I recently made a comparison between the 24-hour cable news networks and the radio. Like with the radio and hot new songs, these "news" networks tend to run with a story for as long as they possible can until it results in a handful of people going crazy and jumping off buildings.
The latest such story is Obamacare - the glitchy website and the less-than-anticipated enrollment numbers for the month of October in particular. Here's how this has played out in the media, and yes, I may slightly exaggerate:
"Was Michele Bachmann right? Is this a sign? Is Armageddon upon us? Will Christ be returning soon to save us from the certain demise of our civilization because of Obamacare? It's been a full month! Young people aren't signing up! The enrollment numbers aren't very high! If people don't sign up within 31 days, they'll never sign up! When I was without a car until the age of 17, I was certain I'd never have one and I was right! For another couple of weeks anyway! This may be the worst thing in the history of the world! Forget slavery! Forget the Holocaust! Forget 9/11! Obamacare is what is going to destroy this earth!"
Yeah, the media just needs to calm down a little bit. The funny thing about all this hysteria is the fact Obamacare has been slowly getting implemented since 2010 and not until the week of October 1st of this year, when the marketplace became available via healthcare.gov, did we hear such over-dramatic commentary outside of Fox News and talk radio.
Here's a rundown of what has been implemented via Obamacare since its inception in 2010:
2010
- "Beginning in October, individual health insurance plans (as opposed to employer group plans) must allow children up to age 26 to remain covered as dependents."
- "The Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage gap is reduced by payment of $250 to those reaching $2,830 out-of-pocket for the year."
- "Starting June 21, plan sponsors (mostly employers) will be eligible for reimbursement of 80 percent of certain claims from $15,000 to $90,000 for pre-Medicare retirees ages 55 to 64."
- "Health care reform establishes a tax of 10 percent on indoor tanning services. This would raise $2.7 billion between 2010 and 2019. As far as we know, getting a tan outside is still free."
2011
- "Long-term care insurance program starts; it will reimburse some costs of home and nursing home care."
- "Medicare recipients in the prescription drug 'doughnut hole' will get a 50 percent discount on brand-name drugs, with additional discounts beginning to close the gap by 2020."
- "Employers with fewer than 25 employees and average annual wage less than $50,000 will be eligible for sliding scale tax credit, if they provide health insurance and pay at least 50 percent of cost."
- "Primary care doctors and certain surgeons serving under-served areas (some cities and many rural areas) to receive 10 percent incentive payment from Medicare for their services."
- "Funding for community health centers expanded, to benefit mainly low-income and uninsured people."
- "A $2.3 billion annual fee on pharmaceutical manufacturers begins, gradually increasing in the following years."
2012
- "Not-for-profit insurance cooperatives will be initiated to compete with commercial insurers, hopefully with lower premiums."
- "Medicare payments begin to new 'accountable care organizations' will be established to experiment with various cost-reduction measures."
- "Reduction of Medicare reimbursements to hospitals with high rates of patient re-admissions that are deemed 'preventable.'"
2013
- "Standardized insurance forms introduced to reduce paperwork, duplication and administrative costs."
- "Contributions to tax-sheltered flexible spending accounts (FSAs) will be limited to $2,500 per year, indexed for inflation. Threshold for claiming itemized tax deduction for medical expenses increased from 7.5 percent of income to 10 percent. Those over 65 can still deduct medical expenses above 7.5 percent of income through 2016."
- "A 3.8% surcharge would be imposed on investment income for individuals making over $200,000 and couples making over $250,000. This tax increase is estimated to bring in $210 billion between 2013 and 2019."
- "New tax of 3.8 percent on income from investments. This tax is intended to help fund the health reform program."
Yes, all of this has taken place without so much as a chirp from the mainstream media. So, yes, let's report the news as it becomes available, but let's not go overboard here, folks. We have more than enough reality television shows available to view; we don't need the news media to follow suit.
http://obamacarefacts.com/health-care-reform-timeline.php
The latest such story is Obamacare - the glitchy website and the less-than-anticipated enrollment numbers for the month of October in particular. Here's how this has played out in the media, and yes, I may slightly exaggerate:
"Was Michele Bachmann right? Is this a sign? Is Armageddon upon us? Will Christ be returning soon to save us from the certain demise of our civilization because of Obamacare? It's been a full month! Young people aren't signing up! The enrollment numbers aren't very high! If people don't sign up within 31 days, they'll never sign up! When I was without a car until the age of 17, I was certain I'd never have one and I was right! For another couple of weeks anyway! This may be the worst thing in the history of the world! Forget slavery! Forget the Holocaust! Forget 9/11! Obamacare is what is going to destroy this earth!"
Yeah, the media just needs to calm down a little bit. The funny thing about all this hysteria is the fact Obamacare has been slowly getting implemented since 2010 and not until the week of October 1st of this year, when the marketplace became available via healthcare.gov, did we hear such over-dramatic commentary outside of Fox News and talk radio.
Here's a rundown of what has been implemented via Obamacare since its inception in 2010:
2010
- "Beginning in October, individual health insurance plans (as opposed to employer group plans) must allow children up to age 26 to remain covered as dependents."
- "The Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage gap is reduced by payment of $250 to those reaching $2,830 out-of-pocket for the year."
- "Starting June 21, plan sponsors (mostly employers) will be eligible for reimbursement of 80 percent of certain claims from $15,000 to $90,000 for pre-Medicare retirees ages 55 to 64."
- "Health care reform establishes a tax of 10 percent on indoor tanning services. This would raise $2.7 billion between 2010 and 2019. As far as we know, getting a tan outside is still free."
2011
- "Long-term care insurance program starts; it will reimburse some costs of home and nursing home care."
- "Medicare recipients in the prescription drug 'doughnut hole' will get a 50 percent discount on brand-name drugs, with additional discounts beginning to close the gap by 2020."
- "Employers with fewer than 25 employees and average annual wage less than $50,000 will be eligible for sliding scale tax credit, if they provide health insurance and pay at least 50 percent of cost."
- "Primary care doctors and certain surgeons serving under-served areas (some cities and many rural areas) to receive 10 percent incentive payment from Medicare for their services."
- "Funding for community health centers expanded, to benefit mainly low-income and uninsured people."
- "A $2.3 billion annual fee on pharmaceutical manufacturers begins, gradually increasing in the following years."
2012
- "Not-for-profit insurance cooperatives will be initiated to compete with commercial insurers, hopefully with lower premiums."
- "Medicare payments begin to new 'accountable care organizations' will be established to experiment with various cost-reduction measures."
- "Reduction of Medicare reimbursements to hospitals with high rates of patient re-admissions that are deemed 'preventable.'"
2013
- "Standardized insurance forms introduced to reduce paperwork, duplication and administrative costs."
- "Contributions to tax-sheltered flexible spending accounts (FSAs) will be limited to $2,500 per year, indexed for inflation. Threshold for claiming itemized tax deduction for medical expenses increased from 7.5 percent of income to 10 percent. Those over 65 can still deduct medical expenses above 7.5 percent of income through 2016."
- "A 3.8% surcharge would be imposed on investment income for individuals making over $200,000 and couples making over $250,000. This tax increase is estimated to bring in $210 billion between 2013 and 2019."
- "New tax of 3.8 percent on income from investments. This tax is intended to help fund the health reform program."
Yes, all of this has taken place without so much as a chirp from the mainstream media. So, yes, let's report the news as it becomes available, but let's not go overboard here, folks. We have more than enough reality television shows available to view; we don't need the news media to follow suit.
http://obamacarefacts.com/health-care-reform-timeline.php
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