If we go to UHC which seems more likely than not, i believe healtcare 3.0 which is preventive care will be the norm. In order to keep your UHC you will need to do and have pro active checkups and meet certain benchmarks to stay healthy, jm 2 cents.

normalhorn said:

---

If Democrats have any sense of intelligence, they'd use the skyrocketing health insurance rate problem as a millstone around the GOP and clean them out in the midterms.

---

Yup, username checks out. Only a normal horn would come up with something so ludicrous.

UntoldSpirit said:

---

SA68AG said:

---

The inability of Republicans to come up with a viable plan to reduce the costs of health insurance, could very well cost them the mid-terms.

People's premiums really are doubling and unfair or not Republicans will get the blame.

---

My premium tripled. There aren't many good options, just bad ones. I can go cheaper but I would have really bad insurance. As a type 1 diabetic, I can't risk doing that.

As usual, the democrats create problems, then blame the problems on Republicans, which just solidifies their power. Premiums are skyrocketing, and not just on Obamacare.

You have to face political reality. The mid-terms are on the horizon and this is a huge affordability hit. You gotta accept political reality. Subsidies need to be phased out over time and steps to infuse competition phased in, along with the continued push on getting illegals off the system. But you can't quit subsidies cold turkey in my opinion, unless you want to lose everything.

Health care may end up being the thing that actually drives the nation over the cliff. And pretty soon. It needed more or a Trump focus before, but certainly needs it now.

---

Burpelson said:

---

If we go to UHC which seems more likely than not, i believe healtcare 3.0 which is preventive care will be the norm. In order to keep your UHC you will need to do and have pro active checkups and meet certain benchmarks to stay healthy, jm 2 cents.

---

I'm doubtful. Even if they required this people would find workarounds or ways to scam the system. They do it today with all of the other welfare programs we have. And then it will be means tested on top of it. So, tax payers will be taxed out of their wages for UHC and then on top of that pay higher premiums and deductibles based on income.

And it's not fiscally feasible to do it in the first place but it won't stop them from trying.

Wait until people see what their health insurance bill is gonna be without the subsidies. I don't qualify for subsidies so Obama care for my family would be close to $5000 a month. And this is for a crappy policy that almost none of our physicians take.

My crappy policy is going up $1000 per month.

AFFORDABLE CARE ACT

Not only is it not affordable, but healthcare cost of increased significantly, but of it in my opinion.

combat wombat said:

---

Wait until people see what their health insurance bill is gonna be without the subsidies. I don't qualify for subsidies so Obama care for my family would be close to $5000 a month. And this is for a crappy policy that almost none of our physicians take.

---

It's why the R's are going to get bent over. Facts on this don't matter.

Texas12&0 said:

---

normalhorn said:

---

If Democrats have any sense of intelligence, they'd use the skyrocketing health insurance rate problem as a millstone around the GOP and clean them out in the midterms.

---

Yup, username checks out. Only a normal horn would come up with something so ludicrous.

---

Horn is right, Republicans are going to lose their asses over this issue in the midterms unless they come up with a solution,

If your insurance premiums have gone up $10,000 to $20,000 a year, saving 25 cents per gallon of gas and paying less for eggs isn't going look like much progress on reducing inflation.

SA68AG said:

---

Texas12&0 said:

---

normalhorn said:

---

If Democrats have any sense of intelligence, they'd use the skyrocketing health insurance rate problem as a millstone around the GOP and clean them out in the midterms.

---

Yup, username checks out. Only a normal horn would come up with something so ludicrous.

---

Horn is right, Republicans are going to lose their asses over this issue in the midterms unless they come up with a solution,

If your insurance premiums have gone up $10,000 to $20,000 a year, saving 25 cents per gallon of gas and paying less for eggs isn't going look like much progress on reducing inflation.

---

I pay $31k/year and the root cause is government intrusion into the market. So they are going to vote for more pervasive government intrusion? Brilliant!

So I guess there is still a small chance the Republicans can get something passed, but doubt it:

Quote:

---

House Republicans -- led by Speaker Mike Johnson -- unveiled Friday a narrow health care package to address rising costs, but the plan does not extend the expiring enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies.

