Many promises were made in selling the health care reform bill to the American people.  Less than a year later, we see premiums rising and employers dropping coverage.

Premiums Rising

·     Premiums in the commercial insurance market continue rising at a brisk pace, as illustrated by the largest plans in California.  Ioannis A. Kazanis, a spokesman for the California Insurance Department, said that starting Oct. 1, commercial premiums would rise an average of 19 percent for individual policies sold by Aetna and by Blue Shield of California, 16 percent for Health Net policies and 14 percent for those sold by Anthem Blue Cross, a unit of WellPoint.[i]

·     Nationwide health insurers have asked for premium increases of between 1% and 9% to pay for extra benefits required under the [Democrat Health Care] law.” “Health insurers say they plan to raise premiums for some Americans as a direct result of the health overhaul in coming weeks, complicating Democrats' efforts to trumpet their signature achievement before the midterm elections. Aetna Inc., some BlueCross BlueShield plans and other smaller carriers have asked for premium increases of between 1% and 9% to pay for extra benefits required under the law, according to filings with state regulators.”[ii]

Employers Dropping Coverage

“If You Have Health Insurance And You Like It, And You Have A Doctor That You Like, Then You Can Keep It. Period. And I Won’t Sign A Bill That Somehow Would Make It Tougher For People To Keep Their Health Insurance. … We certainly would not be signing a bill that somehow prevented somebody from getting, from keeping insurance that they’ve already got or allow private insurers to sign up new folks if they’re providing good service.” (President Obama, Conference Call With  Bloggers, 7/20/09)

·     Citing the federal health overhaul as a factor, 3M Co. confirmed it would eventually stop offering its health-insurance plan to retirees.[iii]

·     The Principal Financial Group announced plans to quit selling health insurance, effecting 840,000 people.  The Group’s decision “reflected its assessment of its ability to compete in the environment created by the new law.”[iv]

·     The Administration predicts 1 million people will lose employer sponsored coverage in the next 10 years as a result of reform changes.[v]

Administration Forced to Waive Requirements to Prevent Disaster

·     In response to employer threatened dropped coverage, the Obama Administration is waiving certain new health care regulations.[vi] This demonstrates the flawed nature of the new law.