Posted by Tina
Forbes reports this morning that administration officials knew that the ACA (Obamacare) would cause “massive” loss of insurance:
If you read the Affordable Care Act when it was passed, you knew that it was dishonest for President Obama to claim that “if you like your plan, you can keep your plan,” as he did—and continues to do—on countless occasions. And we now know that the administration knew this all along. It turns out that in an obscure report buried in a June 2010 edition of the Federal Register, administration officials predicted massive disruption of the private insurance market.
White House spokesperson Jay Carney dismissed this as irrelevant on the basis that these losses represented only “5% of the population”. However the report’s language suggests that the administration thought differently:
But Carney’s dismissal of the media’s concerns was wrong, on several fronts. Contrary to the reporting of NBC, the administration’s commentary in the Federal Register did not only refer to the individual market, but also the market for employer-sponsored health insurance. …
… How many people are exposed to these problems? 60 percent of Americans have private-sector health insurance—precisely the number that Jay Carney dismissed. As to the number of people facing cancellations, 51 percent of the employer-based market plus 53.5 percent of the non-group market (the middle of the administration’s range) amounts to 93 million Americans.
Mitt Romney was widely criticized for correctly telling a group of potential donors that he would not be supported by 43% of voters in the dependency group. The media twisted the meaning of his words to portray Romney as being prejudiced against that group. In reality the media had helped to massage this group to hold a bias against Romney, characterizing him as a hateful, greedy rich guy.
Barack Obama has not only consistently lied to the American people to push a manipulative, controlling plan, he also callously disregarded the affect this law would have on the lives of an estimated 98 million Americans who would lose the healthcare plan they like. There is no way to spin this to protect the President. Sadly there are some that will attempt to do so anyway.
The spinners are out in force smiling like loons and insisting that the Obama plans that will replace the lost plans are better, unlike the “lemons” the insurance companies offered. The problem with this authoritarian meme is that “take the Obama plan or else” just doesn’t sit well with people that have been promised they had the choice to keep the insurance they liked. The arrogant position that Obaam and his ilk must choose what is best for you also doesn’t go over well.
Obamacare forces every American to pay for the plan that the elites decide they will have. This isn’t America. And Ms. Sebelius’ response to the 98 million Americans who will lose their insurance and be forced to pay more? “Pay cash!”
There are legislators in congress who are considering legislation to help the 98 million Americans to keep their insurance and make insurance more affordable and accessible for all Americans. A widely sponsored bill has been proposed:
Some Senate Democrats are jumping on the grandfathering bandwagon. Mary Landrieu (D., La.), locked in a competitive reelection race against Rep. Bill Cassidy (R., La.), now claims that she was unaware that Obamacare would disrupt existing insurance arrangements. “It was our understanding when we voted for that bill that people when they have insurance could keep with what they had. So I’m going to be working on that fix,” she said on Wednesday.
But that’s not accurate. It was well known, as far back as 2009, that millions of Americans would lose their existing coverage under the Obamacare bill. Landrieu still voted for it. In September of 2010, Sen. Mike Enzi (R., Wyo.) introduced legislation that would protect small businesses from losing their health plans’ grandfathered status under Obamacare. Landrieu voted against the bill, on a party-line vote.
Obamacare was fraudulently sold to the American people. It was pushed through Congress with bribes and intimidation and created behind closed doors. Detractors were dismissed as ignorant fringe kooks. Obamacare has also been changed outside the legislative process.
The American people have been rolled by Democrat Party extremists. It’s time for the American people to demand repeal.
A better plan is already available. It has been proposed by representatives in the House and would replace this very bad law with a plan that better serves the people and actually works:
The plan, which is mostly the work of Representatives Phil Roe and Steve Scalise, repeals President Barack Obama’s health-care law. It replaces the unlimited tax break for employer-provided health insurance with a new tax deduction — $7,500 for individuals or $20,000 for families — to purchase health insurance, whether through an employer or on their own. It would let insurers sell policies across state lines. And it would put $25 billion into high-risk pools to help people who would still be unable to buy insurance.
