"Obamacare"

[Institutional Control]

http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2013/06/18/medical-costs-register-first-decline-since-1970s/

Thanks, Obama.

[john "teach me how to" dougie]

http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2013/06/18/medical-costs-register-first-decline-since-1970s/

Thanks, Obama.

I'm guessing you didn't read the article.

[sys]

I'm guessing you didn't read the article.

i'm guessing he did.

[john "teach me how to" dougie]

I'm guessing you didn't read the article.

i'm guessing he did.

He may have, but the decrease had little, or nothing, to do with Obamacare.

[sys]

the decrease had little, or nothing, to do with Obamacare.

not according to the article.

[Institutional Control]

http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2013/06/18/medical-costs-register-first-decline-since-1970s/

Thanks, Obama.

I'm guessing you didn't read the article.

The effects of the federal health care overhaul — the Affordable Care Act that passed in 2010 —and constrained government payments to doctors and hospitals seems to be trickling down to consumers, both those directly purchasing insurance plans and those buying drugs and treatments.

[john "teach me how to" dougie]

In the coming year, the next phase of the health care overhaul will expand coverage and increase subsidy payments and could, in turn, push medical costs back up, Mr. Phillips said.

A number of other factors are aiding the slowdown.

Prescription prices are now down slightly from a year earlier, reflecting the latest stage in the industry cycle. Many patents are expiring and cheaper generic drugs are coming to market. Analysts expect that trend to reverse in coming years.

Meanwhile, employers are shifting the burden of health-care costs to workers. With consumers paying a greater share of costs out of their own pockets, they’re encouraged to shop for more affordable options, which puts pressure on providers to lower their costs.

I only see increases tied to obamacare. Other factors pertain to the decrease in costs.

[Institutional Control]

In the coming year, the next phase of the health care overhaul will expand coverage and increase subsidy payments and could, in turn, push medical costs back up, Mr. Phillips said.

A number of other factors are aiding the slowdown.

Prescription prices are now down slightly from a year earlier, reflecting the latest stage in the industry cycle. Many patents are expiring and cheaper generic drugs are coming to market. Analysts expect that trend to reverse in coming years.

Meanwhile, employers are shifting the burden of health-care costs to workers. With consumers paying a greater share of costs out of their own pockets, they’re encouraged to shop for more affordable options, which puts pressure on providers to lower their costs.

I only see increases tied to obamacare. Other factors pertain to the decrease in costs.

That does not look like an apology for accusing me of not reading the article.

[john "teach me how to" dougie]

In the coming year, the next phase of the health care overhaul will expand coverage and increase subsidy payments and could, in turn, push medical costs back up, Mr. Phillips said.

A number of other factors are aiding the slowdown.

Prescription prices are now down slightly from a year earlier, reflecting the latest stage in the industry cycle. Many patents are expiring and cheaper generic drugs are coming to market. Analysts expect that trend to reverse in coming years.

Meanwhile, employers are shifting the burden of health-care costs to workers. With consumers paying a greater share of costs out of their own pockets, they’re encouraged to shop for more affordable options, which puts pressure on providers to lower their costs.

I only see increases tied to obamacare. Other factors pertain to the decrease in costs.

That does not look like an apology for accusing me of not reading the article.

I'm sorry you didn't understand the article. 

[Institutional Control]

In the coming year, the next phase of the health care overhaul will expand coverage and increase subsidy payments and could, in turn, push medical costs back up, Mr. Phillips said.

A number of other factors are aiding the slowdown.

Prescription prices are now down slightly from a year earlier, reflecting the latest stage in the industry cycle. Many patents are expiring and cheaper generic drugs are coming to market. Analysts expect that trend to reverse in coming years.

Meanwhile, employers are shifting the burden of health-care costs to workers. With consumers paying a greater share of costs out of their own pockets, they’re encouraged to shop for more affordable options, which puts pressure on providers to lower their costs.

I only see increases tied to obamacare. Other factors pertain to the decrease in costs.

That does not look like an apology for accusing me of not reading the article.

I'm sorry you didn't understand the article. 

I'll take it. 

[steve dave]

obamacare seems to be, like, whipping ass

[Cartierfor3]

obamacare seems to be, like, whipping ass

Slow down there partner. http://reason.com/blog/2013/06/21/survey-finds-that-41-percent-of-small-bu

[Rage Against the McKee]

obamacare seems to be, like, whipping ass

Slow down there partner. http://reason.com/blog/2013/06/21/survey-finds-that-41-percent-of-small-bu

If that's the price of cheaper healthcare, then I'm willing to pay it. The market would have weeded out those crappy below average businesses eventually, anyway.

[Cartierfor3]

obamacare seems to be, like, whipping ass

Slow down there partner. http://reason.com/blog/2013/06/21/survey-finds-that-41-percent-of-small-bu

If that's the price of cheaper healthcare, then I'm willing to pay it. The market would have weeded out those crappy below average businesses eventually, anyway.

yeah. 41% of small businesses is just a drop in the bucket.

[Institutional Control]

obamacare seems to be, like, whipping ass

Slow down there partner. http://reason.com/blog/2013/06/21/survey-finds-that-41-percent-of-small-bu

If that's the price of cheaper healthcare, then I'm willing to pay it. The market would have weeded out those crappy below average businesses eventually, anyway.

yeah. 41% of small businesses is just a drop in the bucket.

When you consider 61% of small businesses have fewer than 4 employees, it is.

[Rage Against the McKee]

obamacare seems to be, like, whipping ass

Slow down there partner. http://reason.com/blog/2013/06/21/survey-finds-that-41-percent-of-small-bu

If that's the price of cheaper healthcare, then I'm willing to pay it. The market would have weeded out those crappy below average businesses eventually, anyway.

yeah. 41% of small businesses is just a drop in the bucket.

50% of businesses are below average, fwiw, and average isn't that great.

[michigancat]

My survey says 41% of small businesses need to get off their lazy asses and work harder

[Rage Against the McKee]

My survey says 41% of small businesses need to get off their lazy asses and work harder

More like 60%, but yeah, 41% would be a nice start.

[GCJayhawker]

Well 60% of the time I think 41% is a small number.

[michigancat]

My survey says 41% of small businesses need to get off their lazy asses and work harder

More like 60%, but yeah, 41% would be a nice start.

how dare you question my survey

[Rage Against the McKee]

My survey says 41% of small businesses need to get off their lazy asses and work harder

More like 60%, but yeah, 41% would be a nice start.

how dare you question my survey

No survey, needed, mich. Just take a look at a bell curve.

[john "teach me how to" dougie]

Considering that companies with 50 or fewer employees are exempt from offering health insurance, the 41% must be companies with more than 50 employees.

[sys]

the per worker penalty is really relatively small.  if the employees those businesses say they won't hire wouldn't have produced a crap ton more profit per head than that, then they're better off having not hired them.

or the small business owners are stupid or lying.  i mean i can understand that they'd be pissed about forgoing some profit per worker.  but to not hire based on that - shitty business, stupid or lying.

[john "teach me how to" dougie]

I think there's still a lot of wait and see attitude since no one is sure what the final total cost will be. The taxes are yet to arrive.

[sys]

I think there's still a lot of wait and see attitude since no one is sure what the final total cost will be. The taxes are yet to arrive.

for sure.  the dumbass reporter should be talking to experts instead of polling people that don't know what they're talking about.