Data gathered by the United States House Energy and Commerce Committee highlights that 67 percent of Americans enrolled in the Obamacare marketplace had paid their first monthly premium (as of Apr. 15). Many critics of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) say the enrollment process isn’t entirely completed until the consumer pays the first premium.
This was acknowledged by exiting Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius who confirmed in late March that someone isn’t completely enrolled in the medical coverage “until you pay your premium.” She also projected that anywhere between 80 and 90 percent had paid their premiums.
The figures highlight gaps between states. In Arkansas, for example, 88 percent of enrollees have paid their first month’s premium, but less than half (48 percent) of Oklahoma enrollees have paid the monthly premium. Texas maintained the lowest enrollment payments in the country with 42 percent.
“Tired of receiving incomplete pictures of enrollment in the health care law, we went right to the source and found that the administration’s recent declarations of success may be unfounded,” Michigan Republican Congressman and committee chairman Fred Upton said in a statement. “We need a complete picture of how this law is working. We will continue to strive for transparency and hold the administration accountable for this law’s shortcomings and broken promises.”
The data is being disputed by the HHS, which argues that the congressional committee only sought statistics from roughly half of the federal marketplace insurers. The health department is also citing insurance executives that peg the percentage higher than what is being reported.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) also questioned the numbers by citing that the committee collected data from half of the insurers. Aaron Albright, a spokesperson for CMS, further stated that not all of the enrollees would have paid their premiums because their bills would not have been due yet.
Obamacare in the News
It was discovered this week that taxpayers will be billed an additional $121 million in order to repair and renovate HealthCare.gov, the troubled website that has experienced glitches for quite a few months. In fact, it will be $27 million more than it cost to be constructed in the first place and $30 million more than what Washington estimated it would cost to remedy.
The Washington Post is reporting that Wellpoint, the country’s second-largest insurer, might be backing off from a double-digit rate increase next year by explaining that any hikes would vary based on markets and products. It also noted that a 6.5 percent increase in healthcare and medical costs is one of the primary drivers for premium increases.
On Tuesday, the House voted in favor to implement a new exemption under Obamacare – Expatriate Health Coverage Clarification Act – that both the Republicans and Democrats say is needed in order to avoid substantial job losses. The bill would exempt expatriate health insurance plans from Obamacare’s rules.