tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512362.post2849096597356704408..comments2024-03-10T13:59:19.230-04:00Comments on xpostfactoid: Steering clear of the subsidy cliff in the ACA marketplaceAndrew Sprunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601269968798865106noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512362.post-61490753899030534102017-12-17T20:21:26.891-05:002017-12-17T20:21:26.891-05:00Ditto. Also work for cash.Ditto. Also work for cash.run75441https://www.blogger.com/profile/03790826995006015721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512362.post-56819170912099636542017-12-08T06:11:13.622-05:002017-12-08T06:11:13.622-05:00Republicans have made the cynical conclusion that ...Republicans have made the cynical conclusion that they get more votes by letting the unsubsidized people suffer, versus ending their suffering by allowing tax credits at all income levels.<br />About 90-95% of Americans get either a government subsidy or a direct government grant for their health insurance. The unsubsidized are kind of the last bastion of free enterprise, and look how well that is turning out.<br /><br />The state of MN in 2017 at least responded to the problem, giving unsubsidized buyers a 25% discount on their premiums. One big reason this happened is that the MN legislators are part timers and not covered by the state employee health plan. They had to endure the high premiums themselves.<br /><br />This is one reason why Charles Grassley was correct to propose that Congressmen be covered by the ACA. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.bob.hertzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09686373408419885558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512362.post-1654183982747622462017-12-07T06:11:35.866-05:002017-12-07T06:11:35.866-05:00thanks for the very practical suggestion. I live w...thanks for the very practical suggestion. I live with the ugliness of the unsubsidized every day at my agency, and here are some more observations:<br /><br />1. The State of MN addressed this problem last year, and gave all unsubsidized borrowers a 25% discount. This happened in part because we had a budget surplus and no new taxes were needed. Also, the MN legislators are mostly farmers and businessmen and not covered by the state employee health plan. They were suffering themselves.<br /><br />In Washington it has been a disgusting spectacle of safe legislators ignoring the suffering of others. The Dems had no bills even addressing the unsubsidized until about 8 months ago, and Hilary mentioned them rather rarely. The Repug-nicans have almost gleefully watched the suffering of the unsubsidized, seeing that it made good publicity against the ACA. The Repubs have been almost Leninist in their cynicism, i.e. letting an ally suffer to help the 'greater cause.'<br /><br />Close to 90% of Americans are in fact subsidized on health insurance, when you count federal programs plus tax-free employer funds. The 10% who are not subsidized continue to struggle, and they themselves wonder why.bob.hertzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09686373408419885558noreply@blogger.com