The GOP proposal -- which will receive a vote on the House floor sometime next week -- would expand the availability of association health plans and what are known as "CHOICE arrangements"; impose new transparency requirements on pharmacy benefit managers to lower drug costs; and appropriate money for cost-sharing reductions to reduce premiums in the individual market.

Association health plans allow employers to band together to purchase coverage.

Notably, the 111-page measure would not funnel additional money into health savings accounts.

---

Quote:

---

Republicans are also discussing staging a vote on an amendment to the health care package that would extend the ACA subsidies. The specifics of the amendment are still being discussed, according to GOP leadership aides.

---

Seems like Trump may give in on subsidies. If he does, that seems like the R's will follow:

Quote:

---

But Trump also kept the door open, slightly, on extending ACA tax credits, saying he was going to "look into" the possibility of doing so with the assurance that an extension deal would come with some caveats that Republicans want.

---

Love the outright lying and gaslighting by Jeffries. The Democrats literally created this problem with both ACA and the subsidies expiring. Democrats are scum.

Quote:

---

"House Republicans are not serious about ending the healthcare crisis they have unleashed in this country," Jeffries said in a statement.

---

Tom Fox said:

---

I pay $31k/year and the root cause is government intrusion into the market. So they are going to vote for more pervasive government intrusion? Brilliant!

---

That's the part that is so frustrating. Health insurance costs are spiking precisely because the government IS in the middle of it... screwing it all up. Just like they've done with college costs over the last 50 years with how deeply they got involved with student loans. College costs have increased 8% per year forever, 2X to 3X the general inflation rate.

These are Democrat policies... they have created this mess, and yet due to perception and pain in the moment, voters will toss out the R's and vote for Democrats which will just throw gasoline on the fire.

We are lost as a country.

MemphisAg1 said:

---

Tom Fox said:

---

I pay $31k/year and the root cause is government intrusion into the market. So they are going to vote for more pervasive government intrusion? Brilliant!

---

That's the part that is so frustrating. Health insurance costs are spiking precisely because the government IS in the middle of it... screwing it all up. Just like they've done with college costs over the last 50 years with how deeply they got involved with student loans. College costs have increased 8% per year forever, 2X to 3X the general inflation rate.

These are Democrat policies... they have created this mess, and yet due to perception and pain in the moment, voters will toss out the R's and vote for Democrats which will just throw gasoline on the fire.

We are lost as a country.

---

The first day that we let everyone vote was the beginning of the end for our nation.

Tom Fox said:

---

SA68AG said:

---

Texas12&0 said:

---

normalhorn said:

---

If Democrats have any sense of intelligence, they'd use the skyrocketing health insurance rate problem as a millstone around the GOP and clean them out in the midterms.

---

Yup, username checks out. Only a normal horn would come up with something so ludicrous.

---

Horn is right, Republicans are going to lose their asses over this issue in the midterms unless they come up with a solution,

If your insurance premiums have gone up $10,000 to $20,000 a year, saving 25 cents per gallon of gas and paying less for eggs isn't going look like much progress on reducing inflation.

---

I pay $31k/year and the root cause is government intrusion into the market. So they are going to vote for more pervasive government intrusion? Brilliant!

---

$40K for me and my wife. Even if I chose a high deductible policy, like 10K with a 50% co-insurance, the cost will end up about the same. Admittedly, I'm old, but everyone will be at some point as these premium prices are unbelievable. I am projecting spending $45K to $55K on medical and dental costs (Premiums plus copays) in 2026 for two people.

UntoldSpirit said:

---

Tom Fox said:

---

SA68AG said:

---

Texas12&0 said:

---

normalhorn said:

---

If Democrats have any sense of intelligence, they'd use the skyrocketing health insurance rate problem as a millstone around the GOP and clean them out in the midterms.

---

Yup, username checks out. Only a normal horn would come up with something so ludicrous.

