Democrats Ignored The Middle Class As They Enacted ObamaCare

 Barack Obama, Health Care Reform  Comments Off on Democrats Ignored The Middle Class As They Enacted ObamaCare
Feb 122014
 

For Democrats That Drafted ObamaCare, “The Primary Goal Was To Get The Bill Passed, Not Figure Out What Struggling Middle-Class Families Thought They Could Afford.” “The law’s drafters set the 9.5 percent benchmark during final negotiations over the health law, mainly to meet a directive from the White House and congressional leadership that the law cost less than $1 trillion over 10 years and contain provisions to pay for that, which included new taxes and fees on drug makers, insurers and high-income Americans. The primary goal was to get the bill passed, not figure out what struggling middle-class families thought they could afford.  An earlier version would have required some families to pay even more.” (Julie Appleby, “Some Middle-Class Families Find Price Of Subsidized Health Coverage ‘Awfully High,’” Kaiser Health News, 2/10/14)

For The Middle-Class, ObamaCare Has Forced Families To Choose Between Paying High Insurance Premiums Or Going Without Coverage

Millions Of People That Earn Three To Four Times The Federal Poverty Rate May Now Have To Spend 9.5 Percent Of Their Income On Health Care Premiums Before Receiving An ObamaCare Subsidy. “The lure used to get uninsured Americans to sign up for health law coverage was the promise of generous premium subsidies. But the promise comes with a catch for almost 3 million people earning between three and four times the federal poverty rate: They may have to pay up to 9.5 percent of their income toward that premium before the subsidy kicks in.” (Julie Appleby, “Some Middle-Class Families Find Price Of Subsidized Health Coverage ‘Awfully High,’” Kaiser Health News, 2/10/14)

  • “For A Family Of Three Earning Between $58,590 And $78,120,” The Monthly Cost Of A Midlevel Plan Could Exceed $600. “That could take a substantial bite from their budgets — potentially as much as $600 a month for mid-priced plan for a family of three earning between $58,590 and $78,120.” (Julie Appleby, “Some Middle-Class Families Find Price Of Subsidized Health Coverage ‘Awfully High,’” Kaiser Health News, 2/10/14)

As Middle-Class Families Prepare To Shell Out Hundreds Of Dollars In Monthly Health Care Premiums, Some Families Will Forgo Coverage Which Could Cause Trouble For ObamaCare.“As a result, some middle-class families may decide health insurance is beyond their reach, and pay a penalty rather than buy coverage.  While consumers in that income range account for a relatively small share of the 17.2 million eligible for subsidies to buy private insurance, that could still spell political trouble for the law.” (Julie Appleby, “Some Middle-Class Families Find Price Of Subsidized Health Coverage ‘Awfully High,’” Kaiser Health News, 2/10/14)

  • An Indiana Man Who Is Eligible For ObamaCare Subsidies Has Called The Cost Of Plans On The ObamaCare Exchange “Awfully High” And Plans To Skip Purchasing Coverage For His Family. “‘Awfully high,’ is the verdict of Tim Ross of Madison, Ind., the owner of a light commercial construction firm who canceled coverage for his family of five several years ago during the depths of the recession. Under the health law, Ross’ income qualifies his family for a subsidy that would cover about half the cost of a mid-level ‘silver’ plan, according to online calculators. There are five silver plans he could choose from, with his share of the cost ranging from $494 to $590 a month. … But he said he is likely to forego buying a policy, hoping that if a family member needs expensive care, he can negotiate lower prices with doctors and hospitals as he has done in the past.” (Julie Appleby, “Some Middle-Class Families Find Price Of Subsidized Health Coverage ‘Awfully High,’” Kaiser Health News, 2/10/14)

 

#Obamacare Trainwreck: Keep Your Doctor? Busting the Federal Budget Already!

 Barack Obama, Health Care Reform  Comments Off on #Obamacare Trainwreck: Keep Your Doctor? Busting the Federal Budget Already!
Feb 112014
 

The next lie coming home to everyone – “You can keep your Doctor”. Ummm, nope. Note the media sources quoted, Time, New York Times and the AP. None are friendly to conservatives.

Under ObamaCare, “Many Insurers Are Significantly Limiting The Choices Of Doctors And Hospitals Available To Consumers.” “Federal officials often say that health insurance will cost consumers less than expected under President Obama’s health care law. But they rarely mention one big reason: many insurers are significantly limiting the choices of doctors and hospitals available to consumers.” (Robert Pear, “Lower Health Insurance Premiums To Come At Cost Of Fewer Choices,” The New York Times, 9/23/13)

Faced With The Need To Cut Down Costs, Insurers Are “Shrinking” The Network Of Doctors Available To Patients. “It’s not that simple. In order to participate in health-insurance exchanges, insurers needed to find a way to tamp down the high costs of premiums. As a result, many will narrow their networks, shrinking the range of doctors that are available to patients under their plan, experts say.” (Alex Altman, “‘You Can Keep Your Doctor’: ObamaCare’s Next Broken Promise?” Time, 11/19/13)

