HCR game changer? $1.3 billion in rebate checks to 16 million Americans

[WI_DEM]

The Obama administration will soon announce $1.3 billion in rebate checks to nearly 16 million Americans from health insurance companies.

Mark Halperin: "From almost the moment the Affordable Care Act (a/k/a "ObamaCare&quot was signed into law, the administration has been playing defense... But the rebate provision of the law -- the fruits of the so-called '80/20 rule' -- is about to kick in big time, as millions of Americans receive rebate checks or premium reductions from insurance companies who have failed to spend enough on patient care. This cash could be a true game changer in public attitudes about whether the law actually is beneficial and good public policy."

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/05/11/health_care_game_changer.html

[dmallind]

1. Hopefully he's maneuvered this so they go out in October

Political machination? Damn right. They work.

[SoCalDem]

2. SCOTUS will probably strike it down before that happens

That provision could have been the thing that made them take it on..and the part where they get to undermine Obama

[goclark]

3. Hope they mail those checks asap n/t

[shraby]

4. Anyone know if that includes Medicare supplemental insurance?

[Liberal_in_LA]

5. 1.3Billion divided by 16 Million = $81

[1StrongBlackMan]

6. As opposed to ...

Zero AND increasing premiums?

I'll take the $81, thank you.

[closeupready]

7. Groceries for two weeks.

Are we still being gouged? Yes. Is this something that helps people understand how being gouged has a real impact on their quality of life? Yes, absolutely.

[gratuitous]

8. Cue Republican squawking any moment now

But, let's just keep a couple of facts in mind, shall we? The Republicans will squawk that the President is "playing politics" with this rebate. That much we know for sure. They will assiduously forget all about the 2001 "tax rebate" scam perpetrated by Bush, in which a dandy little check for $300 went out to taxpayers with a glowing cover letter crediting George W. Bush for putting money into everyone's pocket. But if you recall, that "rebate" was actually an advance on anticipated refunds, and you got to pay it back eight months later.

If we don't remember that little scam, it's a cinch the bulldogs in the popular media won't.