was the ACA "doughnut hole" specifically calculated to...

WTF?

How is your statement not...uh, racist?

Interesting

We are a fact based site.

Often, the problems in legislation don't become apparent until they go into real world application. That's why there is a mechanism to amend legislation and plug holes. One of the first problems that cropped up with the ACA was the challenge by its opponents to mandatory Medicare expansion. The Supreme Court agreed that the Act had overreached in requiring states to accept Medicare expansion. Who wouldn't want free money to help a state's citizens be healthier? Plenty of states, as it turns out. Each and every one of them controlled by Republicans. Once the problems became apparent, it was the Republican-controlled Congress that refused to do anything to help Americans.

So yes, there were problems with the ACA. Whose fingerprints are all over those problems? Republicans. If your friend is totally against Obamacare, make sure he's mad at the people who have worked so hard to hurt him, not the ones who tried to help him.

By making the Medicaid expansion optional. The ACA, as passed by Congress, envisioned that all states would expand Medicaid.

But I'm not sure what you are really asking. If it is: Did Red States try to sabotage the ACA? Then the answer is obviously, yes.

The Supreme Court ruled that ACA participation by the states was voluntary.

If the state agreed to expand Medicaid (which the ACA paid for) then the would also qualify for subsidies.

That is why many Red States, like Arizona, talked badly about the ACA but signed on and are now begging Trump not to get rid of it.

not Medicare, and states that didn't choose to expand Medicaid per the ACA can still get subsidies for their residents.

Medicaid expansion and subsidies are not related.

You can't get Obamacare unless you make at least $12,000 per year...under the plan you were supposed to get Medicaid and will with low or no cost premiums...of course those states that did not expand Medicaid ...those making less than $12,000n got nothing. Why do you come here and post this...quite untrue. Obamacare is the only insurance for millions and the GOP will get rid of it at their own peril...nice try though...not. So someone is not telling the truth...can't make $7.00 per hour and qualify.