The only people ignoring the cost of healthcare are the Democrats.  If that's where you get your information, it's no wonder you have the opinion "that everyone talks about health insurance but not so much about the costs."

It was Democrats that defeated the Republican plan to allow purchasing prescription drugs from Canadian providers to reduce drug costs as much as 80% in some cases.

It was Democrats who refuse to discuss how ACA is causing a rise in all healthcare providers' premiums, some up 400%, because of the structure of restrictions and requirements it created.

It is Democrats not discussing the impact of ACA on employers, and how they reduce hours for workers and avoid employing more people to circumvent the mandates.

Yeah, people have been talking about it for years.  The MSM -- not so much.

The Republicans have not taken any significant steps towards reducing the cost of health care. Complaining about the ACA does not count as doing something.

The Republicans have not taken any significant steps towards reducing the cost of health care. Complaining about the ACA does not count as doing something.

That's your opinion, and it's not based on any facts.

Since you admit you haven't done much research into it, how can you possibly disagree with those of us who have, Mr. Contrarian?


https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2018/03/19/republicans-release-new-plan-lower-health-premiums-stabilize-obamacare-markets/437827002/

Anyways, back on topic.

I was listening to this segment on NPR on how the guest was saying that ACA "would have reached equilibrium" had the Trump WH not interfered.  It was my understanding that ACA was crumbling, but I didn't look up the facts nor will do so at this point.  However, one key thing caught my attention was that the guest did concede that the December 15 deadline for coverage for 2019 will be a key indicator on how things are going.

Anyways, back on topic.

I was listening to this segment on NPR on how the guest was saying that ACA "would have reached equilibrium" had the Trump WH not interfered.  It was my understanding that ACA was crumbling, but I didn't look up the facts nor will do so at this point.  However, one key thing caught my attention was that the guest did concede that the December 15 deadline for coverage for 2019 will be a key indicator on how things are going.

Reaching equilibrium is a relative statement and is really meaningless. If people were not forced to buy ACA or pay a penalty, the fact is equilibrium was reached the first year the penalty (tax) was put in place. Assuming everyone who was required to either buy an ACA policy or pay the penalty was doing so. Does not include the law breakers in other words. The ACA itself was crumbling because the cost of an ACA policy was getting so unaffordable that paying the penalty was the only recourse that the mid and  lower income people had. Note this ACA mandatory purchase requirement and the penalty requirement only hurts mid to lower income families. Just shows that NPR was not telling the whole truth.

Trump and the Republicans did a great service to all those that have to buy their own medical coverage including those with a preexisting condition. Now that the AHCA (Trumpcare) is in play, more people can afford to buy coverage again. And the statistics show approximately 2.3 million more people are covered under healthcare from 2016-2017. I posted this here: https://2ahawaii.com/index.php?topic=29917.msg289111#msg289111

I wonder what the statistics for 2017-2018 will be? It will be interesting to see.

BTW, I occasionally have an interesting conversation with a friend of my nephew on FB. He is on SSDI and Medicare and MediCal. I don’t know if he has a Medicare supplement plan but free supplement plans are available to everyone in CA on Medicare. Young guy (early 50’s) has been technically disabled since he was in his 30’s. He lives with his aunt, BTW. My nephew says he can work but chooses not to. He can legally work and make up to $1,000 a month without losing his SSDI and benefits. My nephew said he gets somewhere around $400-$500 a month. There is his background.

Medicare and Medical coverage is not good according to him. He said he suffers from terrible healthcare. He won’t say if it is because of a lack of good medical providers in CA or is there is a lack of good ones that take Medicare and MediCal. He keeps complaining also about huge out of pocket costs. I understand huge is relative. But when I told him I look forward to the day I qualify for Medicare he keeps saying don’t do it. I checked into Medicare and the available supplement plans. I see great coverage between the two. About similar to what I get from my employer. Of course I am going to have to pay for Medicare and any supplements. I looked at the free supplements and their coverage is not as good as the ones you can buy of course. But it still looks about half of the same coverage purchased directly from a private insurer. I need to see how the AHCA can effect me when I decide to retire as I am going to have to buy coverage for myself until I qualify for Medicare 3 years later.

Bottom line is we are in some uncharted territory with the advent of having both the ACA and AHCA regulated policies available to the American public. And December 15, 2019 will be an interesting day once the statistics are in.

And now, for something completely different...

"This major bombshell marks the beginning of the end of the tipping point and the walls are closing in."

How anyone could have the ignorant brazen lying audacity to call these "journalists" "fake news"... well... irredeemable deplorables!

Donald Trump is Finished


   

Donald Trump is finished!! While you're waiting for Trump to be impeached, do something useful and go vote!

Funny how liberals said he wouldn't last 1 month, then 2 months, then 3, then 6, then 1 year, then 2 years....

Funny how liberals said he wouldn't last 1 month, then 2 months, then 3, then 6, then 1 year, then 2 years....

You left out all the politicians, celebs and journalists who guaranteed Trump would never be President.

"Donald Trump will never be President.  You can take that to the bank."  --Nancy Pelosi

Funny how liberals said he wouldn't last 1 month, then 2 months, then 3, then 6, then 1 year, then 2 years....

