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)