Government Shutdown - September, 2025 Editiion

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ACA was sold as reducing the cost of healthcare. Now costs have gone up and they want more and more subsidies to cover the premiums.
Of course some of the price increase is because of these same subsidies.

Look at what happened in education. Trump put a limit of $50,000 for student loans, and a college that was charging 65,000 now has lowered tuition to.... 50,000!

So what’s the answer? Huge portions of the country just don’t deserve healthcare? The current Congress is unable to solve the easiest problems these days so what’s the path forward?

Get government out and market forces in.

Competition between the states.

Drop the subsidies. The inherent pricing by insurance companies and medical establishments subsumes all subsidies and prices it right in to the service. So subsidies are like pure gravy to the industry.

If a procedure is $150 and the government tries to lower it by $50, the industry will just price the procedure at $200 (or more).

This is like a treadmill. You're on it and don't know how to get off. So all your answers are just raise the subsidy higher.

Why do insurance companies and medical establishments do this? It's a really simple answer: because they can.

Why doesn't it necessarily work that way in other developed countries with universal health care?

They replace it with rationing. Canada, which supposedly is the best socialized medicine, has wait times of over a year for MRI and CT. Many go to Seattle, Michigan, Vermont as an escape valve.

This is not what I've heard from my Canadian friends. They like their healthcare. They have access to the care they need -- every Canadian does.

My parents lived in Canada for a few years and have many friends still there. My mom still talks about how she wishes our system was like Canada's.

Did she live there when she was young and healthy or as an older person who needed more medical care?

My mom is 87 and lives in Vancouver. My in laws are 88 and 96 and live just outside Vancouver. They wouldn’t trade their healthcare for anything offered in the US!

Americans have been completely duped into voting against their own interests for decades. We see it glaringly with Trump voters now, but we’ve all let the rich convince us that we don’t deserve things that we’ve paid for with our taxes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please explain this to me:


- The number of ACA individual market enrollees with no medical claims more than tripled from 2021 to 2024. Nearly 12 million enrollees had no medical claims during 2024—equal to 8 million enrollees on an annualized basis.

- A staggering 40 percent of enrollees in 94 percent actuarial value silver plans and bronze plans had no medical claims in 2024.

- The rise in phantom enrollees is absent in the small-group market, strongly suggesting it was driven by Biden’s COVID credits.

- Tens of billions in federal subsidies are flowing to insurers and brokers for phantom enrollees—people without a single doctor visit, prescription filled, or service received.

- This surge mirrors Paragon’s findings on improper enrollment, showing taxpayer dollars wasted on coverage for people not using the program.


Original article:

https://paragoninstitute.org/paragon-prognosis/the-rise-of-phantom-obamacare-enrollees-biden-covid-credits-drive-massive-increase-in-individual-market-enrollees-with-no-medical-claims/

Original raw data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, a GOVERNMENT organization:

https://www.cms.gov/files/document/enrolleeswithoutclaims-2019-24.xlsx

The only answer you will get from democrats is sit down, shut up and keep the tax dollars flowing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DP - Anyone who doesn't wish the US had a healthcare system like pretty much all other universal systems the rest of the developed world has is a fool. That's all. Or they've never gotten sick before, have kids or are just filthy rich. Anyone who has a family and lives like a mere mortal understands that no other developed country's healthcare system sucks as much as the US. This isn't even talking about the other scam that is vision and dental care!!

And this doesn’t even take in to account if you lose your job. We are paying over $1,300 a month for a family of three for medical (all healthy, no scripts or conditions). Yea- you could go cheaper but also risk wiping out life savings. And at a time when you’re already vulnerable and unemployed and scared. Don’t think it can happen to you- neither did we as fed contractors both cut through Doge. We’re also mid fifties and the job market is absolute sh!t. We’ve always lived modestly, saved and done all the things we were told as responsible adults. We’ve found PT work that doesn’t even cover the ACA plan we are on. I just don’t know where all this is heading but it truly feels hopeless.

