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| Heritage.org, which laid the groundwork for Obamacare two decades ago, now claims it will cause premiums to skyrocket. |
“If you are among
the many Americans who have bought into the fear and loathing that has been the
campaign against Obamacare, you just might wish to reconsider. With every
passing day, the various myths, legends and lies put forward by those with a
political axe to grind, TV or radio rating to be raised, or vote to be
purchased, are falling victim to the facts.”
the many Americans who have bought into the fear and loathing that has been the
campaign against Obamacare, you just might wish to reconsider. With every
passing day, the various myths, legends and lies put forward by those with a
political axe to grind, TV or radio rating to be raised, or vote to be
purchased, are falling victim to the facts.”
–Rick Ungar, Forbes magazine columnist
The above quote was part of Ungar’s recent apology to his readers
for being so wrong in predicting a rapid rise in health insurance premiums under Obamacare. The health
care rates announced in California by the 13 insurance companies that will be
participating in the state’s online exchange proved to be far lower than Obamacare critics had expected.
for being so wrong in predicting a rapid rise in health insurance premiums under Obamacare. The health
care rates announced in California by the 13 insurance companies that will be
participating in the state’s online exchange proved to be far lower than Obamacare critics had expected.
“Setting aside the never-ending nonsense peddled by the
opponents of healthcare reform, everyone from the Congressional Budget Office
to numerous private actuaries have warned that premium shock could be expected
to set in once the public began to see the reality of what Obamacare would mean
to their pocketbooks,” Ungar wrote. “And yet, the only real jolt to the system
being felt by these public and private prognosticators today is utter amazement
over just how reasonable the California prices have turned out to be.”
opponents of healthcare reform, everyone from the Congressional Budget Office
to numerous private actuaries have warned that premium shock could be expected
to set in once the public began to see the reality of what Obamacare would mean
to their pocketbooks,” Ungar wrote. “And yet, the only real jolt to the system
being felt by these public and private prognosticators today is utter amazement
over just how reasonable the California prices have turned out to be.”
The reason the rates on the California Covered exchange are
so low is that the market forces at work drove down prices as insurers jockey
for bigger market share in a state where Obamacare may add 2 million customers
for the companies.
so low is that the market forces at work drove down prices as insurers jockey
for bigger market share in a state where Obamacare may add 2 million customers
for the companies.
In a big, diverse state where some commentators thought
the exchange would never work properly, it is instead working exactly as the
architects of Obamacare intended. Similar results have been found in Oregon and Washington State.
the exchange would never work properly, it is instead working exactly as the
architects of Obamacare intended. Similar results have been found in Oregon and Washington State.
Liberals are eager to point this out, and they note that
in states without Republican obstructionists, the Affordable Care Act seems
like it will be a success. Among the lefties who predict a Red/Blue State
divide over Obamacare implementation that will damage the GOP is New York Times
columnist Paul Krugman.
in states without Republican obstructionists, the Affordable Care Act seems
like it will be a success. Among the lefties who predict a Red/Blue State
divide over Obamacare implementation that will damage the GOP is New York Times
columnist Paul Krugman.
Krugman wrote that the Republican “sabotage” also extends
to states (such as Michigan) where state lawmakers have blocked
Medicaid expansion. Regardless of the subsidized rates offered on the
exchange, some of the uninsured population cannot afford even the cheapest
health care policy. Without a federally financed expansion of Medicaid
eligibility, Krugman wrote, those people will be left out in the cold.
to states (such as Michigan) where state lawmakers have blocked
Medicaid expansion. Regardless of the subsidized rates offered on the
exchange, some of the uninsured population cannot afford even the cheapest
health care policy. Without a federally financed expansion of Medicaid
eligibility, Krugman wrote, those people will be left out in the cold.
Krugman concluded: “Still, here’s what it seems is about
to happen: millions of Americans will suddenly gain health coverage, and
millions more will feel much more secure knowing that such coverage is
available if they lose their jobs or suffer other misfortunes. Only a relative
handful of people will be hurt at all. And as contrasts emerge between the
experience of states like California that are making the most of the new policy
and that of states like Texas whose politicians are doing their best to
undermine it, the sheer mean-spiritedness of the Obamacare opponents will
become ever more obvious.
to happen: millions of Americans will suddenly gain health coverage, and
millions more will feel much more secure knowing that such coverage is
available if they lose their jobs or suffer other misfortunes. Only a relative
handful of people will be hurt at all. And as contrasts emerge between the
experience of states like California that are making the most of the new policy
and that of states like Texas whose politicians are doing their best to
undermine it, the sheer mean-spiritedness of the Obamacare opponents will
become ever more obvious.
