Monday, November 11, 2013

Daily Kos: The revenge of the insurance industry

Daily Kos: The revenge of the insurance industry

President Obama on Thursday apologized to Americans whose existing health insurance was being significantly altered or cancelled altogether just as enrollment for the Affordable Care Act was commencing. "I am sorry," the President announced, "that they are finding themselves in this situation based on assurances they got from me."

But those Americans waiting for a mea culpa from either their employers or their insurers shouldn't hold their breath. After all, while their premiums and deductibles have spiraled upwards, the percentage of nonelderly Americans covered by workplace insurance has plummeted from almost 70 percent to 54 percent just since 2001. Meanwhile, even as the evidence is growing that some carriers are cynically using the launch of the ACA to squeeze or drop less "desirable" customers, the Obama administration like the Bush White House before it has had to plead with insurers to protect their current policyholders.

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