Health Insurance vs Health Care

     Everyone is arguing about health insurance these days and most don't even understand what they're arguing about.  There's a reason for that.  This is a complicated mess.

     Before Obamacare (ACA) our system was set up so that the poor had Medicaid, the elderly and disabled had Medicare, and the people still in the workforce could purchase their insurance from whatever company they wanted to within their state.  Of course, a lot of people also had insurance through their employers.

     So, who are the 22,000,000 people that Democrats say will lose insurance if we repeal Obamacare?  Are they the people that can work and get their own instead of using taxpayer money?  Are they the people that don't even want it but are being mandated to buy it?  Who exactly are these people?  The truth is that 16,000,000 or 73% don't even want it.  They have it because their only other choice is to pay a fine and they figure they might as well get something for their money.  So, who are the other 6,000,000?  Your guess is as good as mine but I'm guessing that most of them are the ones who can work and purchase insurance.

     People keep using the term health care when arguing instead of health insurance which is what they really mean.  If they really cared about health care they would want Obamacare repealed.  Why?  There are 16,000,000 people making doctor appointments just because they have insurance that they don't want.  They're going to the doctor when nothing is wrong with them just because they're forced to purchase insurance.  That is keeping doctors so swamped that it's hard to see the people that are really sick.

     I agree that Medicaid should stay expanded to some degree.  After all, the government's idea of poor and our idea of poor are two different things.  Before the expansion they weren't offering Medicaid to people we would consider poor when they should have been.  On the other hand they have expanded too far and given it to people that can afford it.  I think we need to meet in the middle on the expansion and stop making people purchase something that they don't want.  That will save taxpayer dollars and it will free up doctors to see the sick.

     Why can't Democrats and Republicans meet in the middle and get this over with?  They are all so stubborn that they aren't willing to negotiate and that's hurting the American people.  Obamacare is costing an average of $2500 more per year out of people's pockets when Obama promised they would save $4000.  That's a $6500 difference and money that families need to feed their loved ones.  It's time to stop the madness, meet in the middle, and get on with other issues that need to be addressed.