As the government shutdown continues, Democrats insist they won’t reopen the government until Republicans agree to extend the enhanced Obamacare subsidies. Reminder: these aren’t subsidies that started with the original program but, rather, a temporary pandemic-era spending program that subsidizes insurance companies instead of providing medical care.
Worse, Democrats’ justification for this shutdown is built on misinformation. Their central talking point—that premiums will “double” if the enhanced subsidies expire—is simply false. As policy analyst Chris Jacobs recently revealed, that alarming claim comes from a deeply misleading study by KFF (formerly the Kaiser Family Foundation).
KFF’s September report twisted the data by focusing only on enrollees’ out-of-pocket payments rather than the actual insurance premiums. By conflating the two, KFF created the false impression that costs for families would skyrocket overnight.
When confronted, KFF’s own vice president admitted the “premiums will double” graphic was inaccurate and promised a correction, which was quietly made, without any public acknowledgment of the error. Yet Democrats continue to parrot the debunked claim.
The truth is far less dramatic. Even without the enhanced subsidies, Jacobs notes, federal taxpayers will still cover roughly three-quarters of the average enrollee’s premium.
And it’s worth noting that there are private and direct pay options which are often better and cheaper than Obamacare plans – like Crowdhealth, health-share plans, and direct primary care. And President Trump can go further by expanding health savings accounts to all plans and Medicare.
When the left is ready to have an honest debate on improving health care and lowering costs without the shutdown gamesmanship, conservatives are ready.
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