The Patriot Post® · ObamaCare's Looming Election Surprises


https://patriotpost.us/articles/28154-obamacares-looming-election-surprises-2014-08-13

ObamaCare may yet hold more bad news for Democrats already dreading this November’s election. Politico reports, “Most state health insurance rates for 2015 are scheduled to be approved by early fall, and most are likely to rise, timing that couldn’t be worse for Democrats already on defense in the midterms.” How high could rates go? Politico says, “So far, although no state has finalized its rate, 21 have posted bids for 2015. Average preliminary premiums went up in all 21, though only a few by double digits.” Whew, “only a few.” The other “surprise” for Democrats could be falling enrollment numbers. The White House trumpeted eight million sign-ups by the March 31 deadline, but those numbers are likely phony. Investor’s Business Daily reports, “The nation’s third-largest health insurer [Aetna] had 720,000 people sign up for exchange coverage as of May 20. … At the end of June, it had fewer than 600,000 paying customers. Aetna expects that to fall to ‘just over 500,000’ by the end of the year.” That’s a 30% drop in enrollment. Granted, it’s just one company, but if it ends up being a trend, it’s really going to cut into ObamaCare’s already underwhelming numbers.