Another Broken Promise As ObamaCare Continues To Flat-Line
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OBAMA REPEATEDLY PROMISED THAT AMERICANS WOULD KEEP THEIR PLAN PROMISE:
Obama Promised Americans That You Can "Keep Your Plan." OBAMA: "If you like your doctor, you're going to be able to keep your doctor. If you like your plan, keep your plan." (President Barack Obama, Remarks At George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 3/19/10)
In Selling His Health Care Package, Obama Said "Americans Must Have The Freedom" To Keep Their Plan. OBAMA: "Second, Americans must have the freedom to keepwhatever doctor and health care planthey have…" (President Barack Obama, Remarks On Health Care , Washington, D.C., 5/11/09)
Keeping Your Plan Was Obama's "Core Belief" Of Health Care Reform. OBAMA:"The plans you are discussing embody my core belief that Americans should have better choices for health insurance, building on the principle that if they like the coverage they have now, they can keepit, …" (President Barack Obama, Letter To Senate Democrat Leaders, 6/2/09)
Obama Said Keeping Your Plan Is "A Priority" To Him. OBAMA: "There's no doubt that we have to preserve what's best in the health care system, and that means allowing Americans who like their doctor and like their health care plan to keep their plan. And that's going to be a priority for us." (President Barack Obama, Remarks At Northern Virginia Community College , Annandale, VA, 7/1/09)
Obama Made It "Clear" That You Can Keep Your Plan. "I know a lot of Americans who are satisfied with their health care right now are wondering what reform would mean for them, so let me be clear: If you like your doctor or health care provider, you can keep them. If you like your health care plan, you can keep that too." (President Barack Obama, Remarks On Health Care, Washington, D.C., 7/15/09)
Obama: "End Of Story," You Can Keep Your Doctor And Your Insurance. "Those who oppose reform will also tell you that under our plan, you won't get to choose your doctor, that some bureaucrat will choose for you. That's also not true. Michelle and I don't want anyone telling us who our family's doctor should be, and no one should decide that for you either. Under our proposals, if you like your doctor, you keep your doctor. If you like your current insurance, you keep that insurance. Period. End of story." (President Barack Obama, Weekly Address, 7/18/09)
Obama: "If You Like Your Plan, You'll Be Able To Keep It." "If you like your current plan, you will be able to keep it. Let me repeat that: If you like your plan, you'll be able to keep it." (President Barack Obama, Remarks On Health Care , Washington, D.C., 7/21/09)
AMERICAN WORKERS ARE QUICKLY FINDING THAT OBAMA BROKE HIS PROMISE
Obama's Claim That Americans Could Keep Their Plan Is Not True
Obama's Promise That Americans Can Keep The Coverage They Like Is Challenged By "Administration Regulation Estimates," Which Show A Majority Will See Changes To Their Plans. "Over and over in the health care debate, President Barack Obama said people who like their current coverage would be able to keep it. But an early draft of an administration regulation estimates that many employers will be forced to make changes to their health plans under the new law. In just three years, a majority of workers-51 percent-will be in plans subject to new federal requirements, according to the draft." (Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, "Health Overhaul To Force Changes In Employer Plans," The Associated Press, 6/11/10)
"Even The Administration Admits That The President's Promise That Americans Could Keep Their Insurance Is Void." (Doug Bandow, "ObamaCare's Admission Of Failure: Waivers On Demand," Forbes, 6/27/11)
Medicare Chief Actuary RichardFoster Said That It Was "Not True In All Cases" That People Would Be Able To Keep Their Coverage If They Wanted To. "The landmark legislation probably won't hold costs down, and it won't let everybody keep their current health insurance if they like it, Chief Actuary Richard Foster told the House Budget Committee. His office is responsible for independent long-range cost estimates. … As for people getting to keep their coverage, 'not true in all cases." ("Medicare Official Doubts Health Care Law Savings," The Associated Press , 1/26/11)
CBO Estimates That Millions Will Lose Their Employer Sponsored Health Care
The Non-Partisan CBO Found That ObamaCare Could Cause As Many As 20 Million Americans To Lose Their Employer-Provided Health Care Plan. "As many as 20 million Americans could lose their employer-provided healthcare because of President Obama's healthcare reform law, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said in a new report Thursday." (Julian Pecquet, "CBO: Millions Of Americans Could Lose Their Employer Coverage," The Hill's Health Watch , 3/15/12)
