With millions of Americans receiving Obamacare-induced health insurance cancellation letters, several of President Barack Obama’s supporters are experiencing sticker shock and expressing regret.
“I was really shocked,” said Colorado Obamacare supporter Cathy Wagner upon receiving her cancellation notice. “All of my hopes were sort of dashed. Oh my gosh, President Obama, this is not what we hoped for, it’s not what we were told.”
Wagner says the same coverage will now cost her and her husband 35% more and that they will have a higher deductible.
“Our premium for next year is going up to over $1,000 a month for two of us and we’re two fairly healthy individuals,” said Wagner.
Wagner is not alone. According to the Colorado Division of Insurance, 250,000 people in Colorado have already lost their health plans in the last few months.
Obama supporters on the West Coast are experiencing similar surprises. In San Francisco, husband and wife Lee Hammack and JoEllen Brothers, who describe themselves as “cradle Democrats,” were alarmed when they received their insurance cancelation notice informing them that their previous $550 monthly premium would now be almost $1,300, their deductible would be higher, they would pay higher hospital costs, and their out-of-pocket maximum would increase.
In a letter written to Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), the Hammacks said, “We believe that the Act is good for health care, the economy, & the future of our nation. However, ACA options for middle income individuals ages 59 & 60 are unaffordable. We’re learning that many others are similarly affected. In that spirit we ask that you fix this, for all of our sakes.”
Matthew Fleischer, 34, writing in the Los Angeles Times, said he received a cancellation notice informing him that his copays would double, urgent-care visits would quadruple, and maximum out-of-pocket expenses would go from $4,900 to $6,350.
“Needless to say, I am not pleased,” writes Fleischer. “Most young, middle-class Americans I know are happy that millions of previously uninsured people will receive free or heavily subsidized insurance under the Affordable Care Act. We just didn’t realize that, unless we had health insurance at work, we’d be the ones paying for it.”
South Carolina cancer patient Bill Elliott, who voted for Obama and also received an insurance cancellation letter, says he plans to “pay the $95 fine and let nature take its course” instead of allowing new monthly premiums over $1,300 higher under Obamacare to become a “burden on my family.”
The growing national Obamacare backlash and President Barack Obama’s dwindling 39% approval rating have Democratic politicians facing reelection worried. Next year, 33 Senate seats will be up for grabs, and 21 of those seats are currently held by Democrats, as five Senate Democrat incumbents are retiring. Last Wednesday, 15 Senate Democrats held a private meeting with Obama to voice concerns that the Obamacare fallout threatens their candidacies.
If history is any guide, they may have reason to worry. An analysis by Rhodes Cook finds that no president since John F. Kennedy with an approval rating under 50% has seen his party pick up seats in a midterm election.
Still, Obama Press Secretary Jay Carney says Democratic members of Congress remain steadfast in their commitment to Obamacare.
“Every one of the Democrats who voted for this and believed in it and fought for it, and with the president, defended it against the constant assault by Republicans and outside opponents, continue to believe in it, and believe it’s the right thing to do,” Carney said on Thursday.
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) was even bolder.
“I think actually that Democratic candidates will be able to run on Obamacare as an advantage, leading into the 2014 election,” said Schultz on Sunday.
So far, 4,200,000 million Americans have received insurance cancellation letters due to Obamacare.
Obama promised no less than 36 times that if Americans liked their insurance, they could keep their insurance.
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