Thread: You’re going to create ‘one great big death panel’ by repealing Obamacare

Iowa pig farmer to Sen. Grassley: You’re going to create ‘one great big death panel’ by repealing Obamacare

Dylan Stableford Senior Editor
Yahoo News February 22, 2017
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Farmer Chris Peterson pleads with Sen. Chuck Grassley in Iowa on Tuesday. (MSNBC) More

Republican lawmakers returning home this week to host town halls are being greeted by overflow crowds filled with angry voters and protesters demonstrating against President Trump’s polarizing policies.

And in Iowa on Tuesday, Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley faced harsh questioning from his constituents, including a 62-year-old pig farmer who pleaded with Grassley not to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

“I’m on Obamacare,” Chris Peterson told Grassley in Iowa Falls, where more than 100 people packed a community center. “If it wasn’t for Obamacare, we wouldn’t be able to afford insurance.”

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Bradd Jaffy
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Angry constituents confront Chuck Grassley in Iowa: “If it wasn’t for Obamacare, we wouldn’t be able to afford insurance!”
10:12 AM - 21 Feb 2017

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During a 2009 town hall in the Hawkeye State, Grassley led the fight against the Democrats’ health care proposal, saying the plan had an “end of life” provision that would allow the federal government “to decide when to pull the plug on Grandma.”

Peterson told Grassley on Tuesday, “Over 20 million will lose coverage. And with all due respect, sir, you’re the man that talked about the death panels.

We’re going to create one great big death panel in this country [because of the fact] that people can’t afford to get insurance.”

“Don’t repeal Obamacare,” Peterson added. “Improve it, for God’s sake.”

Related: ‘Do your job!’: Rowdy Republican town halls a sign of things to come

Grassley responded by saying he believes no one receiving health care under Obamacare would lose coverage under three of the four Republican alternative health care plans circulating on Capitol Hill.

Trump and the GOP have vowed to repeal and replace former President Barack Obama’s signature health care law. Earlier this month, Trump suggested it may take more than a year to do so, though Republicans on Capitol Hill have suggested it’s the No. 1 action item on their agenda.

On Tuesday night, Trump criticized the town hall unrest, claiming the “so-called angry crowds” were organized by progressive activists.

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The so-called angry crowds in home districts of some Republicans are actually, in numerous cases, planned out by liberal activists. Sad!
3:23 PM - 21 Feb 2017

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“The so-called angry crowds in home districts of some Republicans are actually, in numerous cases, planned out by liberal activists,” Trump tweeted. “Sad!”

Amid the backlash, some GOP members of Congress have canceled or skipped their town halls altogether.

Earlier Tuesday, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said that town hall demonstrations have not been grassroots efforts, likening them instead to “AstroTurf.”

https://www.yahoo.com/news/iowa-pig-...153412357.html

One good thing about these raucous town halls is to make sure Republicans know that they MUST have a replacement bill. This repeal replace later won't fly, not at all, and anyone pushing that is just wrong-headed. Republicans have had many years to come up with a plan to fix this problem so it's show time. GET R DONE. I think Price and Trump will be instrumental in coming up with a better system, not sure the Congresscritters are qualified to do this on their own. Keep in mind that what works in a vibrant economy with fully employed Americans doesn't work before you get there. Things we could do and would want to do can't be fully implemented on a private basis until every one of those 94 million working age Americans who want and need jobs have good sustainable full-time employment.

It's all about JOBS, JOBS, JOBS!!!

I have absolutely no problem seeing Obamacare repealed without a replacement. Yes, I'm suggesting the majority of Americans were better off before the plan came into being. Repeal it, get it out of there now, and work on reducing medical care cost with individual mandates. We can start with bringing the costs of drugs down. The Affordable Care Act is not affordable for tens of millions of American citizens.

Why should a healthy insurance holder see his insurance increase dramatically to care for those with preexisting conditions, especially when many of these preexisting conditions were brought on by poor health choices in life (smoking, obesity, alcoholism, etc.). Yes, many folks are being punished for the lifestyle choices of others.

It's no secret that Obamacare in its current form is unsustainable. With or without a replacement, repeal it now.

Just curious. Do you have government insurance or do you buy private insurance?

Originally Posted by Judy

Just curious. Do you have government insurance or do you buy private insurance?

How is that relevant to the discussion? Why not ask about my wife's health plan or my seven adult children and their family plans?

Because you said this:

Why should a healthy insurance holder see his insurance increase dramatically to care for those with preexisting conditions, especially when many of these preexisting conditions were brought on by poor health choices in life (smoking, obesity, alcoholism, etc.). Yes, many folks are being punished for the lifestyle choices of others.

I'm not interested in your wife or your kids or grandkids. They didn't make the statement, you did.

If it's a hard question you prefer not to answer, don't worry about it.

Not just anyone can create a healthcare plan it should be created by medical professionals, and maybe a couple insurance companies don't forget a few people that will actually need to use it. The politicians have no idea what will work in healthcare their healthcare covers everything, The insurance companies just want a great bottom line all we people want is something we can afford and live with. I would suggest that they ask other countries what is working and how it works. Not the whole plan just the things that work and bring it back to the table. One thing I noticed is that many foreign countries utilize pharmacies more. We are currently are paying to see a Dr. most of the time all we actually see is a Physicians assistant which does not have the training of a Dr. and most of their training is in prescribing drugs. I know I need 6 more credits to become one and all are pharmacy classes (no thanks). When I was in Costa Rica I had a ear ache and tooth ache. Locals said I should go to the pharmacy. I did and they gave me some medicine and I paid for the medicine that was it. The pharmacist said if I felt I needed to see a Dr. one would be in at 3 pm. I could come in and see the Dr. then. Think of the money we could save and waiting for a Dr.s appointment months if we had something similar. You also have the choice of seeing a private Dr. in Costa Rica. So if we had a choice of waiting months to see a Dr. or (P.A.) or going to a pharmacy for minor problems why not? It would save everybody money. There are many good ideas and things that are working around the world in their healthcare and also some things that are not. Why wouldn't someone research and find out what is working and what isn't working? We also need to open up our prescription med's to be able to be filled by more drug companies instead of just a chosen few. Competition is good right? Why do we have very few big pharma's allowed to supply our med's in the USA? Besides the logical; paid off politicians getting rich from lobbyist. Government should not decide our healthcare.

Government should just regulate health care like they do every other business in the United States. If Congress will repeal the McCarran-Ferguson Act of 1945, all insurance companies would be subject to the same federal laws as every other business in the United States, including fair trade practices and anti-trust laws.

I like the Pharmacy Doctor idea. When I was growing up there was a Professional Building in a large city near our small town. A lot of doctors rented space in that building. On the ground floor, there was a pharmacy to fill your prescriptions, and an adorable cafe to have breakfast, lunch or early dinner while you waited for your prescription to get filled. So convenient. So easy. All affordable. We paid for it all, doctor's appointments and prescriptions out of pocket. Insurance didn't pay for any of this stuff then, it just paid for hospitalization.