Despite A "Tremendous Amount Of Uncertainty" Regarding Employer-Sponsored Health Care, The CBO Still Expects 3 To 5 Million Americans To Lose Their Health Care Coverage Under ObamaCare. "The best estimate, subject to a 'tremendous amount of uncertainty,' is that about 3 million to 5 million fewer people will obtain coverage through their employer each year from 2019 through 2022." (Julian Pecquet, "CBO: Millions Of Americans Could Lose Their Employer Coverage," The Hill's " Health Watch ," 3/15/12)
CBO Director Douglas W. Elmendorf In March 2011: People Receiving Coverage Through Their Employer Will Be Lower Than Had ObamaCare Never Been Enacted. "On balance, the number of people obtaining coverage through their employer will be about 1 million lower in 2019 through 2021 under PPACA and the Reconciliation Act than under prior law, CBO and JCT estimate." (Douglas W. Elmendorf, "Subcommittee On Health Committee On Energy And Commerce, U.S. House Of Representatives, Testimony, 3/30/11)
Grace Marie-Turner: "ObamaCare Will Lead To A Dramatic Decline In Employer-Provided Health Insurance-With As Many As 78 Million Americans Forced To Find Other Sources Of Coverage." (Grace Marie-Turner, "No, You Can't Keep Your Health Insurance," The Wall Street Journal, 6/8/11)
An Alarming Number Of Employers Are Planning To Drop Their Health Care Coverage
McKinsey Study Found That 30 Percent Of Employers "Definitely Or Probably" Plan To Drop Health Care Coverage. "While only 7% of employees will be forced to switch to subsidized-exchange programs, at least 30% of companies say they will 'definitely or probably' stop offering employer-sponsored coverage, according to the study published in McKinsey Quarterly." (Russ Britt, "Firms Halting Coverage as Reform Starts: Survey 30% of Companies Say They'll Stop Offering Health Plans," Market Watch, 6/6/11)
McKinsey: "Overall, 30 Percent Of Employers Will Definitely Or Probably Stop Offering ESI In The Years After 2014." (Shubham Singhal, Jeris Steuland And Drew Ungerman, " How U.S. Health Care Reform Will Affect Employee Benefits ," McKinsey Quarterly, 6/11)
"The Findings Come As A Growing Number Of Employers Are Seeking Waivers From An Early Provision In The Overhaul That Requires Them To Enrich Their Benefits This Year." (Janet Adamy, "Study Sees Cuts to Health Plans," The Wall Street Journal, 6/8/11)
Former Chairman Of The Democratic National Committee Howard Dean: The McKinsey Study's Findings Are "True." "The fact is it is very good for small business. There was a McKinsey study, which the Democrats don't like, but I do, and I think it's true. Most small businesses are not going to be in the health insurance business anymore after this thing goes into effect." (MSNBC's "Morning Joe," 9/20/11)
Employer-Sponsored Health Care Is Currently Declining
Kaiser Survey Found That Only 60 Percent Of Employers Offered Medical Coverage This Year, A 9 Percent Decrease From 2010. "Sixty percent of employers said they offered medical benefits this year, a decrease from 69 percent in 2010." (Jeffrey Young, "Health-Benefit Costs Rise Most In Six Years," Bloomberg , 9/27/11)
Since 2008, Employer-Sponsored Health Care Has Dropped 5.3 Percent. " Employer-based health insurance has declined since 2008, falling from 49.8% in the first quarter of that year to 44.5% in the third quarter of 2011." (Elizabeth Mendes, "Employer-Based Health Insurance Continues To Trend Down," Gallup, 11/11/11)
"The Percentage Of American Adults Who Get Their Health Insurance From An Employer Continues To Decline, Falling To 44.5% Percent In The Third Quarter Of This Year." (Elizabeth Mendes, "Employer-Based Health Insurance Continues To Trend Down," Gallup, 11/11/11)
"Governments And Businesses Have And Will Continue To Cut Back And/Or Reform Their Health Coverage Offerings To Handle Tough Economic Circumstances, Rising Health Care Costs, And Requirements Of The Affordable Care Act." (Elizabeth Mendes, "Employer-Based Health Insurance Continues To Trend Down,"Gallup, 11/11/11)
MEDICARE DISADVANTAGE
Seniors Are Losing Their Medicare Advantage Plans
FactCheck.org Says White House Ad Promising Medicare "Benefits Will Remain The Same" Is False. "Currently, about 1 in every 4 Medicare beneficiary is enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. For many of them, the words in this ad ring hollow, and the promise that 'benefits will remain the same' is just as fictional as the town of Mayberry was when Griffith played the local sheriff." (Brooks Jackson, "Mayberry Misleads On Medicare," FactCheck.org, 7/31/10)
Obama's Cuts To Medicare Advantage Will "Trigger An Exodus From The Popular Program."
