Give and Take--Will ACA Collapse?

   A newspaper in a tea party state printed this letter Oct. 18:

   Yes, the Affordable Care Act is the law of the land. But "we the people" didn't get to vote on its passage. It was forced on us by a Democratic House, Democratic Senate, and Democratic president.

   It doesn't benefit the majority of U.S. citizens. In fact, only about 30 million are covered. But the financial impact hits everyone. We don't need to repeal it because it will collapse under its own weight.

   And drew this response:  

   You do not get to vote personally on the laws the government passes. You vote only on your representatives. The majority of Americans voted for the representatives and president who enacted the Affordable Care Act.

   They enacted it to benefit you, and me, and most other Americans.

   If you could set aside your my-mind-is-made-up prejudices long enough to read objective information about the law, you would see that it does benefit most of us.  It allows people with high blood pressure or diabetes to get insurance. It returned billions of dollars to people who were being overcharged on their existing policies last year. It kept my 23 year-old-college-graduate granddaughter, now existing as a waitress while searching for another job, on her parents insurance for another three years.

   Despite roadblocks thrown up by 21 states, the ACA set up web sites where people not covered by employer-based group insurance can search for the best available plan. Yes, those web sites have some glitches. How many computer programs can you name that encountered no problems at start-up?

   In another year, the ACA will lower the cost of insurance for you and me when our premiums no longer have to pay for emergency room care for millions of people who had no insurance before the ACA.  

   Yes, some people who are already insured are going to pay higher premiums, at least for a while. In return for those higher premiums, they can no longer be dropped, yearly and lifetime limits on coverage have been removed, pre-existing illnesses will be covered if they have to change insurance carriers through loss of their jobs or other reasons, and their children can remain on their policies until age 26.

   And, despite all the claims and all the obstacles thrown up by conservative Republicans, the ACA will not collapse. On the contrary, those Republicans are worried precisely because they know it will succeed and become as popular and beneficial as Medicare and Social Security. 

   Relax. You may object to the taste of this medicine as it goes down, but you'll feel better in the morning.