DP and I’m so sorry to hear this. I’m a fed married to a contractor (both in our 40s with young kids) and this year has been so awful. We are both still employed (but don’t take any paycheck for granted these days). I have a number of friends/neighbors who have been DOGE’d and are either still looking for work, cobbling together part time gigs, and/or found work making much less than before. Some who are a bit older took early retirement and are now trying to figure out how to supplement (although at least they still get FEHB healthcare).

It sucks all around. And the hardest part of this is how unnecessary it all is. It’d be one thing if global market conditions out of anyone country’s control caused a recession. But half the country literally voted to destroy the lives of regular working people so that billionaires can become more rich and immigrants can be rounded up and treated worse than garbage.

[Anonymous]

The republicans are not focusing on air that’s drinkable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DP - Anyone who doesn't wish the US had a healthcare system like pretty much all other universal systems the rest of the developed world has is a fool. That's all. Or they've never gotten sick before, have kids or are just filthy rich. Anyone who has a family and lives like a mere mortal understands that no other developed country's healthcare system sucks as much as the US. This isn't even talking about the other scam that is vision and dental care!!

And this doesn’t even take in to account if you lose your job. We are paying over $1,300 a month for a family of three for medical (all healthy, no scripts or conditions). Yea- you could go cheaper but also risk wiping out life savings. And at a time when you’re already vulnerable and unemployed and scared. Don’t think it can happen to you- neither did we as fed contractors both cut through Doge. We’re also mid fifties and the job market is absolute sh!t. We’ve always lived modestly, saved and done all the things we were told as responsible adults. We’ve found PT work that doesn’t even cover the ACA plan we are on. I just don’t know where all this is heading but it truly feels hopeless.

DP and I’m so sorry to hear this. I’m a fed married to a contractor (both in our 40s with young kids) and this year has been so awful. We are both still employed (but don’t take any paycheck for granted these days). I have a number of friends/neighbors who have been DOGE’d and are either still looking for work, cobbling together part time gigs, and/or found work making much less than before. Some who are a bit older took early retirement and are now trying to figure out how to supplement (although at least they still get FEHB healthcare).

It sucks all around. And the hardest part of this is how unnecessary it all is. It’d be one thing if global market conditions out of anyone country’s control caused a recession. But half the country literally voted to destroy the lives of regular working people so that billionaires can become more rich and immigrants can be rounded up and treated worse than garbage.

Yep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please explain this to me:


- The number of ACA individual market enrollees with no medical claims more than tripled from 2021 to 2024. Nearly 12 million enrollees had no medical claims during 2024—equal to 8 million enrollees on an annualized basis.

- A staggering 40 percent of enrollees in 94 percent actuarial value silver plans and bronze plans had no medical claims in 2024.

- The rise in phantom enrollees is absent in the small-group market, strongly suggesting it was driven by Biden’s COVID credits.

- Tens of billions in federal subsidies are flowing to insurers and brokers for phantom enrollees—people without a single doctor visit, prescription filled, or service received.

- This surge mirrors Paragon’s findings on improper enrollment, showing taxpayer dollars wasted on coverage for people not using the program.


Original article:

https://paragoninstitute.org/paragon-prognosis/the-rise-of-phantom-obamacare-enrollees-biden-covid-credits-drive-massive-increase-in-individual-market-enrollees-with-no-medical-claims/

Original raw data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, a GOVERNMENT organization:

https://www.cms.gov/files/document/enrolleeswithoutclaims-2019-24.xlsx

The only answer you will get from democrats is sit down, shut up and keep the tax dollars flowing.

Yet Trump just gave tax dollars to Israel $150 billion to rebuild Gaza using only Israeli companies, 20 billion to Argentina(US farmers competition) and $100 billion to US farmers. Wonder how much of that will go in to Trump’s pocket?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please explain this to me:


- The number of ACA individual market enrollees with no medical claims more than tripled from 2021 to 2024. Nearly 12 million enrollees had no medical claims during 2024—equal to 8 million enrollees on an annualized basis.

- A staggering 40 percent of enrollees in 94 percent actuarial value silver plans and bronze plans had no medical claims in 2024.

