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Obamacare Supporters Feel the Fear
American Interest ^
| 02/14/2013
Posted on 02/14/2013 9:13:38 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Obamacare supporters are unleashing a massive public relations campaign, turning to political networks and sports teams to help them sell the new law to a skeptical public. For the Affordable Care Act to succeed in expanding the ranks of the insured, many of the 30 million currently uninsured need to purchase an insurance plan in the new exchanges the law sets up. But advocates worry that it could be difficult to convince people to sign up for coverage. The WSJ reports:
According to backers of the law, enrollment faces big obstacles as polls and focus groups suggest a majority of uninsured people aren’t aware of the new coverage options or the availability of subsidies toward the cost of health insurance premiums. Many respondents also say they have had bad experiences with finding health insurance or paying medical debts.
“This is a very skeptical audience,” said Rachel Klein of Enroll America, a nonprofit group set up by the founding members of Families USA, a group that campaigned for the law’s passage.
While Enroll America is relying on door-to-door grassroots political action to build support for enrollment, other states are using celebrity power to improve Obamacare’s brand. But the law faces bigger problems than bad branding and a lack of awareness.
It might seem odd that the law’s supporters should need to convince Americans to purchase a plan, given that those who don’t will be taxed. But the tax will be less expensive than the cost of coverage. The minimum tax per person will be $695 per year. Higher earning individuals will have to pay more: a couple who makes $100,000 per year, for example, will be taxed around $2,025. That may sound like a lot, but the CBO estimates that the annual premiums for the least-expensive plan offered under the new law would reach about $12,000 for a family and about $5,000 for an individual (all figures can be found here).
This means that for a lot of people paying the tax will be cheaper than buying insurance. And since the new law prevents insurance companies from denying you coverage or charging you more if you have a pre-existing condition, you can always buy a plan later if you develop an expensive medical condition.
Over time, more and more people are going to figure this out. Many healthy people (especially the young and the single) will just pay the tax, knowing they can get it later if they need to. In the meantime, everybody with expensive health care problems will flood into the system, driving up costs and premiums. Then even more healthy people will choose the tax over the increasingly expensive insurance premiums, in turn forcing premiums up even higher.
Keeping this dynamic from undermining the new health care system is going to be one of the biggest tests Obamacare will face. There may be ways around it. As of 2010 Massachusetts’s similar plan has successfully raised its insurance rate from about 90 percent up to 98.1 percent. But it will be a serious challenge. This glitzy “buy insurance now” marketing campaign is a sign that the government recognizes this vulnerability and fears it.
More Coverage from Via Meadia:
TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: healthcareexchange; healthinsurance; obamacare
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To: SeekAndFind
I’m Catholic. I’m self employed. I won’t buy Obamacare. Period.
2
posted on
02/14/2013 9:16:57 AM PST
by
Smokin' Joe
(How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing)
To: SeekAndFind
I formally request all those talented hackers out there devote full time to publishing names/addresses/phone numbers/car types and licenses of EVERY person who voted for and support Obamacare.
It’s only fair.
After all, the free exchange of information has been demanded by liberals...and it’s soon going to be time that they fully regret it.
3
posted on
02/14/2013 9:17:47 AM PST
by
Da Coyote
To: SeekAndFind
“While Enroll America is relying on door-to-door grassroots political action to build support for enrollment”
Oh really...
4
posted on
02/14/2013 9:19:08 AM PST
by
lacrew
(Mr. Soetoro, we regret to inform you that your race card is over the credit limit.)
To: SeekAndFind
“While Enroll America is relying on door-to-door grassroots political action to build support for enrollment”
Oh really...
5
posted on
02/14/2013 9:19:08 AM PST
by
lacrew
(Mr. Soetoro, we regret to inform you that your race card is over the credit limit.)
To: SeekAndFind
They didn't buy their own insurance before.
Why would they buy it now?
After all, Obamacare is FREE, right?
6
posted on
02/14/2013 9:20:49 AM PST
by
E. Pluribus Unum
("Somebody has to be courageous enough to stand up to the bullies." --Dr. Ben Carson)
To: SeekAndFind
All those who come out in favor of ObamaCare will get an exemption from the law!
To: SeekAndFind
It’s not true that you can’t be charged a higher premium if you have pre-existing conditions under Obamacare. All the law says is that you can’t be denied, not that you can’t be charged higher premiums.
How much higher has yet to be determined
8
posted on
02/14/2013 9:24:57 AM PST
by
Lorianne
(fedgov, taxporkmoney)
To: SeekAndFind
9
posted on
02/14/2013 9:25:04 AM PST
by
quintr
To: SeekAndFind
Enroll Americamy tagline, nuff said
10
posted on
02/14/2013 9:25:39 AM PST
by
Slyfox
(The key to Marxism is medicine - Vladimir Lenin)
To: SeekAndFind
While Enroll America is relying on door-to-door grassroots political action to build support for enrollment, other states are using celebrity power to improve Obamacares brand. But the law faces bigger problems than bad branding and a lack of awareness. Sorta like the grassroots effort that they put forth every ten years to do the census?
11
posted on
02/14/2013 9:28:32 AM PST
by
Slyfox
(The key to Marxism is medicine - Vladimir Lenin)
To: E. Pluribus Unum
Exactamundo! Can’t you just hear the wailing and gnashing of teeth when these clymers find out it isn’t free and that Justice Roberts’ tax doesn’t buy anything but compliance?
12
posted on
02/14/2013 9:28:46 AM PST
by
Dahoser
(Separation of church and state? No, we need separation of media and state.)
To: SeekAndFind
many of the 30 million currently uninsured need to purchase an insurance plan in the new exchanges the law sets upUh huh.. what exchanges? where are they? Couldn't they just buy insurance without going through an exchange? SO what is their point?
I ain't buying crap. Make me. lol
13
posted on
02/14/2013 9:29:13 AM PST
by
GeronL
(http://asspos.blogspot.com)
To: SeekAndFind
Obama is going to spend millions of tax dollars in advertising this fall threatening people to sign up for ObamaCare by January 1st. The liberal media is going to make out like a bandit with all the advertising money Obama will be giving them on the “enrollment push”.
14
posted on
02/14/2013 9:29:25 AM PST
by
jimbo123
To: SeekAndFind
“door-to-door grassroots political action”
Just because you knock on doors doesn’t make it “grassroots.” I’m almost certain it’s the opposite of grassroots.
To: Slyfox
If they show up at my door, I won’t answer...just as I did the last 2 censuses.
To: SeekAndFind
I am not going to the doctor for much anymore. I don’t plan to either. I am opting out of the entire system. Reduce stress, exercise more, healthy eating. Prevention and holistic medicines and teas, and when it is my time, I am ready to go and meet the big guy upstairs.
DONE.
To: Lorianne
RE: All the law says is that you cant be denied, not that you cant be charged higher premiums.
What if you don’t have the money and get sick? Can you be denied?
To: Lorianne
“Its not true that you cant be charged a higher premium if you have pre-existing conditions under Obamacare. All the law says is that you cant be denied, not that you cant be charged higher premiums.”
***
Correct. This is what insurance companies are doing now. Covering all these risky policyholders will cost the companies serious money, so of course, the cost will be passed on to the insureds.
To: GeronL
RE: I ain’t buying crap. Make me. lol
You do know that the law says that if you don’t buy healthcare, you will be penalized ( or as Justice Robert says — TAXED ) don’t you?
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