This Life Of Evermore

RedStateVT Dissects the "Goodies" in Obamacare
Proponents of Obamacare talk often about how people will like it better once they come to understand what is in it. In particular, they mention several provisions that they say should prove very popular. RedStateVT will analyze and explain several of these provisions; aka the "goodies."


First, Obamacare requires that insurers provide various things (check-ups, screenings) for FREE. Who doesn't love FREE? But as RedStateVT has explained in the past, sadly, there is no such thing as FREE. Doctors are not providing these services pro bono and insurers are not absorbing the cost. Who pays? Why you, the consumer. How can this be given that Obama told us that they were free? (He also told us the insurance mandate was not a tax, but we'll leave that one aside for now.) It is quite simple really. The insurance company will raise your premium to pay for the cost. So consumers will bypass their insurance deductible for these goodies, but pay for them via higher premiums. As usual, Mom and Dad were right when they said that nothing in life is FREE.


Second, let's look at that wonderful provision of Obamacare that allows children to stay on their parents' insurance plan until age 26. Cynically we might say that given how Obama has mismanaged the economy this is a mercy clause for kids who - notwithstanding a college degree - cannot find a job. In reality, of course, it is merely a way for Obama to ensure that insurance premiums are collected for these kids - who being young and healthy might otherwise forgo buying insurance. Unless they rebill the added premiums to Junior, however, it is probably going to be Mom and Dad who pick up this expense. So just when the young 'uns are done with college and ready to leave the nest - much to the relief of their parents - Obama gives them reason to hang around longer on the family payroll. Parents should be outraged. We are.


Finally, we will take a quick look at another goodie - the "No Pre-existing Conditions" provision. As with much of Obamacare, it is a canard. For responsible people who have maintained health insurance coverage there is no reason to fear not being covered due to a pre-existing condition. When moving from group coverage to group coverage or group coverage to COBRA or COBRA back to group, or COBRA to individual, pre-existing conditions exclusions do not apply. The only requirement is that you maintained health insurance coverage. This eliminates the problem of people letting their coverage lapse and then signing up when they become ill. So now, because insurers cannot turn away people who sought coverage only when they became ill, insurers will raise rates and EVERYONE will pay more.


Sadly
No wonder Roberts looked so sad when he entered the chamber Thursday. He also knows that the palm fronds usually precede the crucifixion and it’s only a matter of time before his worshipers become his tormentors yet again. (Kathleen Parker, Washington Post, 6/29/2012)


It took all of three days for the New York Times to go after the savior of Obamacare, Justice Roberts (see below). And why not? He has proven that he can be gamed.


Yet, while they upheld the law’s mandate for individuals to buy insurance under Congress’s taxing power, the chief justice joined the four other conservatives to reject that provision under the Constitution’s commerce clause.


That rejection underscores the aggressiveness of the majority’s conservatism and marks a stunning departure from the long-established legal consensus that Congress has broad power to regulate the economy. (NYT editorial, 6/30/2012)


Chief Justice Roberts may have thought that he could buy off the Liberal media with his tortured decision on Obamacare, but not so. Instead, Liberals now believe they have him on the run and their strategy of relentless public pressure will continue.


While they are at it, NYT editors also take the time to remind us that the Court is made up of five conservatives and four "moderates."  We thought they employed a fact-checker....


Six full terms after Justice Samuel Alito Jr. joined the court, the five in the majority have redefined judicial conservatism. The contrast in style and philosophy with the moderate minority is pronounced... (NYT editorial, 6/30/2012)