Obamacare’ Poll Finds 42% of Americans Unaware It’s Law

[DaLincolnJones]

I caught wind of this the other day, OPB reported that 17 percnt thought is had been repeeled by the congress, and 18 percent believed that the SC had struck it down..

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/04/obamacare-poll-finds-42-of-americans-unaware-its-law/

fast read and worth the time

 

[PapaG]

Low Info America...

 

[MARIS61]

The average iq of an American is 98.

 

[santeesioux]

[video=youtube;8rh6qqsmxNs]

 

[mook]

So far it's been neither complete Armageddon nor a panacea. Maybe a lot of Americans just haven't noticed it impacting them personally, and so assume it got repealed.

So far personally the only changes I've noticed is that:
1. My employer issued a new report with our annual health care re-enrollment that better outlined costs/benefits. I glanced at it but didn't pour over it.
2. My own rates stayed the same as last year.
3. A friend of mine in Colorado who was uninsured had a badly broken ankle, and she says it was covered under Obamacare and sounds pretty grateful.
4. Another friend said he got a small check back from their insurance company that I assume was for the whole profit capping rebate thing.

I realize the mandate, the exchanges and the Medicaid expansion don't fully roll out until 2014. I suspect then a lot more people will notice. But so far I find it pretty easy to understand why a lot of Americans haven't noticed it.

 

[Eastoff]

What boggles my mind, is that companies are now keeping employees under 30 hours a week to avoid paying them healthcare.

 

[maxiep]

What boggles my mind, is that companies are now keeping employees under 30 hours a week to avoid paying them healthcare.

Why does it boggle your mind?

 

[Denny Crane]

Why does it boggle your mind?

Resistance is futile. They must be assimilated.

 

[magnifier661]

What boggles my mind, is that companies are now keeping employees under 30 hours a week to avoid paying them healthcare.

Imagine that?!

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

So far it's been neither complete Armageddon nor a panacea. Maybe a lot of Americans just haven't noticed it impacting them personally, and so assume it got repealed.

So far personally the only changes I've noticed is that:
1. My employer issued a new report with our annual health care re-enrollment that better outlined costs/benefits. I glanced at it but didn't pour over it.
2. My own rates stayed the same as last year.
3. A friend of mine in Colorado who was uninsured had a badly broken ankle, and she says it was covered under Obamacare and sounds pretty grateful.
4. Another friend said he got a small check back from their insurance company that I assume was for the whole profit capping rebate thing.

I realize the mandate, the exchanges and the Medicaid expansion don't fully roll out until 2014. I suspect then a lot more people will notice. But so far I find it pretty easy to understand why a lot of Americans haven't noticed it.

I personally kow of dozens of workers who have lost full time jobs to part time status over Obamacare and it is widely reported this is happening across the nation. But that's ok as they can then be on various forms of welfare.

Also, when employers, like mine, have to start paying extra monies for providing health care for employees I think there will be a dramatic shift that pushes more to Obamacare.

 

[Eastoff]

Why does it boggle your mind?

That there are such greedy, heartless business people in the world.

 

[blazerboy30]

That there are such greedy, heartless business people in the world.

Wow.

I don't understand where your idea comes from that businesses should exist to provide jobs, benefits, healthcare, etc and not for profit.

That boggles my mind.

 

[mook]

I personally kow of dozens of workers who have lost full time jobs to part time status over Obamacare and it is widely reported this is happening across the nation. But that's ok as they can then be on various forms of welfare.

Dang. You personally know more than 24 people who went part time this year, and the employers made that move purely because of Obamacare requirements (which won't actually hit for another 7 months)? Yikes. You know a lot of people, and have an amazing amount of insight into the inside thinking of a lot of employers.

I know one guy who was moved to part-time this year. It's hard to say if this particular instance was because of Obamacare, though, because the reduction in hours is a rising trend going back about 15 years. It seems to have increased somewhat from the specter of Obamacare, though.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Dang. You personally know more than 24 people who went part time this year, and the employers made that move purely because of Obamacare requirements (which won't actually hit for another 7 months)? Yikes. You know a lot of people, and have an amazing amount of insight into the inside thinking of a lot of employers.

I know one guy who was moved to part-time this year. It's hard to say if this particular instance was because of Obamacare, though, because the reduction in hours is a rising trend going back about 15 years. It seems to have increased somewhat from the specter of Obamacare, though.

As a matter f fact, I do. Mostly in retail and restaurant businesses. Two of the restaurants my wife & I go to have actually shut down 1/2 of the seating permanently and moved nearly all workers to part time.

I know you like to think you are never wrong and make fun of people who don't lock step with you, but facts are facts whether you like them or not.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

I haven't paid attention to Obamacare and probably won't as long as my employer continues to cover my health/dental/vision insurance (and my kids', too). So I have little idea about it, other than I do know it's going into effect.

 

[blazerboy30]

I haven't paid attention to Obamacare and probably won't as long as my employer continues to cover my health/dental/vision insurance (and my kids', too). So I have little idea about it, other than I do know it's going into effect.

Taxes are going up as well.

 

[MickZagger]

Our company wanted us to pay $90 a week for healthcare and were discussing it over the contract negotiations. The Teamsters won and we aren't paying a dime. UPS couldn't justify making record profit and now wanting us to pay for healthcare when we never have. They're also proposing a $5 wage increase over the life of the contract.

I <3 Unions.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Taxes are going up as well.

I know this. But this is a thread on Obamacareless. Not taxes.

Besides.... My taxes should go down with the new house, bigger mortgage, etc. for the record. My monthly payment just doubled, but it's worth it and I can afford it.

