Staff Reports
As the government shutdown drags into its seventh week with a vague sense of resolution in the air, the familiar quagmire of healthcare costs beckons a closer look. So-called Obamacare, or the Affordable Care Act, as it was named by its inventors, seems less like a panacea and more like a Pandora’s box of issues. It’s hardly surprising that a program deliberately structured to be carried on the young folks’ backs, who barely need to grace a doctor’s doorstep, would hit speed bumps. Thanks to the 2017 repeal of the individual mandate under President Trump, the system’s delicate balance has been further disrupted.
Premiums have spiraled upward dramatically over the years—rising from an average of $276 in 2015 to a jaw-dropping $625. The Democrats, predictably, attempt to pin this on the GOP as a political card to rally their base. Yet, in reality, almost no Republicans had a hand in crafting or passing the Affordable Care Act. This was a partisan project from its inception, guided solely by the hands of a different color. No surprise there, considering the Republicans were left looking in from the outside during its conception.
Now, fast forward to today, where there’s contentious debate over Obamacare’s tax subsidies—the lifeblood of the program’s affordability claim. Despite the biting irony of handing out subsidies to mitigate high costs in a supposedly affordable act, it seems the Democrats are finding themselves in an even hotter soup. Republicans steadfastly refused to extend support for these subsidies in recent bills like the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act—staying true to their stance against this deflated dream.
Meanwhile, cracks within the Democratic ranks appear to be widening. A faction of Democrats is vocalizing their impatience with Senate leadership, whispering about the need for a fresh face at the helm. With some of these dissenting voices rising from the House of Representatives, there’s speculation about whether Senator Chuck Schumer can hold onto his position after the upcoming elections. For now, he stands his ground as his party peers take potshots at their own leadership, acting more like a merry band of rebels than a harmonious team.
In the coming year, all eyes will be on these internal Democratic dynamics and whether this discontent will translate to leadership changes. However, betting on new faces or substantial policy shifts remains a gamble, given the inexplicable complacency in Washington’s long-standing halls of power. Regardless, it’s certain that this “affordable” act’s shenanigans will continue making headlines, serving as a stark reminder of promises unfulfilled and the tangled road of healthcare reform.
