We’ve belabored the point how, despite the promise of Obama’s apologists that once Congress passed health care, it would start becoming increasingly popular, public opinion has, if anything, moved in the opposite direction. Now, we learn that another Democratic claim is falling by the wayside, the multi-billion dollar boondoggle is going to increase our health care costs. Blogging law professor William A. Jacobson explains:
The gloss is off the Obamacare rose, if it ever were there. The Office of the Actuary of Medicare has released a report which finds that Obamacare will increase, not decrease, health care costs, and … (wait for it because you never would have guessed) … the financial assumptions were unrealistic!
(Via Instapundit.) The good professor cites this AP report:
President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul law will increase the nation’s health care tab instead of bringing costs down, government economic forecasters concluded Thursday in a sobering assessment of the sweeping legislation.
A report by economic experts at the Health and Human Services Department said the health care remake will achieve Obama’s aim of expanding health insurance — adding 34 million Americans to the coverage rolls.
But the analysis also found that the law falls short of the president’s twin goal of controlling runaway costs, raising projected spending by about 1 percent over 10 years. That increase could get bigger, however, since the report also warned that Medicare cuts in the law may be unrealistic and unsustainable, forcing lawmakers to roll them back.
No wonder, Jacboson writes, “Democrats refused to delay the vote on Obamacare even though the Medicare Actuary was not able to complete his analysis and cost estimates in time for the vote.”
And get this, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told the House Appropriations Committee she had no idea how much the “high risk” pools were going to cost (via Gateway Pundit.) Shouldn’t she have given this testimony before Congress voted on the Democrats’ health care overhaul?
*NB: Shortened title to fit it on two lines.
But of course the Democrats didn’t want that, because the real point was to impose socialism (or social-fascism) and grow government, regardless of the cost/damage.
Ed Morrissey did a couple pieces lately on how the New York Times has also been telling some of the truth about Obamacare – now that it is “safely” too late:
http://hotair.com/archives/2010/04/18/nyt-obamacare-will-drive-up-costs-burden-the-healthy/
http://hotair.com/archives/2010/04/20/nyt-suddenly-all-over-obamacare-problems/
No one ever claimed that health care costs would not go up.
35 million more people will get more regular treatment, the overall population continues to grow, and inflation, even if low, will always be present. Of course spending will increase.
There were two claims made for Obamacare that are relevant here.
!) Net government spending will decrease – i.e. reciepts will be larger than outlays – there will be a net decrease in the federal budget.
Nothing in this report contradicts that.
2) The rate of increase in health care spending will be lessened (bending the cost curve downward).
Nothing in this report contradicts that prediction, although one can presume that it might happen to a slightly lesser extent than originally hoped. Although there are no numbers give for that.
“…public opinion has, if anything, moved in the opposite direction. ”
Actually, you are wrong about this too… LINK
I am sure you can find March 21 on this chart and see what has happened.
Oh, Tano, Tano, Tano, arguing with you is like talking to a tape recorder. You just keep repeating the same things.
So now you’re saying, “No one ever claimed that health care costs would not go up.” But did anyone pushing the plan say that costs might go up? And if they had said this, don’t you think this bill would have been more unpopular? Wow, so you’re basically conceding that a bill for which you cheerleaded will increase costs.
And recall the CBO numbers were based on gaming the system, counting 10 years of revenue for six years of costs.
Finally, as to the poll number, we’ve been through this before, Pollster uses at least one poll (YouGov) possibly two (Kaiser) with faulty methodology. Even factoring them in, the bill still remains unpopular.
Oh, and, that’s before the release of the information detailed in this post.
2) The rate of increase in health care spending will be lessened (bending the cost curve downward).
The Congressional Budget Office says the exact opposite.
Now, Tano, you have stated that the CBO is never wrong, so you lied.
And that really is the issue here. You are completely ignorant of the topic and are merely repeating talking points.
Now, run away and refuse to answer. It only confirms the cowardice of you and your Barack Obama Party.
“raising projected spending by about 1 percent over 10 years. That increase could get bigger, since Medicare cuts in the law may be unrealistic and unsustainable, the report warned.”
Spin that, Tano-boy. They’ve already abandoned the Medicare cuts.