Those propagandists barely masquerading as "journalists" will be reading a script handed to them of some similar lame lines in January of 2025 a week or two before Pence is sworn in for his first term.

I see 96-year-old Carl Reiner wants to stay alive until 2020 so he can "vote Trump out of office"... just like he voted Hillary in in 2016. How much longer can he and Ginsburg last?

Then there are the other Democratic socialist celebrity liars who promised to leave the country if Trump won, including Barbra Streisand, Whoopi Goldberg, Chloë Sevigny, Keegan-Michael Key, Jon Stewart, Chelsea Handler, Neve Campbell, Barry Diller, Al Sharpton, Natasha Lyonne, Eddie Griffin, Spike Lee, Amber Rose, Samuel L. Jackson, Cher, George Lopez, Raven-Symonè, Miley Cyrus, Ruth Bader Ginsburg,..

Reaching equilibrium is a relative statement and is really meaningless. If people were not forced to buy ACA or pay a penalty, the fact is equilibrium was reached the first year the penalty (tax) was put in place. Assuming everyone who was required to either buy an ACA policy or pay the penalty was doing so. Does not include the law breakers in other words. The ACA itself was crumbling because the cost of an ACA policy was getting so unaffordable that paying the penalty was the only recourse that the mid and  lower income people had. Note this ACA mandatory purchase requirement and the penalty requirement only hurts mid to lower income families. Just shows that NPR was not telling the whole truth.

Trump and the Republicans did a great service to all those that have to buy their own medical coverage including those with a preexisting condition. Now that the AHCA (Trumpcare) is in play, more people can afford to buy coverage again. And the statistics show approximately 2.3 million more people are covered under healthcare from 2016-2017. I posted this here: https://2ahawaii.com/index.php?topic=29917.msg289111#msg289111

I wonder what the statistics for 2017-2018 will be? It will be interesting to see.

BTW, I occasionally have an interesting conversation with a friend of my nephew on FB. He is on SSDI and Medicare and MediCal. I don’t know if he has a Medicare supplement plan but free supplement plans are available to everyone in CA on Medicare. Young guy (early 50’s) has been technically disabled since he was in his 30’s. He lives with his aunt, BTW. My nephew says he can work but chooses not to. He can legally work and make up to $1,000 a month without losing his SSDI and benefits. My nephew said he gets somewhere around $400-$500 a month. There is his background.

Medicare and Medical coverage is not good according to him. He said he suffers from terrible healthcare. He won’t say if it is because of a lack of good medical providers in CA or is there is a lack of good ones that take Medicare and MediCal. He keeps complaining also about huge out of pocket costs. I understand huge is relative. But when I told him I look forward to the day I qualify for Medicare he keeps saying don’t do it. I checked into Medicare and the available supplement plans. I see great coverage between the two. About similar to what I get from my employer. Of course I am going to have to pay for Medicare and any supplements. I looked at the free supplements and their coverage is not as good as the ones you can buy of course. But it still looks about half of the same coverage purchased directly from a private insurer. I need to see how the AHCA can effect me when I decide to retire as I am going to have to buy coverage for myself until I qualify for Medicare 3 years later.

Bottom line is we are in some uncharted territory with the advent of having both the ACA and AHCA regulated policies available to the American public. And December 15, 2019 will be an interesting day once the statistics are in.

Yeah.  About the equilibrium point, I found it interesting and mentioned it here as my impression (not based on any fact or research) was that it was a nothing burger that many Trump haters and Obama lovers would eat up.

Like I said, I don't know much about ACA, ACHA, etc.  But I am interested in what the people/market says come 15 December.  In general, based on recent dealings with the healthcare industry for my dad and myself, I have a general distaste for it all.  It's the insurance execs getting richer while the healthcare providers and those that need healthcare end up getting shafted.  Yup, there are definitely folks that game the system, but still. 

Then there are the other Democratic socialist celebrity liars who promised to leave the country if Trump won, including Barbra Streisand, Whoopi Goldberg, Chloë Sevigny, Keegan-Michael Key, Jon Stewart, Chelsea Handler, Neve Campbell, Barry Diller, Al Sharpton, Natasha Lyonne, Eddie Griffin, Spike Lee, Amber Rose, Samuel L. Jackson, Cher, George Lopez, Raven-Symonè, Miley Cyrus, Ruth Bader Ginsburg,..

The only two celebs I've seen actually move away from the US after Trump was elected are Madonna and Clooney.  Clooney moved back to LA over "security concerns  , so that worked out as well as one might expect.

I suggest a new tactic for these "If such-and-such gets elected, I'm leaving the US" blow hards:

They need to move to Canada or wherever immediately.  Then, they can announce they will not return until they get whatever it is they are demanding.

That's when we'll see just how much (little?) the public cares about them.

BTW, how come they all threaten to move to Canada?  Why not to Mexico or Venezuela?

The only two celebs I've seen actually move away from the US after Trump was elected are Madonna and Clooney.  Clooney moved back to LA over "security concerns  , so that worked out as well as one might expect.

