State GOP Misfires on Obamacare

"Ready-Fire-Aim." That's right. Shoot your mouth off before you know what you're talking about because it serves your political purposes to do so.

Soon, everyone in New Hampshire will be required to have health insurance. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Hampshire will be the only company providing individual health insurance policies under the new marketplaces, called health care exchanges, created by the Affordable Care Act, otherwise called Obamacare.

Granite Staters received what appeared to be some shocking news. Anthem announced recently that it is creating a new health care provider network that includes only 16 of the state's 26 hospitals for individuals purchasing health insurance either on the health care exchange. People were concerned. That worry was heightened among Seacoast residents when it was learned that Portsmouth Regional Hospital was not included among the designated 16 health care providers.

"Ready-Fire-Aim." Naturally, at this point, uninformed Republican officials immediately jumped into the controversy feet (but not brain) first, telling everyone that this narrowed health care network was yet another way that the Affordable Care Act would ruin our lives. That's predictable. The GOP will use anything to get the public worked up about the Affordable Care Act so that it can be used as an issue to attack Democrats in the 2014 General Election.

As the truth unfolded, a quite different picture emerged. Tyler Brannen, a Health Care Analyst at the New Hampshire Insurance Department, spoke about this "narrowed provider network" at a public meeting held recently at the Portsmouth Library.

Brannen said that those already covered by Anthem through their employers or by individual plans will not be affected. All 26 hospitals will still be accessible to them. (collective sigh of relief). Only those who purchase new insurance through the health care exchange will see a reduction in the number of hospital providers. And, even here, individuals who buy new health policies can do it "off the health care exchange" through insurance brokers and thus retain treatment rights at all 26 hospitals if they so choose.

But, why in the world, would a person choose to buy insurance through the health care exchange if it resulted in a reduction in the number of hospitals at which they can be treated? Money, my friend. Money. The 16 hospitals chosen for the narrowed provider network are the most cost effective ones. As a result, patient premiums are lower, much lower. Anthem conducted a national survey and discovered that people overwhelmingly preferred lower cost over access to health care

"Brannen said, "I can't say just how much, but by not having so many hospitals in the network, premiums could be up to 25 percent less for the consumer." (Portsmouth Herald, 09/06/13)

In addition, those who purchase health insurance through the health care exchange are eligible for subsidies. According Suzanne Laurent in the Herald, "Subsidies are available through the exchange marketplace for those at 100 percent to 400 percent of the federal poverty level - individuals making between $11,490 and $45,960, or a family of four making between $23,550 and $94,000."

So, contrary to what Republican officials claim, the sky isn't about to fall on our heads. As a matter of fact, upon closer examination, the sky looks pretty blue.

According to Holly Ramer in an AP story (09/06/13), Republicans "were quick to point to Anthem's network news as proof of the Affordable Care Act's flaws."

In the same article, Russ Grazier, director of the Portsmouth Music and Arts Center, commented,  "People who want to criticize the program are going to look for every opportunity to do so. Things have been delayed, and they've been delayed by our own elected officials, and now we have to wait and see how it plays out."

So, my advice to Republican elected-officials would be to put the safety on your tongues; place them back in their holsters; and don't shoot your mouths off until you have all the facts.