---

Horn is right, Republicans are going to lose their asses over this issue in the midterms unless they come up with a solution,

If your insurance premiums have gone up $10,000 to $20,000 a year, saving 25 cents per gallon of gas and paying less for eggs isn't going look like much progress on reducing inflation.

---

I pay $31k/year and the root cause is government intrusion into the market. So they are going to vote for more pervasive government intrusion? Brilliant!

---

$40K for me and my wife. Even if I chose a high deductible policy, like 10K with a 50% co-insurance, the cost will end up about the same. Admittedly, I'm old, but everyone will be at some point as these premium prices are unbelievable. I am projecting spending $45K to $55K on medical and dental in 2026 for two people.

---

Sucks, but still infinitely better than some government single payor nightmare.

Burpelson said:

---

If we go to UHC which seems more likely than not, i believe healtcare 3.0 which is preventive care will be the norm. In order to keep your UHC you will need to do and have pro active checkups and meet certain benchmarks to stay healthy, jm 2 cents.

---

Until judges you put on the bench say it has a "disparate impact" on minorities and is therefore racist. And then all of us are paying more to take care of 400 pound Shaniqua.

Tom Fox said:

---

UntoldSpirit said:

---

Tom Fox said:

---

SA68AG said:

---

Texas12&0 said:

---

normalhorn said:

---

If Democrats have any sense of intelligence, they'd use the skyrocketing health insurance rate problem as a millstone around the GOP and clean them out in the midterms.

---

Yup, username checks out. Only a normal horn would come up with something so ludicrous.

---

Horn is right, Republicans are going to lose their asses over this issue in the midterms unless they come up with a solution,

If your insurance premiums have gone up $10,000 to $20,000 a year, saving 25 cents per gallon of gas and paying less for eggs isn't going look like much progress on reducing inflation.

---

I pay $31k/year and the root cause is government intrusion into the market. So they are going to vote for more pervasive government intrusion? Brilliant!

---

$40K for me and my wife. Even if I chose a high deductible policy, like 10K with a 50% co-insurance, the cost will end up about the same. Admittedly, I'm old, but everyone will be at some point as these premium prices are unbelievable. I am projecting spending $45K to $55K on medical and dental in 2026 for two people.

---

Sucks, but still infinitely better than some government single payor nightmare.

---

Better for the financial health of the country, but probably not better for me. These premiums, which are increasing at exponential rates, are not sustainable - I suppose at some point people will just be forced to die in their 60s if they have any health issues.

Note that as soon as we go on Medicare, I'll be paying like $3K per year for two people for better insurance. To me, that means health care is what will actually destroy the country pretty soon. The Medicare cost increases to the government are going to be astronomical.

UntoldSpirit said:

---

Tom Fox said:

---

UntoldSpirit said:

---

Tom Fox said:

---

SA68AG said:

---

Texas12&0 said:

---

normalhorn said:

---

If Democrats have any sense of intelligence, they'd use the skyrocketing health insurance rate problem as a millstone around the GOP and clean them out in the midterms.

---

Yup, username checks out. Only a normal horn would come up with something so ludicrous.

---

Horn is right, Republicans are going to lose their asses over this issue in the midterms unless they come up with a solution,

If your insurance premiums have gone up $10,000 to $20,000 a year, saving 25 cents per gallon of gas and paying less for eggs isn't going look like much progress on reducing inflation.

---

I pay $31k/year and the root cause is government intrusion into the market. So they are going to vote for more pervasive government intrusion? Brilliant!

---

$40K for me and my wife. Even if I chose a high deductible policy, like 10K with a 50% co-insurance, the cost will end up about the same. Admittedly, I'm old, but everyone will be at some point as these premium prices are unbelievable. I am projecting spending $45K to $55K on medical and dental in 2026 for two people.

---

Sucks, but still infinitely better than some government single payor nightmare.

---

Better for the financial health of the country, but probably not better for me. These premiums, which are increasing at exponential rates, are not sustainable - I suppose at some point people will just be forced to die in their 60s if they have any health issues.

Note that as soon as we go on Medicare, I'll be paying like $3K per year for two people for better insurance. To me, that means health care is what will actually destroy the country pretty soon. The Medicare cost increases to the government are going to be astronomical.

