Despite the looming Oct. 1 launch of the Affordable Care Act’s marketplaces, Americans continue to discover that Obamcare is actually hazardous to their health, as demonstrated by a new video.
In the short film, created by The Heritage Foundation, New Yorkers and several tourists walking through Times Square discussed what they found to be the implications of the Affordable Care Act, furthering the belief that Obamacare hurts every day citizens. Many of those interviewed by Heritage’s Chris Jacobs said they found themselves with higher premiums and worried about a decrease in quality of care — consequences many fear as the healthcare exchanges prepare to launch.
“Do you think your premiums will still go up under Obamacare?” Jacobs, a senior health policy analyst for Heritage, asked one man.
“Absolutely,” he replied. “And the standard of care will do down.”
And another passerby stopped by Jacobs agreed.
“I think if premiums do down, healthcare quality will go down,” he said, expressing apprehension toward the Affordable Care Act. “And I have a great deal of concern about that myself as my wife is battling cancer.”
Contrary to President Barack Obama’s reassurances regarding the rising cost of premiums, many Americans are seeing the price tag for health insurance go up — as did all of the people Jacobs spoke with. And as the White House gears up for the launch of healthcare marketplaces — despite several setbacks including the delay of the employer mandate — Americans are still confused about what the new law means for them and remain wary about the powers the Affordable Care Act gives to a host of agencies like the Internal Revenue Service.
“Obamacare gives 47 separate powers to the IRS. Do you think that’s a good thing or a bad thing?” Jacobs asked another man.
“I think less power to the IRS would be better than more power,” he said. “More power probably means more revenue, more taxes, more dollars out of yours and my pockets.”
Despite House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) we-have-to-pass-it-to-see-what’s-in-it approach to Obamacare, her Republican counterparts in the Senate continue working to defund the law, threatening to shut down the federal government if it remains in place.
And as demonstrated by those Jacobs spoke with, Americans aren’t too keen on it either.
“I don’t think this healthcare law is good for America and we have to find a way to fix this issue,” one person said.
Check out the Heritage Foundation’s video below.