I suggest a new tactic for these "If such-and-such gets elected, I'm leaving the US" blow hards:

They need to move to Canada or wherever immediately.  Then, they can announce they will not return until they get whatever it is they are demanding.

That's when we'll see just how much (little?) the public cares about them.

BTW, how come they all threaten to move to Canada?  Why not to Mexico or Venezuela?

Well, in fairness, Ginsburg did suggests New Zealand... but she didn't go. But yeah, you have to wonder what prevents them from moving to the people's socialist utopia of Venezuela... and it appears that no one in the media ever asks them. Hmmm.

I'm not sure what the intended effect is of those "celebrities" "threatening" to move to another country is. Is anyone going to change their vote, or engage in "resistance" based upon some actor/comedian threatening to move? It seems preposterous on its face... but I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that there are idiots out there who conclude, "Well, I wasn't going to vote, or vote for Hillary, but hell, if Cher will move to Canada, I gettin' right on it!". Yes, perhaps I need to acknowledge that the world probably is that sad.

That's your opinion, and it's not based on any facts.

Since you admit you haven't done much research into it, how can you possibly disagree with those of us who have, Mr. Contrarian?


https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2018/03/19/republicans-release-new-plan-lower-health-premiums-stabilize-obamacare-markets/437827002/

You should really read your own sources before posting them... The article doesn't say a single thing about the proposed bill lowering health care costs, only insurance costs.

I will wait here for you to provide something of substance to prove your claim.

Anyways, back on topic.

I was listening to this segment on NPR on how the guest was saying that ACA "would have reached equilibrium" had the Trump WH not interfered.  It was my understanding that ACA was crumbling, but I didn't look up the facts nor will do so at this point.  However, one key thing caught my attention was that the guest did concede that the December 15 deadline for coverage for 2019 will be a key indicator on how things are going.

I do recall the talk of the death spiral but that does not seem to have played out. I would have my skepticisms of the ACA reaching equilibrium though as well. If nothing else it is an interesting economic experiment.

This topic has over 1000 replies on it. and I am NOT going to go through it to edit or remove any bullshit. 

People new and old to firearms, and live in Hawaii, come to this site and they have to look at crap like this, it's no wonder we can't get any thing done to fix our GUN RIGHTS!

ANY more posting of infantile arguing and or stupid memes and I am going to lock this topic.

FAIR WARNING
(edit:  don't argue with me either, I'll lock the topic)

Thanks Heavies.

Here is the October jobs report:

https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/us-october-jobs-report-what-to-watch

We have a great jobs report here. There are 250k new jobs, unemployment stays at 3.7% (lowest rate since 1969) and even more important and impressive is that wages are up 3% year over year. Pretty impressive!!! 

I do recall the talk of the death spiral but that does not seem to have played out. I would have my skepticisms of the ACA reaching equilibrium though as well. If nothing else it is an interesting economic experiment.

All I know is before ACA, I've been paying $121/month for years.  Following ACA, it went to just under $500.  So equilibrium my ass.  I have other friends who's rates went up way more.

So I was hoping Trump/GOP would end ACA and hoping the rates will go back down.  Or at a min, amend it so you don't get fined when doing your taxes for not having coverage.

Trump says "People who throw rocks at our military.  Rocks will be treated as firearms".

Waiting to see how this will turn out.  DM's in a high tower?  Maybe with 9mm HP as to not get over penetration. So 9mm AR with scope?

Talking to my wife about Trump last night. (Not recommended)

She like a high percentage of people doesn't research results and just listens to the man speak and tweet.
He's not Presidential and proud of it. (Her words)

After our "discussion" she made a good point.
If he would just not say and post his "insert word here" (bullying, divisive, idiotic, ridiculous, egomaniacal....) shit maybe people would actually look at his results.
I told her that's the beauty of his slight of hand.
A lot of the population are purely emotional and they HATE Trump. Most just because of what they perceive he says and tweets. Media Magnifies that and only that.

The division in this country that Trump brings out is not racial or economic, even though the Media wants to hit those things to hit emotional nerves, it's conservative vs. liberal.
This whole situation: Obama to Trump transition.
We're losing the center.

I consider myself a centralist.
But everyone seems to be being pushed to the edges.

P.S. What's the accurate range on a 9mm rifle with a scope? I guess at least as far as a rock.

I like how he tweets.  1 reason why I support him is because he calls people out on their BS.  This keeps me in the loop.

Does he act "presidential"?  No, he acts like a regular dude who was not groomed for politics their entire life.  But he gets results.  That's what is more important.  Results. 

Remember, prior to 2016, no one ever called Trump a racist.  He won the Ellis Island award for his company hiring lots of minorities, along with Rosa Parks and Ali.

I'm lucky my wife and I share the same views.  I know of others who don't and it's a taboo topic.  Especially when 1 side ignores facts.  Pretty sure my friend hasn't gotten laid since 2017.  Told him, he aint gonna get any until 2024.

I'm lucky my wife and I share the same views.  I know of others who don't and it's a taboo topic.  Especially when 1 side ignores facts.  Pretty sure my friend hasn't gotten laid  2017.  Told him, he aint gonna get any until 2024.

 

That is going in classic quotes.