no longer wanted to pay for illnesses. Women can no longer be charged more simply for being a woman. Children under the age of 26 can remain on the family’s policy. Annual physical exams are free – well a part of what the premium covers. No longer can an insurance have a cap which means they cannot stop paying if one has a lengthy expensive hospital stay or medical event.
Again, why then are Americans against Obamacare? Watch the reporting below where a contrast is made between a family in Illinois who believes in and benefits from Obamacare and a business man in Texas who hates it.
Is this really balanced reporting on Obamacare?
The report on the surface seems balanced. They make it as if there is a plausible good reason for both supporting Obamacare and not supporting it.
The Texas business man says it is going to be more taxes on all Texas people. He said he has just under 100 employees and implies Obamacare costs would have him stay under that number and cut hours below 30 so he would not have to pay health insurance costs or a penalty. Never is he asked how much more would a burger and fries cost to ensure the employees that allow him a comfortable life have a living wage and comfortable life as well. Never does the report make clear that he is throwing the cost of the healthcare of his employees onto all Texas taxpayers as they subsidize his profits.
The report allows each side to tell their story which was very balanced. Unfortunately the weight of both stories are definitely not equal. The Illinois story is a reality that afflicts or could afflict every American. The Texas story is an individualistic exercise in utter selfishness with a smile and poor reporting.
The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) will continue to poll low until those who support it come to its defense in a full throated manner everywhere and often. Who was telling the good stories about Obamacare reducing healthcare inflation, record reduction of the uninsured, satisfaction with insurance on the government exchanges, Obamacare coming in under-budget, and much more?
It is time that those who know the truth start telling the truth. If one allows ideological zealots to continue maligning Obamacare, in the long run it will be decimated by thousands of slow bleeding cuts (piece by piece legislations that chip away its core tenets). Use your social media (share on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, etc.), your small talk at grocery stores and coffee shops, and your church, mosque, or synagogue to tell the truth. Immediately correct the misinformed. Only you can change the polls by educating the ill-informed.