Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) released the following statement today on Arizona state regulators approving premium rate hikes under Obamacare ranging from 51-74.5 percent:
“The bad news about Obamacare just got even worse for Arizonans. According to Arizona insurance regulators, the hardworking citizens of our state will not only be left with few or no choices when it comes to health insurance plans in the federal marketplace next year, but will also be forced to face premium rates increases ranging from 51-74.5 percent. In Maricopa County – Arizona’s most populous county – the 126,000 citizens who have enrolled in Obamacare will only have one health provider option, which will feature the largest premium increase of nearly 75 percent. According to state regulators, that would mean more than $1,400 per month for a family of four and nearly $500 per month for a single, middle-aged male for the lowest-cost silver plan. Those who can’t afford these expensive plans will be forced to pay a hefty fine.
“While this news is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the collapse of Obamacare across the country, President Obama will travel to Miami tomorrow to discuss ‘the progress made in ensuring that all Americans have access to quality, affordable health care.’ Unfortunately, the people of my state are unlikely to hear from the President why health insurers are fleeing the federal marketplace… why their premiums are set to multiply by hundreds of dollars per month… or why they’ll be forced to pay a fine despite the total lack of choices they will be left with under Obamacare next year. They certainly won’t receive an explanation for why the President broke his promise that if you liked your plan or your doctor, you would be able to keep them.
“Arizona families are demanding affordability, accessibility and choice when it comes to their health care – not the expensive, restrictive and poor quality care that has been forced upon them by Obamacare. Until President Obama and Congressional Democrats wake up to the law’s failure, and until we repeal and replace it with solutions that encourage competition and put patients back in charge, the Washington-knows-best approach will continue to unfairly burden the Arizona families it was supposed to help.”
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