 

[blazerboy30]

I know this. But this is a thread on Obamacareless. Not taxes.

Clearly you don't know this if you think those taxes aren't about Obamacare and people not realizing it is in effect since those tax raises were in the bill and specific to obamacare.

Besides.... My taxes should go down with the new house, bigger mortgage, etc. for the record. My monthly payment just doubled, but it's worth it and I can afford it.

Neato. Now this has nothing to do with obamacare.

 

[mook]

As a matter f fact, I do. Mostly in retail and restaurant businesses. Two of the restaurants my wife & I go to have actually shut down 1/2 of the seating permanently and moved nearly all workers to part time.

I know you like to think you are never wrong and make fun of people who don't lock step with you, but facts are facts whether you like them or not.

Hey, I'm not making fun of you. I just found your comment a little unlikely.

I haven't seen any local restaurants here cut back, but I admit I don't eat out much. If you say so, though, and the management says it's about Obamacare and not changing market conditions (with a lot of unemployment people tend to eat out less) it's cool.

If I were running a restaurant right now I'd probably employ everybody at 20-30 hours. It's more socially acceptable for employers to do so these days, unemployment rates make it easier to do so, and you aren't paying staff during the usual 1pm-4pm slow times.

Personally, I don't think the problem is that people are working less. I actually think that might be a good thing. What's the point in all this progress if you are working more? I think as things become more automated, people should work less, get paid more, and have health care provided as a right. Essentially, we do everything we can to enable people to pursue happiness. Seems like a noble goal for our society to work toward. How we achieve such an outcome is the really hard part.

 

[jlprk]

What boggles my mind, is that companies are now keeping employees under 30 hours a week to avoid paying them healthcare.

That's good news. To preserve the same total hours worked while decreasing the work week to 3/4 of what it was, those companies will increase their workforce 33% (to 4/3 of what it was). This must be why unemployment is down.

 

[Denny Crane]

That's good news. To preserve the same total hours worked while decreasing the work week to 3/4 of what it was, those companies will increase their workforce 33% (to 4/3 of what it was). This must be why unemployment is down.

These new hires are going to work 4 jobs, 10 hours each?

Sounds like a great career.

 

[maxiep]

Mind you, according to President Obama, 85% of all the good stuff is already in effect.

This bill was frontloaded with benefits for political purposes (re-election in 2012 first and foremost). Now, it will be time to pay. I'm going to laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh when everyone is bitching about their taxes and insurance premiums while care and access decline.

Some of us have prepared for this shitstorm. To those who haven't and who voted for people who supported his legislation, you get what you deserve.

 

[Denny Crane]

Odd, isn't it, how the insurance rates have skyrocketed in expectation of $100/ month premiums to cover pre-existing conditions for maybe 10s of millions of people?

 

[jlprk]

These new hires are going to work 4 jobs, 10 hours each?

Sounds like a great career.

If a company has 1200 hours of work, it can choose 300 employees working a 40 hour week, or 400 working a 30 hour week.

Decreasing to a 30 hour week employs more people. It will have to happen here eventually, as China crowds out all the world markets.

Communist countries used to have 35-hour work weeks. I assume China abandoned that when it went capitalist, but what do I know.

 

[PapaG]

That there are such greedy, heartless business people in the world.

The politicians who line their pockets with money earned from business people are admirable, though.

 

[PapaG]

That's good news. To preserve the same total hours worked while decreasing the work week to 3/4 of what it was, those companies will increase their workforce 33% (to 4/3 of what it was). This must be why unemployment is down.

Unemployment is down because the percentage of eligible people working is at 1979 levels. Those who have dropped off UE rolls aren't counted. I'd expect an expert like you to know this...

 

[KingSpeed]

Mind you, according to President Obama, 85% of all the good stuff is already in effect.

This bill was frontloaded with benefits for political purposes (re-election in 2012 first and foremost). Now, it will be time to pay. I'm going to laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh when everyone is bitching about their taxes and insurance premiums while care and access decline.

Some of us have prepared for this shitstorm. To those who haven't and who voted for people who supported his legislation, you get what you deserve.

Laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh? You sound evil. Yikes! I'll steer clear.

 

[jlprk]

Unemployment is down because the percentage of eligible people working is at 1979 levels. Those who have dropped off UE rolls aren't counted. I'd expect an expert like you to know this...

I knew it; I'd expect your expertise to know I was being a little sarcastic.

By the way, you just happened to pick the year for which I am most expert about availability of employment. In May and June, I explored every accounting opportunity in Seattle, garnering offers from Boeing, Upjohn, Westin hotels which would have propelled me into United Airlines, and others. I accidentally walked into the Sonics NBA championship parade and watched the players inch by in their open convertibles, colliding with throngs in the street, as I walked to an interview in my suit. I have many memories of incidents I saw--a racist woman yelling at a black woman, etc.

Anyway, you are right that I feel expert about 1979 employment conditions, of all years. They were very good under Carter. Reagan forced a recesssion with giant deficits and employment was never the same again.

 

[PapaG]

Ron Wyden concerned about insurance rates escalating under this "we need to pass the bill to find out what's in it" law.

http://news.yahoo.com/obamacare-horizon-enough-people-sign-110255434.html

While Obama and his administration say they are working nonstop on reform, analysts believe a poor performance could make the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act a big enough campaign issue in 2014 to jeopardize Democratic control of the Senate - particularly if insurance costs rise sharply.

"There is reason to be very concerned about what's going to happen with young people. If their (insurance) premiums shoot up, I can tell you, that is going to wash into the United States Senate in a hurry," said Senator Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat.

Some Democrats are frustrated about the lack of details surrounding administration plans to promote the exchanges.