Obama/Romney 'Obamacare' - The Facts...

Since the Supreme Court announced the decision on the Affordable Care Act, both sides, left and right have made several claims about what the ACA does or doesn't do.

Naureen Khan of the National Review looks at a few of the most common claims:

A preview:

CAMPAIGN 2012

Obama, Romney, 'Obamacare' and the Facts

In the spinfest after the Supreme Court ruling, the presidential candidates are straying.

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By Naureen Khan

Updated: June 29, 2012 | 9:43 p.m.
June 29, 2012 | 4:13 p.m.

The Romney and Obama campaigns have gone into spin overdrive since the Supreme Court decision upholding the Affordable Care Act. So what holds up to the facts and what doesn’t?

Three nonpartisan fact-checking outfits—FactCheck.org, Politifact, and The Fact Checker (The Washington Post’s Glenn Kessler)—have done extensive research on various health care claims that have surfaced for the last two years. Here’s a guide to their findings on what you have heard from the presidential candidates about the ruling, and are likely to hear many times again before Election Day:

1. If you like your health insurance plan, you can keep it under the Affordable Care Act.

One of President Obama’s go-to points is that the Affordable Care Act won’t change things for Americans who like their current health insurance plan. On Thursday, in response to the Court’s decision, Obama reiterated, “If you’re one of the more than 250 million Americans who already have health insurance, you will keep your health insurance.”

That will be true for most people. But, as Factcheck.org points out, nothing in the Affordable Care Act prevents employers from switching their coverage plans just as they could do before. Also, some of the 30 million Americans who purchase their own insurance may have to change providers if their plan does not meet minimum benefit standards.

In addition, while the law requires employers to pay a penalty if they do not offer insurance, they might pay it because they prefer that their employees purchase insurance through the federally subsidized exchanges. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates the law may result in "a small reduction" in the number of people who receive employer-provided insurance.

2. The Affordable Care Act will add trillions to the deficit.

Numerous leading Republicans have said this over and over again, presenting the health care law as another budget-busting initiative by the Obama administration in the same vein... 

Click here to read the entire article: 

Source: http://www.nationaljournal.com/2012-presidential-campaign/obama-romney-obamacare-and-the-facts-20120629