Congressman Sandy Levin is getting hammered on Twitter
for apparently saying that those who are losing their health insurance coverage
in the individual market due to Obamare are “transitioning” to new policies
that meet new standards.
for apparently saying that those who are losing their health insurance coverage
in the individual market due to Obamare are “transitioning” to new policies
that meet new standards.
Conservative critics, including Michelle Malkin, have
sent tweets ridiculing Levin’s description of the loss of insurance reportedly experienced by millions of people under the Affordable Care Act.
sent tweets ridiculing Levin’s description of the loss of insurance reportedly experienced by millions of people under the Affordable Care Act.
The Royal Oak Democrat’s remarks came at the House Ways
and Means Committee hearing this morning. Republican members of the committee
came armed with numerous anecdotes about people who have seen their policy
cancelled and now face big premium hikes are large deductibles as an alternative.
and Means Committee hearing this morning. Republican members of the committee
came armed with numerous anecdotes about people who have seen their policy
cancelled and now face big premium hikes are large deductibles as an alternative.
Marilyn Tavenner, head of the Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services, apologized to the panel for the disastrous launch of healthcare.gov.
Medicaid Services, apologized to the panel for the disastrous launch of healthcare.gov.
“I want to apologize to [the American people] that the website has not worked
as well as it should,” she said. “We know how desperately you need affordable
coverage… this initial experience has not lived up to our expectations or the
expectations of the American people and it is not acceptable,” said Tavenner,
whose CMS agency has overseen the Obamacare website project.
Levin, the ranking Democrat on the committee, defended
the administration and said that similar rollout problems were experienced with
Medicare Part D during the Bush years. In the states that were cooperative and
opted for their own online exchanges, he added, the websites are working well.
the administration and said that similar rollout problems were experienced with
Medicare Part D during the Bush years. In the states that were cooperative and
opted for their own online exchanges, he added, the websites are working well.
“We
start this hearing facing a basic reality: Democrats want to make the
Affordable Care Act work. Congressional Republicans don’t. That reality
has been reflected in 40-plus efforts by Republicans to repeal, dismantle or
defund the Affordable Care Act,” said Levin, who represents most of Macomb
County.
start this hearing facing a basic reality: Democrats want to make the
Affordable Care Act work. Congressional Republicans don’t. That reality
has been reflected in 40-plus efforts by Republicans to repeal, dismantle or
defund the Affordable Care Act,” said Levin, who represents most of Macomb
County.
“That
reality was reflected in their zeal shutting down the government and
jeopardizing the full faith and credit of our nation, damaging our nation’s
global standing and leading to enduring harm, costing our economy $24 billion,
tens of thousands of jobs, and a dramatic drop in consumer confidence.”
reality was reflected in their zeal shutting down the government and
jeopardizing the full faith and credit of our nation, damaging our nation’s
global standing and leading to enduring harm, costing our economy $24 billion,
tens of thousands of jobs, and a dramatic drop in consumer confidence.”
According to The Hill, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp, a Midland
Republican, countered that Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen
Sebelius told his committee “a dozen times that the administration would be
ready” for the Oct. 1 enrollment launch.
“We now know this administration was not ready,” he said, adding that if CMS
had been more transparent about the problems it faced in the run-up, “many of
these glitches could have been avoided.”
According to The Washington Times, Camp said the reports
from Michigan indicate that the state’s actual enrollees could probably fit in
his office. As for CMS complaints about a rushed timeframe for the
healthcare.gov project, Camp concluded: “Frankly, three years should have been
enough.” he said in his opening statement.
from Michigan indicate that the state’s actual enrollees could probably fit in
his office. As for CMS complaints about a rushed timeframe for the
healthcare.gov project, Camp concluded: “Frankly, three years should have been
enough.” he said in his opening statement.
