Consumers Hurt by Poor Health Insurance Policies, Tax Penalties  

Consumers Hurt by Poor Health Insurance Policies, Tax Penalties  

(Washington, DC) – Today marks the beginning of open enrollment for 2017 under the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare). According to the Obama Administration, the average premiums for the benchmark silver plan will rise by more than 20 percent from last year. Additionally, enrollment is expected to increase only slightly in 2017 – to about 11.4 million – which remains far below the 23 million projected by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office in 2011.

With millions of Americans rejecting the costly, failing system and instead opting to incur penalties, supporters of the law have refocused on an effort seek additional taxpayer bailouts to insurance companies selling policies under the law. Others have called for stiffer tax penalties to make it even more costly for those who do not purchase Obamacare-compliant policies.

Daniel Garza, Executive Director of The LIBRE Initiative, released the following statement:

“Health insurance should be there to help people cover some of the cost of health care. Instead with costs climbing so high as a result of Obamacare, the Administration’s failed efforts have served to shift the cost of healthcare from insurers over to the consumers and taxpayers – causing more hurt and belt tightening. Yet instead of proposing reforms that will bring down costs, expand consumer choice, and promote access to care, supporters of Obamacare are pushing for insurance company bailouts and higher penalties – penalties that fall on those who either did not want or could not afford the new plans. This is exactly the wrong approach. If we go in this direction – and continue to try to force individuals to comply with an unworkable healthcare law – taxes will rise while consumers will continue to face high costs and limited options. 

Since the law was enacted, the number of Americans putting off care due to high costs has hardly changed. This law is not living up to the promises. It is time for the White House to work with both sides to find solutions that increase both affordability and access to health care – without higher taxes, more mandates, and more bailouts of insurance companies.”

For Interviews with a representative from The LIBRE Initiative, please contact Brian Faughnan, 703-678-4581 or Wadi Gaitan, 202-853-4463

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