Quantum Windbag
Gold Member
- May 9, 2010
- 58,308
- 5,100
Perhaps you have come across a progressive idiot trumpeting the fact that the CBO has said that Obamacare will cost less than expected. The part they don't mention is why it will cost less.
http://cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/attachments/45231-ACA_Estimates.pdf
In other words, the policies have limited networks and more hoops to jump through to get the benefits that are offered. This will result in fewer choices for the people that get stuck with the plans, but all is good because they get to claim that the fact that the costs will go up slightly slower than expected proves they were right all along.
A crucial factor in the current revision was an analysis of the characteristics of plans offered through the exchanges in 2014. Previously, CBO and JTC had expected that those plans characteristics would closely resemble the characteristics of employment-based plans throughout the projection period. However, the plans being offered through the exchanges this year appear to have, in general, lower payment rates for providers, narrower networks of providers, and tighter management of their subscribers use of health care than employment-based plans do.
The lower exchange premiums and revisions to the other characteristics of insurance plans that are incorporated into CBO and JCTs current estimates have small effects on the agencies projections of exchange enrollment. Although lower premiums will tend to increase enrollment, narrower networks and more tightly managed benefits will tend to reduce the attractiveness of plans and thereby decrease enrollment. The net effect on projected enrollment in the exchanges is small.
http://cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/attachments/45231-ACA_Estimates.pdf
In other words, the policies have limited networks and more hoops to jump through to get the benefits that are offered. This will result in fewer choices for the people that get stuck with the plans, but all is good because they get to claim that the fact that the costs will go up slightly slower than expected proves they were right all along.