FRONTLINE | How "Obamacare" Became a Symbol of America's Divide | Divided States of America

[@geraldstephens6612]

Now those who opposed Affordable Care are very glad it's there.

[@johndanielson3777]

“Obamacare is a threat to my liberty!” *gets COVID* “What happened to my Obamacare?!”

[@vildachaya6462]

Except it became unaffordable to many

[@tomk4t]

No, I'm not. I was working and putting myself through college when the law came into effect. I was forced to purchase a service I didn't want or need because my employer didn't offer healthcare. I was ok with that. I just needed tuition money to go to college. The mandate took my hard earned money that was paying for my education. That's all Obamacare did for me. Still not glad it's there...

[@nocheesable2345]

😂😂😂😂

[@juliushuxtable2606]

Imagine if it had been the public option version. Many more would be, and thus many more would have realized they had been lied to by the right for years.

[@AG-kx1el]

It’s funny how it’s saving life during the pandemic

[@abrahamjean8176]

Slavic Soldier it’s not? Explain

[@rkstat1158]

Obamacare is a life savior for my family , my parents are on obamacare, they spent 9 days on hospital battling COVID-19, they just had to pay $300 deductible . Thank God for Obamacare...

[@judenjeru5081]

@@rkstat1158 atcually if it were not for trump those deductibles would have been 700 to 800

[@rkstat1158]

@@judenjeru5081 Send me the link to Trump healthcare plan that has deductible? Oh wait, there is none, Trump don't have any healthcare plan at all... The $150 deductible for hospital stay for each of my parents was there from 2014 when they sign for Obamacare.

[@flyoutchase]

Premiums have been up by the year

[@chaplui6882]

I worked in the IT industry and have a decent salary and have insurance through work. But I've seen ACA benefited some people around me .. 1) when my daughter graduated from college and was still struggling to find a stable job, I was able to add her to my medical plan before she turned 26. 2) during the lay-offs, couple of my co-workers over 55 were laid off. They were able to buy thru Obamacare coverage. Now, that I understand other universal cares in other part of the world (i.e. Finland, Canada, Australia etc.), I am all for Obamacare. It's a first step toward Universal care and benefits more people.

[@avyghn5324]

It is scary to imagine that in less than 2 years all of that will be gone, the democrats have no candidate and DeSantis swipes the map, I wish all americans the best.

[@spreadingthecure]

I just don't understand what the people who are opposed to this think. It's healthcare!! It's a necessity! What do they think the government is doing, handing out free b***jobs???

[@Fox9582]

I'm reading you comment on 10/26/2024 nine days for the election, I'm soaking myself in info and i cant believe people mad because there's still Obama care now call the affordable care act. They don't realize how important health insurance is when you have a pre condition.

[@stevechance150]

In the paat 25 years, Republicans have NEVER come back with a Healthcare Plan for the uninsured.

[@vildachaya6462]

The Dems made it unaffordable for many people

[@PretentiousStuff]

who's gonna pay for that shit you dummy? your liberal momma won't, neither will your daddy. Who's gonna pay for that??

[@Crusader677]

@@PretentiousStuff ????? a republican healthcare plan would likely include minimal govt spending, as that's their whole schtick. your comment makes no sense.

[@abrahamjean8176]

ТурбоТОП and a republican plan will make it all better? Get over yourself 💀

[@bloodwargaming3662]

@@PretentiousStuff ikr even your racist white supremacist Daddy and so called pro life called mom ain't gonna pay for the 1.5 trillion dollars of tax cuts for the rich boy

[@kobebean3258]

Imagine being mad cause people don’t die

[@doctorboy5892]

I am an Australian doctor. A few points Health care is completely free in Australian public hospitals. We have high taxes on the rich and that money pays for everyone to get health care. Prevention does not stop a lot of the things we see. My 20 hour shift i just completed. Broken hand hit on a tractor, emergency caesarean section, removal of food stuck in the oesophagus, ectopic pregnancy removal, appendicectomy, kidney stone needing a stent inserted, broken leg from a motor vehicle accident (took 4 hours till fix), bleeding stomach needing clips put on the bleeding artery. Then at 2am I finished with the relocation of a dislocated hip. Half of the money from my 20 hour shift went straight to tax but it paid for the poor to get treatment.