---

Your situation is insane. How long until you qualify for Medicare?

It will be better for you too because if you get something serious you can afford to get treated immediately and not wait in line while dying.

It is better for the country and everyone that can afford it for healthcare to be as private as possible.

Of course it is better for those that cannot afford it to have someone else taxed to pay for theirs. They shouldn't even have a say in it.

Frankly, our health insurance premiums are far higher than our actual medical bills and would likely be if we paid cash. Only reason we want it is for catastrophic illness or injury. But because of our ages, we do not qualify for catastrophic health plans… but we are too young for Medicare.

We retired early and health insurance is making me regret that decision.

MemphisAg1 said:

---

UntoldSpirit said:

---

Tom Fox said:

---

UntoldSpirit said:

---

Tom Fox said:

---

SA68AG said:

---

Texas12&0 said:

---

normalhorn said:

---

If Democrats have any sense of intelligence, they'd use the skyrocketing health insurance rate problem as a millstone around the GOP and clean them out in the midterms.

---

Yup, username checks out. Only a normal horn would come up with something so ludicrous.

---

Horn is right, Republicans are going to lose their asses over this issue in the midterms unless they come up with a solution,

If your insurance premiums have gone up $10,000 to $20,000 a year, saving 25 cents per gallon of gas and paying less for eggs isn't going look like much progress on reducing inflation.

---

I pay $31k/year and the root cause is government intrusion into the market. So they are going to vote for more pervasive government intrusion? Brilliant!

---

$40K for me and my wife. Even if I chose a high deductible policy, like 10K with a 50% co-insurance, the cost will end up about the same. Admittedly, I'm old, but everyone will be at some point as these premium prices are unbelievable. I am projecting spending $45K to $55K on medical and dental in 2026 for two people.

---

Sucks, but still infinitely better than some government single payor nightmare.

---

Better for the financial health of the country, but probably not better for me. These premiums, which are increasing at exponential rates, are not sustainable - I suppose at some point people will just be forced to die in their 60s if they have any health issues.

Note that as soon as we go on Medicare, I'll be paying like $3K per year for two people for better insurance. To me, that means health care is what will actually destroy the country pretty soon. The Medicare cost increases to the government are going to be astronomical.

---

Your situation is insane. How long until you qualify for Medicare?

---

I'm retired and 64, so Nov of next year, 2027 for my wife. But any retirees or independent contractors that are in their 60s and don't have company healthcare, and they want to be able to use competent doctors, are paying these kind of premiums in 2026. If you don't have issues (I do, I am a type 1 diabetic), you can perhaps find some better alternatives if you are lucky. I am using Blue Cross because all of our doctors take it.

I know a lot of people are staying at their companies longer than they would like, just to avoid the health care premium problem.

Premiums are way up for everyone though, including for corporate covered health care, and it's going to effect everyone I'm sure. Younger people just don't understand how bad its getting and will be for them eventually.

In any case, Republicans need to face the reality that this will hit hard in the midterms if they don't fix it - probably the ugly way in the short term, but with a real comprehensive plan in the long term.

combat wombat said:

---

Frankly, our health insurance premiums are far higher than our actual medical bills and would likely be if we paid cash. Only reason we want it is for catastrophic illness or injury. But because of our ages, we do not qualify for catastrophic health plans… but we are too young for Medicare.

We retired early and health insurance is making me regret that decision.

---

It's been our biggest stressor for retiring early. I knew it going in but it's still painful. Biden and the Dems killed catastrophic plans in order to try and force everyone into ACA. Absolutely criminal.

Only way you can get a catastrophic plan is if you are poor. I budgeted a high dollar amount for healthcare going into it but I'm not sure I factored a big enough annual increase. Granted, the whole system is going to collapse before I get to Medicare age anyway. I'm 52 and there is no way the current system makes it that long.

