ObamaCare: It's Going to Get Worse Before It Gets Worse

When President Obama made his pitch for the health care overhaul, he framed it this way: "Insurance reform; making sure that you can have choices in the marketplace for health insurance, and making it affordable for people; and reducing costs." It was a pitch aimed at consumers: More access, more choices, lower prices. But over at InsureBlog, certified underwriter Bob Vineyard scans the health insurance market in Georgia and finds that, in the post-PPACA insurance market, there have definitely been changes—but not the ones Obama promised. From the highlight (lowlight?) reel:

All but two health insurance companies have withdrawn from offering maternity benefits.
…As of [August 26th], it is almost impossible to find a rate for children's health insurance if they are under age 19 and you are looking for coverage to be effective on 9/23/10 or later. [Note: See here for more on why.]
…Many have already indicated higher premiums for the 4th quarter of 2010 and later, especially on children under age 19.
…Doctor and hospital networks are shrinking in an effort to further control costs but also has the effect of limiting access to a wide range of medical providers.

More here.

Comments

[Old Mexican]

ObamaCare: It's Going to Get Worse Before It Gets Really Worse.

FIFY.

[Old Mexican]

When President Obama made his pitch for the health care overhaul, he framed it this way: "Insurance reform; making sure that you can have choices in the marketplace for health insurance, and making it affordable for people; and reducing costs."

Translation from Obama-ese: "I am obviously lying through my teeth. Don't you know me, already?"

[cornholio]

Translation from Obama-ese: This will reduce your options, make your remaining options less affordable, and thus create a bullshit justification that I can later use to argue for outright socialization. Hope and Change right in the fuckin' ass, baby!

[Skandar]

Just got the renwal quote for our 10 person business in Texas. Up 29% year over year for the same coverage. Still don't know if we will be able to get quotes from any other company yet.

[Colin]

This is exactly what they want. What they wanted all along: to destroy the health insurance industry so that there's no other option but single-payer.

[?]

That's just evil enough to be true.

[Big Chief]

That's what I thought he was doing when he dropped single payer as well. They are going to put in rules so that anger at insurance companies grows to the point that a vast majority of people join the ranks of those crying for a single payer option. And it was the epitome of "good politics".

[sarcasmic]

This is definitely a case where the "unintended consequences" are very intentional.

It's like laying down a spike strip and blaming the tire manufacturer for the resulting blowouts.

The worst part is that the majority really believes the bullshit.

[Pablo]

I agree, they basically want to drive insurers out of business to pave the way for single payer. And they probably will get away with it.

[Ring]

And every election year they get to frighten voters into voting Democrat otherwise your kids won't get hospital treatment. Labour always run that one in the UK until the NHS became one of the largest employers in the world.

[Jeffersonian]

Yes.

Regulation is no longer about setting the outer limits of action, restraints on behavior deemed inherently dangerous or fraudulent. It's about constraining actions to the point that only one course of action is permitted. It's nationalization in all but name.

[Joe R.]

I thought this all along as well.

[Fatty Bolger]

Of course.

DO THEY NEED THE PUBLIC OPTION?
October 30, 2009
http://www.powerlineblog.com/a.....024833.php

In the world that the House bill would create, the money we will pay to insurance companies won't really be insurance premiums. Insurance premiums are contractual payments which the parties voluntarily agree upon and which are based on a mutual assessment of risk. Rather, the checks we write to insurance companies will be taxes--legally compelled, at rates set by the federal government that are designed to punish some and subsidize others.

Isn't this socialized medicine in all but name? The only difference, perhaps, is that when things start to go badly, as they inevitably will--spiraling costs, long waits for treatment--Nancy Pelosi and her colleagues will have someone to blame: the insurance companies. Maybe old-fashioned socialized medicine would be better. Then, at least, the government would have to take responsibility for its folly.

[R C Dean]

Then, at least, the government would have to take responsibility for its folly.

Such naivete.

[Gilbert Martin]

"The only difference, perhaps, is that when things start to go badly, as they inevitably will--spiraling costs, long waits for treatment--Nancy Pelosi and her colleagues will have someone to blame: the insurance companies."

That is their game plan all right.

They are counting on the general public being stupid enough to believe it.

I don't think they are going to be able to pull that one off this time.

[James Ard]

Shit, that's what they've been telling their supporters in public for years now. Only a blind person can't see it.

[Barack Obama]

All is going according to My Plan.

[adamsmith1776]

Not too surprising. Our Third-party administator announced it was getting out of the biz the day before they brought it to the floor for the final vote. They saw the writing on the wall and skedaddled.

[Pauly Krugnuts]

All of this pain and suffering is necessary. And I'm more than happy to make sure everyone gets a taste of the whip.

[rothwikle]

I have posted this already here before You guys should stop complaining because, one the health care we have now isnt as good as it was supposed to be. also the law has just been signed so give it some time. so if u want to say u have the right to choose tell that to ur congress men or state official. If you do not have insurance and need one You can find full medical coverage at the lowest price by calling 877-882-4740 or check http://bit.ly/9fDY7U If you have health insurance and do not care about cost just be happy about it and believe me you are not going to loose anything!

[hgstern]

First, Thank You for the link-love 🙂

Second, as those of us "in the trenches" can attest, it's only going to get worse (at least short-term) as more of ObamaCrap's provisions come on-line later this month.

The silver lining may, of course, be Nov 2.

[cornholio]

It's always darkest before it goes pitch black.

[omg]

I don't know what anyone is complaining about, the fallout from this horseshit bill should quickly get us to some sort of single payer system, and the singe payer system will hasten the collapse of the government even more.

I can't wait for it to kick in.

[cornholio]

Yeah, 'cause single-payer healthcare has collapsed, like, the government of Britain.
It is fucking terrible, but governments can be much, much worse before they actually collapse. Hell, the Soviet Union hung around for decades.

[Jason]

One could collapse the system by administering single payer with vigor...

[J]

Yes, it looks like all your wishes will come true, except for the part about the government collapsing.

The bottom 50% of the country will keep voting in those who give them free health care, the richest 10% will get their operations in Mexico or Thailand, and the rest will be called greedy for wanting to do away with single payer.

[Ring]

+37,439,531

[jessychris]

I have posted this already here before You guys should stop complaining because, one the health care we have now isnt as good as it was supposed to be. also the law has just been signed so give it some time. so if u want to say u have the right to choose tell that to ur congress men or state official. If you do not have insurance and need one You can find full medical coverage at the lowest price by calling 877-882-4740 or check http://bit.ly/9fDY7U If you have health insurance and do not care about cost just be happy about it and believe me you are not going to loose anything!