- The rise in phantom enrollees is absent in the small-group market, strongly suggesting it was driven by Biden’s COVID credits.

- Tens of billions in federal subsidies are flowing to insurers and brokers for phantom enrollees—people without a single doctor visit, prescription filled, or service received.

- This surge mirrors Paragon’s findings on improper enrollment, showing taxpayer dollars wasted on coverage for people not using the program.


Original article:

https://paragoninstitute.org/paragon-prognosis/the-rise-of-phantom-obamacare-enrollees-biden-covid-credits-drive-massive-increase-in-individual-market-enrollees-with-no-medical-claims/

Original raw data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, a GOVERNMENT organization:

https://www.cms.gov/files/document/enrolleeswithoutclaims-2019-24.xlsx

The only answer you will get from democrats is sit down, shut up and keep the tax dollars flowing.

lots of folks don't go to the doctor. lots. stop being ridiculous. subsidies don't go into the pockets of recipients.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please explain this to me:


- The number of ACA individual market enrollees with no medical claims more than tripled from 2021 to 2024. Nearly 12 million enrollees had no medical claims during 2024—equal to 8 million enrollees on an annualized basis.

- A staggering 40 percent of enrollees in 94 percent actuarial value silver plans and bronze plans had no medical claims in 2024.

- The rise in phantom enrollees is absent in the small-group market, strongly suggesting it was driven by Biden’s COVID credits.

- Tens of billions in federal subsidies are flowing to insurers and brokers for phantom enrollees—people without a single doctor visit, prescription filled, or service received.

- This surge mirrors Paragon’s findings on improper enrollment, showing taxpayer dollars wasted on coverage for people not using the program.


Original article:

https://paragoninstitute.org/paragon-prognosis/the-rise-of-phantom-obamacare-enrollees-biden-covid-credits-drive-massive-increase-in-individual-market-enrollees-with-no-medical-claims/

Original raw data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, a GOVERNMENT organization:

https://www.cms.gov/files/document/enrolleeswithoutclaims-2019-24.xlsx

The only answer you will get from democrats is sit down, shut up and keep the tax dollars flowing.

Did you look a the Excel? The largest % is always from catastrophic plans. They wouldnt have claims because its only for catastrophic plans and the utilization rate of an adult under the age of 30 who buys a catastrophic plan is likely low anyways. They dont anticipate health needs so they are purchasing the lowest coverage.
If you notice the % of no claims decreases as the plan cost and coverage increases.
People may find it easier or less expensive to pay OOP for services even if they have "insurance". Claims are only submitted if they are billed to insurance. I am offered dental insurance at work but I dont take it. We pay OOP for dental because paying for normal preventative care at OOP rates is less or the same as premium coverage, without taking into account the additional copays. So for a family of 4 my dental coverage premium is 1368 but I can get two visits plus exam and treatment for my 2 kids at 300 per piece and 375 for each of the adults= 1350.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DP - Anyone who doesn't wish the US had a healthcare system like pretty much all other universal systems the rest of the developed world has is a fool. That's all. Or they've never gotten sick before, have kids or are just filthy rich. Anyone who has a family and lives like a mere mortal understands that no other developed country's healthcare system sucks as much as the US. This isn't even talking about the other scam that is vision and dental care!!

And this doesn’t even take in to account if you lose your job. We are paying over $1,300 a month for a family of three for medical (all healthy, no scripts or conditions). Yea- you could go cheaper but also risk wiping out life savings. And at a time when you’re already vulnerable and unemployed and scared. Don’t think it can happen to you- neither did we as fed contractors both cut through Doge. We’re also mid fifties and the job market is absolute sh!t. We’ve always lived modestly, saved and done all the things we were told as responsible adults. We’ve found PT work that doesn’t even cover the ACA plan we are on. I just don’t know where all this is heading but it truly feels hopeless.

DP and I’m so sorry to hear this. I’m a fed married to a contractor (both in our 40s with young kids) and this year has been so awful. We are both still employed (but don’t take any paycheck for granted these days). I have a number of friends/neighbors who have been DOGE’d and are either still looking for work, cobbling together part time gigs, and/or found work making much less than before. Some who are a bit older took early retirement and are now trying to figure out how to supplement (although at least they still get FEHB healthcare).

