Health exchanges Part Three

So do we know if this health exchange model that is the backbone of ObamaCare is worth the gazillion pages it is printed on?  Giving “consultants” and “policy experts” something to study and predict is like your local weatherman telling you what things will be like next week in that they have to fill the time with something, but in the end it’s really anybody’s guess. 

The only remotely plausible tool for predicting future outcomes is to base it on an existing model, and, believe it or not, we have one for the exchanges.  It is lovingly called “RomneyCare”.  Yes, our fearless ex-nominee instituted a plan while Governor of Liberalachusetts, and there is no side stepping the fact that Obama’s exchanges look spookily like the Massachusetts exchanges.  So how have they fared?  According to a conservative think tank, the Mass experiment has costs 20,000 jobs, health insurance costs have risen 4 billion dollars, and a typical family of four in Massachusetts now pays the highest health insurance premiums in the country.  But besides that it has been loads of fun.  (http://www.beaconhill.org/BHIStudies/HCR-2011/BHIMassHealthCareReform2011-0627.pdf)

Okay, I realize fewer folks are without insurance in Massachusetts than elsewhere, but with government subsidies about half of the folks are paying for  both themselves and the other half.

The writing on the chart indicates that more folks might get coverage, but it ain’t gonna be your momma’s policy.  The national exchanges (for those states that don’t run their own) will certainly have insurances with limited coverage, high deductibles, and changing premiums.  The take home is more people covered, higher costs, but more limited access and options.  Now for some this may be an acceptable set of circumstances.  My advice is just don’t get sick!