Obamacare Architect: 'Could Be the Beginning of a Death Spiral'

Weekly Standard ^ | 11/15/13 | DANIEL HALPER

[Evil Slayer]

Harvard professor David Cutler, a so-called architect of Obamacare, says we "could be" witnessing "the beginning of a death spiral" for the unpopular health care bill. Cutler made the comments last night on Fox News:

"So when you were on last week I asked you, if they don't get enough people in the exchanges, then what happens?" said host Megyn Kelly. "And you said then the premiums go up very, very high. Now, was that ball put in motion today?"

"We don't know yet," said Cutler. "So what the president is trying to do is to say the website is not working, the exchanges are not working. Let's try and slow the process down and delay it by a year. And if it turns out to be a delay of a year, then we can work through that. It would be uncomfortable as it has been for the past month, but it will turn out okay. If it becomes a permanent situation that people who are healthier stay away and people who are sicker go into the exchanges, that becomes a very big problem."

"Is that the beginning of the so-called death spiral?"

"That could be the beginning of a death spiral," said Cutler. "That is, you could have a situation where the only people in the exchanges are very unhealthy people with very high premiums."

[Buckeye McFrog]

And so begins ObamaCare II.

What do you think Bill Clinton was doing? Giving his wife a SECOND CHANCE to become the Founder of American Socialized Medicine.

[Servant of the Cross]

we're on the same track plane (post #20) ...

[tacticalogic]

At no point during its entire, sordid history was it EVER popular with a majority.

I think the turning point was when people who were in love with the idea started finding out they hate the reality.

[matthew fuller]

"Americans voted for Obama - twice - on the promise of hope and change and renewed liberalism. Let Americans feel the frontal impact of what Liberlism/Marxism really means."

Amen to that- people get the quality of government that they deserve. We have earned this fustercluck.

[brownsfan]

*** Sometimes corporal punishment is warranted as a means of healthy correction. ***

“The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly.”

- Abraham Lincoln

[MrB]

This is the problem with ALL collectivist schemes.
The takers sign up in droves,
and the makers have to be forced at gunpoint to join up to support them.

[Ray76]

Agreed. Congress & Repubs need to call Obama on this latest decree.

No delays. No piecemeal changes. Repeal it entirely or strict enforcement. I favor the second so that people will learn their lesson, and kill the idea of socialism. Otherwise it will grow back.

[Boonie]

Exactly right...All those who voted for this...person...have absolutely no voice to complain...
You did this not only to yourselves, but to ALL OTHER AMERICANS......

Those of you who voted for this...person...have aided in bringing OUR country to it’s knees...

Most of the “so called” republicans in Congress have done nothing at all to try and right this sinking ship called “America”...

Conservatives MUST take back our country or we are to become a page in history very, very soon...

[Justa]

O-care is like a zombie movie. The sick hunger for the healthy in order to survive.

[YankeeReb]

Trouble is , it will bring down the economy with it.

[MrB]

Not just this particular socialist scheme, though -
ALL socialists schemes work out this way.

Somehow, human nature never seems to enter the equation in these supposedly superior intellectuals’ minds.

[Red in Blue PA]

Agree 100%. Much more suffering is needed before we can put the nation on the correct trajectory.

[MrB]

I envision someone holding a gun and tying a rope to a long line of people,

then jumping off a cliff.

[privatedrive]

And since kids can now stay on their parents’ plans until they’re 26, we have substantially reduced the pool of those much-needed ‘healthy payers’.

[bert]

It seems to me that based on the presidents statements yesterday and the egg heads statements here, what is evolving before our eyes is medicaid on steroids.

That is much of Obamacare will be trashed leaving only care for the very sick and the welfare riff raff that will replace going to the ER and paid for by all the rest, including the rich.

[Resettozero]

we need a Harvard Professor to play Captain Obvious?

Yes we do. Sarah Palin was not educated enough to tell us about this earlier, and what has she done to educate herself since then. No, we need someone who pushed Obamacare from an Ivy League faculty belatedly trying to cover his backside before the truth really counts.

[Resettozero]

It seems to me that based on the presidents statements yesterday and the egg heads statements here, what is evolving before our eyes is medicaid on steroids.

That is much of Obamacare will be trashed leaving only care for the very sick and the welfare riff raff that will replace going to the ER and paid for by all the rest, including the rich.

Agree with your assessment, bert. After a passage of time, taxes will not be sufficient and confiscation of our properties will have to kick in.

[liberalh8ter]

Be careful Cutler....what you're saying here is that the free market operates more fairly than Socialism and even though every person with 2 brain cells to rub together knows that is true, you aren't supposed to go on National television and elude to it.

[PghBaldy]

That is true. Also, it passed on a straight party-line vote, which is unprecedented for something so major. It was colossal arrogance for them to do this.

[Resettozero]

Also, it passed on a straight party-line vote...

Just so no one in the future who reads this may be confused: Obamacare passed on a straight Democrat Party only party-line vote and against the loudly-expressed wishes of all rational Americans.