The bad news the press managed to miss in that Kaiser ObamaCare survey

Investor' Business Daily ^ | 06/24/2014 | IBD Staff

[IBD editorial writer]

Enrollment: ObamaCare loyalists are trumpeting a new Kaiser Family Foundation survey finding that more than half of those who enrolled had been uninsured. But the survey's findings are nothing to cheer about.

First, nobody knows exactly how many ObamaCare enrollees were previously uninsured, because the administration didn't bother to ask for that information when people signed up. So it's been up to pollsters to figure out what happened, and previous surveys showed that only a small percentage of ObamaCare sign-ups came from the ranks of the uninsured.

The new Kaiser survey, in contrast, found that 57% of those getting coverage through an ObamaCare exchange had lacked insurance. But this number isn't nearly as glowing as it first appears.

First, it's bloated.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

I think another big issue is going to be the number of people who signed up in the Spring who have not been paying premiums. The insurers will carry them for a couple months due to political pressure, but at some point, they are going to start terminating policies.

[ken in texas]

... but at some point, they are going to start terminating policies.

And then people will complain and ask where their free health care went.

[Sir Napsalot]

Haven’t trusted any poll (on its face) nor any news/report.

IMO, haven’t missed too much.

[Lou L]

another big issue is going to be the number of people who signed up in the Spring who have not been paying premiums.

That's part of it. But I want to know four things, which I doubt will ever get reported. 1) How many previously uninsured selected a policy through the ACA? 2) How many of those people are actually paying their premiums? 3) Are those same people paying co-pays and deductibles? 4) Are those same people actually receiving care under their selected policy?

As a bonus, I'd like to know if any people answering "yes" to all four are actually happy with their coverage.

[Lorianne]

Many will stop paying premiums once they realize

a. They cannot get a primary care physician (PCP) that will accept their ‘exchange’ purchased plan.

b. All other services are not covered if they are not ordered or prescribed by their exchange purchased plan’s approved PCP

Ergo, they are not getting ANY services covered by their insurance at all, but are still required to pay the premium.
This is why they will stop paying the premium.