The Hammond (La.) Star on people’s health in politicians’ hands:

From the Asssociated Press

Sept. 28
The Hammond (La.) Star on people’s health in politicians’ hands:
With politicians trying to delay the Affordable Care Act by trying to shut down government, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has produced data that indicate health care will cost consumers less than expected.
This report is very promising, but Rep. Steve Scalise says “Obamacare” won’t work. He calls it a “train wreck,” and earlier this week, he and his conservative caucus threw up an alternative plan in the attempt to create delays.
President Obama says the Affordable Care Act is working and he’s not going to budge on its implementation.
According to the federal health department, the 800,000 people in Louisiana who do not have health insurance will be able to shop for affordable health care in the new marketplaces set up as part of the Affordable Care Act. Louisiana families will have an average of 40 different, competitively priced health insurance plans to choose from in the new marketplaces.
Plans will be categorized as either “platinum,” “gold,” “silver,” or “bronze.” In Louisiana, the average monthly premium, before subsidies, for the lowest-cost bronze plan will be $265 and for the lowest-cost silver plan will be $356. ...
Prescription drug costs will be lower for seniors in the Medicare donut hole. Insurance companies will no longer be able to deny or drop people from coverage because of a pre-existing condition. In Louisiana, 1.9 million people, including 266,000 children, have a pre-existing condition and will not be denied coverage because of it.
The Associated Press and the Pew Research Center recently determined that nearly 6 out of 10 Americans want the politicians they side with to be more willing to engage in talks. And the polled respondents are split about evenly on who would be responsible if the government shut down, with more than a third blaming Republicans, more than a third blaming Obama and much of the rest blaming both.
Louisiana is one of the poorest and unhealthiest states in the country. Families and individuals are suffering. It remains to be seen if shutting down government or refusing to budge will help.
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