[@changenoways9555]

Australia is not as multicultural as America. There is greater tribalism in America because there are greater tribes in America. The issue is that instead of coalescing, the tribes seem to exist homogenously together. How do you convince an old rich white guy that it is better for the community when he gives more of his wealth away than if he keeps it within the family? Especially when money is the difference between survival and extinction? How do you convince black people and immigrants that they must come together to work together for the country and not just themselves and their community? These are the questions that need answers. The rest can be fixed in 15 minutes

[@alexeibradley-malcolm2462]

@@changenoways9555 Australia is incredibly multicultural, 50% of Australians are immigrants or descent of recent immigrants (2 or less generations ago).

[@woodsrider117]

repeal obamacare only after putting in another better plan . Millions will lose healthcare without it. ..better yet just improve obamacare

[@alohawg]

How is that my responsibility? It's not!

[@woodsrider117]

We all pay for everyone who doesn't have health insurance in our premiums. We going pay no matter what and our healthcare costs are going up no matter what.

[@woodsrider117]

We pay now for ems, for our school system, for police and fire and ambulance...highways bridges Damns.. it goes on and on.. That's your responsibility. No?

[@ChickenSquabble]

The more people die as a result of Obamacare's repeal, the better. Too many people alive on the planet. I will be one of the people to go early, and gladly.

[@woodsrider117]

How about staying and making a difference

[@MIGBMWLOVER]

As a Euroipean I never understood why the us dson't want the health care system to be public and everyone to pay for it...

[@abrahamjean8176]

Evan Underwood and if they can’t? Why are people so selfish in a place called the United States?

[@MIGBMWLOVER]

@@abrahamjean8176 thank you! I am dumbfounded by the cynicism of the guy...

[@rudib4353]

It's because Americans in general only care for themselves. They fail the common responsibility Europeans have. But they don't realize that a universal healthcare will make it much cheaper for all. Just compare the cost of the US healthcare vs the Europeans.

[@maleeky6359]

We’d rather pay for our politicians corruption apparently

[@robert.m4676]

Ours is a bit more corrupt than yours. Many common Americans have started to realize our government has been taken over by evil people. President Trump was one man that wasn’t bought off. And boy did the scumbags go after him. With Trump at the helm this great country could get back to for the people by the people. Instead of the swAmp trying to dictate what money laundering scheme they can dish out next.

[@SCWoodbury2009]

We have to understand who we are and where we come from. We are a nation that guarantees a constitutional right to firearms, but not to healthcare. We are citizens of a country who at least some of it's Founders were slave owners. It should come to no surprise then that today in America it's easier and cheaper to access a firearm than it is healthcare. Nor should it be a surprise that the ugly notion of white superiority/male domination and minority/women inferiority still persists within our culture and laws. This is who we are and where we come from. Governor Mitt Romney signed Romneycare into law here in Massachusetts long before President Obama signed Obamacare into law. You can argue there's a difference between state law and a federal program. You can argue there's a difference between Massachusetts and the rest of the country. The fact is that Democrats went along with Republicans in Massachusetts on healthcare reform and white people in Massachusetts didn't freak out when Governor Romney signed Romneycare into law. With President Obama we have practically the same kind of healthcare reform as Romneycare in Massachusetts, but this time the law is on a federal level, no Republican support, and Obamacare has a black face attached to it. White America freaked out and saw Obamacare as a free handout to underserving minorities, illegal immigrants, and poor single women. I think healthcare should be connected with the fact that we're all vulnerable humans who are subject to illness, disease, and aging. Rich people do not want to pay for the healthcare costs of poor people. Healthy people do not want to pay for the healthcare costs of sick people. White people don't want to pay for the healthcare costs of non-white people. We live in these divided states where everyone is left to fend for themselves. We live in a house that's bitterly divided.

[@speeddemonmodelshop7460]

Your a complete idiot.

[@keishrich]

Shane Woodbury This is the best post. Thanks for a post filled with truth, not evil, nasty and vile.

