9/08/2013 - Krugman Predicts NO Sticker Shock With Obamacare
- Thread starter JamesL
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MEDIA'S 'VICTIM': 'I WOULD JUMP' AT OBAMACARE PLANS
'I Would Jump At It' The media labeled her an Obamacare victim. Here's what she really thinks.
BY JONATHAN COHN
"If youâve followed the stories of insurance cancellations related to Obamacare, you may have heard about Dianne Barrette. Sheâs the 57-year-old Florida realtor who was paying $54 a month for a Blue Cross insurance plan. The plan wonât be available after December. And while FloridaBlue offered her a new plan, the company told her the premium would be $591 a month. Barrette, who makes $30,000 a year and could not pay for such a plan, was flabbergasted. Jan Crawford of CBS News made her the key source for a story about plan cancellations. An appearance on Fox News followed, as did multiple cameos in press releases from Obamacare critics. For at least a few days, she was the poster child for the Obamacare cancellation story.
"But Barretteâs situation defies quick and easy description. Itâs true that she canât keep her current policyâand that most policies available to her for next year have higher premiums. But those plans also offer real coverage, and her current plan does not. Some people might resent government effectively prohibiting her current plan. Barrette doesnât appear to be one of them. Based on conversations weâve had over the past few days, she wants more comprehensive insurance and, within reason, she's willing to pay more for it.
(READ: Obamacare's Winners and Losers, in One Chart)
"Iâm not the first person to examine her situation. Erik Wemple of the Washington Post called her shortly after the CBS article appeared. Nancy Metcalf of Consumer Reports examined her case and provided a detailed breakdown of what insurance she has today versus what she could buy for next year. What follows builds on their workâand that of other writers, like Tommy Christopher of Mediaite, Michael Hiltzik of the Los Angeles Times and Paul Waldman of the American Prospect, who have examined similar stories.
"Barrette's story isn't a stand-in for everybody losing existing coverageâa group that represents a tiny proportion of the population..."
More>>
'I Would Jump At It' The media labeled her an Obamacare victim. Here's what she really thinks.
BY JONATHAN COHN
"If youâve followed the stories of insurance cancellations related to Obamacare, you may have heard about Dianne Barrette. Sheâs the 57-year-old Florida realtor who was paying $54 a month for a Blue Cross insurance plan. The plan wonât be available after December. And while FloridaBlue offered her a new plan, the company told her the premium would be $591 a month. Barrette, who makes $30,000 a year and could not pay for such a plan, was flabbergasted. Jan Crawford of CBS News made her the key source for a story about plan cancellations. An appearance on Fox News followed, as did multiple cameos in press releases from Obamacare critics. For at least a few days, she was the poster child for the Obamacare cancellation story.
"But Barretteâs situation defies quick and easy description. Itâs true that she canât keep her current policyâand that most policies available to her for next year have higher premiums. But those plans also offer real coverage, and her current plan does not. Some people might resent government effectively prohibiting her current plan. Barrette doesnât appear to be one of them. Based on conversations weâve had over the past few days, she wants more comprehensive insurance and, within reason, she's willing to pay more for it.
(READ: Obamacare's Winners and Losers, in One Chart)
"Iâm not the first person to examine her situation. Erik Wemple of the Washington Post called her shortly after the CBS article appeared. Nancy Metcalf of Consumer Reports examined her case and provided a detailed breakdown of what insurance she has today versus what she could buy for next year. What follows builds on their workâand that of other writers, like Tommy Christopher of Mediaite, Michael Hiltzik of the Los Angeles Times and Paul Waldman of the American Prospect, who have examined similar stories.
"Barrette's story isn't a stand-in for everybody losing existing coverageâa group that represents a tiny proportion of the population..."
More>>
No surprise an idiot leftist thinks it's all good. Bottom line, for every person you find that will benefit, you can find another that will take a hit. That's not how it was sold when Obama told his lie about if you like your plan you can keep it. THAT bait and switch tactic is the problem.
More sticker shock news
Obamacare 'War Room' docs: We're concerned next media story is some consumers getting on website and finding fewer options, higher prices
By CNN Chief Washington Correspondent Jake Tapper
Washington (CNN) - Officials expressed concern that the next shoe to drop in the evolving story about the Affordable Care Act would be disappointment from consumers once they are able to get on the troubled HealthCare.gov website â disappointment because of sticker shock and limited choice, according to a new document obtained by CNN.
