As more and more provisions of the Affordable Care Act come into play, The Post sought to cover how the law would affect local businesses, students, Ohio University, residents and health care providers in Athens County.
Reporters found more facts about the law than we could allot space for in previous stories that have been published as part of our “Health Care in the Hills” series.
Here, we break down some of the questions that commonly arise in discussions about the Affordable Care Act.
ARE THERE DEATH PANELS?
Claim: The Affordable Care Act sets up a group of people to decide who, on the brink of dying, should get access to the care they need. This has been called “death panels.”
Who said that: Sarah Palin, former governor of Alaska and Sen. John McCain’s running mate in the 2008 presidential election, who just recently gave an interview on Fox News in August during which she said, “of course there are death panels in there,” referring to “Obamacare.”
Fact of the matter is: There are no panels set up by the federal government to determine who can get medical service and who isn’t worthy, according to several reputable fact-checking organizations such as PolitiFact and FactCheck.
UNINSURED IN THE ER?
Claim: The act will not put much more burden on taxpayers than they would originally be paying without the act in place. Currently, when those without insurance come to an emergency room with a serious condition, hospitals don’t turn them away. “Ultimately, the (insured) are already covering for the people who don’t have the coverage.”
Who said that: Ohio University Vice Provost for Health Affairs John Brose.
Fact of the matter is: In 2011, uninsured families could afford to pay hospital bills in full for only 12 percent of the hospitalizations they might incur, according to a Department of Health and Human Services study. If those people had health insurance, the study argues, it would decrease pressure on hospitals to foot the bill or push those costs to others.
PAY FINE INSTEAD OF SIGN UP?
Claim: It is roughly $500 cheaper for those ages 18-34 to pay a penalty for not having insurance than it is to actually get covered through the federal government’s online insurance marketplaces, otherwise known as exchanges.
Who said that: David Hogberg, health care policy analyst for the National Center for Public Policy Research, on Fox News
Fact of the matter is: The provision of the act to which Hogberg was referring, the “individual mandate,” imposes a fee on many who do not purchase health insurance by March 31.
While in some instances it might be cheaper to pay the fine than purchase insurance, going uninsured might leave you liable for costly medical expenses in addition to paying the fine.
WILL MEDICAID EXPANSION SAVE MONEY?
Claim: Expanding Medicaid in Ohio from its current cap of 90 percent of the federal poverty level to 138 percent would actually mean more money for the state.
Fact of the matter is: When Congress passed and President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act, part of the plan was to fund a sweeping expansion of Medicaid, but it was left up to the states to approve of it.
A study, put forth by the non-profit, non-partisan Health Policy Institute of Ohio, shows the state stands to have a net gain of about $1.8 billion by the end of 2022. The revenue comes from higher tax revenues and savings inherent with Medicaid expansion, according to the study, which was conducted by Ohio State University and The Urban Institute.
WILL PREMIUM COSTS RISE?
Claim: The Affordable Care Act will actually cause premiums to rise for business entities and individuals.
“What would you rather have: a check for $100 or so, or a way to avoid the $2,100 premium increase in the first place?”
Who said that: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
Fact of the matter is: It remains to be seen how “Obamacare” will affect such places that provide employees with insurance, but in Athens County, early projections by Glouster Mayor Miles Wolf are that the premiums will rise by $650, a crippling amount on such a small governing body in a poorer area.
WILL HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS BE CRIPPLED?
Claim: The Affordable Care Act will decrease the overall quality of health care and hospitals will become greatly understaffed to take care of the increased amount of patients.
Who said that: James Dunford, medical director of the city of San Diego’s Emergency Medical Services system, in an article that appeared in businessweek.com
Fact of the matter is: At least for local health systems such as Holzer and O’Bleness, as well as Ohio University’s Campus Care, “Obamacare” will have no impact on either quality of health care or amount of patients seen, officials have said. All students at OU are required to have either their own insurance or carry the university’s insurance, so Campus Care doesn’t see anyone who is uninsured.
— Lucas Daprile, Samuel Howard, Danielle Keeton-Olsen, Allan Smith and Joshua Jamerson contributed to this report.
