The Affordable Care Act–Obamacare—was supposed to lower health care costs. If you liked your doctor, you were supposed to be able to keep your doctor. “Period,” said Barack Obama, a stern, reassuring look on his face as he debunked the naysayers who knew that wouldn’t be possible. None of that worked out, and Obama had to know it was all a lie when he said it over and over. Avik Roy at Forbes explains:
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During the 2008 presidential campaign, then-Senator Barack Obama promised that his health reform plan would “lower your premiums by up to $2,500 per family per year.” But since his signature law, the Affordable Care Act, went into effect [2010 and 2014], premiums have nearly tripled, and deductibles have more than doubled. The cost of coverage for a family of four has increased by more than $10,000.
This was no surprise to President Trump:
Graphic: Truth Social Post
In a Congress that can’t pass a law 80 % of the country—Democrat and Republican—wants, terminating Obamacare isn’t going to be easy, probably not even possible, which is a shame on many levels, not the least of which is massive fraud:
Widespread fraud across Affordable Care Act exchanges is projected to cost American taxpayers billions in 2026, according to a Paragon Health Institute report released Tuesday.
That’s about 6.2 million, or about 27% improper ACA exchange signups thus far in 2026. That means up to $25 billion in improper 2026 subsidies. That’s about 25% of all subsidy spending for 2026.
Graphic: X Post
“Despite the expiration of COVID-era subsidy boosts and Trump administration efforts to reverse negligent Biden-era policies, excessive subsidies, zero premium plans, weak verification systems, automatic re-enrollment, and misaligned incentives for enrollment intermediaries have created a perfect storm for improper and phantom enrollments that drain tens of billions from taxpayers while undermining program integrity,” Paragon Health Institute President Brian Blasé said in a statement. The findings also suggest that a significant share of the enrollment declines expected over the next two years will reflect the removal of duplicate, improper, and phantom enrollment rather than losses of legitimate coverage.”
CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz has even worse news:
Grpahic: X Post
COVID-era subsidy enhancements, combined with Trump Administration efforts to reverse Biden’s Handlers policies, likely mean many enrollment declines. But that’s not because people are being cruelly denied overly expensive insurance:
“The findings also suggest that a significant share of the enrollment declines expected over the next two years will reflect the removal of duplicate, improper and phantom enrollment rather than losses of legitimate coverage.”
It’s interesting how such things only happen when a Republican Administration begins to investigate fraud, shut down corrupt agencies, prosecute fraudsters, and claw back stolen taxpayer dollars. Obamacare’s time has long since come and gone, but without a Republican Congress with comfortable majorities, it’s going to hang on, and billions will continue to be lost.
That, among many other disasters, is Obama’s legacy.
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Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer, and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
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