[@SCWoodbury2009]

*****, Honestly? I never felt connected to Hillary Clinton like I did to President Obama. I did vote for her and was and still am very disappointed in the election results. But I never felt emotionally connected to Hillary like Obama. I liked Hillary, but I love President Obama. The way I see it now, I've avoided four years of new Hillary "scandals" and I plan on sitting back and enjoying the Republicans own the two presidents before and after President Obama, lol.

[@AnonDremotha9714]

*You're. Inbred hick.

[@lawrencelampke6007]

@@AnonDremotha9714 said the moron who can't make a coherent reply in a simple sentence. I believe what was trying to be conveyed was that before and after Obama were two simpletons who wholly represent the current GOP, although Bush was a fucking genius compared to the the orange dotard currently soiling the office of the president and his band of crooked allies.

[@1utube01]

Obama: a Real President, a Real American, a Real Patriot.

[@SilverBullet22250]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 You should have your own comedian show!

[@chrissya9994]

Yes! He is! He cared about the American people. He lost a lot of political capital by passing ObamaCare.

[@bohocowboy]

And all those tea partiers ultimately became Trumpers

[@yao052]

Republicans didnt vote for Obamacare simply because of politics. If Democrats really wanted to pass this only through party lines, we would have had a public option included in the bill.

[@juliushuxtable2606]

100% truth. Though the fact is they should have done that. If they had hit the ground running and didn't waste time "reaching across the aisle" to a party that would never come to the table on anything, Obamas Presidency could have been the transformative administration it should have been, 2010 and 2014 would have been much better for the Democrats, and Donald Trump would still just be a failed businessman turned celebrity.

[@Doreana48501]

Why do the Rebublican Party Not want healthcare Medicare for themselves and the people. Every free Country in the world got Medicare for the people.

[@jackthebassman1]

Watching this makes me breath a huge sigh of relief that I was born in a civilised country where healthcare is a right rather than a priveledge and being ill doesn't mean going bankrupt and losing your home. The rotten a,erican system is a profit centre for the hospitals and insurance industry.

[@nandy1256]

Clearly one side of the division is more about beingfor the irking of the other side, because the other side was not supposed to have gotten to it first.

[@matthewrider6453]

The only thing that was controversial, to me, was the absence of the once-centerpiece of the bill... The govt-run public option!

[@GoogleUser-lk6xn]

It’s hilarious that america thinks universal healthcare is communism

[@onomatopoeia162003]

That's what they called Truman's basically universal healthcare....

[@mjgonzalez8293]

Yes after Obamacare my medical insurance and copay costs went up 35% that is real.

[@stang3510]

I pay for my own heath care with no help from an employer and my plan tripled due to Affordable Health Care.

[@johnnolan2356]

MJ Gonzalez The premiums did not go up because of the Affordable Care Act, they went up because the government never enacted the changes following the act because the Republicans split the Congress. Right now there is around 27 million people without insurance, before there was over 45 million. There has been major progress and even Obama acknowledged there was a long way to go, but I have seen nothing, literally zero answers from the republicans on this issue.

[@imaprinta]

I have been working my own business for the last 40 years. Health insurance premiums were beginning to consume much of the money I was able to take home. I was paying over $1, 400 a month for very mediocre coverage just for myself with no adverse medical history. And every year it was going up. My own insurance agent finally suggested I try Obamacare. It's ended up costing me half that amount for much better coverage with less deductable. I felt like I could breath again. It has been my experience that much of the discrepancies in people's stories about Obamacare comes down to how each individual state ran the program. Some states ran it well and some didn't know what they were doing. Those that did not know what they were doing saw huge rises in premiums. My state went very well - which is very unusual for my state.

[@johnnolan2356]

imaprinta I’m really happy that you had a great experience with it too. What people forget is that the ACA stopped allowing insurance companies to discriminate against ill patients, it helped millions of people. Not every state ran it well, and the federal government hasn’t revised anything on the policy in over 10 years now so it’s difficult to make the system better if our own leaders refuse to touch it. I have no idea why people fault Obama for actually working to help people. We still have work left to do on healthcare and I’ll be voting for people this year that want to continue making the system better not just continue ignoring it.

[@nocheesable2345]

@@imaprinta which state is that?

