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"If you like your current plan," tough noogies

More than half a million people lose their insurance thanks to Obamacare - in just 3 states



Throughout the Obamacare battle, the President's biggest - and most transparent - lie about as that "If you like your current plan, you can keep it." From day one, conservatives said that wasn't the case, but the White House and its left-wing media allies swore that it was true. We were told, again and again, that if you're happy the way things are, you probably wouldn't even notice a change.
Someone should explain that to the multitudes who have just had their insurance cancelled due to Obamacare's implementation. For the last two months, insurance cancellation letters have been arriving at homes across the country, and some concrete numbers have started to trickle in. We now know that, across just three states, more than half a million people have lost their preferred coverage. From Kaiser Health News:
But the cancellation notices, which began arriving in August, have shocked many consumers in light of President Barack Obama’s promise that people could keep their plans if they liked them.

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“I don’t feel like I need to change, but I have to,” said Jeff Learned, a television editor in Los Angeles, who must find a new plan for his teenage daughter, who has a health condition that has required multiple surgeries. An estimated 14 million people purchase their own coverage because they don’t get it through their jobs. Calls to insurers in several states showed that many have sent notices. Florida Blue, for example, is terminating about 300,000 policies, about 80 percent of its individual policies in the state. Kaiser Permanente in California has sent notices to 160,000 people – about half of its individual business in the state. Insurer Highmark in Pittsburgh is dropping about 20 percent of its individual market customers, while Independence Blue Cross, the major insurer in Philadelphia, is dropping about 45 percent. Those who still foolishly cling to the notion that Obamacare is a sacred calf, destined for greatness, will tell you not to worry. So what if people are losing their preferred plans? They can head over to the barely functional healthcare.gov and, if it's working, purchase a new plan. They'll end up loving it because, whether they need it or not, it will provide more extensive coverage. Oh, and - of course - it will be cheaper, right? Wrong. While some people may see rates drop, the majority (young people in particular) will see prices skyrocket.
Regence spokeswoman Rachelle Cunningham said the new plans offer consumers broader benefits, which “in many cases translate into higher costs.” “The arithmetic is inescapable,” said Patrick Johnston, chief executive officer of the California Association of Health Plans. Costs must be spread, so while some consumers will see their premiums drop, others will pay more -- “no matter what people in Washington say.” Health insurance experts say new prices will vary and much depends on where a person lives, their age and the type of policy they decide to buy. Some, including young people and those with skimpy or high-deductible plans, may see an increase. Others, including those with health problems or who buy coverage with higher deductibles than they have now, may see lower premiums. Blue Shield of California sent roughly 119,000 cancellation notices out in mid-September, about 60 percent of its individual business. About two-thirds of those policyholders will see rate increases in their new policies, said spokesman Steve Shivinsky.
Keep in mind that the numbers revealed by Kaiser Health News are based on only three states: California, Florida, and Pennsylvania. This situation is going to get much worse, since we’ve still got 47 states to go. ….Or 56 if we’re using Obama’s count.


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