FT columnist Edward Luce writes that Obamacare is only a modest beginning. There are about 50 million uninsured today. These numbers will be reduced by an estimated 20m-23m by the end of Obama’s second term of office, assuming that he is reelected and assuming that all states cooperate. The states administer Medicaid (healthcare for the poor), and the Supreme Court last week said that they have a right to opt out of the part of Obama’s law that reduces the number of uninsured by expanding Medicaid subsidies.
If put into practice, Obamacare would turn America’s byzantine healthcare system into something more humane and hopefully less expensive. It would also make it even more byzantine. Within the foreseeable future, however, it seems unlikely it would radically transform things.
Last week Mr Obama won a famous battle. He was right to celebrate. But the war is still some way off from a conclusion.
Edward Luce, “Obama healthcare war will rage on“, Financial Times, 2 July 2012.