"In addition to flagging provider cuts as potentially unsustainable, the report projected that reductions in payments to private Medicare Advantage plans would trigger an exodus from the popular program." ("Report Says Health Care Will Cover More, Cost More," The Associated Press, 4/27/10)
CMS: Enrollment In Medicare Advantage Plans Will Be Cut In Half By 2017. "We estimate that in 2017, when the MA (Medicare Advantage) provisions will be fully phased in, enrollment in MA plans will be lower by about 50 percent (from its projected level of 14.8 million under the prior law to 7.4 million under the new law)." (Richard S. Foster, "Estimated Financial Effects Of The 'Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act,' As Amended," CMS, 4/22/10)
ObamaCare Will Result In As Many As 50 Percent Of Seniors Enrolled In Medicare Advantage To Be Dropped. "The White House is launching its latest Willy Loman campaign to resell ObamaCare, helped by $125 million that unions and other interest groups say they'll spend to make Americans love their new entitlement. Seniors in particular should curb their enthusiasm . . . . Advantage gives almost one of four seniors private insurance options, and Democrats are about to cut its funding by some $136 billion over the next decade even as health costs rise. The Congressional Budget Office says these cuts will cause enrollment to drop by 35%, the Administration's own Medicare actuaries predict 50%, and both outfits take for granted that benefits will also decline." (Editorial, "Farewell, Medicare Advantage," The Wall Street Journal, 6/11/10)
Seniors Are Currently Being Dropped From Medicare Advantage
Thousands Of Seniors In New Hampshire Were Notified That Their Medicare Advantage Plans Are Being Discontinued. "Many local Medicare Advantage users are being left in the lurch by their health plan providers. About 7,600 seniors in Rockingham, Carroll, and Hillsborough Counties received notice earlier this month that their Medicare Advantage coverage is being discontinued. New Hampshire has one of the highest percentages of Medicare Advantage enrollees in New England." (Julie Hanson, "Medicare Questions Just Keep Coming," Union Leader, 11/30/11)
And The Seniors Losing Their Medicare Advantage Coverage In New Hampshire Is Only The Tip Of The Iceberg. Medicare Chief Actuary Richard "[F]oster's office is projecting that more than 7 million Medicare recipients in private Medicare Advantage plans will eventually have to find other coverage. That would cut enrollment in the popular plans by about half." ("Medicare Official Doubts Health Care Law Savings," The Associated Press, 1/26/11)
Union Leader: New Hampshire Medicare Advantage Beneficiaries Were Lied To. "Remember when President Obama said that if his health care 'reform' law passed, you'd still get to keep your doctor? Medicare Advantage participants in the Granite State are finding out what a lie that was." (Editorial, "A Small Taste: New Hampshire Samples ObamaCare," Union Leader, 12/1/11)
Union Leader: Americans Will Lose Coverage Along With Their Health Providers As Well. "Its regulations will so skew the private insurance market that millions will lose the coverage they have and be forced into plans preferred by bureaucrats in Washington. They will lose access to their doctors, too. It would make a lot more sense to reform the health insurance market by working to give people more control over their own care, not less." (Editorial, "A Small Taste: New Hampshire Samples ObamaCare," Union Leader, 12/1/11)
Anthem Blue Cross Discontinued 114,000 Medicare Advantage Plans In California. "You'd think some things would pass with age. But at 86 years old, Rita Burrill is checking her insurance options - again. One of nearly 114,000 California seniors on Anthem Blue Cross' discontinued Medicare Advantage Freedom Blue Regional Plan, Burrill has until Dec. 31 to pick an alternative plan or switch to original Medicare coverage… Anthem started sending out notices in the mail Oct. 1, informing seniors that the zero-premium plan would end in 2012." (Rebecca Walsh, "Insurance Plan's Elimination Has Seniors Struggling," The Desert Sun, 10/11/11)
