ObamaCare “Embarrassment”: Centerpiece of Gov’t Takeover Fails to Address Rising Premiums

President Obama Promised Affordable Healthcare For Those With Pre-Existing Conditions:
 
“Starting this year and continuing through 2014, the Affordable Care Act will be implemented, increasing access to affordable health care for individuals, families, seniors and businesses.  Many important benefits begin immediately, including bans on the worst insurance company abuses, cost savings for seniors, families and small and large businesses, and coverage options for many Americans who have been locked out of the insurance market because of a preexisting condition.” (Office of the Press Secretary, “The Affordable Care Act - Implementation Timeline,” whitehouse.gov, Accessed 6/30/2010)

RED ALERT: Experts Warn Special Coverage Program Will Be An Embarrassment To Obama:

“’The Obama administration is launching a special coverage program for uninsured Americans with medical problems this week, the most ambitious early investment of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. But here's the catch: Premiums will be a stretch for many, even after government subsidies to bring rates close to what healthier groups of people are charged. And $5 billion that Congress allocated to the program through 2013 could run out well before that…To qualify for the temporary program, a person must have a pre-existing medical condition and must have been uninsured for six months or longer...That would be an embarrassment for Obama, since the program is a centerpiece of his plan for putting the nation on a path to coverage for all.” (Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, “New coverage for uninsured people in poor health,” Associated Press, 6/29/2010)

CBO: ObamaCare High-Risk Pools Underfunded

President Obama Promised More Coverage Under the Democrats’ Healthcare Plan:
“Essentially, my proposal would change three things about the current health care system…No longer would they be able to deny your coverage because of a preexisting condition.  No longer would they be able to drop your coverage because you got sick.  No longer would they be able to force you to pay unlimited amounts of money out of your own pocket.  No longer would they be able to arbitrarily and massively raise premiums like Anthem Blue Cross recently tried to do in California -- up to 39 percent increases in one year in the individual market.  Those practices would end.” (Remarks by the President on Health Care Reform, 3/10/2010)

RED ALERT: Congressional Budget Office Debunks ObamaCare Promise, New Insurance Pools Are Unsustainable:

“’The Obama administration is poised to award contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars to about 20 states to run new insurance pools for people with serious medical problems….A new study by the Congressional Budget Office says the money will ‘not be sufficient to cover the costs of all applicants.’ If more than 200,000 people participate, the budget office said, ‘the available funds will probably be exhausted prior to 2013.’ Consumers or states could then be left in the lurch, seeking other sources of coverage. Some governors cited this concern in deciding not to apply for federal money. Richard S. Foster, the chief actuary at the Department of Health and Human Services, said 375,000 people could gain coverage in high-risk pools this year. But he predicted, ‘By 2011 and 2012, the initial $5 billion in federal funding would be exhausted.’” (Robert Pear, “Insurance Pools Readied in Some States,” New York Times, 6/25/2010)

ObamaCare ‘Bill of Rights’ Already Debunked

President Obama Promises Americans Will Be Able To See The Doctor Of Their Choice:

“Americans will be able to keep the primary care doctor or pediatrician they choose. You will be able to see an OB-GYN without a referral. You'll be able seek emergency care at a hospital outside the plan's network, without fighting to get approval from an insurance company first.” (President Barack Obama, Remarks introducing the Patients’ Bill of Rights, 6/22/2010)

FACT CHECK: Doctors Already Turning Away Patients Thanks To Heavy Financial Burden:

“The number of doctors refusing new Medicare patients because of low government payment rates is setting a new high, just six months before millions of Baby Boomers begin enrolling in the government health care program. Recent surveys by national and state medical societies have found more doctors limiting Medicare patients...The AARP, the nation's largest consumer group representing seniors, is taking notice. Some U.S. areas already face a shortage of primary care physicians. Policy director John Rother says the trend away from Medicare threatens to make it worse. ‘I'm making a statement,’ says Leah McCormack, a New York City dermatologist. ‘Many physicians are really being forced out of private practice.’” (Richard Wolf, “Doctors limit new Medicare patients,” USA Today, 6/21/2010)

More Doctors to Turn Seniors Away: ‘Can’t Afford to Keep Losing Money’

President Obama Promised to ‘Strengthen Medicare and Extend the Life of That Program’:
 
“We agree on reforms that will finally reduce the costs of health care. Families will save on their premiums; businesses that will see their costs rise if we do nothing will save money now and in the future. This plan will strengthen Medicare and extend the life of that program. And because it gets rid of the waste and inefficiencies in our health care system, this will be the largest deficit reduction plan in over a decade. Now, I just want to repeat this because there's so much misinformation about the cost issue here. You talk to every health care economist out there and they will tell you that whatever ideas are -- whatever ideas exist in terms of bending the cost curve and starting to reduce costs for families, businesses, and government, those elements are in this bill.’” (Office of the Press Secretary, “Remarks by the President After Meeting with Senate Democrats,” whitehouse.gov, 12/15/2009)

