GOP’s Obamacare Obituary: Premature
Republicans repeatedly claim that Obamacare is in a “death spiral,” collapsing of its own weight. This is wishful thinking on their part, with little evidence to support it.
Examples of the GOP line:
- “[T]he law is collapsing,” House Speaker Paul Ryan said over the weekend on “Fox News Sunday.” He cited limited choices in some states and insurance companies pulling out of some markets, and he predicted “massive” premium increases in the future.
- President Donald Trump said the law is “just about ready to implode,” during a March 17 photo-op with the Republican Study Committee members who support the GOP plan. “Obamacare is dead; it’s a dead health care plan.”
In reality the law — specifically the ACA marketplaces for those buying their own coverage — is ailing, but still very much alive.
Federal officials announced a few days ago thatp to be covered by Obamacare health insurance policies sold through the federal and state ACA marketplaces, or exchanges, this year — down less than 4 percent from the . That’s a pretty lively corpse.