Optima Health Discontinued Medicare Advantage For 14,000 People In Virginia. "Optima Health will discontinue its Medicare Value and Value Plus plans, effective Dec. 31, the company confirmed. 'This was not an easy decision on our part. We did everything we could to try to make this thing work,' said John DeGruttola, senior vice president of sales and marketing. 'But after looking at our financials, and looking at the inadequate federal funding, we determined this product was not a viable product for us.' …Optima, which is Sentara Healthcare's health insurance arm, started offering Medicare Advantage plans in 2005. The nearly 14,000 Medicare Value and Value Plus plan members make up about 3 percent of Optima's 430,000 total members." (Veronica Chufo, "Optima Will Discontinue Medicare Advantage Plan," The Daily Press, 9/27/11)
3,300 Seniors In Shasta County, California, Were Dropped From Their Medicare Advantage Plan. "About 3,300 seniors in Shasta County are scrambling to find new health insurance because some popular Medicare Advantage plans aren't returning in 2012. The changes will affect nearly 10 percent of the 37,985 Medicare policyholders in Shasta County, according to the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program in Redding. Affected policyholders received notices in the mail in September that their plan would not be renewed. Their options include choosing another Medicare Advantage plan or enrolling in original feefor- service Medicare. What's more, because their Medicare Advantage plan is being discontinued, affected seniors are guaranteed the opportunity to enroll in certain Medicare Supplemental plans - policies sold by private insurance companies to fill gaps in original Medicare coverage… Anthem Blue Cross spokesman Darrel Ng said the company made a difficult decision but it must remain financially stable to meet members' needs." (David Benda, "Care Fades Away Some Plans In Medicare Advantage Not Returning," The Record Searchlight, 10/18/11)
22,000 Seniors From Massachusetts, New Hampshire And Maine Were Notified That Their Medicare Advantage Plans Have Been Dropped. "Harvard Pilgrim Health Care has notified customers that it will drop its Medicare Advantage health insurance program at the end of the year, forcing 22,000 senior citizens in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine to seek alternative supplemental coverage. The decision by Wellesley-based Harvard Pilgrim, the state's second-largest health insurer, was prompted by a freeze in federal reimbursements and a new requirement that insurers offering the kind of product sold by Harvard Pilgrim - a Medicare Advantage private fee for service plan - form a contracted network of doctors who agree to participate for a negotiated amount of money. Under current rules, patients can seek care from any doctor." (Robert Weisman, "Harvard Pilgrim Cancels Medicare Advantage Plan," The Boston Globe, 9/28/10)
WAIVER WIRE
The White House: Waivers Had To Be Granted To Keep Employers From Dropping Health Care Coverage. "To ensure that we protect the coverage that these workers have today until better options are available for them in 2014, the law allows HHS, in extreme cases, to issue temporary waivers from the phase out of annual limits." (Stephanie Cutter, "The Truth About Health Care Waivers," The White House's Blog, 12/10/10)
The Department Of Health And Human Services Granted 1,722 Waivers From The New Requirement Covering Over 4 Million Individuals. ("Annual Limits Policy: Protecting Consumers, Maintaining Options, And Building A Bridge To 2014," HHS, Accessed 3/20/12)
Over 4 Million Americans Were Covered Under The Waivers. "The waivers cover slightly less than 4 million people, or about 3 percent of the population, HHS said." (Sam Baker, "HHS Finalizes Oer 1,200 Waivers Under Health Care Reform Law," The Hill's " Health Watch ," 1/6/12)
Unions Were An Overwhelming Recipient Of Waivers
2,255,307 Union Workers Have Plans That Received Waivers From ObamaCare. ("Annual Limits Policy: Protecting Consumers, Maintaining Options, And Building A Bridge To 2014," HHS, Accessed 3/20/12)
451 Waivers Were Granted To Labor Unions. ("Annual Limits Policy: Protecting Consumers, Maintaining Options, And Building A Bridge To 2014," HHS, Accessed 3/20/12)
Unions Say They Need Relief From ObamaCare So That Employees Can Keep Their Health Coverage. "Some of its chapters have obtained waivers, the union concedes, but notes the waivers were anticipated by Democrats who passed the law. 'The waiver process is a key part of healthcare reform because it helps ensure that workers won't lose their employer-provided health coverage,' SEIU states on its website." (Alexander Bolton, "SEIU Fights Healthcare Repeal After Obtaining Waivers From Law," The Hill, 2/2/11)
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