Obamacare has many unwritten provisions that will affect Americans in ways that have not yet been determined, Nick Tate, the author of a book on the 2,700-page law, tells Newsmax TV in an exclusive interview.
“For example, the law will create an independent payment advisory board that’s beyond the reach of Congress and the White House that will make recommendations on Medicare cuts that could lead to what critics have called ‘death panels’ that could affect care for seniors,” Tate, an award-winning journalist and editor, tells Newsmax. “In addition to laying out in the book what we know is coming, we also break out what might be coming in terms of impacts on various people.”
Watch the exclusive interview here.
Tate’s book is entitled “Obamacare Survival Guide: The Affordable Care Act and What It Means for You and Your Healthcare.” It is the first comprehensive guide to what is formally known as The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which was signed into law by President Barack Obama in March 2010.
Editor's Note: New 'Obamacare Survival Guide' Reveals Dangers Ahead for Your Healthcare - Save $15 — Click Here.
This past June, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a controversial 5-to-4 decision, upheld Obamacare.
Within one week after its release earlier this month, “Obamacare Survival Guide” shot up to No. 48 among all books on Amazon.com — and it was No. 1 in several Amazon categories. It is now No. 21 among all books on the site.
Tate has written extensively about health and consumer affairs issues. After a fellowship at the Harvard School of Public Health, he wrote “The Sick Building Syndrome.” His work has also appeared in the Miami Herald, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Boston Herald, and other publications.
The Supreme Court’s decision, in which conservative Chief Justice John Roberts reversed himself to align himself with the court’s liberal wing, to uphold Obamacare is what ultimately led to the book.
“It is 500 provisions, 2,700 pages – and I don’t think it’s an overstatement to say that it will affect virtually every American in this country,” Tate said. “Fundamentally changes the way healthcare is delivered, and we wanted to provide a road map to let you know what’s coming your way and what you can do about it.
“We’ve written this book as a reference for really everybody who’s going to be touched by this law – or whether you’re a senior on Medicare, whether you’re a college student, self-employed, working for a large or small company or have a preexisting condition.”
Perhaps the greatest changes brought by Obamacare are the individual mandate and the uncontrolled costs for insurance required by the law, Tate said.
“The average American is now going to have to have health insurance whether he wants or she wants it or not. The individual mandate says by 2014, everyone will have to have insurance. So about 37 million Americans who don’t have it now will have it.
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“Because there are no price controls in this law, there’s nothing that’s going to hold down the cost of that healthcare and health insurance,” Tate added. “Costs have been rising. They’re projected to rise over the next 10 years – and nothing will keep insurers from passing those premium hikes onto you.
“So, the likelihood is that, yes, we will all have insurance – but it’s going to cost us all a lot more.”
While those who are currently uninsured will benefit from the new law, large businesses and seniors on Medicare will be affected the most, Tate said. “You’re likely to like this law if you’re uninsured, if you have a pre-existing condition or if you’re an independent contractor.
“But big businesses are going to take a big hit. Anybody who employs 50 or more employees is going to have to cover their employees or they’re going to have to pay a penalty. Everyone is going to have to have health insurance, so it’s going to cost people money that they haven’t had to have before.
“For seniors on Medicare, they are going to have to absorb the cost of about $716 billion in cuts over the next 10 years to insurers, to doctors and to hospitals,” Tate added. “Many people believe that that’s going to have an effect on the benefits and on the care that seniors get.”
Even though Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has promised to repeal Obamacare if he is elected president, the book still remains an important guide to understanding the law.
“The recommendations of the book are still solid,” Tate said. “The Republicans are hoping that Mitt will in fact take the White House and that the Republicans will gain enough Senate seats to repeal and replace Obamacare.
“But many of the provisions are already in place, and many more are going to roll out in the just the next 15 months. People need to know what’s in the law, even if they are modified in the way that they are implemented and funded, so were hoping that the book provides a road map to help them do that.”
Editor's Note: New 'Obamacare Survival Guide' Reveals Dangers Ahead for Your Healthcare - Save $15 — Click Here.
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