The proposal has room for improvement and expansion but the underlying principles in the plan would be far superior to the disruptive, coercive, expensive, and job killing Obamacare!
Americans have been deceived. As much as this administration and radical Democrats would like you to believe, we are not helpless and we do not have to be victims.
We have the power to demand repeal. Call, fax, email and tweet Congress, now! Make your voice heard.
And next year vote the extremists out! (Yes that would include Hillary on ’16…she once attempted to foist a similar plan on the American people)
“Forbes reports this morning that administration officials knew that the ACA (Obamacare) would cause “massive” loss of insurance.”
Yes, and Forbes says why, but you don’t seem to be interested in that part.
Apparently, the ACA has all sorts of requirements about what an individual policy must cover (mostly preventative medical care), and all these cancelled policies don’t cover these things … you know, all those “we don’t pay a penny until you’ve spent $5K” policies for instance.
I now know that healthcare policy wonks call these “fake insurance” policies.
So actually, all this trauma is a good thing … in the long run.
The part I understand, Libby, is that the President repeatedly lied to the American people knowing full well that he was doing so. I don’t appreciate that.
“Apparently, the ACA has all sorts of requirements about what an individual policy must cover (mostly preventative medical care), and all these cancelled policies don’t cover these things…”
Yeah the good news is you can get a free pap smear (Young men really need that).
The bad news is that your deductible is $5000.00 (fake insurance), which means if you break your arm you won’t get any help there. Since in many cases your premium has also gone up between 45% and 65%…and you no longer have a choice about that…you’ve been had!.
None of that includes the damage this piece of socialist garbage will do in terms of the already exploding debt or the damage that will result from the taxes, the rates of which will continue to go up.
Insurance was never intended to be something that paid for everyday healthcare expenses like check ups and papa smears. It was a intended to be a safety net for catastrophic occurrences.
Demonizing insurance companies is part and parcel of the scam that this bunch of liars hatched for their own personal gain…power and control and a pathway to single payer. That powerful monopoly will be worse even than this roll out and much more expensive too.
It is likely, thank God, that this thing will go down like a trail of dominoes since it has already s*re%#d so many people…including the doctors.
What is boils down to is two gay guys are now going to be paying for maternity care, young people will be paying for hip replacements for old people and old people will be paying for pap smears for uteruses that were removed decades ago.
Sure hope all them young people hurry up and sign up so they can start paying for everything as they grow old, if they live that long.
Documents May Reveal Why the Obama Administration Hasn’t Released Any Obamacare Enrollment Numbers:
(Take a look at the document obtained by CBS News below:)
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/11/01/documents-seemingly-reveal-why-the-obama-administration-hasnt-released-any-obamacare-enrollment-numbers/
Aw, come on. Anybody who could call that man disingenuous is prejudiced beyond all belief. He’s a good man … but far from perfect. He might have been misinformed, but I doubt it. More likely, he was trying to make simple that which is not simple … and Americans, seemingly, can’t deal with anything but simple.
Which is why, way back when, Obama should have told those blue dogs to get on board or get stuffed, cause single payer is the only sensible thing to do.
Obama did not do that.
Peggy: “What is boils down to is two gay guys are now going to be paying for maternity care, young people will be paying for hip replacements for old people and old people will be paying for pap smears for uteruses that were removed decades ago.”
Yeah, and I have to pay taxes for public schools when I don’t have kids and for wars I don’t support. Damn socialism!
Peggy, the system you’re describing is cheaper and more cost effective than the previous one. It was also formerly supported by Heritage, Newt, Romney, and others on the right until it caught Obama cooties.
“What is boils down to is two gay guys are now going to be paying for maternity care, ….”
Peggy, that’s what insurance is. That’s how it works. That’s how it’s always worked. Your homeowners premiums rebuild somebody else’s house.
