Will the new congress actually institute affordable HEALTH INSURANCE for all Americans? If not, why not?

The affordability part will come from infusing health care with free-market principles. There are the same principles that make every other product and service in your life more affordable, flexible, efficient, abundant, accountable and attentive than any other government alternative.

The problem is, once a people have become dependent on government as the people, it's hard to wean them from government, in this case, a non-government system that will benefit all better in the long run. It's dealing with the short-run effects Congress will soon be struggling to deal with.

Probably not. The Democrat's version of affordable health care clearly wasn't affordable so I suspect we'll have to redefine what we mean by 'health care' or 'affordable.' The best thing would be to figure out a way to get more competition in both health care and health insurance.

They won't. Their top priority is the profits of the insurance companies, NOT available and affordable health care. They work for their sponsors in the health insurance industry, NOT the people of the US. That's true of the Democrats as well as the Republicans. I mean, even Obamacare was designed to enhance profits.

Besides that, the Republicans are desperate to destroy Obama's legacy. 90% of opposition to Obamacare is really just opposition to Obama. It doesn't matter if it works or not, or if it's better than what we had before, Republicans just want it GONE.

The only way they could do that is to have government run insurance. They are telling us they will keep the parts we like and eliminate the mandate, but the mandate is what made private insurance companies agree to the 'good' parts because it increased the insured pool. They can't change that basic fact. What they might do, is change a few words, declare it new and improved, and try and fool us into thinking it is.

What is laughable is to believe that a free market in a resource like healthcare produces better results than a system of healthcare provided by the Government - like police and fire-fighting. The country should provide it's citizens with healthcare - no insurance - no bills, no invoices etc. If you don't like the doctors, hospitals that your taxes provide - pay for a private doctor or hospital.

Short-term solutions:

1. Lower age for Medicare to 60. (higher premiums from 60-65 ) Removes major cost to employer healthcare plans.

2. Negotiate drug prices and set a maximum that medicaid will pay for any drug used.

3. Make each state vote on continuing or ending Obamacare for their inhabitants. Why does this have to be a national debate - California likes Obamacare and we will keep it - with or without Federal help.

4. Make hospitals and clinics post their prices for medical procedures - and make the price include all services provided as a lump sum for that procedure.

Obamacare already made it unaffordable. It'll be a long time before insurance stops being a huge drain on your income.

The is nothing affordable about terrific health care. It is very expensive and only the very rich can afford such care.

no. insurance is the wrong subject. that's all about who pays, not about improving health or reducing cost.