S4 E3: Obamacare, Neil Gorsuch & Immigration: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

26 Aug 2024 (3 months ago)

Trump Administration Actions

Donald Trump visited the Museum of African-American history and culture and promised to unite a divided country. (51s)
The Trump Administration announced plans to increase deportations of illegal immigrants. (1m0s)
Trump withdrew Federal guidelines on transgender bathroom use in public schools. (3m9s)

Republicans strongly opposed the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare), believing it would have irreversibly negative consequences for the country. (6m34s)
The Affordable Care Act has faced criticism, with some, like the woman in the video, disliking its association with former President Obama. (10m54s)
The Affordable Care Act has been subject to misinformation, with some, like Bill Akin, falsely claiming it includes "death panels" for people over 74. (11m51s)
Insurance companies decide whether to offer plans through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in the upcoming year. (13m58s)
A House Republican advertisement claims a new healthcare plan will provide more choices, better care, and lower costs without disrupting existing coverage. (14m10s)
Tom Price, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, proposed tax credits of $1,200 for individuals aged 18 to 35 and $3,000 for those aged 50 and above to purchase health insurance. (17m50s)

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) function as tax shelters, primarily benefiting wealthy individuals. For those who are unable to save or experience significant medical expenses, HSAs offer insufficient coverage. (19m7s)
Paul Ryan advocates for block grants as a funding mechanism for Medicaid, which serves the poorest Americans. This approach replaces the guarantee of covering a percentage of each state's Medicaid costs with a fixed sum. If healthcare expenses increase and the block grant fails to keep pace, coverage could be jeopardized. (20m4s)
High-risk pools, intended to lower insurance costs for the general population, separate individuals with pre-existing conditions into their own insurance group. However, these pools require substantial government subsidies to remain affordable. Tom Price has allocated $3 billion over three years for high-risk pools, a significantly lower amount than the estimated $178 billion needed annually. (21m10s)
People will be able to purchase private health insurance plans and negotiate their own terms. (24m33s)

John Elliot, a WCBS 2 meteorologist, has a nephew who is friends with author John Grisham's son. (25m7s)
Neil Gorsuch, President Trump's nominee for the Supreme Court, is being compared to a lobster because his nomination is considered a "historical aberration." (27m45s)