What on earth IS your problem?
I mean, if you don’t want to pay premiums toward other people’s healthcare, then don’t have insurance.
This recalcitrance will up everybody else’s premiums, but you don’t care. And your healthcare bills will be footed by the taxpayer, but you don’t care.
And you’ve got a lot of company, Peggy. Me, for instance. Which is the A-number-one reason why the only thing to do … if you want universal healthcare coverage … is to go single payer.
That 1 percent penalty? It gets ratcheted right up to a 5 percent tax, and all’s right with the world.
Libby: ” More likely, he was trying to make simple that which is not simple … and Americans, seemingly, can’t deal with anything but simple.”
What a load!
Obama lied repeatedly and emphatically to the American people.
Chris: “the system you’re describing is cheaper and more cost effective than the previous one.”
Another lie.
The law was deceitfully front loaded with taxes so that early CBO estimates would make it look like it was cost effective.
Forbes:
It is also estimated that 30,000 people will still be without insurance.
Patients will experience longer wait times for care and restrictions in services. Many will pay much higher co-pays and premiums. The taxes to pay for this abomination will increase. The premiums will also increase because monopolies will be more prevalent than ever before!
Obamcare has not significantly fixed problems and it will cost more in taxes and personal expense.
Obamacare is no bargain any way you look at it. And single payer is just Obamacare on steroids!
“It was also formerly supported by Heritage, Newt, Romney, and others on the right until it caught Obama cooties.
This excuse is specious. The plan that was supported by Republicans was not an exact replica of Obamacare.
Obamacare is loaded with Democrat ideas and thousands of pages of added regulations. The HHS secretary was given tremendous power.
Heritage has since rejected some of the ideas they had proposed. And Heritage would never finance their proposal with taxes on investment income. That would be an economy and job killer.
We need real reforms that bring cost down and give people and doctors more power and choices. We need reforms that don’t turn the current system on its head or create chaos. This law is destructive and insane.
Libby: ” that’s what insurance is. That’s how it works.”
Insurance has always meant that my premiums paid for others care. The difference now is there is only one choice, the government mandated choice. I can no longer purchase a cheaper plan that doesn’t cover everything. Now I MUST buy the approved plan or pay cash and pay a fine…and the fines start out reasonable but go up dramatically in three years.
Inquisitr:
No, Tina … it means that all the providers on the exchange have to provide plans that meet perfectly reasonable criteria. They can still be competitive within these criteria.
I mean … you want to preserve to yourself the right to be ripped off? Is that what you are insisting upon?
The basics on what and how insurance works would be a good education around here. yes I had a license.
There were nothing but junk Insurance policies advertising on TV for the last few years. They were no more than scams to collect $ . Those companies knew the policies would be abolished as soon as the ACA came into affect.
It amuses me the lack of education on scams. I am sorry but if someone was paying for policies that would be no good by signing up for one of the scam commercials whatever! Due diligence. Personal responsibility.
No whining on poor decisions.
How about we make the aca better?
Who here has actually read and understood the ACA?
Single payer cable TV. Yeah, that’s the ticket.
Chris: “Yeah, and I have to pay taxes for public schools…”
When you start paying rent or a mortgage you’ll start paying for that “free” education you already got. You’re not paying for the kids today.
See how it works? Is the light bulb slowly coming on yet? Nothing is free you either pay now or you pay later, but some how at some time you will pay.
If it bugs you to think you’re paying for kids today just imagine what you’re kids will think of you when they’re hit with paying off the $17 trillion you left them with.
Libby: “Peggy, that’s what insurance is. That’s how it works. That’s how it’s always worked. Your homeowners premiums rebuild somebody else’s house. What on earth IS your problem?
Wrong! I am the one who decided how much I wanted to insure my house and its contents for. I was given several options on how much my deductible would be and if I wanted replacement value coverage too.
My insurance was decided upon between me and my insurance company without the government telling me what I could and could not have. I decided upon the thousand dollar deductible to keep my premiums low. Me alone and not a bunch of strangers in DC.