It sucks all around. And the hardest part of this is how unnecessary it all is. It’d be one thing if global market conditions out of anyone country’s control caused a recession. But half the country literally voted to destroy the lives of regular working people so that billionaires can become more rich and immigrants can be rounded up and treated worse than garbage.

Why are those immigrants here if Congress had valid laws on the books to vet them and not allow them in, in the first place?

[Anonymous]

Time to end the madness and stop the Schumer-shutdown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please explain this to me:


- The number of ACA individual market enrollees with no medical claims more than tripled from 2021 to 2024. Nearly 12 million enrollees had no medical claims during 2024—equal to 8 million enrollees on an annualized basis.

- A staggering 40 percent of enrollees in 94 percent actuarial value silver plans and bronze plans had no medical claims in 2024.

- The rise in phantom enrollees is absent in the small-group market, strongly suggesting it was driven by Biden’s COVID credits.

- Tens of billions in federal subsidies are flowing to insurers and brokers for phantom enrollees—people without a single doctor visit, prescription filled, or service received.

- This surge mirrors Paragon’s findings on improper enrollment, showing taxpayer dollars wasted on coverage for people not using the program.


Original article:

https://paragoninstitute.org/paragon-prognosis/the-rise-of-phantom-obamacare-enrollees-biden-covid-credits-drive-massive-increase-in-individual-market-enrollees-with-no-medical-claims/

Original raw data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, a GOVERNMENT organization:

https://www.cms.gov/files/document/enrolleeswithoutclaims-2019-24.xlsx

The only answer you will get from democrats is sit down, shut up and keep the tax dollars flowing.

lots of folks don't go to the doctor. lots. stop being ridiculous. subsidies don't go into the pockets of recipients.

Right, they go to the insurance companies, who are being accused of fraud in their enrollments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please explain this to me:


- The number of ACA individual market enrollees with no medical claims more than tripled from 2021 to 2024. Nearly 12 million enrollees had no medical claims during 2024—equal to 8 million enrollees on an annualized basis.

- A staggering 40 percent of enrollees in 94 percent actuarial value silver plans and bronze plans had no medical claims in 2024.

- The rise in phantom enrollees is absent in the small-group market, strongly suggesting it was driven by Biden’s COVID credits.

- Tens of billions in federal subsidies are flowing to insurers and brokers for phantom enrollees—people without a single doctor visit, prescription filled, or service received.

- This surge mirrors Paragon’s findings on improper enrollment, showing taxpayer dollars wasted on coverage for people not using the program.


Original article:

https://paragoninstitute.org/paragon-prognosis/the-rise-of-phantom-obamacare-enrollees-biden-covid-credits-drive-massive-increase-in-individual-market-enrollees-with-no-medical-claims/

Original raw data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, a GOVERNMENT organization:

https://www.cms.gov/files/document/enrolleeswithoutclaims-2019-24.xlsx

The only answer you will get from democrats is sit down, shut up and keep the tax dollars flowing.

Did you look a the Excel? The largest % is always from catastrophic plans. They wouldnt have claims because its only for catastrophic plans and the utilization rate of an adult under the age of 30 who buys a catastrophic plan is likely low anyways. They dont anticipate health needs so they are purchasing the lowest coverage.
If you notice the % of no claims decreases as the plan cost and coverage increases.
People may find it easier or less expensive to pay OOP for services even if they have "insurance". Claims are only submitted if they are billed to insurance. I am offered dental insurance at work but I dont take it. We pay OOP for dental because paying for normal preventative care at OOP rates is less or the same as premium coverage, without taking into account the additional copays. So for a family of 4 my dental coverage premium is 1368 but I can get two visits plus exam and treatment for my 2 kids at 300 per piece and 375 for each of the adults= 1350.

OK, now reread what you just wrote and tell me just how wonderful that system is.

That's a system rife with grifting and no feedback from the consumer. The premiums just go up and up. The service is poor and you get very little for your spending on ACA or health care in general.

