Bayh can run but he certainly can’t hide. Thanks to his support for the massive federal healthcare debacle, nearly 30,000 Hoosier families will be kicked off their insurance plans next year with Indiana University Health Plans pulling out of the Obamacare marketplace:
“Indiana University Health Plans is pulling out of the Obamacare marketplace in Indiana, just one month after state regulators approved its proposal to raise premiums nearly 15 percent…It said the change was necessary ‘to adapt to new market dynamics’ as well as uncertainty created by withdrawals of several other insurers.” (John Russell, “IU Health Plans Quits Obamacare Exchange, Citing ‘Heightened Financial Uncertainty,” Indianapolis Business Journal, 9/27/16)
Even as Obamacare fails and Hoosier families lose their plans, Bayh is still looking for ways to get rich off the system. Bayh recently pushed for a taxpayer-funded bailout of the insurance companies – which would not only bail out Bayh from his disastrous vote for Obamacare, but would also pad the Bayh family’s bottom line substantially.
EVAN BAYH: “I understand there’s some provisions in the law that are supposed to allow the companies to participate in those exchanges without losing money,” he said. “Congress is so dysfunctional they won’t release the funds, and so these companies are left with that choice, so it’s obviously not good for the health care market because people need more choices. We should have more competition. The law was designed to bring that about, but they won’t release the money to make that happen.” (Rob Burgess, “Bayh Reflects On Return To The Fray,” CNHI News, 9/20/16)
That’s right, the same bailout that Bayh now proposes would also be a personal financial windfall. His lobbying firm counts Blue Cross Blue Shield – a company that has been hammered by Obamacare regulations – as a client.
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Blue Cross & Blue Shield Has Paid McGuireWoods $60,000 For Federal Lobbying So Far In 2016. (Center For Responsive Politics, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 9/21/16)
- Blue Cross & Blue Shield Paid McGuireWoods $120,000 For Federal Lobbying In 2015. (Center For Responsive Politics, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 9/21/16)
And Bayh’s wife has a long history in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry, making the Bayh family’s personal wealth closely tied to the fate of Obamacare and the insurance companies it affects.
“Susan Bayh has served on the boards of pharmaceutical companies Esperion Therapeutics, Novavax, Cubist Pharmaceuticals, MDRNA (formerly Nastech), and Dyax Corporation, according to her official biography on the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs website. She was also a director of Wellpoint (formerly Anthem) from 2001 until 2013. This is significant as the ACA has faced challenges of late from large insurance companies.” (Rob Burgess, “Bayh Reflects On Return To The Fray,” CNHI News, 9/20/16)
Whether he’s casting the deciding vote for Obamacare or trying to get rich off the consequences, one thing is clear: Evan Bayh is only in it for himself. He turned his back on Hoosiers a long time ago – and they’re still paying the price.