Healthcare Reform as Spectator Sport

This year, however, I've latched on to a new activity: Watching the healthcare reform debate rage on. And not the one we see taking place on the House and Senate floors in regard to repeal. I'm talking about the battle in the trenches that's being waged by the public relations' machines of supporters and detractors alike.

Conservative think tank, the National Center for Policy Analysis, issued a report to that effect, detailing how many businesses and individuals will see their coverage costs rise as low-cost, limited benefit "mini-med" plans face extinction under healthcare reform.

Richard Foster, Medicare's chief actuary, also chimed in before the House Budget Committee stating that in spite of the law's best intentions, healthcare costs are not likely to decline as the Obama Administration promised, but would rather rise as the number newly insured individuals flood doctors' offices.

So, on the heels of its claim last month that up to 130 million Americans with pre-existing conditions could have lost healthcare coverage without passage of the Affordable Care Act, the Department of Health and Human Services  took its healthcare reform critics head-on again. The agency issued a report last week stating that in spite of what some may say about healthcare becoming less affordable for many, the law could help some families with their healthcare tab by creating nearly $15,000 in tax credits and cost-sharing assistance.

With figures calculated by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), HHS also said that in comparison to how things would be without the law:

• Middle-class families purchasing private insurance in the new State-based Health Insurance Exchanges could save as much as $2,300 per year;
• Small businesses could save up to $350 per family policy and many may be eligible for tax credits of up to 50 percent of their premiums;
• All business will likely see lower premiums of $2,000 per family by 2019, which could generate millions of dollars in savings
  

With another report, HHS has loaded its critic's cannons for more pot shots.