Remember Obama’s now “infamous” line, “If you like your healthcare, you can keep it?” If it only had been true, because many Americans—especially our nation’s young people are suffering as a result of the President’s signature legislation.
President Obama told us that the average American would see their health insurance premiums lowered; yet the opposite is true. A recent study shows that health insurance premiums have drastically skyrocketed among 23-year-olds, especially males who have seen a 78 percent price increase. Women have seen close to a 45 percent increase.
Sadly, Obama peddled healthcare to our nation’s young people—telling us that it would be affordable, if not free. Much to our surprise, healthcare isn’t free, and we are expected to pick up the tab for not only ourselves, but also for the older and sicker generations.
Even the premium increases for 30-year-olds are close to those of 23-year-olds: 73 percent for men and 35 percent for women. Just how affordable is healthcare for these young adults?
One thing that the success of Obamacare relies upon is buy-in from millennials—those between the ages of 18 and 34. However, many young people—who are typically healthier than older adults, see little benefit to purchasing expensive health care plans they may not need or want?
I really hate to say, “I told you so,” but how could I not? The very people that Obamacare sought to attract aren’t buying in—literally! Young people have suffered greatly under this administration. Youth unemployment sits at 18.1% with no hope of improving, and many young graduates are coming out of college with more than $30,000 in student loan debt. Young America’s Foundation polling shows that 68 percent of young people have a less favorable opinion of Obama after his “signature” legislation became law.
Healthcare is expensive, and while many young people are fortunate enough to have good health, there are always unexpected and unplanned medical emergencies. But, for many young people, foregoing insurance is worth the risk if they can’t afford the high premiums.
From the beginning, Obamacare has been a failure with website malfunctions, plan cancellation, enrollment confusion, and now overwhelming premium increases. The American people were lied to—especially millennials. The people who really lose out in this deal are young people, who now will pay a hefty price for insurance or pay a penalty for not having the mandated coverage.