Welcome to ObamaCare Part VIII: Don’t Let a Simple Thing Like Funding Stop You.
Americans for Prosperity has been urging states not to implement health care exchanges. These “exchanges” are being sold to the public as simple, transparent and innovative ways for consumers to purchase health insurance starting in 2014. However, these exchanges as created by the HHS are not simple, transparent or innovative due to the hundreds of pages of rules, regulations and mandates placed on the exchanges.
HHS is desperate for states to set up the exchanges. But according to the White House’s highly optimistic report, only 28 states are moving towards implementation.
This week, we learned another reason why HHS is pushing so hard for states to implement the exchanges: HHS doesn’t have enough money to create the backup federal exchange. HHS received a $1 billion in the original health care bill to create a federal exchange, but has already blown through that money. In the President’s budget proposal released this week HHS asked for another $860 million. As Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said the funds would cover “the one-time cost to build the infrastructure, the enrollment piece of [the federal exchange], the IT system that’s needed.” Things the first billion should have covered. But that money has little, to no, chance of passing Congress. When asked about this problem, Sebelius said “We are going to get it done, yes.”
That is a remarkable statement symptomatic of what AFP said all along.
First, the administration’s own report acknowledges that 22 states are not in the process of implementing an exchange due to the harsh requirements and huge costs. Second, they are admitting that they need more money even after promising multiple times that $1 billion was enough to create the federal exchange. Now the administration admits that even if Congress doesn’t give it the money it needs, they’ll move forward anyway.
Why let a simple thing like funding stop you?
Welcome to ObamaCare.
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Check out previous posts in the “Welcome to ObamaCare” series by clicking below:
• Part I – Overselling on Child Coverage and Preexisting Conditions
• Part II – Obama Taxing Benefits Costs Companies Millions
• Part III – CMS Finally Admits ObamaCare “Cost Savings” Are Phony
• Part IV – Can You Really “Keep Your Plan” If You Like It?
• Part V – Businesses Feeling the Impact, Asking for Waivers
• Part VI – Proposed Regulations “Exchange” a Good Idea for a Bad One
• Part VII – Acting up in CLASS
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