People are learning the coverage they lost that had a deductible they COULD afford will now be with ObamaCare $5,000-$10,000, which is completely unaffordable for them.
My problem is you and people like you who need the government to tell you what to do, how to do it and even if you can or can not do it.
Grow up! Insurance is necessary to protect us against a catastrophic illness or occurrence, but not to pay for everyone else care. If my house does or doesn’t burn down then it’s a gamble I choose to pay for. If it does I made the right decision, but the choice was still MINE and no one else’s.
From Investors Daily, “In other words, 66% of all single workers and 57% of all families pushed into the exchanges will be worse off financially.”
For Millions, ObamaCare Will Be The ‘Unaffordable Care Act’
“Health Costs: The official title of ObamaCare is the “Affordable Care Act.” But for millions of workers dumped into one of the government-run exchanges, it will be anything but that. A new report shows their costs will go way up.
The analysis was done by the National Journal, which is hardly some right-wing, anti-ObamaCare outfit. It looked at what would happen to insurance costs for workers forced to buy coverage in an ObamaCare exchange after their employers canceled their benefits.
This is not idle curiosity. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that 7 million workers will lose their employer-based coverage thanks to ObamaCare, as companies decide to pay the penalty instead.
That estimate, by the way, is nearly double the CBO’s previous forecast, and the CBO admits the number could be as high as 20 million.
This year, the average worker pays between $862 and $1,065 a year for single coverage, with the employer picking up the rest of the tab. Families pay an average of up to $5,284 toward their work-based premiums.
If these workers are dumped into an ObamaCare exchange, most will end up paying far more, even with the taxpayer subsidies. The Journal found, for example, that workers earning more than $20,000 would pay more in the exchange than they do today, as would families making over $62,300.
In other words, 66% of all single workers and 57% of all families pushed into the exchanges will be worse off financially.
…a table buried in that report shows that Obama-Care actually will push premiums up 22% nationwide, when compared with the average cost of insurance available on the individual market today, “with several states experiencing an increase of 30% or more.”
Yes, taxpayer subsidies will hide those huge cost hikes from many, but Rand admits that about a third won’t be eligible for any subsidies. In any case, it hardly makes sense to vastly increase the cost of insurance and then try to cover it up with $1 trillion in taxpayer subsidies.”
http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials/082913-669281-obamacare-will-raise-costs-for-millions-of-workers.htm
Obama’s little volunteer liar stooges are getting busy with (the expected and usual) misdirection and misinformation. Sieg heil Obama! :=|
Meanwhile, Pat Buchanan chimes in on the First Hustler —
http://www.creators.com/conservative/pat-buchanan.html
Pie, good article. Obama is the con chief along with being the lair in chief.
Did you hear him say today in the meeting with Iraq’s leader that, “Al-Qaida has still been active and grown more active recently….?”
In other words he lied all during the 2012 campaign telling us, “Osama bin laden was dead and Al-Qaida was on the run.”
The end justifies the means no matter if it hurts 93 million people to insure 15 million and gets him a second term in the WH.
Yes sir, I do believe Mr. Obama’s legacy will be known as the Con and Liar in Chief who tried to destroy this great nation and failed.
Tina: “Insurance has always meant that my premiums paid for others care. The difference now is there is only one choice, the government mandated choice. I can no longer purchase a cheaper plan that doesn’t cover everything. Now I MUST buy the approved plan or pay cash and pay a fine…”
Funny use of “I” there. Fancy businesswoman such as yourself, I highly doubt your current plan doesn’t already meet the criteria set by the ACA.
Libby: “I mean … you want to preserve to yourself the right to be ripped off? Is that what you are insisting upon?”
Actually, it’s probably worse–since her plan probably already meets the requirements, what she’s really asking for is the right for others to be ripped off.
Peggy: “When you start paying rent or a mortgage you’ll start paying for that “free” education you already got. You’re not paying for the kids today.”
