At this point in my life, I have a good employer healthcare plan which covers me, my wife, and 24 year old son. I consider myself in the ranks of the very fortunate, and if my premium rises (legitimately) because of the cost of the ACA, I am happy to contribute more. I especially say this because I know at least two people who have directly and materially benefited from it. Please follow below for the real life stories of two very happy Obamacare recipients!
Story # 1
I had a friend of 30+ years over a few weeks ago whom I hadn't seen in about 20 yrs., and we were catching up. He was involuntarily "retired" about 3 yrs. ago and has to purchase health insurance on the open market. Because of a pre-existing condition he is (was!!) virtually uninsurable and his policy with a major insurer was costing him and his wife $1700/month. After the ACA policies came on the market he shopped around and got a better policy with the SAME company for $700/mo. Now tell me who wouldn't want to have an extra $1000 in the bank every month?
I should note that I live in Virginia, which although now virtually blue on a statewide level, has a Republican governor who has refused to implement any part of the ACA, including the expansion of Medicaid. So, for him, he was able to get this policy through an insurance broker whom he had dealt with for several years. He did not even wait for the exchange to come up.
Story # 2
My brother in law has just moved to VA. He has a progressive disease that has left him permanently disabled but he is not yet eligible for Medicare. He had health insurance in Massachusetts but when he moved here, he lost it, and again, thanks to our governor, he did not have a lot of options in VA. So, shortly after the exchanges opened, he tried to sign up, with (unfortunately) predictable results. So, after about a couple of weeks he picked up the phone and called. Guess what? He almost immediately got a live voice on the line, signed up, and the best part: because of his income level (none) he will get a policy at NO COST. Moreover (and I'm not totally sure how this works) he says he will get a further credit at the end of the year.
I am really hoping that true anecdotes like this become the prevailing narrative instead of the astroturfed BS we are being fed on a daily basis from the disloyal opposition.