RED ALERT: More Doctors Refuse New Medicare Patients as a Result of 21% Cut in Government Payments:

“The number of doctors refusing new Medicare patients because of low government payment rates is setting a new high, just six months before millions of Baby Boomers begin enrolling in the government health care program. Recent surveys by national and state medical societies have found more doctors limiting Medicare patients, partly because Congress has failed to stop an automatic 21% cut in payments that doctors already regard as too low. The cut went into effect Friday, even as the Senate approved a six-month reprieve. The House has approved a different bill… The federal health insurance program for seniors paid doctors on average 78% of what private insurers paid in 2008. ‘Physicians are saying, 'I can't afford to keep losing money,’’ says Lori Heim, president of the family doctors' group… The AARP, the nation's largest consumer group representing seniors, is taking notice. Some U.S. areas already face a shortage of primary care physicians. Policy director John Rother says the trend away from Medicare threatens to make it worse. ‘I'm making a statement,’ says Leah McCormack, a New York City dermatologist. ‘Many physicians are really being forced out of private practice.’” (Richard Wolf, “Doctors limit new Medicare patients,” USA Today, 6/21/2010)

Columbus Dispatch: Ohio Taxpayers Will Pay Big for ObamaCare

Pelosi: “We Have To Pass The Bill So That You Can Find Out What Is In It”:

“You’ve heard about the controversies within the bill, the process about the bill, one or the other.  But I don’t know if you have heard that it is legislation for the future, not just about health care for America, but about a healthier America, where preventive care is not something that you have to pay a deductible for or out of pocket.  Prevention, prevention, prevention—it’s about diet, not diabetes. It’s going to be very, very exciting.  But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it, away from the fog of the controversy.” – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Pelosi Remarks, 03/25/2010)

RED ALERT: Ohio State Agency Says ObamaCare Provision Will Cost Taxpayers $1.45 Billion:

“The sharp Medicaid expansion under the new federal health-care law will cost Ohio taxpayers $1.45 billion from 2014 through 2019, according to projections released to The Dispatch yesterday by the state. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services estimates that Medicaid - which currently insures nearly 2.1 million poor and disabled Ohioans - will grow by 554,000 people beginning in the 2014 fiscal year. Half of the new enrollees are already eligible for coverage but not enrolled and expected to sign up during a renewed marketing effort, state officials say. The cost estimates were the first by the state since President Barack Obama signed the sweeping overhaul into law in March. (Catherine Candisky, “Medicaid Expansion Will Sock Taxpayers,” Columbus Dispatch, 6/18/2010)

ObamaCare Promises Debunked – If You Like Your Plan, You’ll Likely Lose It

President Obama: If You Like Your Healthcare Coverage, You Can Keep It:

“At the same time -- I just want to be completely clear about this; I keep on saying this but somehow folks aren't listening -- if you like your health care plan, you keep your health care plan.  Nobody is going to force you to leave your health care plan.” (Remarks by the President, 8/15/09, accessed on whitehouse.gov, 6/11/2010)

RED ALERT: Stringent Regulations Will Force Employers To Ditch Their Current Healthcare Plans:

“The Obama administration issued strict rules Monday under which even some small changes to existing health care plans will make them subject to the requirements of the new health care reform law. The president promised repeatedly during the health care debate that individuals who like their current plans would be able to keep them. To meet that goal, the health care law envisioned that some plans would be “grandfathered in” under the old law — and therefore would not be required to meet some of the mandates of the new law, such as no-charge preventive care screenings. But critics of the reform law said Monday that the administration’s new rules clamp down too hard — and would effectively eliminate the old plans many Americans have and like. The regulation, released by the Department of Labor, the Treasury and HHS, estimates that 13 percent to 42 percent of employers would lose their grandfathered status by next year, and 34 percent to 80 percent would by 2013. Small businesses are considered more likely than larger companies to lose their grandfathered status.” (Jennifer Haberkorn, “New regs strict with 'grandfathers,'” Politico, 6/15/2010)

Workers Brace For More Out-of-Pocket Expenses

President Obama Promised Economic Benefits As A Result Of His Healthcare Overhaul:

“President Barack Obama used his weekly radio address to tout the economic benefits of overhauling the health care system, saying that reform would help build a ‘new foundation for our economy to create the good, lasting jobs and shared prosperity of tomorrow.’” (Nia-Malika Henderson, “Obama: Health bill will create jobs,” Politico, 1/9/2010)

