This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.
The original was posted on /r/antiwork by /u/Anstigmat on 2025-10-03 00:34:56+00:00.
I think that both Democrats and Republicans have proven over the years that they have no interest in moving this country away from our predatory and morally outrageous insurance based healthcare system.
Right now the shutdown fight is over extending the ACA 'expanded' subsides so that millions of people who use the exchanges do not face truly massive hikes in the cost of their insurance.
To give you an example, this is happening to me. I am 41 and my wife is 42. We are small business owners. We are far from poor but very far from rich. Really we're just over the 'fiscal cliff' in earnings, which means our subsidies will go to 0 next year. That also means our premiums will go from being $600/mo to $1600 roughly, which is nearly 20% of our household income. And by the way, this is a BRONZE catastrophic plan, with a $15k deductible. Older people under the medicare age have it so much worse. It's unaffordable and we may go without insurance next year.
I believe we need to crash the insurance markets nationwide to force Washington to act. This is not the ideal time, with fascists in office. However, people are motivated to fight this administration and the status quo, so possibly, it's a great time. If Democrats held power in DC people may get complacent, only to be let down in the end, yet again.
Similar to a hunger strike, I believe young and healthy people should decline getting health insurance even if their job offers it. It should be a national movement with clearly publicized goals. I believe those goals should be clear in defining the problem, but vague in demanding specifics. It is up to our elected representatives to work with experts to solve this problem, and trying to pick a specific healthcare system, i.e. Bernie's plan or Elizabeth Warren's etc, would only lead to infighting and partisanship. What we know is that the system is badly broken and we're tired of waiting. I want our elected leaders to come up with something better, not internet commenters. Let's see those 'concepts of a plan', Mr. Trump.
I am 41, as I said. Clinton tried to reform healthcare in the 90s when I was a child, and failed. Obama passed the ACA when I was in my 20s, but the law is currently failing to live up to the spirit of its expectations, i.e. provide 'affordable' care. We all only have one life to live, and I don't think we should wait any longer.
I believe that the insurance markets will not survive more than one quarter of a true national protest. If we can get national attention from the media, it will encourage legislators in Washington to actually take this problem seriously. If we crash the insurance markets, they will be forced to act.
After years of voting for Democrats and getting marginal progress, I believe it's up to people to force the issue. I think we should call the movement "Lost Patients". It's not something to take lightly, but I consider it like a hunger strike. There are risks. But as it stands we're all one bad diagnosis away from abject poverty or bankruptcy. I don't see how striking is significantly different, and hospitals still must treat you for emergencies.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I am really inspired by the No Kings movement and the turnout there, and I want to focus on a specific policy goal that I think most Americans understand is completely broken.
EDIT*** A few people are calling me crazy. Keep in mind that if the enhanced subsidies don't pass next year, roughly 4 million people are already expected to lose access to insurance due to cost burdens. There will be far far more kicked off Medicaid. For Millions of Americans, they're already part of the protest whether they want to be or not. I think they'd appreciate your solidarity.
