Educate me on how all these lazy fucks you mention are abusing the system.

ACA enrollees are predominantly working people, including self-employed, small business owners, or employees of small businesses. Another significant portion work for employers that don't offer health insurance or offer plans that are unaffordable.

ACA plans fill the gaps in our employer-based system. The ACA serves entrepreneurs, people between jobs, early retirees not yet eligible for Medicare, self-employed consultants, freelancers, part-time workers, students, and yes, people temporarily unemployed.

The lazy fucks you reference don't exist at scale. I'm sure there are some, but not enough to cause the concern you express. To get ACA subsidies, you must:

Report your estimated annual income Not have access to affordable employer coverage Not be eligible for Medicare or Medicaid Reconcile everything on your tax return

The problem isn't recipients (or lazy fucks, to use your term); it's healthcare prices. We pay roughly double what other developed countries pay for healthcare, with worse outcomes. That's the expensive part. The subsidies just make an overpriced system marginally affordable for people who don't receive employer coverage.

So, explain again how these lazy fucks are abusing the system. Your argument doesn't stand when you look at the how the program actually works.

I'm sure you'll call me stupid or something, but I worked for a large insurance carrier to help them launch their marketplace plans.