Yes, I am. I know you live in a right-wing echo chamber that likes to pretend that sales tax doesn’t exist, but it does, and it helps fund schools.
“See how it works? Is the light bulb slowly coming on yet? Nothing is free you either pay now or you pay later, but some how at some time you will pay.”
Right, and mandating that everyone have basic health insurance is a cheaper way to pay than waiting for people to clog the emergency rooms. That was an accepted fact among conservatives up until about 2008.
“If it bugs you to think you’re paying for kids today”
It doesn’t, I was satirizing you.
“just imagine what you’re kids will think of you when they’re hit with paying off the $17 trillion you left them with.”
That’s not how debt works, but OK.
From the IBD piece Peggy links to:
“Yes, taxpayer subsidies will hide those huge cost hikes from many, but Rand admits that about a third won’t be eligible for any subsidies. In any case, it hardly makes sense to vastly increase the cost of insurance and then try to cover it up with $1 trillion in taxpayer subsidies.””
Hilarious. The writer spends the entire article claiming that most families will be worse off financially due to the ACA, then at the very end admits that two thirds of Americans will actually pay less because of the subsidies, yet somehow that doesn’t matter because mumble mumble reasons, that’s why.
Typical of the shoddy logic of Investors Business Daily and the poor logical skills of its readers. The symbiotic relationship between the gullible and the scam artists is fascinating.
Libby: ” you want to preserve to yourself the right to be ripped off? Is that what you are insisting upon?”
One of the reasons we were being charged high fees is because of government regulations. Another in states like California is forced coverage for nonessential items that not everyone wants but must have by law. The huge bureaucracies are an expense that never seems to be counted when you tally up the cost. You vote to be ripped off and to oppress people and you don’t even know it. Like a loon you sit on the sidelines and cheer.
If Obama had intended to prevent citizens from being ripped off he would have written the law in such a way as to give the people and doctors more power instead of the HHS Secretary and big IRS.
He would have put in provisions to create competition of product as well as price rather than this asinine cookie cutter model.
You don’t have a clue how competition works or you would see that what you will have is a monopoly; insurance companies and doctors are nothing but puppets dangling on a string under Obamacare. Souls were sold to get it done. The law is a piece of evil trash.
Chris: “Yes, I am. I know you live in a right-wing echo chamber that likes to pretend that sales tax doesn’t exist, but it does, and it helps fund schools.”
Chris, the amount you pay is sales tax wouldn’t buy pencils for a third grade class for one year. Property taxes, local school bonds and the Lottery is where the bulk comes from. So, to say you’re paying your fair share now because you pay sales tax is a joke. Like I said when you start paying rent and/or a mortgage payment is when you’ll start paying for that “free” education you’ve received from kindergarten to today.
“In any case, it hardly makes sense to vastly increase the cost of insurance and then try to cover it up with $1 trillion in taxpayer subsidies.”
For someone with as much education as you claim to have it’s hard to believe you are not able to grasp the simple understanding that increasing the cost of insurance AND using taxes to subsidize it means the cost will be born by those who do pay with higher premiums and higher taxes. Remember, nothing is free!! Someone will pay and if it’s not you it’s me and if it’s not me it’s YOU! Geeeezzzz why is that so hard to get through your thick head?
Chris: “Funny use of “I” there. Fancy businesswoman such as yourself…”
I wasn’t speaking of myself alone and I think you know that. As for being “fancy”…I wear jeans and a tea shirt or sweat shirt to work. I treat my people like family and I pick up the entire tab for their insurance. Insults are about all you have left, Chris and its looking pretty ugly and small.
“I highly doubt your current plan doesn’t already meet the criteria set by the ACA.”
Yes, I live in California and it also costs me dearly. In the next two years four separate taxes will be added to the bill each month in addition to the hike in fees which I won’t be advised of until next Fall. My employees bonuses, if the economy ever grows again to allow vibrant business, will suffer a terrible blow. Something tells me they would rather have the cash to spend as THEY see fit.