RED ALERT: Workers Can Expect To Pay More Out-Of-Pocket Due To Recent 9 Percent Jump In Health Coverage Cost:

“The cost for businesses providing health coverage to employees will jump by 9 percent in 2011, according to a report released Monday by PricewaterhouseCoopers. The figure would be higher, but analysts predict employers will shift more costs to workers next year. The projection… is less than the 9.5 percent hike estimated for this year, but remains several times higher than the growth of the economy, squeezing employers amid already difficult economic times…To rein in costs, businesses are expected to shift more responsibility to employees, with workers being required to pay more out of pocket when they receive care, the analysts predict.” (Mike Lillis, “Employer health costs projected to jump 9 percent in 2011,” The Hill, 6/14/2010)

ObamaCare Could Strip Low-Wage Workers Of Coverage

President Obama Promised Economic Benefits As A Result Of His Healthcare Overhaul:

“President Barack Obama used his weekly radio address to tout the economic benefits of overhauling the health care system, saying that reform would help build a ‘new foundation for our economy to create the good, lasting jobs and shared prosperity of tomorrow.’” (Nia-Malika Henderson, “Obama: Health bill will create jobs,” Politico, 1/9/2010)

RED ALERT: More Than One Million Could Lose Coverage Under ObamaCare:

“Part of the health care overhaul due to kick in this September could strip more than 1 million people of their insurance coverage, violating a key goal of President Barack Obama’s reforms. Under the provision, insurance companies will no longer be able to apply broad annual caps on the amount of money they pay out on health policies. Employer groups say the ban could essentially wipe out a niche insurance market that many part-time workers and retail and restaurant employees have come to rely on...A cadre of employers and trade associations, including 7-Eleven, Lowe’s, the National Restaurant Association, the National Retail Federation and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, have asked the administration to allow the plans — at least through 2014, when the insurance exchanges are set up and tax credits become available for low-wage workers.” (Jennifer Haberkorn, “Comprehensive, but not for all,” Politico, 6/08/2010)

Obamacare Taxes Will Cause Medical Device Manufacturers to Cut Jobs

President Obama Promised Economic Benefits As A Result Of His Healthcare Overhaul:

“President Barack Obama used his weekly radio address to tout the economic benefits of overhauling the health care system, saying that reform would help build a ‘new foundation for our economy to create the good, lasting jobs and shared prosperity of tomorrow.’” (Nia-Malika Henderson, “Obama: Health bill will create jobs,” Politico, 1/9/2010)

RED ALERT: $20 Billion In New Obamacare Taxes Force Layoffs In Medical Device Industry:

“Medical device manufacturers are bristling over a key provision in the nation's new health care law which they say forces them to shoulder an unfair cost of expanded insurance coverage. A 2.3 percent excise tax on companies that supply medical devices like heart defibrillators and surgical tools to hospitals, health centers and ambulance services will cost medical device manufacturers an estimated $20 billion in new taxes over the next decade. And they say that will force them to lay off workers and curb the research and development of new medical tools. ‘Many small to midsize medical device companies will owe more to the federal government in taxes than they make in profits,’ said Mark Leahy of the Medical Device Manufacturers Association.’” (Steve LeBlanc, “Medical Device Makers: New Tax Will Cost Jobs,” Associated Press, 6/06/2010)

Columbus Dispatch Editorial: Obamacare “Poised to Unleash Massive Harm” on Economy

President Obama Promised Economic Benefits As A Result Of His Healthcare Overhaul:

“President Barack Obama used his weekly radio address to tout the economic benefits of overhauling the health care system, saying that reform would help build a ‘new foundation for our economy to create the good, lasting jobs and shared prosperity of tomorrow.’” (Nia-Malika Henderson, “Obama: Health bill will create jobs,” Politico, 1/9/2010)

RED ALERT: Small Businesses Fight Back Against Provisions That Stunt Job Growth:

“Last month, the nation's most prominent small-business association joined in a lawsuit against the health-care overhaul signed into law earlier this year by President Barack Obama. The National Federation of Independent Business concluded that the law will be harmful to small businesses and to prospects for small-business job creation. Small business is the economy's employment powerhouse, because new jobs are created disproportionately by this sector….Others have pointed out that the law requires any employer with 50 or more employees either to provide health coverage or to pay a penalty. This could deter small employers from increasing their work forces and could induce some who are just over the 50-employee threshold to cut workers in order to get under it…All of which adds to the evidence that this was not a rational attempt to solve the nation's health-care problems but a bill forced through Congress for political reasons and justified with fraudulent accounting and false promises. It is poised to unleash massive harm on the nation's economy.” (“Bad Business,” Columbus Dispatch Editorial, 6/5/2010)