Barone: Gangster Government Stifles Criticism of Obamacare...
 

http://townhall.com/columnists/Micha...are/page/full/


"There will be zero tolerance for this type of misinformation and unjustified rate increases."

That sounds like a stern headmistress dressing down some sophomores who have been misbehaving. But it's actually from a letter sent Thursday from Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to Karen Ignagni, president of America's Health Insurance Plans -- the chief lobbyist for private health insurance companies.

Sebelius objects to claims by health insurers that they are raising premiums because of increased costs imposed by the Obamacare law passed by Congress last March.

She acknowledges that many of the law's "key protections" take effect later this month and does not deny that these impose additional costs on insurers. But she says that "according to our analysis and those of some industry and academic experts, any potential premium impact ... will be minimal."

Well, that's reassuring. Er, except that if that's the conclusion of "some" industry and academic experts, it's presumably not the conclusion of all industry and academic experts, or the secretary would have said so.

Sebelius also argues that "any premium increases will be moderated by out-of-pocket savings resulting from the law." But she's pretty vague about the numbers -- "up to $1 billion in 2013." Anyone who watches TV ads knows that "up to" can mean zero.

As Time magazine's Karen Pickert points out, Sebelius ignores the fact that individual insurance plans cover different types of populations. So that government and "some" industry and academic experts think the new law will justify increases averaging 1 percent or 2 percent, they could justify much larger increases for certain plans.

Or as Ignagni, the recipient of the letter, says, "It's a basic law of economics that additional benefits incur additional costs."

But Sebelius has "zero tolerance" for that kind of thing. She promises to issue regulations to require "state or federal review of all potentially unreasonable rate increases" (which would presumably mean all rate increases).

And there's a threat. "We will also keep track of insurers with a record of unjustified rate increases: those plans may be excluded from health insurance Exchanges in 2014."

That's a significant date, the first year in which state insurance exchanges are slated to get a monopoly on the issuance of individual health insurance policies. Sebelius is threatening to put health insurers out of business in a substantial portion of the market if they state that Obamacare is boosting their costs.

"Congress shall make no law," reads the First Amendment, "abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press."

Sebelius' approach is different: "zero tolerance" for dissent.

The threat to use government regulation to destroy or harm someone's business because they disagree with government officials is thuggery. Like the Obama administration's transfer of money from Chrysler bondholders to its political allies in the United Auto Workers, it is a form of gangster government.

"The rule of law, or the rule of men (women)?" economist Tyler Cowen asks on his marginalrevolution.com blog. As he notes, "Nowhere is it stated that these rate hikes are against the law (even if you think they should be), nor can this 'misinformation' be against the law."

According to Politico, not a single Democratic candidate for Congress has run an ad since last April that makes any positive reference to Obamacare. The First Amendment gives candidates the right to talk -- or not talk -- about any issue they want.

But that is not enough for Sebelius and the Obama administration. They want to stamp out negative speech about Obamacare. "Zero tolerance" means they are ready to use the powers of government to threaten economic harm on those who dissent.

The closing paragraph of Sebelius's letter to AHIP's Karen Ignagni gives the game away. "We worked hard to change the system to help consumers." This is a reminder that the administration alternatively collaborated with and criticized Ignagni's organization. We roughed you up a little, but we eventually made a deal.

The secretary goes on: "It is my hope we can work together to stop misinformation and misleading marketing from the start." In other words, shut your members up and play team ball -- or my guys with the baseball bats and Tommy guns are going to get busy. As Cowen puts it, "worse than I had been expecting."

If they can get away with this, they can get away with anything! Here in Kansas, we consider Sibelius to be an embarassment to the human race.

Sally.

you mean like all the increases for no reason before this law. My health ins has gone up every year for the past ten yrs.

Aint that the truth

Good thing it will go down in a couple of years! NOT

It is not a question of going DOWN ... but of stopping the going UP ...

.. but you know that , just does not sound good in your propaganda.

They will cut services and options across the board, especially for the poor and elderly. The only thing dropping will be patients. :2 cents:

They already do that now...it's why the hospital has to call and get everything approved...with a lot of things ended up being rejected solely based on cost. There was a time when doctors were allowed to base decisions on need and now they're decided by an accountant/risk manager.

where do you get your information?

I take it that few of you realize that the so-called "Health Care" bill provides real health care to only about 14% or so of the population and mandates that the rest BUY health insurance?

