EDITORIAL: Health care: Demand for insurance grows despite repeal attempts

Feb. 09--If we asked a business expert to explain continued strong purchasing trends of health insurance through the Affordable Care Act system, they might call it intrinsic demand.

They also might look to invest heavily in something that can be sold without much of a marketing plan.

Last year, the Trump administration cut off educational marketing of the federal-based exchanges, cut the sign up period in half and reduced major subsidies to insurance companies. Yet, purchasing on the exchanges drew 11.8 million for the current signup, just 3 percent less than last year. Health insurance experts at the Kaiser Family Foundation said they were stunned the exchanges did so well, despite GOP-controlled Congress' continued attempt to kill them.

Clearly, that Congress is disconnected from the needs of the people.

While business was down by about five percent on the federal exchanges it was higher on 16 state exchanges. Most of the state exchanges kept their sign up periods open longer than the federal exchange and continued to put money into advertising the programs and enrollment periods. The signups on Minnesota's state run exchange were up about 1 percent compared to last year.

So even though the GOP federal government made it more difficult for millions of people to sign up for health insurance and even though Congress continued to attempt to dismantle the program altogether, people spoke with their wallets. They bought health insurance, most of it good coverage at affordable prices.

No one is saying the system can't be improved, but it appears many are saying it should not be dismantled.

Congress did repeal the individual mandate and tax penalty for failing to have health insurance. Experts suggest that will simply increase the risk of the entire pool and ultimately increase premiums. Many of those who were forced to buy insurance or pay the penalty, were likely younger, healthier people.

It's troubling when millions of people need affordable health care and the government's response is to make it more difficult and costly to get it.

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