BTW, many doctors offices won't even see or talk to you unless you have insurance. Did you know that?

You want to pay out of pocket? Sorry, we don't accept that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please explain this to me:


- The number of ACA individual market enrollees with no medical claims more than tripled from 2021 to 2024. Nearly 12 million enrollees had no medical claims during 2024—equal to 8 million enrollees on an annualized basis.

- A staggering 40 percent of enrollees in 94 percent actuarial value silver plans and bronze plans had no medical claims in 2024.

- The rise in phantom enrollees is absent in the small-group market, strongly suggesting it was driven by Biden’s COVID credits.

- Tens of billions in federal subsidies are flowing to insurers and brokers for phantom enrollees—people without a single doctor visit, prescription filled, or service received.

- This surge mirrors Paragon’s findings on improper enrollment, showing taxpayer dollars wasted on coverage for people not using the program.


Original article:

https://paragoninstitute.org/paragon-prognosis/the-rise-of-phantom-obamacare-enrollees-biden-covid-credits-drive-massive-increase-in-individual-market-enrollees-with-no-medical-claims/

Original raw data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, a GOVERNMENT organization:

https://www.cms.gov/files/document/enrolleeswithoutclaims-2019-24.xlsx

The only answer you will get from democrats is sit down, shut up and keep the tax dollars flowing.

Wow that’s fraud.

And Dems should pass cr and discuss this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please explain this to me:


- The number of ACA individual market enrollees with no medical claims more than tripled from 2021 to 2024. Nearly 12 million enrollees had no medical claims during 2024—equal to 8 million enrollees on an annualized basis.

- A staggering 40 percent of enrollees in 94 percent actuarial value silver plans and bronze plans had no medical claims in 2024.

- The rise in phantom enrollees is absent in the small-group market, strongly suggesting it was driven by Biden’s COVID credits.

- Tens of billions in federal subsidies are flowing to insurers and brokers for phantom enrollees—people without a single doctor visit, prescription filled, or service received.

- This surge mirrors Paragon’s findings on improper enrollment, showing taxpayer dollars wasted on coverage for people not using the program.


Original article:

https://paragoninstitute.org/paragon-prognosis/the-rise-of-phantom-obamacare-enrollees-biden-covid-credits-drive-massive-increase-in-individual-market-enrollees-with-no-medical-claims/

Original raw data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, a GOVERNMENT organization:

https://www.cms.gov/files/document/enrolleeswithoutclaims-2019-24.xlsx

The only answer you will get from democrats is sit down, shut up and keep the tax dollars flowing.

lots of folks don't go to the doctor. lots. stop being ridiculous. subsidies don't go into the pockets of recipients.

Don’t they go to insurance companies?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please explain this to me:


- The number of ACA individual market enrollees with no medical claims more than tripled from 2021 to 2024. Nearly 12 million enrollees had no medical claims during 2024—equal to 8 million enrollees on an annualized basis.

- A staggering 40 percent of enrollees in 94 percent actuarial value silver plans and bronze plans had no medical claims in 2024.

- The rise in phantom enrollees is absent in the small-group market, strongly suggesting it was driven by Biden’s COVID credits.

- Tens of billions in federal subsidies are flowing to insurers and brokers for phantom enrollees—people without a single doctor visit, prescription filled, or service received.

- This surge mirrors Paragon’s findings on improper enrollment, showing taxpayer dollars wasted on coverage for people not using the program.


Original article:

https://paragoninstitute.org/paragon-prognosis/the-rise-of-phantom-obamacare-enrollees-biden-covid-credits-drive-massive-increase-in-individual-market-enrollees-with-no-medical-claims/

Original raw data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, a GOVERNMENT organization:

https://www.cms.gov/files/document/enrolleeswithoutclaims-2019-24.xlsx

The only answer you will get from democrats is sit down, shut up and keep the tax dollars flowing.

lots of folks don't go to the doctor. lots. stop being ridiculous. subsidies don't go into the pockets of recipients.

Don’t they go to insurance companies?

Yep! That there have been record profits in the last few years is no coincidence.