November 19, 2013 (FRC) – What's the difference between Christmas and ObamaCare? Christmas involved wise men. And after the last month and a half, most Americans are pretty certain that the health care rollout did not. Still, the President is convinced that the holiday season is the perfect time to spread peace, goodwill, and socialized medicine to all. As part of his Organizing for America (OFA) outreach, the White House is launching a new program called “Healthcare for the Holidays,” encouraging “family, friends and neighbors to have the one-on-one conversations that are crucial to getting people enrolled.”
The effort, which includes a series of ads, videos, and even images, urges shoppers to add health care coverage to their list. (If you thought Grammy's fruitcake was bad, wait until you unwrap ObamaCare!) In one of its special Christmas graphics, OFA even tries writing its own jingle: “The best way to spread holiday cheer is by talking about health care this time of year.” But so far, there's no rhyme — and certainly no reason — for Americans to embrace (let alone trust) the health care policies that have already forced five million people to lose theirs.
Last week, the President tried to find his way back into the country's affections by unlawfully declaring that people can hang on to their insurance plans for another year — even if they don't meet the law's standards. But instead of quieting the chaos, the announcement created more. “To make a possible change like this now will only cause more confusion and compound the problem that the Affordable Care Act is causing,” said David Isenstadt, one of the many brokers frustrated by the White House's decision to put the burden squarely in the insurance industry's lap.
Regardless of what the President says, extending canceled policies isn't exactly the cake walk the administration makes it out to be. Unlike Washington, which isn't known for its long-term planning (see budget debate, 2013), insurance companies have already set their plans and premiums for the next year. “Changing the rules after health plans have already met the requirements of the law could destabilize the market and result in higher premiums for consumers,” warned the CEO of America's Health Insurance Plans. Some state commissioners — like Washington's Mike Kreidler — flat-out refused the President's extension.
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D.C. Commissioner William White never had a chance to turn down the administration's unworkable “accommodation.” One day after publicly criticizing the year-long “fix,” White was fired. Although District Mayor Vincent Gray didn't openly link his statement to his dismissal, White told the press it wasn't difficult to connect the dots. “Anyone who looks at this can draw their own conclusions. My statement came out on Thursday, and by Friday [at] 4:15 I was out.” He, like so many involved in the exchanges, insisted that the President's “grace period” “undercut the purpose of the exchanges, including the District's D.C. Health Link, by creating exceptions that make it more difficult for them to operate.”
The industry's irritation is starting to mirror the rest of America's, as the poll numbers continue to tell the story of an angry and betrayed electorate. Higher costs, fewer doctors, canceled policies, marriage penalties, abortion subsidies, and conscience violations are all taking their toll on the public's first impressions of the health care law. According to the latest Reuter's poll, a whopping 59% of Americans now oppose ObamaCare — up three points from the end of September. On the bright side, the law is curing people of one thing: government reliance. Just 42% now think health insurance is the government's responsibility, Gallup revealed — down from 69% in 2006.
Reprinted with permission from FRC