An explanation of the Affordable Care Act that’s simple enough for a five-year-old to understand

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redditor captainpixystick explains the Affordable Care Act to you like you’re five.

Bob: Hi, insurance company. I’d like to buy some health insurance.
Insurance company: No. You had cancer when you were 3 years old, and the cancer could come back. We’re not selling you health insurance.
Bob: It’s not my fault I got cancer when I was three! Besides, that was years ago!
Insurance company: If we sell insurance to you, we’ll probably lose money, and we’re not doing it.
Bob: But I need insurance more than anyone! My cancer might come back!
Insurance company: We don’t care. We’re not selling you insurance.
Obama: Hey, that’s totally not fair. Bob is right, he does need insurance! Sell Bob some insurance.
Insurance company: If we have to, I guess.
Mary: This is cool. Obama said the insurance company has to sell insurance to anyone who needs it.
Sam: Hey, I have an idea. I’m going to stop paying for health insurance. If I get sick, I can always go buy some insurance then. The insurance company won’t be able to say no, because Obama’s told them they have to sell it to anyone who needs it!
Dave: that’s a great idea! I’m not paying for health insurance either, at least not until I get sick.
Insurance company: Hey! If everyone stops paying for insurance, we’ll go bankrupt!
Obama: Oh come on Sam and Dave, that’s not fair either.
Dave: I don’t care. It saves me money.
Obama: Oh for god’s sake. Sam, Dave, you have to keep paying for health insurance, and not wait until you’re sick. You too, Mary and Bob.
Mary: But I’m broke! I can’t buy insurance! I just don’t have any money.
Obama: Mary, show me your piggy bank. Oh, wow, you really are broke. Ok, tell you what. You still have to buy insurance, but I’ll help you pay 95% of the cost.
Mary: thank you.
Obama: I need an aspirin.
Insurance company: We’re not paying for that aspirin.

Source: reddit.com (via: wilwheaton)

6 thoughts on “An explanation of the Affordable Care Act that’s simple enough for a five-year-old to understand”

  1. A better solution might be to outlaw health insurance.

    Or charge everyone a different rate, sort of like automobile insurance.

  2. I’m wondering how outlawing health insurance would work, though, with the high health care costs we have. I’ve heard people say it would be better if we just paid for our health care directly…I’m not so sure I could afford an inpatient hospital stay, for instance.

  3. A better solution might be to have the federal government guarantee payment to doctors and hospitals, thereby making private insurance unnecessary, and giving us all a sense of security. Oh, wait, that’s what they do in those crazy socialist countries like Canada, Sweden, Denmark and Norway. What was I thinking……

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