"Every now and again, a political pundit is required to stand up and admit to the world that he or she got it wrong.
For me, this would be one of those moments...
...(Last Thursday, California) released the premium rates submitted by participating health insurance companies for the three health insurance program categories (bronze, silver and gold) established by the Affordable Care Act, along with the catastrophic policy created for and available to those under the age of 30.
Upon reviewing the data, I was indeed shocked by the proposed premium rates--but not in the way you might expect...
...Everyone...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. And, yet, the only real jolt to the system being felt by these...prognosticators today is utter amazement over just how reasonable the California prices have turned out to be...
...'The premiums and participation in California, Oregon, Washington and other states show that insurers want to compete for new enrollees in this market,' Gary Claxton, a vice president at the Kaiser Family Foundation."
Why is this a surprise? Did these pundits expect insurance companies to say "No, thank you. We don't want any more enrollees?" Really?"These are...states that are actually committed to seeing the program work as opposed to those states whose leaders have a vested political interest in seeing the Affordable Care Act fail...
...For all the negative chatter about how including older and sicker Americans in the health insurance pools would drive up the price for younger participants...what we are now seeing in states like California is that the desire on the part of the health insurance companies to increase market share...is driving prices downward.
That is precisely what the President said would happen."
Some predictions put the cost of a silver plan at $450/month. In California, the silver plan will cost $276/month with those eligible for federal subsidies paying far less.
Federal subsidies are on a sliding scale. If your income is less than 400% of the federal poverty level, (currently $89,000 for a family of four), you qualify for assistance. A more complete explanation of subsidies can be found here: http://101.communitycatalyst.org/aca_provisions/subsidies"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...lies put forward by those with a political ax to grind...or vote to be purchased, are falling victim to the facts...
...Accept it or not, the reality is that the early report card on Obamacare--at least in those states willing to give the law a chance to succeed--is looking pretty darn good."
How Republicans must hate that!
"How Republicans must hate that!"
ReplyDeleteAre you suggesting that the Grand Old Party, the party of Abraham Lincoln has evolved into an industry oriented group of mean hearted old white men?
Sarcasm aside, this same group of industry puppets hates everything President Obama stands for. Dubbya won by some tiny margin in the State Florida (something 500 votes?) which, in turn, gave the Republican Party a chance to claim a mandate and that the "American people have spoken".
I, obviously don't recall the exact (itsy bitsy, teeny weeny) number that gave them Florida, but it was a helluva long way from being a mandate.
My point being: President Obama soundly defeated the Republican Party at the polls twice. And not without their help.
The GOP is still doing all they can to self destruct. I'll drink to that.