Arthur Schaper: ObamaCare-Less in RI

Arthur Schaper: ObamaCare-Less in RI

Obamacare horror stories, far from being lies, according to US Senator Harry Reid, actually hit close to home, and not in a good way. Aside from friends and acquaintances of mine who have complained about the loss health insurance, or an unexpected and unaffordable rise in their insurance premiums, the statistics across the country regarding the unintended and unconscionable consequences of Obamacare cannot be ignored, let alone dismissed as lies.

In Maryland and Oregon, legislators are scrambling to make up for never-ending computer glitches, which have drastically reduced the number of people whom state leaders were expecting to sign up.

CNN reported on the rising demand coupled with the increasing shortage of doctors in the wake of Obamacare’s rollout. A rural doctor and other specialists are boycotting the “most successful” state exchange Covered California. Other agents signaled a growing backlash to receiving patients enrolled in the state exchanges. Even an LA Times article challenging the argument that seven out of ten doctors were boycotting the California exchange, acknowledged about one hospital that “there are reports that some may see patients only in non-exchange plans”.

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CNBC reported a federal study, which determined that two-thirds of small businesses will size rise in health care premiums because of Obamacare.

What about Rhode Island? RIPR exposed that the state exchange has not taken in nearly enough healthy, young people, the bulk of whom would subsidize the poor and sick flocking to the program.

Dr. Dan Harrop, associate medical director for Aetna Heath, acknowledged that Obamacare enjoyed some popularity: “Clearly there are people who are able to get insurance who could not get it before.” Still working part-time as a psychiatrist, Harrop added: “I have more business because of Obamacare.” He then acknowledged that the program was unsustainable:

“I can tell you the trends that are bad for the whole program. Don’t worry about the insurance companies. They will eventually make a profit. The issue is how much the government will have to underwrite these insurance plans.”

Sharing personal anecdotes of people who lost their health insurance, doctor, or hospital of choice, Harrop affirmed that without young and healthy people signing up, the whole system will collapse.

Go Local Prov Health/Business expert Amy Gallagher works as a benefits administrator, and she had nothing but bad news about Obamacare, citing businesses would face rising premiums beyond the normal 7%. “A defense contract based in Rhode Island will face a 26% hike in health insurance premiums because of this law.” She further commented on other statewide firms which face no other option beyond raising the insurance premiums on their employees just to manage the costs associated with Obamacare. She did not disclose specific names, for fear that those firms would face political retaliation, like losing key contracts with the state.

Beyond the statements of the benefits administrator, General Assembly legislators are sounding the alarm about Rhode Island’s embattled, unsustainable healthcare exchange, Health Source RI.

Patricia Morgan (R -West Warwick) investigated the Governor’s budget to find expenses related to the health exchange. Despite the initially projected cost of $23 million per year, Morgan discovered costs for media, the call center, and the staff which amounted to $35 to 38 million. Morgan shared another open yet secreted aspect of the budget: "There's twelve jobs in one line time: $2.2 million, and $1.3 million for fifteen more, all for the health care exchange, with average salaries of $146,700 and $108,300." Then she added: “The names of the jobs are not listed in the budget.”

Because of the exceeding costs of the exchange, in conjunction with structural deficits expected to rise from $150 million to $450 million in four years, Morgan submitted H7817, which would mandate that no state funds would support the health exchange.

Cosigning the legislation, Assemblyman Jan Malik (D-Warren) stated: “I just don’t think we can afford it because of the situation we are in right now. Let the feds pay for it.” Making a point that the costs of the state healthcare exchange would increase substantially over the next four years, Malik rejoined: “The issue for me is the dollars and sense. If we could afford it, we should keep it.”

Eleven cosponsors signed on to H7817, including Arthur Corvese (D-North Providence), Ray Hull (D-Providence), Michael Chippendale (R-Johnston) and John DeSimone (D-Providence).

Responding to a telephone inquiry, Chippendale commented that as a member of a permanent joint committee on health care oversight, “It became clear to me that it was nothing but smoke and mirrors. This committee had no say on really anything that the lieutenant governor was doing to set up the exchange.”

About the impact of Obamacare on his constituents, Chippendale added:

“Insurance is being dropped. Some of the elderly are starting to see gaps in their Medicare coverage that didn’t exist before, that now suddenly do. Businesses are frantic. They simply cannot afford to put their employees on these very expensive health care plans.”

Despite claims for accessibility and affordability, from rising health care costs to spiraling government debt, the Affordable Care Act’s careless implementation and uncaring implications have exposed that Obama-Care-Less about the health and wealth of Rhode Islanders.

 

Arthur Christopher Schaper is a teacher-turned-writer on topics both timeless and timely; political, cultural, and eternal. A life-long Southern California resident, Arthur currently lives in Torrance. Follow him on Twitter @ArthurCSchaper, reach him at [email protected], and read more at Schaper's Corner and As He Is, So Are We Ministries.