Posted on 05/02/2014 1:05:20 PM PDT by Kaslin
Sigh. Another day, another grim Obamacare update.
Actually, we have two updates on the never-ending disaster of government-run healthcare.
Our first story comes from the Washington Times, which reports that the company hired to fix the failed Obamacare website is way behind schedule and way over budget.
Fixing the Obamacare website to get it ready to handle a second round of enrollments will cost the federal government $121 million The deal, which Accenture announced on its website Tuesday, costs more than the $93.7 million it took to build HealthCare.gov in the first place. Its also $30 million more than the government projected for fixes just a few months ago There doesnt seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel for Obamacare website expenses, said House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell E. Issa, California Republican.
Im mystified, by the way, why taxpayers always have to cough up more money on these contracts.
If some company promises to do X in exchange for Y amount of money, shouldnt that contract be binding?
Instead, this is just the latest chapter in the endless book of government cost overruns.
Our second story comes from the Washington Examiner, which reports that there are some big problems with Obamas supposed success of bribing and coercing people into Obamacare.
officials from President Obama down have touted 8 million Americans signing up for coverage through the programs exchanges. But, among other things, they havent revealed how many of those individuals formally completed their enrollment by paying their premiums. >what the committee heard back was that just 67 percent of individuals signing up for health insurance through the federal health exchange as of April 15 paid their first months premiums and actually completed enrollment.
Gee, if thats a success, Id hate to see a failure.
And the story also notes that the White House has been unable to trick sufficient numbers of young people into overpaying for healthcare. Thats very bad news for the insurance companies that put their trust in government.
In addition, just 25 percent of enrollees were between the ages of 18 and 34, according to the report. The administration had been aiming for roughly 40 percent of enrollees to come from this younger demographic to help offset the cost of providing coverage to older and sicker participants.
I guess this means stupid birth control ads werent enough to get young folks to flush away their dollars.
Geesh, no wonder Im tempted to feel sorry for the President.
But lets not forget that there actually are some people who are benefiting from Obamacare. Its too bad, though, that we cant all be corrupt DC insiders.
Lets close with some cartoons from Townhall. Since weve already talked about the absurdity of counting coerced enrollments as an indicator of success, we may as well share a funny Glenn McCoy cartoon that makes the same point.
If you like this cartoon, Ted Cruzs office put together a satirical yet accurate look at the success Obama has achieved. And this Eric Allie cartoon has the same message.
And heres Henry Payne on Obamas mission-accomplished moment. Reminds me of the low-expectations theme Lisa Benson used in another very amusing Obamacare cartoon.
Yup, the mission has been accomplished. A few million more Americans are now more dependent on government (which Mark Steyn explained was one of the lefts main goals) and the political class has made it harder for people to achieve the American dream.
P.S. Switching topics, I cant resist sharing this Michael Ramirez cartoon.
Government is force and coercion rather than cooperation,free association and voluntary exchange. It should only used against those who first initiate force and not peaceable folk. It doesn’t work.
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