Rates Could Jump As High As 85%, 750,000 Expected To Enroll In Medicaid

As he helped President Barack Obama ram his $2.5 trillion healthcare bill into law last year, liberal U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) claimed the massive overhaul would lower health care costs for Ohioans.

Remember this?

• Brown: “Too Many Ohioans Are Paying More In Premiums Each Month For Insurance Policies That Cover Less Health Care. This Will End With Today’s Announcement And The Passage Of Health Reform.” (Senator Sherrod Brown, “Sen. Brown Announces More Than $1 Million To Help Crack Down On Unreasonable Health Insurance Premium Hikes In Ohio,” Press Release, 8/16/10)

But instead, the Ohio Department of Insurance now reports that Ohioans’ health insurance premiums for individual plans are expected to skyrocket by between 55 and 85 percent in 2014.

Additionally, the report predicts that nearly 750,000 Ohioans will become new enrollees in Medicaid – intended for low-income families – the cost of which will come as a major blow to Buckeye State taxpayers, whose state taxes are responsible for funding approximately 40 percent of the program’s operations in Ohio.

As the Columbus Dispatch reports:

“Ohioans who buy individual insurance policies could see their premiums jump 55 to 85 percent in 2014 when key provisions of the new federal health-care law kick in, according to a new report. … In addition to the impact on premiums, the report found the ranks of Ohio’s 1.5 million uninsured will be cut by half by 2017 as enrollment in Medicaid and other public health programs grows. The number of Ohioans purchasing individual policies will also grow, the report predicted.” 

“Sherrod Brown consistently promised that the Democrats’ costly overhaul would lower healthcare costs, but instead premiums for individual insurance plans are now expected to rise as much as 85 percent for Ohio families,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Jahan Wilcox.  “With an unemployment rate of 9.1 percent, Buckeye State families simply can’t afford any more of Sherrod Brown’s broken promises, reckless spending and job-killing tax hikes in Washington.”    

Sherrod Brown On Numerous Occasions Promised That Obamacare Would Lower Premiums

Brown: “American Families Know First-Hand That Health Insurance Premiums Have Been Skyrocketing. … This Bill Will Lower Costs For Middle Class Families With Insurance, While Providing Help To 31 Million Americans Who Lack It.” (Senator Sherrod Brown, “Sen. Brown Statement On Senate Passage Of Health Reform Legislation,” Press Release, 12/24/09)

Brown: “Too Many Ohioans Are Paying More In Premiums Each Month For Insurance Policies That Cover Less Health Care. This Will End With Today’s Announcement And The Passage Of Health Reform.” (Senator Sherrod Brown, “Sen. Brown Announces More Than $1 Million To Help Crack Down On Unreasonable Health Insurance Premium Hikes In Ohio,” Press Release, 8/16/10)

Brown’s Spokeswoman Said He “Successfully Fought For Lower Premiums.” “Nonetheless, Brown thinks the overall bill, which Republicans scorn as a too-expensive government takeover of the nation’s health-care system, will be a boon to his constituents, a spokeswoman said. ‘Sen. Brown successfully fought for lower premiums, new coverage options and an end to insurance-industry abuses,’ said Meghan Dubyak. ‘Those changes will help all Ohioans.’” (Jonathan Riskind and Jack Torry, “Ohio Didn’t Get Much Pork In Bill,” Columbus Dispatch, 12/22/09)

Instead The Ohio Department Of Insurance Claims That Premiums Will Rise Between 55 To 85 Percent

Ohio Healthcare Premiums For Individual Policies Could Increase By 55 To 85 Percent.  Ohioans who buy individual insurance policies could see their premiums jump 55 to 85 percent in 2014 when key provisions of the new federal health-care law kick in, according to a new report. (Catherine Candisky, Insurance premiums expected to increase, report says, Columbus Dispatch, 09/20/11)

Ohio Taxpayers Will Be Forced To Pay More Money To Cover The 750,000 New Enrollees To Their State’s Medicaid Program

More Ohioans Will Be Added To Medicaid Rolls.  In addition to the impact on premiums, the report found the ranks of Ohio’s 1.5 million uninsured will be cut by half by 2017 as enrollment in Medicaid and other public health programs grows. The number of Ohioans purchasing individual policies will also grow, the report predicted.  (Catherine Candisky, Insurance premiums expected to increase, report says, Columbus Dispatch, 09/20/11)