Opinion Pieces

A few days ago, millions of Americans learned that Obamacare would cost them even more money next year, directly impacting their ability to manage and budget their household expenses.  The Obama Administration released a report that showed a 25% average increase for benchmark plans which, as we all know, dominated the news outlets for days.  

Here in North Carolina, the average year-over-year increase is 40%. In Pennsylvania, its 43% and if you reside in Arizona, the average increase is a whopping 116%.  These are staggering numbers indeed but don’t take my word for it, you can look them up yourself at the HHS.govwebsite.  

Those numbers don't adequately tell the story, though. My office has already received several calls from constituents distraught because they don't know how they are going to pay for their family's increased premiums. 

One call was from Cumberland County -- a husband and wife in their mid-50's with no real health issues are currently paying a $373 premium per month, but found out that will increase to $1,444.72 in January, with a deductible increase from $3,500 per year to $7,500!  

Another family, this one from Harnett County, called to say the premium on the policy they have for their family of four has doubled in the past 3 years and in 2017 it will increase to $2,825.37.  These constituents were extremely upset because they don't know how they will be able to afford insurance at all at the new rates.

Many young adults — who rarely visit a doctor — have been forced to purchase a health plan many didn’t want or need. To add insult to injury, this law was designed to siphon money from younger populations in order to foot its cost. This law needs young and healthy adults to pay the astronomically-high premiums — or the subsequent tax penalties — in order for the system to work.

Since this government takeover of our nation’s healthcare system, the price tag of “HillaryCare” before it was affectionately called Obamacare, has reached nearly $1.2 trillion dollars.  This is precisely why I ran for office 6 years ago after hearing about the president’s proposed takeover of our healthcare system.  

Having served as a nurse, I knew how detrimental Obamacare would be to patients and families in the future and the severe impact it would have on our economy. Since then, I have been eager –and committed— to providing the American people with a better way forward and have written countless articles criticizing Obamacare. 

Fast forward 6 years later, and this unworkable law has neither cut costs, based on data provided by the Administration last week, nor improved the quality of or access to healthcare. In short, it is just as big of a costly disaster as I knew it would be when President Obama first proposed it.