  • ObamaCare’s Mandates Are Leading To “Limited Choices And Significant Out-Of-Pocket Costs.” “Exchange plans are required to take all applicants, cover broad benefits and provide robust financial protection against catastrophic illness. In return for that, something else has to give. The result: limited choices and significant out-of-pocket costs through deductibles and copayments.” (Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar and Holly Ramer, “Limited Patient Choice Next Overhaul Issue,” The Associated Press, 11/20/13)

And, Obamacare is already busting the federal budget. The CBO upped the estimated cost $12 Billion a year in just two months! (between May and July of 2013)

$1.8 Trillion: Gross Cost Of ObamaCare’s Coverage Provisions From 2013 To 2023. (Douglas W. Elmendorf, Director Of Congressional Budget Office, Letter To Chairman Paul Ryan, 7/30/13)

  • The May 2013 Baseline Estimated That The Net Cost Of Coverage Provisions Was $1,363 Billion – Now $1,375 Billion. (Douglas W. Elmendorf, Director Of Congressional Budget Office, Letter To Chairman Paul Ryan, 7/30/13)

CBO: “The Net Costs Is Now Estimated To Be … $12 Billion More Than Previously Estimated.” “As a result of the Administration’s announcement and recently issued final rules, the net cost is now estimated to be $1,375 billion—$12 billion more than previously estimated.” (Douglas W. Elmendorf, Director Of Congressional Budget Office, Letter To Chairman Paul Ryan, 7/30/13)

 

More Disturbing News on #Obamacare Massive Fines and Millions More Plan Cancellations Coming

 Barack Obama, Health Care Reform  Comments Off on More Disturbing News on #Obamacare Massive Fines and Millions More Plan Cancellations Coming
Feb 092014
 

Thank you – Heritage Foundation for the Following:

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has released its annual Budget and Economic Outlook. Here are some of the most important health care numbers to know from today’s report:

  • Millions more projected to lose their coverage. As the CBO writes, “CBO and JCT project that, as a result of the ACA, between 6 million and 7 million fewer people will have employment-based insurance coverage each year from 2016 through 2024 than would be the case in the absence of the ACA. That change is the net result of projected increases and decreases in offers of health insurance from employers and changes in enrollment by workers and their families.”
  • 1.5 million enrolled in non-compliant plans in 2014. As a result of the Administration’s unilateral and last minute decision to allow plans that are not compliant with Obamacare’s many new rules to continue into 2014, a “fix” to offset the nearly 5 million reported plan cancellations, the CBO estimates that 1.5 million non-compliant plans will exist in the individual and small group markets in 2014, with .5 million continuing on into 2015.
  • Mandate penalties total $203 billion from 2015-2024. Penalties paid by employers of 50 or more full-time workers who do not offer their employees health coverage are projected to total $151 billion from 2015-2024. The individual mandate tax that will be levied on individuals who do not purchase health coverage is expected to cost Americans $51 billion over this period.
  • 31 million uninsured. After spending nearly $2 trillion to expand insurance coverage, Obamacare is still projected to leave 31 million people uninsured in 2024.
  • Exchange enrollment adjusted for 2014. “In light of technical problems that impeded many people’s enrollment in exchanges,” the CBO has downwardly adjusted its exchange enrollment projections for 2014 by 1 million people, now projecting only 6 million people will gain exchange coverage this year.
  • Gross cost of Obamacare’s major coverage provisions from 2015-2024 is nearly $2 trillion. Spending of $899 billion and a reduction in revenues of $137 billion for premium assistance tax credits, in addition to spending $167 billion for cost-sharing subsidies (page 107) for a total exchange subsidy cost of $1.203 trillion. Medicaid expansion and CHIP spending from Obamacare is projected to cost $792 billion from 2015-2024. A gross total cost of these provisions amounting to $1.995 trillion over this period.

Nancy Pelosi, not to be outdone recently said that Obamacare would help employees “escape” employment.

 

Oops! Covered California is Messing People Over! #obamacare #aca

 Health Care Reform  Comments Off on Oops! Covered California is Messing People Over! #obamacare #aca
Feb 092014
 

ObamaCare Exchange Enrollees Continue To Suffer Roadblocks As They Attempt To Access Care. “After overcoming website glitches and long waits to get ObamaCare, some patients are now running into frustrating new roadblocks at the doctor’s office. A month into the most sweeping changes to health care in half a century, people are having trouble finding doctors at all, getting faulty information on which ones are covered and receiving little help from insurers swamped by new business.” (Chad Terhune, “ObamaCare Enrollees Hit Snags At Doctor’s Officies,” Los Angeles Times, 2/4/14)

After Being Reassured That Her Oncologist Was Covered In A Plan She Chose On California’s ObamaCare Exchange, A California Woman Found Out Her Doctor Didn’t Accept The Plan She Chose. “Aliso Viejo resident Danielle Nelson said Anthem Blue Cross promised half a dozen times that her oncologists would be covered under her new policy. She was diagnosed last year with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and discovered a suspicious lump near her jaw in early January. But when she went to her oncologist’s office, she promptly encountered a bright orange sign saying that Covered California plans are not accepted.” (Chad Terhune, “ObamaCare Enrollees Hit Snags At Doctor’s Officies,” Los Angeles Times, 2/4/14)

After Signing Up For Coverage, A Woman Had Trouble Finding A Specialist After Four  Specialists Refused To Accept Her Plan Purchased On The California Exchange. “Maria Berumen, a tax preparer in Downey, was uninsured for years because of preexisting conditions. The 53-year-old was thrilled to find coverage for herself and her husband for $148 a month after qualifying for a big government subsidy. She jumped at the chance in early January to visit a primary-care doctor for long-running numbness in her arm and shoulder as a result of bone spurs on her spine. The doctor referred her to a specialist, and problems ensued. At least four doctors wouldn’t accept her health plan — even though the state exchange website and her insurer, Health Net Inc., list them as part of her HMO network.” (Chad Terhune, “ObamaCare Enrollees Hit Snags At Doctor’s Officies,” Los Angeles Times, 2/4/14)

  • The Woman Called Her Health Plan’s Provider Network “A Phantom Network.” “‘It’s a phantom network,’ Berumen said.” (Chad Terhune, “ObamaCare Enrollees Hit Snags At Doctor’s Officies,” Los Angeles Times, 2/4/14)

After Enrolling In A Covered California Plan That Offered A Large Provider Network, A Man Found Out That He Could No Longer Access His Family’s Orthopedic Surgeon. “Scott Marshutz of Dana Point said he picked a Blue Shield PPO plan in the exchange so he and his wife would have greater choice of doctors But when he booked an appointment recently with his orthopedic surgeon, the doctor’s office said it wasn’t taking Covered California plans.” (Chad Terhune, “ObamaCare Enrollees Hit Snags At Doctor’s Officies,” Los Angeles Times, 2/4/14)

  • On Losing His Family’s Surgeon: The Issue Could “Backfire On The Whole System.” “‘I’m wondering how many other people have experienced this,’ he said, ‘and if it will backfire on the whole system.’” (Chad Terhune, “ObamaCare Enrollees Hit Snags At Doctor’s Officies,” Los Angeles Times, 2/4/14)

 

Government Statistics: Obamacare is 15% Tax / Cost over $2 Trillion / 2 Million Jobs Lost

 Barack Obama, Health Care Reform  Comments Off on Government Statistics: Obamacare is 15% Tax / Cost over $2 Trillion / 2 Million Jobs Lost
Feb 042014
 

Got all that.

First off – we were told that Obamacare would create 4 million jobs. Now the government’s own statistics show that to be added to the list of lies around Obamacare.

The official numbers say: The Affordable Care Act will also reduce the number of fulltime workers by more than 2 million in coming years, congressional budget analysts said in the most detailed analysis of the law’s impact on jobs. The CBO said the law’s impact on jobs would be mostly felt starting after 2016. The agency previously estimated that the economy would have 800,000 fewer jobs as a result of the law. The impact is likely to be most felt, the CBO said, among low-wage workers. The agency said that most of the effect would come from Americans deciding not to seek work as a result of the ACA’s impact on the economy. Some workers may forgo employment, while others may reduce hours, for a equivalent of at least 2 million fulltime workers dropping out of the labor force.

Forbes was first out of the gate covering the CBO Report with a story entitled: Obamacare, a tax on work.

CBO states, in reference to these impacts, that the “exchange subsidies effectively constitute a tax on labor supply for a broad range of workers.” CBO goes on to state that forgoing Obamacare subsidies and returning to full time work with health benefits (for lower wage and middle class workers) amounts to an average, implicit tax of about 15% paid by each worker. CBO does note that these considerations only affect a segment of the workforce – specifically the middle class and working class who earn annual incomes that put them below 400% of the Federal poverty level (about $95,000 for a family of four). But that represents a large portion of the labor market.

Among some of the CBO’s other findings:

The CBO is now estimating that the law will reduce labor force compensationby 1 percent from 2017 to 2024, twice the reduction it previously had projected.

CBO also said the botched ObamaCare rollout will result in 6 million people signing up for coverage through the insurance exchanges this year, 1 million fewer than projected last year. That estimate conflicts with whisper number circulating in Washington, which put the figure between 4 to 5 million enrollments by March 31, 2014.

Lastly, the examiner added their .02

President Obama’s health care law will cost slightly more than $2 trillion over the next decade, according to a new report from theCongressional Budget Office.

The CBO report also said the health care law will distort the economic incentives for individuals to work and thus the nation will lose the equivalent of 2.5 million full-time jobs by 2024.

On the employment front, CBO said, “The reduction in CBO’s projections of hours worked represents a decline in the number of full-time-equivalent workers of about 2.0 million in 2017, rising to about 2.5 million in 2024.”

CBO wrote that, “For some people, the availability of exchange subsidies under the ACA will reduce incentives to work.”

And there you have it.