UntoldSpirit said:

---

MemphisAg1 said:

---

UntoldSpirit said:

---

Tom Fox said:

---

UntoldSpirit said:

---

Tom Fox said:

---

SA68AG said:

---

Texas12&0 said:

---

normalhorn said:

---

If Democrats have any sense of intelligence, they'd use the skyrocketing health insurance rate problem as a millstone around the GOP and clean them out in the midterms.

---

Yup, username checks out. Only a normal horn would come up with something so ludicrous.

---

Horn is right, Republicans are going to lose their asses over this issue in the midterms unless they come up with a solution,

If your insurance premiums have gone up $10,000 to $20,000 a year, saving 25 cents per gallon of gas and paying less for eggs isn't going look like much progress on reducing inflation.

---

I pay $31k/year and the root cause is government intrusion into the market. So they are going to vote for more pervasive government intrusion? Brilliant!

---

$40K for me and my wife. Even if I chose a high deductible policy, like 10K with a 50% co-insurance, the cost will end up about the same. Admittedly, I'm old, but everyone will be at some point as these premium prices are unbelievable. I am projecting spending $45K to $55K on medical and dental in 2026 for two people.

---

Sucks, but still infinitely better than some government single payor nightmare.

---

Better for the financial health of the country, but probably not better for me. These premiums, which are increasing at exponential rates, are not sustainable - I suppose at some point people will just be forced to die in their 60s if they have any health issues.

Note that as soon as we go on Medicare, I'll be paying like $3K per year for two people for better insurance. To me, that means health care is what will actually destroy the country pretty soon. The Medicare cost increases to the government are going to be astronomical.

---

Your situation is insane. How long until you qualify for Medicare?

---

I'm retired and 64, so Nov of next year, 2027 for my wife. But any retirees or independent contractors that are in their 60s and don't have company healthcare, and they want to be able to use competent doctors, are paying these kind of premiums in 2026. If you don't have issues (I do, I am a type 1 diabetic), you can perhaps find some better alternatives if you are lucky. I am using Blue Cross because all of our doctors take it.

I know a lot of people are staying at their companies longer than they would like, just to avoid the health care premium problem.

Premiums are way up for everyone though, including for corporate covered health care, and it's going to effect everyone I'm sure. Younger people just don't understand how bad its getting and will be for them eventually.

In any case, Republicans need to face the reality that this will hit hard in the midterms if they don't fix it - probably the ugly way in the short term, but with a real comprehensive plan in the long term.

---

Totally understand your situation and feel for you. 61 here and want to retire today. The only think keeping me going is the health insurance, not the income. Our premiums are embarrassingly low compared to yours, for great insurance. Even if I COBRAed out now, I would still have 2+ years to deal with insurance in the screwed up Obama market. I could wrap my head around writing the check, but it's for crap insurance. That's what is so depressing. Like you and others, it's the catastrophic stuff that you need protection for, not the variety of normal health issues and costs.

Healthcare is just not making sense for anyone, paying 30,000 a year for something you most likely will not be able to afford ( proceduraly) is madness

UntoldSpirit said:

---

In any case, Republicans need to face the reality that this will hit hard in the midterms if they don't fix it - probably the ugly way in the short term, but with a real comprehensive plan in the long term.

---

I don't see anything they could offer that would fix it in the short term, except embracing the Dem philosophy of big government funding, which is anathema to them. Their free market approach would bend the cost curve down over time and place responsibility for health care on individuals instead of the government, but people with ridiculous premiums aren't going to want to wait that long. The Dems have done exactly with Obamacare what they intended... create a larger share of the population dependent on the government for healthcare, to the point they will get a majority calling for UHC, which is their ultimate dream.

Long story short... I agree the R's will get nailed for this, but it will only accelerate the pace toward an outcome that very few people actually want if they instead had the capacity to understand where it was taking them.

MemphisAg1 said:

---

UntoldSpirit said:

---

MemphisAg1 said:

---

UntoldSpirit said:

---

Tom Fox said:

---

UntoldSpirit said:

---

Tom Fox said:

---

SA68AG said:

---

Texas12&0 said:

---

normalhorn said:

---

If Democrats have any sense of intelligence, they'd use the skyrocketing health insurance rate problem as a millstone around the GOP and clean them out in the midterms.

---

Yup, username checks out. Only a normal horn would come up with something so ludicrous.

---

Horn is right, Republicans are going to lose their asses over this issue in the midterms unless they come up with a solution,

If your insurance premiums have gone up $10,000 to $20,000 a year, saving 25 cents per gallon of gas and paying less for eggs isn't going look like much progress on reducing inflation.

---

I pay $31k/year and the root cause is government intrusion into the market. So they are going to vote for more pervasive government intrusion? Brilliant!

---

$40K for me and my wife. Even if I chose a high deductible policy, like 10K with a 50% co-insurance, the cost will end up about the same. Admittedly, I'm old, but everyone will be at some point as these premium prices are unbelievable. I am projecting spending $45K to $55K on medical and dental in 2026 for two people.

---

Sucks, but still infinitely better than some government single payor nightmare.

---

Better for the financial health of the country, but probably not better for me. These premiums, which are increasing at exponential rates, are not sustainable - I suppose at some point people will just be forced to die in their 60s if they have any health issues.

Note that as soon as we go on Medicare, I'll be paying like $3K per year for two people for better insurance. To me, that means health care is what will actually destroy the country pretty soon. The Medicare cost increases to the government are going to be astronomical.

---

Your situation is insane. How long until you qualify for Medicare?

---

I'm retired and 64, so Nov of next year, 2027 for my wife. But any retirees or independent contractors that are in their 60s and don't have company healthcare, and they want to be able to use competent doctors, are paying these kind of premiums in 2026. If you don't have issues (I do, I am a type 1 diabetic), you can perhaps find some better alternatives if you are lucky. I am using Blue Cross because all of our doctors take it.

I know a lot of people are staying at their companies longer than they would like, just to avoid the health care premium problem.

Premiums are way up for everyone though, including for corporate covered health care, and it's going to effect everyone I'm sure. Younger people just don't understand how bad its getting and will be for them eventually.

In any case, Republicans need to face the reality that this will hit hard in the midterms if they don't fix it - probably the ugly way in the short term, but with a real comprehensive plan in the long term.

---

Totally understand your situation and feel for you. 61 here and want to retire today. The only think keeping me going is the health insurance, not the income. Our premiums are embarrassingly low compared to yours, for great insurance. Even if I COBRAed out now, I would still have 2+ years to deal with insurance in the screwed up Obama market. I could wrap my head around writing the check, but it's for crap insurance. That's what is so depressing. Like you and others, it's the catastrophic stuff that you need protection for, not the variety of normal health issues and costs.

---

I've shared before but the added wrinkle that makes the entire system f'ed is that even if you can afford to pay as you go (with cash) it isn't necessarily possible with elective or specialty procedures. I know because I just went through all of the research to figure out insurance in this gray area of life where you don't have employment insurance but too young for Medicare.

And i just had a speciality procedure done that is considered elective, but arguable. Regardless, I just thought/assumed I would pay cash for it and worst case fund from our HSA. Nope. Doctors won't accept cash. Have to have insurance. So I joined Medishare in the interim which got me in the door, so I could get the procedure done. Ironically, Medishare is not insurance but I guess it looks close enough to insurance that they allow it. So, I had to get established and pay Medishare "premiums" before I could get this procedure done.

My point being...don't assume that concierge medicine is ubiquitous or that procedures are even negotiable on the side in a cash model. You can certainly find preventative care in a concierge model but specialty care is a different animal. This also means the $100k we saved up in our HSA is useless unless you are still paying for insurance. Just total b.s.

MemphisAg1 said:

---

UntoldSpirit said:

---

In any case, Republicans need to face the reality that this will hit hard in the midterms if they don't fix it - probably the ugly way in the short term, but with a real comprehensive plan in the long term.

---

I don't see anything they could offer that would fix it in the short term, except embracing the Dem philosophy of big government funding, which is anathema to them. Their free market approach would bend the cost curve down over time and place responsibility for health care on individuals instead of the government, but people with ridiculous premiums aren't going to want to wait that long. The Dems have done exactly with Obamacare what they intended... create a larger share of the population dependent on the government for healthcare, to the point they will get a majority calling for UHC, which is their ultimate dream.

