California Nixes the Obamacare “Fix”
22nd November 2013
Covered California, that state’s insurance exchange, has rejected President Obama’s request that people be allowed to remain in non-compliant health insurance plans for another year. This decision is highly significant because California has experienced by far the most insurance policy cancellations of any state, reportedly around 900,000 of them.
Obama: “Hey, guys, let’s just, you know, not obey the law. I won’t arrest you for it.”
And if you believe that one, he’ll tell you another one. Fortunately, the people being invited to break the law are wise to that game.
The irony is only superficial. Blue State leaders are saying no because, as liberals, they dislike private plans and, more importantly, want to offer no escape from Obamacare for the young and the healthy whose participation in exchanges is needed to subsidize the middle-aged and the sick.
…
This raises the question of whether Obama really wants states to agree to his fix. More likely, he views the situation the way California, New York, etc. do, and has offered his fix as a stunt to reduce the political damage resulting from his false promise that people who like their plan can keep their plan.