âMike described a general concern of PM (Project Management): getting to the point where the website is functioning properly and individuals begin to select plans; the media attention will follow individuals to plan selection and their ultimate choices; and, in some cases, there will be fewer options than would be desired to promote consumer choice and an ideal shopping experience. Additionally, in some cases there will be relatively high cost plans,â say the notes from the Obama administrationâs Obamacare 'War Room' from one week ago.
Project Management is a reference to those individuals in the Obama administration tasked with standing up the president's health care law at the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight.
The discussion appeared to be in reference to an October 24 story by The New York Times titled âHealth Care Law Fails to Lower Prices for Rural Areas.â
âWhile competition is intense in many populous regions, rural areas and small towns have far fewer carriers offering plans in the lawâs online exchanges," the newspaper reported. "Of the roughly 2,500 counties served by the federal exchanges, more than half, or 58 percent, have plans offered by just one or two insurance carriers, according to an analysis by The Times of county-level data provided by the Department of Health and Human Services. In about 530 counties, only a single insurer is participating. The analysis suggests that the ambitions of the Affordable Care Act to increase competition have unfolded unevenly, at least in the early going, and have not addressed many of the factors that contribute to high prices.â
Read: For many, Obama's promise of health care choice does not ring true
Other notes from the war room meeting describe specific âproblem plans,â and a problem with the site that prevents certification, perhaps due to a misspelling on the website.
The Obama administration has not yet responded to a request for comment. When it does, this story will be updated.
Obamacare 'War Room' docs: We're concerned next media story is some consumers getting on website and finding fewer options, higher prices
By CNN Chief Washington Correspondent Jake Tapper
Washington (CNN) - Officials expressed concern that the next shoe to drop in the evolving story about the Affordable Care Act would be disappointment from consumers once they are able to get on the troubled HealthCare.gov website â disappointment because of sticker shock and limited choice, according to a new document obtained by CNN.
âMike described a general concern of PM (Project Management): getting to the point where the website is functioning properly and individuals begin to select plans; the media attention will follow individuals to plan selection and their ultimate choices; and, in some cases, there will be fewer options than would be desired to promote consumer choice and an ideal shopping experience. Additionally, in some cases there will be relatively high cost plans,â say the notes from the Obama administrationâs Obamacare 'War Room' from one week ago.
Project Management is a reference to those individuals in the Obama administration tasked with standing up the president's health care law at the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight.
The discussion appeared to be in reference to an October 24 story by The New York Times titled âHealth Care Law Fails to Lower Prices for Rural Areas.â
âWhile competition is intense in many populous regions, rural areas and small towns have far fewer carriers offering plans in the lawâs online exchanges," the newspaper reported. "Of the roughly 2,500 counties served by the federal exchanges, more than half, or 58 percent, have plans offered by just one or two insurance carriers, according to an analysis by The Times of county-level data provided by the Department of Health and Human Services. In about 530 counties, only a single insurer is participating. The analysis suggests that the ambitions of the Affordable Care Act to increase competition have unfolded unevenly, at least in the early going, and have not addressed many of the factors that contribute to high prices.â
Read: For many, Obama's promise of health care choice does not ring true
Other notes from the war room meeting describe specific âproblem plans,â and a problem with the site that prevents certification, perhaps due to a misspelling on the website.
The Obama administration has not yet responded to a request for comment. When it does, this story will be updated.
And these people, including myself, are paying for our health insurance out of our own pockets. Those who have coverage through work ... at least some of them could care less about our plight since it doesn't impact them. But ... if some of these liberals who have non-individual policies were seeing 100% to 200% increases in their premiums they would be livid at both the increase and the fact they are being forced to buy a crappy policy that includes coverages they can NOT ever use (i.e. maternity, pediatric, ... for those of us in 50's (or older)).
These idiot Democrats who say a catastrophic policy is 'crappy" fail to look at the reality of what these garbage plans being offered are all about. My current catastrophic policy allows me (and my wife) annual physicals at no cost, prostate exam for me, mammogram for her, colonoscopy for each of us ... all of these at no cost. $364/month for both of us with $10K deductible.