ObamaCare Premiums Jumped 23% This Year -- After Subsidies

Investor's Business Daily ^ | 03/17/2015 | John Merline

[IBD editorial writer]

President Obama has talked a lot in recent months about how health care inflation has moderated in recent years, and he always manages to credit ObamaCare for the result.

But there is rampant inflation in one part of the health care system, and ironically enough it involves ObamaCare premiums.

[John Valentine]

Ironical?

Entirely predictable outcome. It’s only ironical because of the economic ignoramus Obama and his equally ignorant henchmen trumpeting inanities.

[grania]

It's the nature of any subsidies. Costs will rise and gobble up the subsidy. With Obamacare being required, it isn't a matter of a policy having to be affordable. It's a matter of being less unaffordable than the competition.

Doesn't anybody study Economics anymore?

[mrsmel]

Well, Congress is EXEMPT so I doubt that, for all the short-lived noise they make about it, they intend to do a damn thing to turn it back.

[Mr. K]

I just did my income taxes

It came to a question of “Did I have health insurance coverage” and I answered NO (there was no option for “none of your f%^&ing business”)

It then said under ‘special circumstances’ my fine/tax could be waived and it listed 5 things- one of which “It was too expensive” and so I picked that..

Then it said “Congratulations! your fee is waived”

So, apparently you need to buy insurance, unless you don’t

[Caipirabob]

Wow! It’s completely optional! Kind of like having legal citizenship... : (

[IamConservative]

Medication costs are rising pretty much across the board as well. I’ve seen 25% increase in mine..

[MaxMax]

Doesn't anybody study Economics anymore?

There's that big fancy word again.

[2001convSVT]

If given enough time obamacare will take as much as 50% of a families income to be sustainable.

[Old Yeller]

Doesn't anybody study Economics anymore?

Naw, us mouth breathers jest don't understand the nuances of it.

[randita]

I didn’t go through an exchange but this year my premium went up 60% from the previous year - for the same coverage.

[EVO X]

So, apparently you need to buy insurance, unless you don’t

Interesting. Did you do it on line? All they need to know is your age, income and zip. If insurance in your area costs more than 8% of income, you get a hardship waiver.

[Pollster1]

Bad news for Obamacare is good news for America. I will celebrate this great news and pray that the terrible law will be overturned by the Supremes this year and removed from the books completely as soon as we have a real president.

[Mr Rogers]

Next year, you will be required to file a 1095 with your taxes. It will specify what your coverage was. You will not be allowed to file your taxes without it.