Long story short... I agree the R's will get nailed for this, but it will only accelerate the pace toward an outcome that very few people actually want if they instead had the capacity to understand where it was taking them.

---

I agree with everything you said here. Trump is a populist though, and as such, he should really consider going along with the Dem susidies for the short term and get some things he really wants and needs in return. I don't know the answers, but somebody needs to come up with some quickly. Letting the Dems take over power is national suicide as I see it.

UntoldSpirit said:

---

MemphisAg1 said:

---

UntoldSpirit said:

---

In any case, Republicans need to face the reality that this will hit hard in the midterms if they don't fix it - probably the ugly way in the short term, but with a real comprehensive plan in the long term.

---

I don't see anything they could offer that would fix it in the short term, except embracing the Dem philosophy of big government funding, which is anathema to them. Their free market approach would bend the cost curve down over time and place responsibility for health care on individuals instead of the government, but people with ridiculous premiums aren't going to want to wait that long. The Dems have done exactly with Obamacare what they intended... create a larger share of the population dependent on the government for healthcare, to the point they will get a majority calling for UHC, which is their ultimate dream.

Long story short... I agree the R's will get nailed for this, but it will only accelerate the pace toward an outcome that very few people actually want if they instead had the capacity to understand where it was taking them.

---

I agree with everything you said here. Trump is a populist though, and as such, he should really consider going along with the Dem susidies for the short term and get some things he really wants and needs in return. I don't know the answers, but somebody needs to come up with some quickly. Letting the Dems take over power is national suicide as I see it.

---

I actually agree with this. The cost of extending the subsidies is actually not even that much money. It's kind of a dumb hill to die on. Extend them and then work on an actual plan otherwise it's just an own goal regardless of who is really to blame.

YouBet said:

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UntoldSpirit said:

---

MemphisAg1 said:

---

UntoldSpirit said:

---

II actually agree with this. The cost of extending the subsidies is actually not even that much money. It's kind of a dumb hill to die on. Extend them and then work on an actual plan otherwise it's just an own goal regardless of who is really to blame.

---

---

---

---

100%.

UntoldSpirit said:

---

I agree with everything you said here. Trump is a populist though, and as such, he should really consider going along with the Dem susidies for the short term and get some things he really wants and needs in return. I don't know the answers, but somebody needs to come up with some quickly. Letting the Dems take over power is national suicide as I see it.

---

He is a populist, and for that reason he just might do it.

There's actually a grand bargain to be had, where the R's could agree to Obamacare 2.0 that temporarily extended the enhanced subsidies for 5 years while also setting in motion changes that restore the private market and bend the cost curve downward. We'll ease your pain now, but as part of the package we're going to insist on structural reforms that fix this over time.

Put something like that together and dare the Democrats to reject it.

That is shocking to hear that docs won't take cash.

What a screwed up medical system.

We are on COBRA until March. Then we can either hop onto ACA at close to $60k per year or find a private policy.

We found a good private policy that couldn't cancel you until 65 but they declined my coverage because I have Hashimoto's. Never mind that my thyroid functions normally and I don't have to take any medications for it. They would almost certainly decline covering my husband because he spent 11 days in the hospital in 2021 with Covid.

MemphisAg1 said:

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That is shocking to hear that docs won't take cash.

What a screwed up medical system.

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WHAT?? That's insane. I was considering ditching Insurance altogether. We can actually handle catastrophic illness if we have to, but would rather hedge our bets.

See comment above I shared in that news update. Trump seems to be hinting at this.

When I last looked this up extending the subsidies was less than $100B per year. That is a dumb hill to die on, as I already said.

combat wombat said:

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MemphisAg1 said:

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That is shocking to hear that docs won't take cash.

What a screwed up medical system.

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WHAT?? That's insane. I was considering ditching Insurance altogether. We can actually handle catastrophic illness if we have to, but would rather hedge our bets.

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Yeah, don't count on being able to just show up and pay. I was floored.