The biggest net successes of the ACA are basically...

[Bread and Circus]

The expansion of the eligibility of medicaid, elimination of denials of coverage due to pre-existing conditions, and guaranteed free appropriate screening tests.

In other words, stuff that resembles a common sense single payer system.

The other parts of the ACA, such as the subsidizing of the for-profit insurance industry and the exchange system plans with massive deductibles which are the only plans that people can actually afford is a mixed bag and often just a crappy deal.

And that the ACA has done very little (??? anything ???) to reign in crazy drug prices is a huge failure.

Yes it is an improvement but mainly in the areas that resemble a single payer system.

So anyone trying to preserve the ACA over a single payer system is just selling the average American short.

Anyone who believes a single payer system would be better but wants to "give up" the fight is either a coward or a quitter.

[Warren Stupidity]

1. I'd add "dishonest" to the attributes of many

arguing against single payer.

[Gregorian]

2. Bernie said he wants to compliment the ACA with new programs, but not eliminate it.

That was in a talk with Cornell West, if I recall. I don't know what he meant, but I guessed it was like saying it is a process.

[m-lekktor]

3. Well, we can't be messing with the profits of campaign contributors! nt

[HassleCat]

4. Unless...

We're talking significant improvements to the ACA, stuff that would really change it quite a bit. ACA is a good first step, but a small first step.

[JoePhilly]

5. Keep expanding the ACA until it is single payer.

Try to repeal it, I'm out.

[firebrand80]

6. I think it's done much more

In my mind, the ACA stands for the principle that the government has a role to play in making sure that all people have access to health insurance.

It doesn't fully accomplish that goal of course, but it sets a course toward universal coverage.

[Clayguy61]

7. More than little Success

While I favor Medicare for all over Obamacare, I cannot seeing Medicare for All being passed and voted on. It would require a landslide election with Democrats taking both the House and Senate for single payer to be a reality. Even with landslide elections it will be hard to add a public option-which we should try. The ACA has added 11.2 million people purchasing health insurance then there are about 13.50 additions with Medicare expansion. This law has also kept about 3 million young adults on their parents policy. The ACA is a big deal and it is working-not the best. Trust me with our 5 different health care systems we are not efficient. To say Obamacare has done very little is not true.

http://www.acasignups.com/

[Old Codger]

8. The ACA

Has done a lot for previously uninsurable people but has not done very little to help control health care costs... Gave a lot of money to insurance companies and hospitals but in real figures has not lowered health care costs much if at all stil can go bankrupt and lose everything if you get seriously ill...

[Bread and Circus]

9. A lot, ? most, of the millions getting health care is actually them getting a medicaid plan.

That's what I see. It is basic "single payer" for poor people... which actually works.

If you get medicaid it is actually awesome insurance and better than what most people pay for.

[malokvale77]

12. Except for...

the part where they can take anything you own, to recover costs, when you die.

[Bread and Circus]

13. point me to that law where that is written. i have never heard such a thing.

[malokvale77]

16. Several articles at this link.

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=medicaid+reimbursement+at+death

or google - medicaid reimbursement at death

[baldguy]

10. The ACA is an important first step. We should build on it & improve one it.

We shouldn't be campaigning to give the GOP a victory & throw it away.

When Social Security started, it only paid benefits to the elderly, widows and orphans. It was slowly expanded over decades to eventually cover everyone. It would have been incredibly foolish to try and start from scratch whenever we wanted to expand the program. Doing so would have given Social Security's enemies the opportunity to eliminate it several times over.

[snot]

11. Bearing in mind, too, the people still hurting in states that rejected the Medicaid expansion. (nt)

[Live and Learn]

14. Those were important successes but we CAN DO even better. Go Bernie!! nt