After Obama announced his temporary fix to the Affordable Care Act, the health insurance companies were up in arms about how this would destabilize the market and cause people's premiums to rise. Um, when was the last time the health insurance biz cared so much about raising premiums? Methinks there are other motives at work. This week's cartoon is a little reminder of health insurers' favorite refrain.
Remember during the health insurance Wild West before health care reform, when premiums were skyrocketing, not to mention loads of people getting dropped from their plans? Remember leading up to the passage of the Affordable Care Act, when premiums rose? That suddenly seems like so long ago. Remember the insurance companies complaining about rising premiums before? Me neither.
Since I am a self-employed cartoonist, I've been living in the health insurance wilderness for quite a while. My family's plan was canceled, like all those other people you've heard about lately. (Although surprisingly, nationwide only 5% of people buy insurance on the open market like me.) It turns out the plan I can buy on the exchange is way more expensive than my canceled plan, but it offers better coverage. Since I'm not holding my breath that my insurance provider will "un-cancel" me, let alone offer my previous plan at the same price, off to California Covered I go! Once I'm there, thanks to generous subsidies, my premium will be lower than before. Ah, America!
What's your health insurance story? Have you had a positive or negative experience since Obamacare? Share your stories in the comments section, and be sure to like, share and check out additional links to stories behind the cartoon at my site.
[female advertising voice]
Keeping our customers informed and aware of changes in premiums has always been a goal of, the Health Insurers of America.
In response to a volatile and uncertain market preceding Health Care Reform legislation, your health insurance premiums can be expected to rise.
In response to the volatile and uncertain market following the passage of the Affordable Care Act, your health insurance premiums can be expected to rise.
The launch of a disastrous HealthCare.gov website has introduced uncertainty into a volatile health insurance marketplace, and your premiums can be expected to rise.
Due to the attempted Obamacare "fix," the insurance marketplace will see volatility and uncertainty and your premiums can be expected to rise.
Following daily atmospheric darkening after Obamacare's rollout, the health insurance marketplace will be volatile and uncertain, and your premiums can be expected to rise.
With morning sun rising under Obamacare, uncertainty and volatility will remain in the health insurance marketplace and your premiums can be expected to rise.
In response to seasonal hair growth on caterpillars after HealthCare.gov launched, the health insurance marketplace will be volatile and uncertain, and your premiums can be expected to rise.
As a result of gravitational forces beyond our control, with Obamacare, the insurance marketplace will be volatile and uncertain and your premiums can be expected to rise.
Following the rise of carbon-based life forms, your premiums can be expected to rise.