The real question is RETENTION RATES. To get the first payment on any insurance policy is the EASY ONE. It is the second, third, and especially the tenth one once the idea of paying something for nothing actually hits home.
I suspect that the drop off rate in the first year for all previously uninsured people on the exchange will be close to 100%. They couldn’t be bothered to afford insurance before, they won’t be bothered to afford it now.
After all, insurance is the only thing you pay fort that you hope to God you never have to use.
The line we were fed was that previously uninsured people would have gotten insurance if 1) it was affordable and/or 2) pre-existing conditions were covered.
Obamacare was supposed to fix all that, but we knew all along that 1) it would NOT be affordable and 2) pre-existing conditions might be covered, but you can't keep your doctor and OOP costs (deductibles, drugs, tests, etc.) are exhorbitant.
So what's the incentive for the previously uninsured now get insurance?
In any case, millions more have been added to Medicaid and millions are getting taxpayer subsidies to purchase insurance. That equates to millions more reliably Rat voters. Goal accomplished.