“…what she’s really asking for is the right for others to be ripped off.”
You did know I was speaking for everyone!
See my response to Libby above…you are as ignorant as she is about monopolies as opposed to competition and price…not to mention value.
The really sad thing is that you are also too ignorant to see the affect this will have on the overall economy, jobs, and the price of everything you buy…all of the hidden taxes and costs that will hit investors and businesses…and harm the rich and the poor alike. Guess which will be hurt more.
Democrats have been in power for seven years and held a huge hammer for two of those years. The lousy economy, the rising ranks of the poor, the rapidly growing debt, the ugly job market, the chaos and expense of this law all belong to your party. Everything sucks and you still act like you know what works…how vapid can you get?
“Right, and mandating that everyone have basic health insurance is a cheaper way to pay than waiting for people to clog the emergency rooms.”
It’s been estimated that Obamacare will add “about 9 million…to the Medicaid rolls” through 2014. Many doctors have already refused to accept Medicaid (Medical) patients. And you think that after adding all of those people, who are already used to going to the emergency room, won’t continue to do so? (Vapid)
And by the way Chris, how this kind of debt works is that your social security checks will be cut in half or eliminated because we won’t have the money and if it still exists your kids tax bill for your social security will be much higher than what you paid.
When will there be more people in the cart than are pulling it…we are nearly half way there now. And like a fool you think the elitist Marx lovers in DC give a rip about you or your unborn children. (Truly vapid)
Tina: “I wasn’t speaking of myself alone and I think you know that. As for being “fancy”…I wear jeans and a tea shirt or sweat shirt to work. I treat my people like family and I pick up the entire tab for their insurance. Insults are about all you have left, Chris and its looking pretty ugly and small.”
It wasn’t meant as an insult, though it was unnecessarily snarky, and I apologize for that. My point was that the new criteria for what must be covered doesn’t really affect you. You do not have to change your plan. Those who do have to change their plans are getting better insurance and are mostly paying less due to the subsidies.
It is great that you over your employees full coverage. I truly salute you for that! But not every employer is as generous.
“Yes, I live in California and it also costs me dearly. In the next two years four separate taxes will be added to the bill each month in addition to the hike in fees which I won’t be advised of until next Fall.”
Can you be more specific here? What taxes are you referring to?
“My employees bonuses, if the economy ever grows again to allow vibrant business, will suffer a terrible blow. Something tells me they would rather have the cash to spend as THEY see fit.”
Well yes, and certainly there are people who would rather keep their money and not buy health insurance at all. But that attitude creates serious problems for which society pays. Heritage realized this fifteen years ago, which is why they came up with the idea of requiring people to buy a minimum level of coverage to begin with.
“See my response to Libby above…you are as ignorant as she is about monopolies as opposed to competition and price…not to mention value.”
You’re wrong about this. The exchanges have already started to break up the monopolies that existed in many states, where most citizens were enrolled in only one or two insurance plans. Millions of citizens previously had little or no choice of what plans to use because so many were able to discriminate based on pre-existing conditions. Premiums are far lower than projected because of increased competition:
“In an analysis of plans offered in the marketplaces, the McKinsey Center for U.S. Health System Reform found that new entrants into the market make up 26 percent of all insurers. These new entrants are introducing competitive pressures into the individual market. The McKinsey analysis found that new entrants tend to price their plans lower than the median premiums in their market.
Moreover, in a preliminary analysis of plans offered in 18 areas, the Kaiser Family Foundation found that premiums are lower than CBO’s projected premiums in 15 of those areas.”
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/healthcare/report/2013/10/23/77537/the-affordable-care-acts-lower-than-projected-premiums-will-save-190-billion/
“And by the way Chris, how this kind of debt works is that your social security checks will be cut in half or eliminated because we won’t have the money and if it still exists your kids tax bill for your social security will be much higher than what you paid.”
