There are supposed to be "Exchanges" in each of the fifty state to sell health insurance under Obamacare. These exchanges are one of the most important components of the law. They are where the uninsured are supposed to go to buy insurance and get federal subsidies, if appropriate. Since the passage of Obamacare in 2010, the date for the opening of the exchanges has been October 1, 2013. Beginning on that date, individuals can start buying the policies that are approved by Obamacare.
Well, that is no longer true. Despite having a three and a half year period to get ready, the federal government will not be able to open any of these exchanges on time. President Obama's people announced yesterday that the government will not be able to sign off on acceptable insurance policies in time to allow the exchanges to get going as schedules.
It is important to understand what this means. The delay in approving the policies is the result of a slow review process of written documents by the feds. There were no storms or other natural disasters that intervened. There were no actions by opponents of Obamacare that slowed the process. The insurance companies involved met all their deadlines which were set by the federal government. No, what happened is that the government's bureaucrats just have not been able to come to a conclusion about what should be in these policies. After three and a half years, they still have not made up their minds. With millions of people waiting to use the exchanges, the bureaucrats are doing what they do best: failing to make decisions.
Amazingly, a government spokesman actually said that the delay really does not matter. After all, he pointed out that the exchanges only have to be in place by January first of 2014. Get it? You and every other American has to have insurance in place by January 1, 2014 or face a fine/tax/penalty. If the government only opens the exchanges on December 20th, you can spend your Christmas holiday contacting the exchanges (if you can get through in the crush) and you can then buy your insurance. Of course, we all know that this will never work. Most likely, it will take months before the exchanges will function properly so that insurance can be put in place quickly. That means that millions of Americans will get hit with a fine because the bureaucrats could not do their jobs. Now I know that the view of most of the Obama Administration echoes the Clinton line "What difference does it make?" Even so, we ought to have a president who could at least get his people to agree on an insurance policy in three and a half years. The concept of Obamacare is one that will not work, but now the implementation of the law is a total failure too.
Not long ago, a poll found that over 60% of American voters think that the implementation of Obamacare is best described as "a joke". While this is a harsh assessment, the truth is that it is not harsh enough. Indeed, if Obamacare is a joke, the joke is on us.
Well, that is no longer true. Despite having a three and a half year period to get ready, the federal government will not be able to open any of these exchanges on time. President Obama's people announced yesterday that the government will not be able to sign off on acceptable insurance policies in time to allow the exchanges to get going as schedules.
It is important to understand what this means. The delay in approving the policies is the result of a slow review process of written documents by the feds. There were no storms or other natural disasters that intervened. There were no actions by opponents of Obamacare that slowed the process. The insurance companies involved met all their deadlines which were set by the federal government. No, what happened is that the government's bureaucrats just have not been able to come to a conclusion about what should be in these policies. After three and a half years, they still have not made up their minds. With millions of people waiting to use the exchanges, the bureaucrats are doing what they do best: failing to make decisions.
Amazingly, a government spokesman actually said that the delay really does not matter. After all, he pointed out that the exchanges only have to be in place by January first of 2014. Get it? You and every other American has to have insurance in place by January 1, 2014 or face a fine/tax/penalty. If the government only opens the exchanges on December 20th, you can spend your Christmas holiday contacting the exchanges (if you can get through in the crush) and you can then buy your insurance. Of course, we all know that this will never work. Most likely, it will take months before the exchanges will function properly so that insurance can be put in place quickly. That means that millions of Americans will get hit with a fine because the bureaucrats could not do their jobs. Now I know that the view of most of the Obama Administration echoes the Clinton line "What difference does it make?" Even so, we ought to have a president who could at least get his people to agree on an insurance policy in three and a half years. The concept of Obamacare is one that will not work, but now the implementation of the law is a total failure too.
Not long ago, a poll found that over 60% of American voters think that the implementation of Obamacare is best described as "a joke". While this is a harsh assessment, the truth is that it is not harsh enough. Indeed, if Obamacare is a joke, the joke is on us.
No comments:
Post a Comment