The Hidden Costs Of Obamacare

Brian C. Joondeph | KevinMD.com | June 21, 2014

Labor unions have been reliable supporters of President Obama and his policies. Their support for Obamacare was critical to its passage in 2010. Yet they are continuing to learn that their members will be paying more for their health care, not less.  One of the selling points of Obamacare was the lowering of health insurance costs. Nancy Pelosi promised, “Everybody will have lower rates.” President Obama was more specific, telling us that his signature program would “Bring down premiums by $2,500 for the typical family.” A year later, however, Mrs. Pelosi, in the face of rising premiums for many, forgot her promise of the previous year, “I don’t remember saying that everybody in the country would have a lower premium.”

...Premiums are just the opening salvo for consumers paying for health care. Paying the premium means you have insurance, but that doesn’t mean you can leave your wallet home when visiting the doctor or hospital.  It’s the hidden costs that will thin your wallet. Copays, deductibles, and coinsurance to be specific. Insurance behemoth Cigna reassures us that these added costs, “All work together to help reduce your medical expenses and protect your finances.” Really?...