What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

Fox News reported on 6/5/15 that Hawaii's health care system under the Affordable Care Act, known as Hawaii Health Connector, is "unable to generate sufficient revenues to sustain operations." That, from the office of Governor David Ige. The $200 million provided by the Feds (which is really the taxpayers) did not seem to make a difference. While the prior Governor, Neil Abercrombie (Dem) predicted enrollment would reach 300,000, it actually topped out at 37,000.

Fox also reported that the Fed's overall investment of $4.5 billion given to the state run exchanges did not prevent other states from closing their exchanges - including Oregon, Massachusetts, Maryland, Vermont, New Mexico and Nevada. As for California, the 5/14/15 LA Times reported: "After using most of $1 billion in federal start-up money, California's Obamacare exchange is preparing to go on a diet." But no matter, the state still plans on spending $121.5 million on "outreach, sales and marketing."

So how are other states doing? The 5/28/15 Investor's Business Daily reported that BlueCross/BlueShield of Tennessee is seeking a 36% premium rate hike, while Care First in Maryland wants a 30% hike and Moda Health in Oregon wants a 50% increase. Other states report similar requests. What's the problem? With all the mandates imposed on carriers by the ACA, the carriers have raised deductibles and co-pays in order to keep premiums generally affordable. Two problems. With high deductibles and co-pays people avoid going to the doctor, making the idea of affordable healthcare illusory. The second problem? Not enough people are signing up to help pay for all of this.

But some Democrats have a solution - force insurance carriers to lower deductibles and co-pays. Excellent. Then premiums will shoot up even more. Or insurance companies will be forced out of the healthcare business altogether resulting in: single payor. This writer has believed that to be the Democrat's goal all along. Given how well we are doing already with government involvement in healthcare, I am sure that total government control would work just fine. Right?