I *half* agree with this. 2019 #ACASabotage-created rate increases will have *some* political impact, but not nearly as much as many thought. Here’s why:
EASY MESSAGE: “Rates increasing 20% instead of 8%!”
HARD MESSAGE: “Rates increasing 8% instead of dropping 2%!”
EASY MESSAGE: “Rates increasing 20% instead of 8%!”
HARD MESSAGE: “Rates increasing 8% instead of dropping 2%!”
Ironically, the very ANTI-#ACASabotage measures being taken by some states reduce political impact. GOP kills mandate, causing rates to spike 10 points. State scrambles, reinstates mandate, spike cancelled out for that state. Doesn’t change what GOP did to other 4 dozen states.
And in other states it’s even harder to make the point: Minnesota’s reinsurance program means rates will DROP 8% next year, which is good…but if the GOP hadn’t repealed the mandate, they would’ve dropped by around *15%* or so. That’s much more difficult to “prove” to voters.
