Most people get their insurance through their employers. Employers change their insurance all the time. The only people really being affected here are those who already have to purchase insurance on their own. Out of those, most people will do better with the new policies on the exchange. Yes, some people are getting screwed, but the numbers are going to be much lower than you all want to believe. In the end, most people are going to be happy with the insurance they end up with, and when they start understanding everything that is covered 100% as preventative care, they are going to be pleasantly surprised. It does look like a mess right now, but it will work itself out. I think the administration would have been open to delaying this if it wasn't for the fact that Republicans have done absolutely nothing over the past two years other than try to derail the whole thing.
Why should everything be covered 100% as preventive care? Just like my homeowners, or car insurance, I should be the one who determines what my level of coverage should be based on my personal factors and position
-Geaux
I won't say that I completely disagree with you, but the reason they did this is that a lot of people bypass preventative care because they don't feel they can afford it, and preventative care is the thing that will help reduce costs in the long term. If you have to pay $1000 out of pocket for a colonoscopy, a lot of people will choose to save the $1000. That is not a wise decision, and many people need these every five years. When it is fully covered, most people will choose to have it done, and that will not only save more lives, it will save money as treating any cancer from the earliest point possible is much cheaper than fighting it once it has advanced.
One of the big reasons countries with socialized healthcare do better than us in life expectancy is because they spend a lot more money on the front end with preventative care than they do on the back end. It just makes more sense. Our current system is reactionary. People don't go to the doctor until they actually become sick and then the costs are extreme. It's like not changing the oil in your car. Eventually you will need a new engine. What's cheaper, changing the oil on a regular schedule or waiting for the engine to blow?