The New York Times’ online comments section lit up tonight with the astounding news that more than 7 million people had enrolled in insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act.
The Times’ story, which ran under the headline “Obama Claims Victory in Push for Insurance,” had drawn more than 570 comments by 10:20 p.m.
It was like a collective, spontaneous explosion of joy from Democrats who have been pulling for the ACA to be successful and who have had to endure the relentless attacks of narrow-minded Republicans like John Boehner and Mitch McConnell, who locked jaws behind the trite assertion that the ACA was a “jobs-killing bill.”
The Times began its story this way:
In an afternoon Rose Garden ceremony, Mr. Obama announced that a late surge of customers to HealthCare.gov before Monday’s deadline had pushed insurance sign-ups to 7.1 million, slightly more than the administration’s original goal. The achievement was somewhat remarkable considering the bureaucratic and technical nightmare that surrounded the website’s debut last October.
“Armageddon has not arrived,” the president said to an audience of White House staff members and supporters who greeted the announcement with an extended standing ovation. “Instead, this law is helping millions of Americans, and in the coming years it will help millions more.”
Regardless of the Republican David Jolly’s victory in a special congressional election in Florida last month, I think the surprising success of the March 31 sign-up deadline is going to alter the opinions of a lot of people who initially got seduced by the Republicans’ “job-killing” mantra.
I’m very eager to see what the 2014 national elections bring.
In the meantime, here’s a sampling of those NYT comments:
Stu Freeman, Brooklyn, NY: “We have to stop this president or every American is going to find himself eligible for affordable health care!!”
Klattt1996, Birmingham, AL: “Congratulations Mr. President and America. While it may not be perfect..it is a wonderful start for opening the doors to Health care for all. A victory worth touting.”
K. Yates, Connecticut: “I don’t need the Affordable Care Act for my body but sure needed it for my soul. Thanks, Mr. President, from one who feels proud of her country for the first time in many years.”
Jim Steinberg, Fresno, CA: “The sound of Republican teeth grinding is deafening.”
pbug56, Suffolk County, Long Island: “So now the Heritage Foundation-designed health care plans are in effect. Romney Care is national. And for all its flaws, including some people who had so-so plans that were cancelled, many more now have coverage — or better coverage then they had as of December 31, 2013. The garbage plans that I had didn’t provide me usable coverage; ACA, for a bit more per month, does. I can finally start dealing with my health issues again.”
Andrew, Vermont: “Thank you, President Obama. And of course the N.O.P. (i.e., the Nihilistic Old Party) will continue to wring their hands in response to this news (and spread lies to displace their anxiety), as they have from the moment Obama was elected. Why? Because they are sore losers. After several years of their abysmal leadership, when next to nothing was done to address the health crisis, some progress is finally being made. And while they had power, they drove the economy over a cliff, mismanaged one ostensibly justifiable war (in Afghanistan), and carried out (very poorly) an unnecessary war of aggression in Iraq, which costs the U.S. 4,000 troops and trillions of dollars, and Iraq 100,000 lives. While President Obama has fallen short of many people’s expectations, he has at least had the courage to work for someone other the corporate elite and the military industrial complex. It’s remarkable that more Americans don’t see through the core level bankruptcy of a party that preaches ‘freedom,’ spends trillions of dollars in taxpayer money to allegedly bolster it (on war and increased military spending), and then bends over backward to deprive their own citizens of the right to vote and have access to healthcare.”
Peter L Ruden, Savannah, GA: “My wife and I are 60 years old, and have a teenage daughter. Due to the recession I was unemployed for a time and lost my health insurance. Then I became ill and required surgery, incurring thousands in medical bills. I thereafter found employment, but my employer does not offer health insurance at his small firm. I could not afford the $1,200 per month that insurers wanted to charge me if they offered any coverage at all. Last Friday, through an instance agent we signed up for Obamacare through an insurance agent. We now have platinum coverage for only $74 per month. A great weight has been lifted from our shoulders. We could not be more thankful.”
My family is benefitting, too. Onward and upward with the best medical-insurance program yet — Obamacare!
