America's Medical Love Affair

According to new polling data, nearly 80 percent of Americans support extending Obamacare’s enhanced premium tax credits (ACA), set to expire at the end of this year. The enhanced credits are yet another freebie left over from ridiculous Covid spending that should have expired years ago, but didn’t, thanks to President Biden and America’s love affair with getting someone else to pay for what one should pay themself. Such credits are at the center the present shutdown of the federal government… as of this writing.

However, it’s not just the Democrats playing the role of piglets sucking off the government/taxpayer teat. Even 59% of Republicans support extending the credits. The Democrats approval of extensions stands at 92%, for an overall rate of 78%. This blows my mind. Over three-fourth (¾) of adults, many of whom probably claim they want the government out of their lives, insist on remaining an irresponsible child looking to the nanny state to support their sorry a$$es! What have we become?

If the credits are not extended, monthly premiums for ACA Marketplace plans could double, from an average premium of $888 to $1,904 in 2026. How unhealthy are we that premiums are now that high? Barring the births of my two children, I’ve never had $2,000 worth of actual medical bills in an entire year, let alone premiums. Then again, I remain physically active and watch what I eat.

The polling also suggest six in ten adults say they have heard "a little" or "nothing at all" about the credits expiring. "There is a hot debate in Washington about the looming ACA premium hikes, but our poll shows that most people in the marketplaces don’t know about them yet and are in for a shock when they learn about them in November," KFF President and CEO Drew Altman said in a statement.

So… despite the lack of subject knowledge... 78% still support maintaining the tax credits. If this isn’t proof that citizens will sponge off of others at every opportunity, then I don’t know what is.

Yet more ambiguously concerning, the poll found that among people who buy their own insurance plans, 70 percent said they would face a significant disruption to their household finances if their premiums were to double. Of course, private insurance isn’t government insurance. Hence, tax credits, which hide the real cost of rising insurance and the rising numbers of unhealthy Americans, won’t cause private insurance costs to suddenly double. Private enterprise generally doesn’t have the option to kick the can down the road.

Democrats are bent out of shape over alleged Medicaid cuts. Republicans claim illegals are getting benefits they’re not entitled to. Here’s the truth, since I read the bill. 98% of citizens aren’t having their Medicare cut, and immigrants aren’t collecting Medicare unless by fraud. Both parties present a false narrative. The issue is about whether immigrants who are here legally, but who are not citizens, should be entitled to any benefits. I say, “No citizenship, no benefits!” What say you?

Source used: Associated Press