While there are some provisions of the ACA that we support, including guaranteed coverage for those with pre-existing conditions and expanded coverage for children up to age 26, the current law (Obamacare) did nothing to reduce the overall cost of healthcare.–Tom Reed replying to a letter
Or consider the current GOP panic over health care. Many in the party seem shocked to learn that repealing any major part of Obamacare will cause tens of millions to lose insurance. Anyone who studied the issue could have told them years ago how the pieces of health reform fit together, and why. In fact, many of us did, repeatedly. But competent analysis wasn’t wanted. —Paul Krugman
Tom Reed’s letters follow a set format:
- Thank you for taking the time to contact me.
- I appreciate hearing from you .
- Tom gives his views, ignoring yours.
- I care about your thoughts. They are important to me and they help me to better represent you.
Tom seldom if ever refers to anything his constituent mentioned, rather he corrects his constituent by giving his own views, which are more often ill-founded than not.
In response to a letter on Obamacare, Tom wrote:
The skyrocketing costs of healthcare for families under the current system has made repealing this law, and replacing it with a more affordable, patient centered system, a top priority.
Obamacare is designed to keep costs down, a fact which Tom refuses to recognize. While the popular benefits that Tom does recognize, coverage for college aid students such as his own children for example, are important, they aren’t major reasons for Obamacare.
Published in Forbes
Whether Obamacare has succeeded in keeping costs down is subject to debate, but the claim that costs have “skyrocketed” is false. The chart shows that cost increases have trended downward since Obamacare was enacted.
Towers Watson
Here is another chart that makes the same point. When Tom claims that Obamacare “did nothing to reduce the overall cost of healthcare,” tell him that cost increases are down since 2008 and ask him for proof of his claims.
Tom wrote:
The skyrocketing costs of healthcare for families under the current system has made repealing this law (Obamacare), and replacing it with a more affordable, patient centered system, a top priority.
Republicans can’t agree on a plan to replace Obamacare, let alone one to improve it. When Tom talks about “a more affordable, patient centered system,” ask him to explain what he means by that. If he claims that “market forces” will keep cost increases down, ask why that hasn’t worked in the past.
If healthcare is discussed at Tom’s meetings on Saturday, February 18, expect Tom to claim:
- He hears nothing but complaints about Obamacare.
- Obamacare has failed to keep costs low.
- He favors some popular but relatively unimportant benefits such as guaranteed coverage for those with preexisting conditions and expanded coverage for children up to age 26.
- That some indefinite “patient centered system” will be better.
- Republicans will have a plan real soon now.
Please ask him to explain why he thinks so.
http://www.factcheck.org/2015/02/slower-premium-growth-under-obama/
https://www.towerswatson.com/en/Press/2015/10/rate-of-increase-in-health-care-costs-in-2015
New NY 23rd 
I received the same form letter (actually, form email) after calling and emailing Reed about supporting the ACA. Thanks for posting those charts. I’m planning to go to Reed’s town hall meeting in Filmore Saturday and that info will come in handy.
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Thanks for your comment David; I wish you success. It isn’t easy to discuss a complex issue like healthcare in the context of a public meeting. Tom is a master of half-truth. He may claim that he hears nothing from constituents but complaints about insurance premiums increasing, which he blames on Obamacare. Of course costs were increasing before Obamacare was enacted, which was an important reason for Obamacare. One simple message is: “I like Obamacare and want to keep it.” Another is to ask how a GOP plan, however unlikely to be enacted, would be better.
The Allen town hall probably has limited seating. Reed will be sure to have a crowd of supporters there early. Please let us know how it goes.
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