Raising or eliminating the cap on maximum earnings subject to social security taxes could solve this problem easily, but because many wealthy lobbyists oppose it, so do Republicans.
Any person in America would do the same thing in that position. When the federal and state governments are already taking 50% of your earnings you object…it’s obscene!
This is not a solution. It is digging yourself deeper into a hole.
I would sooner see greater opportunity and a free public educated so they are less dependent and more independent. You won’t get there by taking from the “rich”. In fact that practice repeated often and long enough will collapse the economy and reduce the people to slaves made to work for the state.
It is such a simple thing…how is it that people on the left just don’t or won’t get it…argh!
Chris: “My point was that the new criteria for what must be covered doesn’t really affect you. You do not have to change your plan.”
Chris I don’t make political decisions based on what is good for me. I base them on what I believe is good for the country as a whole. And my insurance premiums will go up.
“Those who do have to change their plans are getting better insurance…”
Whether they want it or not! And whether they can afford it or not!
“…and are mostly paying less due to the subsidies.”
That’s fine for those getting subsidies. What about those who are not?
Examiner.com
These people were told repeatedly before the last election and since that premiums would save Americans $2500. and that they could keep their insurance if they wanted to keep it.
“What taxes are you referring to?”
I just received a letter from my insurance company informing me that two separate taxes will be added this year and two more will be added next year. I will give you the names next week.
“Well yes, and certainly there are people who would rather keep their money and not buy health insurance at all.”
Who said anything about no coverage? You just don’t get it. People are losing jobs, hours, and cash right out of their pockets. They have no recourse. this represents real people with real lives and cash they’ve been using to buy food and pay the rent.
“But that attitude creates serious problems for which society pays.”
Are you ready for the 911, Chris? Over a period of five years this administration has enacted policies that have created serious problems for which all of us are paying and will pay for some time to come. Hello…the numbers now living in poverty have grown. Unemployment remains very high. this stupid healthcare law has and will make things worse. We are not better off, Chris, none of us.
“The exchanges have already started to break up the monopolies that existed in many states…”
The monopolies existed in the first place because of stupid government regulations, like not being able to purchase insurance across state lines. This law will not fix that problem. If anything it will exacerbate it.
“Premiums are far lower than projected because of increased competition.”
You have offered a study as evidence. A study isn’t reality on the ground. the reality so far indicates otherwise.
“The McKinsey analysis found that new entrants tend to price their plans lower than the median premiums in their market.”
New stores offer competitive prices too. They do it to attract customers. Once they acquire a solid customer base their prices rise and become equivalent to other similar businesses.
“Raising or eliminating the cap on maximum earnings subject to social security taxes could solve this problem easily, but because many wealthy lobbyists oppose it…”
Believe me Chris, you and every other citizen would form a lobby to oppose it too if you were paying 50% or more of your income already and the government still wanted more.
You do realize that a collapsed economy and slavery is at the end of that tunnel?
No problem we will just give the government the power to take more of what others earn…again and again and again.
You are apparently too naive, too young, too inexperienced, or too indoctrinated to get how ignorant and immoral your suggestion is.
Re #25 Tina : I fear that, while you are pouring your keen intelligence, mature experience, and magnificently well informed heart, and soul into this, you might as well be addressing a block of wood.
Maybe I’m just crazy enough to believe anything’s possible!
You’re continued participation, contribution and support helps a lot to keep me positive.
I have to admit mine is a lofty goal, but I’ll survive and live to try again and again 😉
Chris: ““What taxes are you referring to?”
The Health Insurer Tax, The Transitional Reinsurance Tax, the Exchange Tax, and the Risk Adjustment Tax.
the first two will be added to my premiums next year and the following two will begin starting in 2015.
“Grow up! Insurance is necessary to protect us against a catastrophic illness or occurrence, but not to pay for everyone else care.”
Sigh … so if you get a catastrophic illness, it’s your premiums that meet the cost?
I give up.