[@nenabrea5710]

If you make under $17000 a year, healthcare is free in America. If you make more than that, but your job or business doesn't offer health insurance, well screw you. That will be at least a $350/month premium for a $6000 deductible. So if you get sick or injured in America, just stop working and show you're poor. Then you get treated for free

[@OverLordthe1st]

Everyone trashing Obama must be watching another movie because y'all don't get the point of the this documentary the beginning with.

[@stupidminotaur9735]

its just a lefty piece of crap doc

[@stupidminotaur9735]

just fakenews bs

[@salt27dogg]

It’s dead Obamacare is dead

[@leandre8896]

@@salt27dogg No it's not, lol

[@reylaotong3533]

why he so mean, why he didn't like Obama ? just because Obama is better than his self

[@tombayless9759]

We the people who are watching

[@jacktheladstevens]

How about your own NHS instead? I bet you guys would love that 😉

[@gmnotyet]

OK citizens just voted to accept the Medicaid Expansion. THANKS, OBAMA!

[@Irish_1916]

He should've done healthcare for all.

[@onomatopoeia162003]

He just laid the foundation. I think the 6th party is dying. Where we could only afford to be centrist(bill clinton) and moderate (obama) Just like for Eisenhower was a moderate and Nixon was a centrist. I think the 7th party system will start in 2020 and we will be governing liberal again since we did in the 60's. In my opinion i think we are in the middle of a realignment. We are kind of due for one. Since the last one was in the 60's.

[@InsightsAbroad]

Cathy Rodgers 😂

[@justme2me]

healthcare is the most essential of basic needs...how can you deny yourselves this?

[@chrismartino3519]

brainwashing and tribalism... American values stubbornness over self security.

[@medicfriends8163]

it's because it's new and has some flaws where people who don't qualify have to pay more when they can't afford to. I'd rather have some progress to where everyone can get healthcare, despite the fact that people can abuse it in the beginning. Life is worth the change, and despite the fact we can improve upon it, political agendas and bias look to completely demolish it, halting progress, and going into the "make enough money or die or live in debt for the rest of your life." Not all people are sick because they are irresponsible.

[@bb-gc2tx]

I don't know about you but I don't like paying for health care of other people who are to lazy get a job and do something with their lives

[@ChildOfTheLie96]

@@bb-gc2tx Seriously, for what percent of the population you're paying for can you say that? For God's sake millions of people work 2 jobs and still need a hand. Millions of people can't work or struggle to find better work without healthcare...

[@henryford2950]

Greed. It's all about that green dough called $$$.

[@briandelmore7188]

brian DELMORE 1 second ago Or how about Gov Cumo having Nursing homes taking patients back in knowing the had it exposing it to those who did not, how did that work out ?

[@danishbiochem]

Sarah Palin sounded like Bellatrix Lestrange.

[@hassanulkarim1755]

she really loves heroin

[@ssaiyan4m]

Sarah Palin was just as annoying as Trump

[@tygtback]

You were told to not to vote for it!!!!!

[@freelancing48]

My 2017 deductible/out of pocket this year under Obamacare...$10,075.00. I call that CNN insurance.

[@woodsrider117]

Give insurance companies credit.. That's their fault for their prices.

[@jesushuerta1852]

What do you want the deductible to be?

[@Apache32D]

You can keep your doctor and keep your plan haha 😂

[@cr082080]

I always find it funny just how dumb the republican voterbase is.

[@williamt9025]

joe looks so different now.

[@macsrule94]

the health care system wasn't broken before but its in a million pieces now...

[@onomatopoeia162003]

yes it was, then why did Teddy Roosevelt try. and then most presidents from FDR on try something? lmao

[@pubmeatman]

Nonsense. I guess you enjoyed medical underwriting and lifetime coverage limits.

[@funnelnutz3227]

Funny alot of those people walking in protest now have health care

[@starship_01]

2024 and still Trump has concepts of some plan

[@tombayless9759]

One sole one vote for the president of the United States of america maga wwg1wga world wide JFK awakening storm God bless you and your family have a wonderful Christmas and a happy new voting counting on that day and I will be there at gitmo cuba live 24 hrs a day

[@tammyatkins6101]

No he made every thing you did was a mistake

[@iluvcamaros1912]

Obamacare is the law of the land -- Paul Ryan 2017

[@garrettwagner3512]

LOL where is the TEA party now? Oh yeah they only fight when the "bad guy" is on the other team.

