Health Care Thoughts: Essential Benefit Regulations

Bear in mind that Medicare, built in 1965 without robust computing technology and the like, took less than a year to build, with 19 million enrolled at the outset ( see link below). When you add up all the exchange architecture, and the calculations for subsidies, and the need to explain eligibility and attract new customers (which means call centers and perhaps telemarketers), it becomes maddening. It becomes a bloated, graceless machine out of Rube Goldberg’s worst nightmare. It’s a far cry from “turn 65, sign up for Medicare, pay a premium.” The antiquated federal IT systems can handle the latter. It appears clear they cannot handle the former.

We know now that something called “Obamacare” will exist. We don’t know how well it will work.

http://seniorhealth.about.com/library/medicare/blmcmilestones.htm