JimmyCsays: At the juncture of journalism and daily life in KC 
I liken Obamacare somewhat to the auto industry’s recalls. The Affordable Health Care launch has stumbled but is righting itself without hurting anyone. The auto industry has been making cars for a hundred years. Hasn’t got it right yet. Tries to cover up and kills people.
The auto industry should be repealed.
The case of General Motors and its fault ignition switches — a flaw that the company covered up for more than a decade — is galling and appalling. Unbelievably, agreements made in bankruptcy court several years ago shield the company from legal responsibility. A fine form of justice would be that people stop buying GM products altogether and the company goes broke. I’m unimpressed by the company’s new chief executive, Mary Barra, who put on a splendid dodge-and-weave performance before a congressional committee Tuesday. Why is it so hard to say, “I can’t believe we messed up this badly…It’s incomprehensible, and I will do everything in my power to change the cover-up culture.”
I don’t know. Time will tell if its successful, but we do know that it’s more than likely here to stay, regardless. It was a cluster from the beginning and didn’t have to be. Some of that belongs to Obama, some to the GOP. I would doubt the numbers were reached by the end of March, but it is the government and they have been lying to the American people for decades.
And really, comments in metro newspapers contain more professional and paid writers offering up their “real life story” to share with the masses. You won’t find any truth there.
There was a story just this morning that a hospital in Wichita was laying people off as a result of Deathcare, millions have lost the insurance they had, millions more have been laid off, or had their hours cut back because of Deathcare and I guarantee you millions of seniors will have their life spans shortened as a result of this “compassionate” legislation.
Will it help some, yes, but at what cost to the economy and damage to millions more. I saw the effects of socialized medicine in North Dakota where our hospitals and clinics were filled to overflowing with people fleeing from Canada. Where will we flee to now to escape this disaster?
“If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor. If you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan.” He said it over 60 times in public and on Television. The whole thing is based on a lie. Why would you believe more lies from the New York Times….his mouthpiece for propaganda.
You are at best, willfully disingenuous if you buy into the lies the administration is telling you concerning the numbers, the demo and the extent to which Americans have signed up for Obama Care.
This legislation, that has taken control of a huge chuck of our economy, has, is and will be effected exactly like the roll out of the website.
It’s a disaster for the Democrats in the 2014 elections in my opinion. Anecdotally, I work with, because of the nature of my job, many many contractors who are livid with the increase in costs. Again, maybe it is a coincidence that I personally run across so many angry people who are dealing with this legislation on a personal level, but they are mad, really mad.
I know a number of people who are a few years away from Medicare eligibility—so, folks in their late 50s or early 60s—and who are self-employed or who retired early and have been paying for their own insurance. My parents are in this boat as well, and they’re both 63; several of their longtime friends are, too (folks so close that I called them “aunt” and “uncle” growing up). Up until a few years ago, my parents were paying $1400 per month for high-deductible coverage that didn’t cover doctor visits, lab work, or prescriptions. My parents are active and in pretty good health: My dad has borderline high BP and takes a daily pill to ward off gout flare-ups (he’s had gout for at least 20 years) and my mom gets occasional migraines, but they walk a few miles a day and they travel a lot and get around very well. And yet, that was the best coverage they could find, and after lots of thorough research. Each year, the cost went up, and Dad would spend weeks pouring over other coverage options before finally paying what they asked, because it was their best option out there. And these folks, my parents, their friends, family members—these were the fortunate ones, because they could didn’t have to go without health insurance, they just had to pay way too much for way too little, and they avoided going to the doctor because it was expensive. That’s not right, it’s not healthy, and it’s especially galling because coverage was too far out of reach for many more people.