[@onomatopoeia162003]

LOL. What i would say to those losers. Where in the US Constitution do you read anything about parties? Because there is nothing in there. George Washington and Adams were right.

[@yourbattleaxe]

Obama destroyed them by using the IRS to go after them-- it's the commie way--do your homework.

[@alexgmsd]

Let be clear they opposed it because a black guy put it in.

[@tombayless9759]

The world is watching

[@tombayless9759]

Go to Washington DC on January 6 and January 20 and support the president and bring food water and full tank of gas and don't buy anything from Atlanta Georgia stage A sit in

[@pubmeatman]

This didn’t age well.

[@jorgecameras1]

Enrique Peña Nieto AMLO 💲 anime dibujar y dibujo Cómics animation 3D

[@sunnysmiles8211]

We have “private” insurance and “private” hospitals *but the government gets to decide the prices and the government gets to decide who is eligible and who is not*. Doesn’t sound like free enterprise to me. Sounds one step closer to fascism and it’s certainly income redistribution. In Fascism, the government tells the private sector what to do under the pretense of you’re still you’re own person, But who are we kidding we all know they are the ones calling the shots now with healthcare and it’s going to get worse. Now there’s a monetary penalty if you don’t buy it. Again, sure doesn’t sound like free enterprise to me.

[@politereminder6284]

I don't think you know what fascism is. 🤔 Fascism is not socialism or communism.

[@tombayless9759]

Pray for peace let the hate go and look for the truth and God bless america wwg1wga world wide JFK awakening storm

[@alanbourbeau24]

You know, I don’t care what certain people said about you Barack Obama. You did an excellent job as President. Unlike your current successor, Donald John Trump. He’s doing a horrible job and lacks political knowledge. I hope by 2020, the next presidential candidate will be Democrat.

[@lamaripiazza5226]

Sir you are correct

[@yourbattleaxe]

I guess you love leaving American to die--benghazi.

[@BecentiComposer]

So sad to see the country rot from the inside.

[@jadenalvarado4912]

As a Democrat Obama care needs to be abolished. We need a ravamped public system of healthcare that increases competition with private.

[@dangle3392]

Americans need to fix how they elect their representatives.

[@jimwhite967]

Mostly Republicans.

[@wyleejg]

Obamacare. Just call it what it is: Bachelor Tax

[@MikeJDavis747]

It will take years to recover from Obozo's presidency.

[@daystar73]

Foh loser..

[@nocheesable2345]

You Racist!

[@zt1053]

I barley made over $40,000 in 2016 and had to pay the IRS $736 because of obamacare. Obamacare is the primary reason the economy has remained stagnant.

[@yoshiki7757]

WTF are you even talking about? It's clear you're just making shit up, or are simply too stupid to understand. You don't pay the IRS for your health insurance. Did you fall for a scam or are you simply lying?

[@zt1053]

When i signed up for a plan, not by choice, i might add i was given a monthly rate. At the end of 2016 i had to fill out that form and according to the government i made more than what my montly rate was.

[@trinitymeadows2811]

Another, of the many during the Obama administration, of 'one of the worst days in America.' I'm so glad it's all over!

[@tombayless9759]

Big Storm coming to Washington DC on January 6 and the Patriots are watching

[@mlkchocolate7033]

When politicians is not for everybody health care that says a lot now go back ask all these Republicans who came up with all these sayings and what was going to happen to people health care if this past what happened you want to talk about it let's talk about it it's 20-22 about to be 2023 imagine if Obamacare wasn't here how many people will be dead ask Republicans that though since they want to talk about it let's talk about it

[@superfreiheit1]

Islam is you future

[@Apache32D]

Obama divided the country more than trump could ever do

[@MidnightRambler]

these liberal journalists..all sympathy and non judgement for obamas

[@Apache32D]

Sorry Barry didn't happen it was a failure

[@tca199]

James Smith 70% of Americans now through Obamacare… So how's that working out for you pal?

[@onomatopoeia162003]

Explain how Eisenhower basically proposed it in 1954. What became the ACA to a T basically when it was signed.

[@davidbrennan3613]

He promised immigration reform in his first 100 days, never happened