Administration dials back goal for ObamaCare sign-ups

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Fox News:

With sign-up season launching this weekend, the Obama administration sharply dialed down expectations Monday for the second year of the president's push to provide health insurance for all Americans.

 

A report released Monday by the Department of Health and Human Services estimated that 9 million to 9.9 million paying customers will enroll for subsidized private coverage in 2015. That's significantly lower than the 13 million the Congressional Budget Office had projected earlier this year.

 

Until now, the congressional numbers have been used as the yardstick for the program's success. The new administration estimate was commissioned by HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell shortly after she took over in the spring.

 

Critics are bound to accuse the White House of moving the goal posts. "Obamacare" remains unpopular in much of the country, and Republicans will keep crusading for its repeal when they assume full control of Congress next year.

 

At least one independent nonpartisan expert said either number could turn out to be valid.

 

"An estimate of 9 million enrollees is just as plausible and defensible as an estimate of 13 million," said Larry Levitt of the Kaiser Family Foundation. On one hand, said Levitt, the law's mandate that most Americans get covered or risk fines would argue for a bigger number. On the other hand, "there has never been a program as controversial and politically divisive ... which could dampen how quickly enrollment grows," he added.

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No kidding...