Opinion : To the Editor: Rural citizens will face many problems under ACA

To the Editor:

(Portions of reprint  REPRINTED FROM THE COLORADO SPRINGS GAZETTE)

DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS.COM   This has to do with the problem that rural citizens will have with ACA.  It is extimated that 20% of small (rural) hospitals will close largely due to ACA.

“Obamacare was supposed to ease burdens for most Americans, if not all. Health care would be manna from Washington. Instead, the law has merely reallocated costs. While Obamacare has mitigated high insurance costs among chosen winners, it has imposed additional burden on chosen losers who are ordered to subsidize the winners.

The health care law is entirely the product of Democrats. The country's vast rural areas predominantly vote Republican. Rare exceptions include glamorous rural enclaves, such as Colorado's Pitkin County — home to Aspen and its collection of left-leaning movie stars.

Aspen, along with a few other rural enclaves of the rich and famous in Colorado's House District 2, is represented by U.S. Rep. Jared Polis. The Boulder Democrat appealed to U.S. Health and Human Service Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to grant a rural Obamacare waiver. Even some of his constituents can't afford the law.

"I'm somewhat frustrated that there are waivers being extended to small- and mid-size businesses, yet individuals are being faced with costs they can't afford," Polis said, as quoted by the AP.

Regardless of website performance, or how many obey the mandate, Obamacare creates nothing. It merely reallocates resources and costs. Each winner gains at the cost of a chosen loser. For a president who's supposed to represent all Americans, this should not be cause for rejoice.”

Grace Marie Turner of the Galen Institute has written and testified to Congress extensively about the ACA.  I quoted from her letter addressing 21 new taxes Imposed by the ACA.  I did not specify all.  Mr. Hancock suggests that this is all misinformation.  I re read portions of “Obama Care Survival Guide” written by Nick J. Tate, basically confirms that indeed new taxes will be imposed as Ms Turner reports.  As written above the losers are going to have their premiums and taxes redistributed to the winners; those that go into expanded Medicare and those that receive taxpayer subsidies for their premiums.  This is a redistribution of wealth the biggest yet of the Progressive agenda.

 As to the (IPAB) Independent Payment Advisory Board I quoted an article in IMPRIMIS  a newsletter from Hillsdale College Paraphrased as follows:  Independent Payments Advisory Board (IPAB), This board will consist of 15 members not elected, but appointed by the President AND not confirmed by the Senate.  Their job, according to Charles Kesler Professor of Government at Clairemont McKenna College, is to make recommendations to limit Medicare Reimbursements to doctors.  IPAB’s proposals automatically become law overriding the Constitutional authority of Congress to do the same.  What’s worse Obamacare conspires to make IPAB permanent by mandating that no resolution to repeal can be introduced by Congress except during a very narrow window of opportunity (Jan 1, 2017 –Feb 1,2017).  If Congress does decide to reject this board it cannot take effect until 2020.

Congress may write the law, but the various executive departments write the regulations that have the power of law.  What the intent of Congress may be likely will not be reflected in the regulations that follow.  The reason, there is little if any oversight by the legislative branch.  Example:  The EPA a few years ago would write regulation governing cow flatulence.  That particular thought was laughable to many in the rural areas and with Sen Grassley’s help put on the back burner.  Now it seems to be coming back as a fee on every head of cattle owned by ranchers and farmers.  Their authority? --- The Clean Air Act.  A fee on cow flatulence was not the intent of Congress, but the EPA is acting on its own not only with cow farts,but also in shutting down coal fired utilities.  The deadline given in new pollution regs likely will not be enough time for utilities to adapt to cleaner fuels such as Natural Gas.  The outcome will be lost jobs and higher electric prices.  This is only two examples of over reach by what some have called the fourth branch of government.   Mr. Hancock has stated what the law says, but not how it can be interpreted or changed by HHS.  If the article I submitted is misinformation than Ms. Turner, Nick Tate, and Professor Kesler are liars.

Real people are getting harmed by ACA.  American Airlines is announcing they will no longer honor previous promises to give as a benefit health insurance to retirees who are not yet eligible for Medicare.  I have been told Rockwell Collins is doing the same. This forces individuals onto the private insurance market which was the thrust of Ms. Turner's comments.  Many find higher premiums, less coverage and higher deductibles.    My own Chiropractor has told me already Medicare payments for care are changing to the point where many will revert to a cash only business for those over sixty five.  We have not seen all the changes that are coming.  If we had been truthfully told – no way would this bill have become law.

I have no problem that those who do not have health care can now receive it, but couldn’t this have been done in a cheaper fashion and one that did not disrupt the 85% + or – that already had insurance and were satisfied with what they had?

Regards,

John Stiegelmeyer