Independent Study Examines Health Care Enrollment
Independent Study Examines Health Care Enrollment
RAND Shows Law Has Limited Impact on Insurance Coverage
(Washington, D.C.) – The RAND Corporation has released a study regarding first year enrollment under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare. The Rand study paints a different picture of the effects of the law than has been presented by the White House. Rand estimates that some people – "less than 1 million" – who previously had coverage have joined the ranks of the uninsured. Approximately 1.4 million people who had previously been without insurance obtained coverage in the health care marketplaces, while 5.9 million have been added to the federal Medicaid program. The primary reason that insurance coverage has increased is that 8.2 million more Americans now have coverage from their employers – not through federal assistance under the law.
According to Rand, an estimated 3.9 million Americans enrolled in health care exchanges overall – a much lower number than the 7 million claimed by the White House. Final numbers will be available in the weeks and months ahead.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that this law will cost an estimated $2 trillion over 10 years while leaving a minimum of 31 million Americans uninsured. Additionally, the law is increasing the cost of health insurance for families, and exposing millions of Americans to fines for failing to purchase coverage.
Daniel Garza, Executive Director of The LIBRE Initiative, released the following statement:
"Time and again we have seen that this health care law is built on broken promises. In 2009 the American people were promised it would be 'affordable.' But the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office has debunked that myth and puts the cost of the law above $2 trillion. We were also told that it would extend coverage to all Americans – which has also been proven false – it will leave more than 30 million uninsured.
It's clear our health care system needs improvement, but this law just isn't working. It is too expensive, and it provides a bailout for insurance companies. However, instead of using their time to fix the obvious flaws within the healthcare law, supporters of this system have buried their head in the sand, tried to shift blame and avoided responsibility. It's time for politicians to listen to the American people, who don't support this law. It's time for the president and his allies in Congress to live up to their promises and match their words with action. It's time to reform the reform."
For interviews with a LIBRE representative, please contact: Brian Faughnan, 703-678-4581 or Steven Cruz, 202-578-6173.
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