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

[bagelsforbreakfast]

Energize lower-class racial strife in red states?

Just wondering.

Recently encountered red state man making $7k/year faced with paying over $400/mo for insurance, no subsidy, no version of medical in his state; might even have been black himself - totally against Obama and "Obamacare."

Got me thinking. Was this DELIBERATELY done? Not just to thwart democrats but because of some long-term plan hatched in Kotch-like Republican think-tank?

[leftstreet]

1. 'might even have been black himself' wtf?

WTF?

[bagelsforbreakfast]

2. meaning a black man racist against a black president...

[leftstreet]

5. So, his 'race' loyalty should outweigh his economic interests?

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

[oldtime dfl_er]

3. Which state

http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-obamacare-rates-20161031-story.html

[leftstreet]

4. wrong place

[bagelsforbreakfast]

6. wtf?

[bagelsforbreakfast]

7. sorry, not fishing for trolls today

[ismnotwasm]

15. Did you just reply to yourself?

Interesting

[ret5hd]

19. Someone can't keep their usernames straight.

[Dem2]

8. wut?

[bagelsforbreakfast]

10. 'You Can Lead A Man to Knowledge, But You Cant Make Him Think'

[Dem2]

17. ...said every arrogant ...

[Demsrule86]

21. Maybe posting things that could not possibly be true might help you to be taken seriously.

We are a fact based site.

[gratuitous]

9. Complicated legislation always needs amendments and tweaks

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.

[tritsofme]

11. The Supreme Court created the "doughnut hole" I believe you are referring to.

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.

[grantcart]

12. absurd allegation that the ACA was designed to create strife.

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.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

14. It's Medicaid

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.

[grantcart]

16. damn auto-fill, lol

[Stinky The Clown]

13. Please be gone. You're not on the same side of things as me.

[Demsrule86]

20. That is total crap.

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.