Do American's even know what is in the ACA?

[SoutherDem]

I find when talking about the ACA (Obama Care) people will say they don't like it. But, if I start asking about health care point by point, such as preexisting conditions or preventive care they like the individual pieces. The only thing most don't like is the mandate which has no teeth at all. They believe they will be taxed to pay for other's heath care, I keep hearing "I shouldn't have to pay for someone else's health care".

It hasn't been sold to the American people, they haven't been educated.

They were misinformed by those like Palin.

Today I saw an ad which talked about the preventive care part of the ACA, the ad was paid for by healthcare.gov but didn't tell that this came about because of the ACA.

I think with the exception of Tea Baggers who can't be educated and a hand full of "red dog Republicans" who are against anything Obama supports, even if it is a Republican idea, the American people would support the ACA.

They just need to be educated.

[cbayer]

1. I think the MSM has done a horrible job of educating the public on ACA.

But not surprised.

[COLGATE4]

2. And that's the saddest part of the whole ACA debacle

If the Obama administration had taken even a small amount of time to nationally explain what the ACA is and what's in it, we might be facing a different outcome. But instead they permitted the Rethugs to frame the issue with no pushback or counter-information, so now you have a populace that's become inured to hearing how it's a 'government takeover of healthcare' and how it's 'unconstitutional. That's not to say that the Supremes might not rule it unconstitutional anyway - they've shown themselves to be the most partisan court in the Court's history. But now that the RW media blitz has done its job, it'll be decades before the subject is ever broached again at any serious level. And for that the Obama admin surely shares a great deal of the blame.

[subterranean]

4. Obama spent plenty of time explaining it

although not so much since the law passed. There's also a web site (healthcare.gov) that people can go to to find out what's in the ACA. But some people hear the right-wing misinformation (which there's a lot of) and don't bother to look up the facts for themselves.

Another problem is that the law itself is complex and not easy to explain briefly. It affects different people in different ways. Unless someone is involuntarily uninsured, it may be hard for them to see how the law benefits them.

[southernyankeebelle]

5. To bad. You see President Obama didn't explain at a 10th grade level so the tea party could

understand. That's how you have to speak on Fox News.

[subterranean]

7. 10th grade level? You're giving the teabaggers way too much credit.

I've heard 3rd or 4th graders speak more intelligently than the average tea partier.

[SoutherDem]

8. I was more thinking kindergarden or preschool

and that may still be to much over their heads.

[southernyankeebelle]

10. Well shucks I was giving them the benefit of doubt.

[SoutherDem]

9. Yes healthcare.gov is a good website

your can read the full law or get the basics. They are the ones who ran the TV ad I saw, the problem was it did not say what they were talking about this was from the ACA being passed.

[COLGATE4]

11. That's fine, but it's totally ineffective against the

deluge of 24/7 RW venom directed at ACA by Fox, Talk Radio, etc. People are essentially lazy- they want their information presented in quick sound bites, the easier digested the better. Don't expect them to look it up on a government web site - they want to hear some believable talking head tell them about it in 30 seconds or less. The Rethugs are absolute masters at this type of communication for the low-information voter, If it's complicated, they break it down into easily remembered sound bites (true or not). We don't.

The ACA has many things to recommend it, but I'll guarantee you that a vast majority of the American public still has no idea about most of them. Perhaps a few know about eliminating the odious ban on preexisting conditions, but certainly not a majority. A few more know that they can keep their kids on their policies for a few precious years more, but probably only those directly affected. Probably no more than a couple out of each hundred citizens has no idea of what the individual mandate is (and isn't). Our problem with Health Care reform as with many other issues is that Obama has consistently taken a laid back, non-confrontational type of dialog with the public which shows no sense of urgency, which the Rethugs have exploited to the utmost. And I fear that this same passive-aggressive style of communication may well cost us the election in addition to costing us the ACA.

[KurtNYC]

3. Americans shop on price.

The upside of the distrust of Obama-care is that baggers and red dogs think it is the same as Romney-care.

If Romney is the nominee then the election is not about Obama-care because ACA stays put regardless of the outcome.

[Tx4obama]

6. My guess is the majority of folks don't even know it's real name is The Affordable Healthcare Act nt

[COLGATE4]

12. Absolutely correct. Obama (and the rest of us)

have permitted it to now be known far and wide as "Obamacare". My point exactly.

[Tx4obama]

13. I've grown to like the name 'Obamacare'

The word 'Obamacare' will be as well known in the future as 'Medicare' is now

[dsteven9]

14. I certainly agree...Obama really does CARE!

I agree with others too, if people really knew what is really in the Affordable Care Act. I am nearing the finish line to my degree in Health Information Technology Management.
I'll start with this...
For every $1 of Medicare/Medicaid Fraud, the OIG's auditors and other task force, such as HEAT, has recovered $5 in penalties and other fines from faulty hospitals and physicians who were recipients of those fraud loop holes, look the other way greed tactics while optimizing (fraud reimbursement billings that separate components of procedures resulting in HIGHER rates)
to Medicare and for example, performing several Computerized Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging or MR-Angiography scans on a single patient (quite expensive), not seriously considering risks that the multiple scans and the degree of radiation could cause other conditions, yet billing Medicare untold $$$, that's not quality care it contributes to the "RUNAWAY" portion of the screams from the GOP, but in fact, caused by who? the unbridled profiting hospitals and physicians (those particularly) on the wrong side of the fence, so that's when the Office of Inspector General steps in.

Just let me say it this way, the Ryan's "budget" related to Medicare and the motivation behind it is not to be believed! When they talk about Medicare and run away spending...what they are saying in essence is that they are hating that the curtains have been pulled back and they are no longer able to fraud the government sponsored-beneficiary financed system of Medicare or any of their layered cohorts...Sen. Coburn is a physician, Texas Gov's friend of a big pharama principal the wrongs have plagued the healthcare industry.
However, this is another reason that this makes up much of the acid that cause GERD (now erosion) for the Republicans.

The ACA via the DHHS, CMS, OIG and HIPAA has strengthen the rights of patients as well, doctors now know they must
seize fraudulent behavior and stop greed patients are being educated. Major laws addressing Fraud and Abuse are;
False Claims Act, Qui tam actions, Anti-kick back statues, Stark I & II...
Had to get that out...sorry for being long-winded.

[cbayer]

15. Excellent post and welcome to the health group, dsteven!

Hope you will continue to contribute.

[dsteven9]

16. Surely! Thx for the warm welcome

[trotsky]

18. "I shouldn't have to pay for someone else's health care."

This is so common - and yet it has a simple, accurate, devastating response:

"You already do."

We all pay premiums so the system makes money - if someone has more health issues than you, they get more money than you, ergo you are paying for their health care. That's how insurance works, and that's how it SHOULD work because you never know when it might be you or your loved one that needs it.

I don't understand why people don't get this.