[credit Kevin Siers, Charlotte Observer]
Wackydoodle sez: Congratulations Mr. Siers, 2014 Pulitzer winner!
The Current Occupant is boasting about the Affordable Health Care Act signing up 8 million Americans, or 1 million more than projected after a botched roll-out of the new law. That number is hardly enough to make a difference in the trajectory of health costs in the nation, but then
it is the only game in town. Thirty-four states declined to set-up insurance exchanges, so the federal government set exchanges in their place. Because of the law's complexity most experts say it is
too early to tell whether the law is working, but the predicted explosion in health care premiums--the so-called 'death spiral'--because people previously denied insurance would flood the market has not occurred. The Society of Actuaries projects insurance premiums will rise about 7% next year, or in line with previous years' increases. About 28% of the sign-ups were from young adults under 35, and most came just before the March 31st deadline and its two-week extension.
That demographic is critical to the plan's success since these generally healthy types have to carry the burden of older, sicker insureds if there is any hope of holding down premiums. Here is how enrollments are graphed by the
Washington Post:
