As stipulated in the president’s signature health care law, many uninsured Americans are now faced with one of two options: (1) purchase health insurance on the government exchanges or (2) pay a penalty. As you’re probably well aware, however, enrolling in Obamacare is no walk in the park. Why? Because the website doesn't work properly. In other words, under current federal law, uninsured Americans are now being forced to purchase health insurance from a broken website -- and if they do not, are stuck paying a fine. That hardly seems fair, and is precisely the reason why a new poll out today shows growing support for delaying such a provision:
WASHNGTON – A new national survey of registered voters by Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies (Crossroads GPS) shows an overwhelming majority of 70 percent support a one year delay of Obamacare implementation, given the widespread problems with rolling out the program over the last month.
The national poll of 661 registered voters, conducted by Glen Bolger of Public Opinion Strategies on behalf of Crossroads GPS from October 27-29, shows that 55% of registered voters “strongly favor” a one year delay in enforcing the law’s requirements on individuals, while 15% “somewhat favor” a one year delay. Meanwhile, only 14% strongly oppose, and 9% “somewhat oppose,” delaying implementation.
“President Obama’s dramatically incompetent rollout of this law has created a situation where we need to hit the pause button and delay Obamacare for a year,” said Crossroads GPS communications director Jonathan Collegio. “Congress should immediately pass, and the president should sign, a one year delay of this law. To do otherwise would put pride in a failed policy above common sense.”
As I write this, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is testifying on Capitol Hill about the embarrassing rollout. She will no doubt try to pin the blame on others -- even though the website launch was entrusted to her. That said, she did apologize to the public, but it’s an open question whether or not anyone in her department will take full responsibility -- i.e., be held accountable -- for what happened.