... even if no one wanted it ...
I don't think that nobody wanted it. I think that many were very hopeful because it's clear that something needs to be done. Is the ACA the solution? As it stands, I don't believe it is. Still, anyone that thinks that our current system doesn't need some tweeking must be looking at something different than I and my friends are.
I know of two very good staunch republicans that are very happy that Obamacare passed. One has a daughter with some kind of kidney disease and she has been able to stay on his policy and will now be able to get her own policy when the time comes because they can't deny her anymore. Another has heart disease and has just been praying that nothing happened to him until he could get insurance.
This, exactly. Both of my children are Type 1 Diabetics. Eldest DD is 21 and was dx'd at 2yrs old. Younger is 18 and was dx'd at age 13 - and has just started on pills to prevent damage to her kidneys because despite our best efforts she's showing signs of early kidney disease. We're also waiting for results of a test that may indicate she has Addison's Disease.
Maybe I look at things differently than many other people, but then my circle of friends is largely made up of either dog people or parents of children with chronic disease. One of my friends just lost her 16yo DD to Cystic Fibrosis two weeks ago. (Purple for Colleen!) Her other daughter also has CF. I know that my friend has spent many nights worrying about how her children, now child, will pay to stay alive once she is off of their insurance. I can tell you that our monthly medical and pharmacy bill is equal to a mortgage payment. And I'm very thankful that I have insurance so I can afford, albeit with making sacrifices, to pay for my girls' care. I'm thankful that they can remain on our insurance until they are 26 and that they won't be denied coverage when they need to find their own. Yes, I know they will likely spend more. Still ... there is no way my children, or my friend's remaining daughter, could afford their meds/supplies/doctors without some kind of insurance. Their health care will never be less expensive. It's a fact. And I often wonder how people without some kind of insurance can afford to treat a chronic disease.
I'm not saying that it's right that those who had health insurance are looking at going without. It absolutely isn't. It's also not right that some people need insurance and are denied or can't afford it. My hope is that "affordable" will, with changes, become truly affordable. I also tend to think that if there were a little less hatred between the two sides, perhaps a viable solution could be figured out.
