Fact Check on Insurance Premium Increases
Sen. Harkin claimed on the floor recently that analysis of the new regulations taking effect this year would only raise premiums by 1-2 percent. Despite multiple articles and studies finding that premiums will rise by more than 2% next year as a result of the law, whether premiums rise by 2 percent or 22 percent due to PPACA misses the point. The real point is that President Obama repeatedly promised an average $2,500 reduction in family insurance premiums – and, by admitting that the law will raise premiums by *only* one or two percent, Democrats have implicitly admitted this promise will not be kept.
During the extensive health care debate, Democrats did not argue to the American people that they would be forced to buy new, more expensive coverage mandated by the government, but that the new coverage would be worthwhile or better than Americans’ current coverage. Instead, as candidate Obama claimed, “If you already have health insurance, the only thing that will change for you under this plan is the amount of money you will spend on premiums. That will be less….[My plan] brings down the cost of health care and reduces every family’s premiums by as much as $2500.” Unfortunately, today’s debate illustrates how NEITHER promise will be kept as a result of the health care law.
