Obama Administration’s Health Care “Fix” May Have Problematic Consequences

U.S. Senator Bob Corker, R-Tenn., released the following statement this week in reaction to President Obama announcing administrative changes to his health care law.

“I’m glad President Obama is attempting to make good on a promise he made repeatedly to the American people, but it only offers temporary relief. Those who have received cancellation notices will likely receive them again a year from now,” said Corker. “So while this administrative action will provide some needed, temporary relief to a number of Americans, the fundamental problems with Obamacare go far beyond a broken website and cancellation notices. Because of the way the law is constructed, this fix may even cause other problematic consequences.”

In an interview on WKIM Newstalk 98.9’s “Talk Memphis” radio show prior to the president’s announcement, Corker discussed a number of problems Tennesseans are facing due to Obamacare.

“Tennesseans and Americans all across this country [are under] tremendous emotional distress as their policies have been canceled. They cannot get on the exchange to buy a new one, but even when they do, in many cases, they are realizing the cost of what they are having to purchase is far more than they ever anticipated,” said Corker.

• Losing coverage: Millions of Americans who buy their own health insurance are being informed that their policies will no longer be offered because they do not meet Obamacare standards.
• Enrollment obstacles: Yesterday, Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, announced that only 106,185 people have signed up or selected health care plans through Obamacare as of November 2, 2013, with only 922 in the state of Tennessee.
• Unappealing products: Less than 10% of people who were able to access the federal exchange have actually selected a plan, raising questions about whether or not the actual products offered are acceptable to those seeking a new plan.
• Increased costs: According to a recent Manhattan Institute study, individuals in Tennessee will, on average, see the following premium increases in the exchanges:

Age 27                  Women: 19% increase                   Men: 69% increase

Age 40                  Women: 6% increase                     Men: 39% increase

Age 64                  Women: 36% increase                   Men: 28% increase