You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time. – Abraham Lincoln
The misinformation, deceit, schemes and plots to derail or repeal the Affordable Care Act have left the public confused to the extent that many of them think that there is a difference between the Affordable Care Act and Obamacare.
The fact is the Affordable Care Act popularly called Obamacare was passed into law to give more Americans access to affordable quality health insurance, lower health care costs, hold insurance companies accountable, and give people more control in their health care choices.
Now, with open enrollment having started and more and more people becoming aware of the benefits of the Affordable Care Act they are now no longer calling it Obamacare but referring to it as ‘Adorablecare.’
Notwithstanding, some people led by the ideological right continue to push back against the Affordable Care Act even at the expense of shutting down the government.
So, as the opposition continues, the government has sought it fit to bring clarity to the debate by listing the following on its website.
Myth de-bunked
The Affordable Care Act‘s individual responsibility requirement IS constitutional.
Fact
Legal experts and federal judges appointed by Democrats and Republicans agree that Affordable Care Act is constitutional.
Myth de-bunkend
Health insurance reform will NOT use your tax dollars to fund abortions.
Fact
The health insurance reform legislation maintains the status quo of no federal funding for abortions, except in cases of rape, incest or when the life of the woman is endangered. A federal judge recently wrote “the express language of the [Affordable Care Act] does not provide for taxpayer funded abortion. That is a fact and it is clear on its face.”
Myth de-bunked
Health reform will NOT lead to a government takeover of health care.
Fact
One independent group actually called this myth the “lie of the year.” The Affordable Care Act puts people, not health insurance companies or government, in charge of health care. The new law strengthens the existing employer-based health insurance market while making the market fair for consumers by implementing landmark consumer protections. Families and individuals that don’t have access to affordable coverage can receive tax credits to help them purchase coverage in the private health insurance market. There is no government-sponsored, public, or “single payer” plan in the law.
Myth de-bunked
The Affordable Care Act will help bring down the cost of health care.
Fact
The health policy experts and economists who have looked at this legislation have said we are pursuing every possible mechanism to reduce health care costs. The Congressional Budget Office found that health insurance reform will reduce the deficit by $210 billion in this decade and by more than $1 trillion over the following 10 years. And a family of four would save as much as $2,300 on their premiums in 2014 compared to what they would have paid without reform.
Myth de-bunked
Businesses will NOT suffer under health reform
Fact
Health insurance reform lowers costs for American businesses – especially small businesses – who are struggling to remain profitable and competitive under the status quo. The independent Congressional Budget Office confirmed that the bill would lower health insurance premiums for the same insurance plan by up to 4 percent for small businesses and 3 percent for large businesses, and estimates indicate that reform could save businesses $2,000 per person in health costs.
By Davy Desmond, The Readers Bureau, Senior Fellow