How about that you will be fined if you don't buy health insurance?:

"$695 or 2.5%: The potential amount of a fine if you fail to purchase health care insurance. Starting in 2016, Individuals would be required to purchase coverage or face a fine of up to $695 or 2.5 percent of income, whichever is greater. The plan includes a hardship exemption for poorer Americans."

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion...6eJk9ALVwmPYbK

If you can afford good health insurance, you're going to be taxed:

"Starting in 2018, "Cadillac" insurance plans will be taxed -- individual polices over $10,200 a year and family plans over $27,500. The way the tax is "indexed," in time it'll cover more and more Americans -- just as the Alternative Minimum Income Tax, first targeted at the super-rich, now hits millions in the middle class."

"There's no doubt that under this plan, taxes for all Americans will go up, deficits will climb, care will be rationed and all of us will be on their way to living under a government-run system of "Medicaid for all."

I cannot believe that the American public is so stupid as to have fallen for this.

Sally.

I have news for you the health care bill will accelerate the rate that spending goes up

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-...th-care-costs/

And Obama is nearly falling over himself back-peddling to try to re-write history and say the health care bill was not about saving money.

I can only hope that the idiots who voted for their "free" healthcare get exactly what they deserve. :thumbsup:

it's 'universal healthcare', not 'free'

tell it to the rabble.
its why I used quotes.

of the touche

I had a chat with my insurance guy yesterday, he handles all my insurance and has been a friend for about 10 years. He told me that in some cases health insurance rates has gone up over 40% with an average of about 20% across the board this year.

It's not about how it has gone up over the last tens years, actually it started getting bad under Clinton when he tried to get healthcare for everyone, but it's about the current law it was promised by Obama that wouldn't happen, he's already backpedaling on that subject. Thats what happens when people that pass the laws, don't read them and don't understand them

i just got home from may day job and my dogs are barking, but i am going to take the time to answer this... mostly because i have a crush on you even though you already have a husband..

i am all for healthcare for the poor and i am all for helping to pay for it.. i am also for fair prices for healthcare for all..

this is what the original plan was supposed to accomplish until the lobbyists and insurance companies got involved..

i can afford insurance with no problems, so it really made no difference to me...

you ramble on about how successful you are, so why do you care.. can you not afford healthcare?

also, how much are your taxes going to increase to pay for this plan? you can't afford a slight increase?

you have what, two employees now? how much is this going to increase your costs? you can't afford a slight increase?

i really thought you were a big baller, but it seems like i may need to send you an application for mcdonalds...

we could work the fryer together if you make it through the training period... :thumbsup






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12Clicks, takes a hit!

http://www.grouchyoldcripple.com/archives/slap.gif

welcome home from the day job, troll.
here's two things you don't understand
1. the damage being done to our country in the name of the healthcare "crisis" and "helping the middle class"
2. the panache derived from rushing home from work and posting like you're someone in this business is imaginary.

oh, and please quote where I ramble on about being successful.
I'll wait right here.

you may be confused with my laughing at you NOT being successful but I don't feel a need to beat my financial chest amongst the rabble.

i have a day job just like you are a successful entrepreneur.... :1orglaugh

the damage was done long before healthcare... the war in iraq and against terrorism did that..

the lax banking laws had an even bigger effect and your good friends the bush's pushed for fannie and freddie to put people into homes they couldnt afford...

what shall you do when the cross selling dries up ron?

you failed at mainstream, so what left?

now i know why you are so concerned about these potential rises in cost...

it must make you sad that a loser like me doesnt lose a second's worth of sleep because i have enough income and business sense to not only survive, but thrive in a shit economy..

dont worry bud, i am sure you will find something to do...

maybe serge will hire you to be his houseboy.... :1orglaugh

and speaking of serge, will you ask him to come here for a visit.. you are too easy of an adversary... but, then again. little boys usually are..... :2 cents:






.

I always marvel at how I pick up trolls.
I guess being noticed by me is a bigger deal than I think.
:1orglaugh

its almost as exciting as how you pick up guys in bars and at shows...

don't worry, your secret is safe with me... :winkwink:

trololololololo......



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not really.
they're generally more intelligent and accomplished.

i like how you have gone into submission...

good boy... good boy....

here's your treat.... i will leave the thread now and you can pound your chest with the more docile trolls :thumbsup




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ouch! owned again.

run up stairs and high five your mom

everybody knows corporations are wise and good and would never raise prices except by being forced to by the dems and barack hussein.

prices never went up under republicans - there, thats absolute proof. and republicans never told the corporations not to play tricks with prices - more proof.

i for one welcome our benificent corporate overlords.