My own peers struggled, too, having difficulty finding full-time jobs with benefits and instead supporting themselves with part-time and contract work. Too often, people in their 20s and 30s went without because even for young and youngish folks, buying coverage cost too much, yet they made just enough so that Medicaid didn’t apply. So they just hoped not to get sick and chronic conditions went untreated. Meanwhile, one serious illness or freak accident could saddle a working young person with tremendous debt. I’ve been fortunate so far, but I’m not blind to the struggles of others: I know many hardworking folks who have had to go without insurance in order to keep a roof overhead and food in the pantry. And that situation is appalling to me. In fact, I believe that allowing this terrible situation to continue and preventing others from accessing health care is in fact un-American. I have empathy for people in these impossible situations, even if that’s not my situation, and the lack of empathy and critical thinking from other people is disgusting. I have been lucky and my hard work has paid off so far, but I’m smart enough to recognize that my luck could change. Too many Americans don’t realize this and prefer to believe that those who are struggling just did things wrong, when in fact it’s much more complicated than all that. It’s an odd, nasty kind of magical thinking that throws our fellow struggling Americans under the bus. That’s not right, it’s not kind, and it’s sure not healthy.
But back to my parents: Then the provisions of the ACA came into effect, and suddenly, my parents are getting big refund checks from the insurance company, because now the law says that the company paid out too little in benefits and so they have to give money back to folks. Then another check, and another arrived, and then their monthly cost just plummeted and coverage actually increased. Their friends were experiencing the same thing. It became clear that these companies—not just one, but many—were operating far outside the bounds of the law and of, you know, ethics and inconvenient stuff like that. I mean, we all assumed that, but it’s something else to really see it. Then the marketplace opened up, and my parents were able to buy better coverage at a fraction of the cost. Now, they actually go to the doctor when they need to, and services that they need or might need are covered. (Those are the real “death panels”—the insurance executives who tell you that life-saving procedures or surgeries aren’t covered, but invite you to pay the tens of thousands (if you’re lucky, that’s all it is) out of pocket, if you’d like to continue living.)
Look, this situation isn’t perfect, and coverage is still out of reach for too many. But it’s better. It’s an important first step. I should mention that a few decades ago, my folks voted Republican. Many of their friends still do, even those who have benefitted from the health insurance marketplace…though I think some of them might reconsider. They live in a deeply red area, too. But now my parents are telling people about the excellent coverage and price they have on health insurance now, because of this landmark legislation. Dad wrote to their newspaper and his letter was printed. My dad is especially excited about how this could encourage more entrepreneurship in this country: It’s a little easier to take the risk and strike out on your own if you know you can at least get health insurance for yourself and your family. I don’t think my parents’ experience is unique here. I think Obamacare is going to be a success, maybe not yet but eventually. There are kinks to be worked out. But it has already made it possible for more people to access health care and get treatments that they need, and I’m never going to see that as a bad thing. It’s long past time that legislators and others recognize health care as a right for everyone, not just the very old or desperately poor. I’m disgusted that so many do not, but I am hopeful. And I’m grateful that so many have benefitted so far.
Deathcare has become a permanent drag on the economy. People have been laid off, others have had their hours cut. Millions have lost their insurance and are having to pay much more for much less. It is yet another transfer of wealth from the middle class by this totalitarian regime.
I spent much of my time in grad school studying how dictatorships like the Third Reich came into being and countries lost their freedoms which makes it even more frightening to watch it happen here. King Hussein is the worst “president” this country has ever had. Thanks to our gutless media he was never vetted and his excesses are rarely reported and so it’s been heartwarming to see the truth come out about this disaster inspite of the administration and its media lackeys best efforts to hide the truth.
Conservative opposition to King Hussein, his regime and his totalitarian schemes has much more to do with maintaining freedm than depriving people of healthcare, something that will happen anyway in spades under Deathcare.
This is a victory?! Regardless of anyone’s opinion of the ACA, I’m trying to figure out how these numbers could please anybody. The US population stands at 317 million and there are 7 million people who enrolled by the deadline. By my math, this is roughly 2.2% of the population. To add to that, this was slightly higher than their original goal…I see they are shooting for the stars!
My wife will be included in those numbers but has no coverage through the ACA. You see, she wanted to to see how much it would cost so she got on the website but didn’t choose a plan because because the ones offered were not affordable.
Someone please get on here and tell me why this is a victory. At the current rate, it will take 50+ years to get everyone covered through the ACA.
Until I see numbers that make some kind of sense showing how this was a success, I’m going to consider it propaganda aimed at people blinded by their own wants and needs.
I’ll check back for that explanation…if anybody has one.