Why the Gruber tapes are so damaging to democrats and

[woo me with science]

23. The bipartisan oligarchy thinks we are stupid,

and they continue to count on it, by making this into yet one more sham Red vs. Blue "battle" to distract us from the fact that both corporate parties wanted this thieving corporate system.

No WAY corporatists on either side will allow the mandate to be repealed; it is already skyrocketing insurance company profits beyond their wildest dreams. The insurance companies wrote the thing, and it was *designed* to entrench an exploitative, profit-sucking system of middlemen that keeps costs spiraling at the expense of human beings who need care. Look instead for more "loopholes" like the one the Obama administration *already* carved out in order to help the companies shift even more costs to patients.

If most people understood how it is rigged, and how much is being stolen, they would be outraged. The mandate was a corporate wet dream - it ensures that obscene levels of money that should be going to health care instead are given as a cut to these thieving health insurance middlemen. It ensures continued spiraling costs. And it ensures a continued motive to deny care for profit.

"Why Health Insurance Shareholders Are Loving Obamacare"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025517310

Aetna Health Insurance will double Revenues to $100 billion by 2020 thanks to Obamacare
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014670789

ObamaCare Enriches The Health Insurance Giants and Their Shareholders
http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertlenzner/2013/10/01/obamacare-enriches-only-the-health-insurance-giants-and-their-shareholders/

So far in 2013 the value of the S& P health insurance index has gained 43%. Thats more than double the gains made in the broad stock market index, the S & P 500. The shares of CIGNA are up 63%, Wellpoint 47% and United Healthcare 28%.

Obama administration quietly approves new Obamacare loophole benefiting insurance companies.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024970298

How bad is it?

Medical Debt: A Curable Affliction Health Reform Won’t Fix
http://www.pnhp.org/news/2013/june/medical-debt-a-curable-affliction-health-reform-won%E2%80%99t-fix

The high frequency of medical bankruptcy was often cited by advocates of health reform during the debate over the ACA. Yet the debate largely ignored the fact that most medical debtors actually have coverage. In order to protect Americans from bankruptcy, coverage must be truly comprehensive, that is, it must cover virtually 100 percent of all needed medical care. Unfortunately, the insurance policies mandated under ACA are required to cover only 60 percent of expected health-care costs.

http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/health/2014/03/26/medical-bankruptcy/

56 MILLION Americans under age 65 will have trouble paying medical bills.

Over 35 MILLION American adults (ages 19-64) will be contacted by collections agencies for unpaid medical bills.

Nearly 17 MILLION American adults (ages 19-64) will receive a lower credit rating on account of their high medical bills.

Over 15 MILLION American adults (ages 19-64) will use up all their savings to pay medical bills.

Over 11 MILLION American adults (ages 19-64) will take on credit card debt to pay off their hospital bills.

Nearly 10 MILLION American adults (ages 19-64) will be unable to pay for basic necessities like rent, food, and heat due to their medical bills.

Over 16 MILLION children live in households struggling with medical bills.

Despite having year-round insurance coverage, 10 MILLION insured Americans ages 19-64 will face bills they are unable to pay.

1.7 MILLION Americans live in households that will declare bankruptcy due to their inability to pay their medical bills.

Three states will account for over one-quarter of those living in medical-related bankruptcy: California (248,002), Illinois (113,524), and Florida (99,780).

To save costs, over 25 MILLION adults (ages 19-64) will not take their prescription drugs as indicated, including skipping doses, taking less medicine than prescribed or delaying a refill.