RNC Research

Bloomberg Headline: “Angry Self-Insured Voters Dim Democratic Takeover Plans.” (John McCormick, “Angry Self-Insured Voters Dim Democratic Takeover Plans,” Bloomberg, 12/5/13)

Democrats Hold 67 House Seats That Have A Self-Insured Population “Above The National Average Of Roughly 5 Percent.” “Of the 435 House seats, there are 186 districts with direct-purchase proportions above the national average of roughly 5 percent, according to census data. Of those, Democrats hold 67, or 36 percent. The proportion of residents who purchase their insurance on the individual market varies widely across all congressional districts.” (John McCormick, “Angry Self-Insured Voters Dim Democratic Takeover Plans,” Bloomberg, 12/5/13)

• According To Insurance Industry Officials And State Insurance Commissioners, 5 Million People That Purchase Insurance On The Individual Health Insurance Market Have Received Cancellation Notices. “Several insurance industry officials and state insurance commissioners expressed frustration Friday, saying they were ‘baffled’ by President Barack Obama’s assertion that the cancellation of millions of insurance policies occurred because a key provision of the Affordable Care Act didn’t work as expected. The administration was warned three years ago that regulations would have exactly that effect, they said.  They said the widespread cancellations in the individual health insurance market — roughly 5 million and counting – are in line with what was projected under regulations drawn up by the administration in 2010, requirements that both insurers and businesses objected to at the time. Cancellations also are occurring in the small group market, which covers businesses with between two and 50 employees, they noted.” (Lisa Myers, “Insurers, State Officials Say Cancellation Of Health care Policies Just As They Predicted,” NBC News, 11/15/13)

Dem Districts Have Many Residents Covered By Individual Plans That Are Now Being Cancelled

Rep. Scott Peters’ District In San Diego Has “One Of The Nation’s Highest Proportions Of Residents Who Get Health Insurance Through Individual Policies.” “To appreciate why U.S. Representative Scott Peters has twice broken with his Democratic colleagues and voted to roll back parts of ObamaCare, it’s helpful to know that his San Diego-area district is teeming with voters who have reasons to be angry about the law. The district has one of the nation’s highest proportions of residents who get health insurance through individual policies, instead of from an employer, and many have learned their policies are being canceled because they don’t comply with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.” (John McCormick, “Angry Self-Insured Voters Dim Democratic Takeover Plans,” Bloomberg, 12/5/13)

• “At Roughly 1 In 10 – Double The National Average – The District That Peters Represents Ranks In The Top 10 Nationally For The Proportion Of Residents Who Purchase Their Coverage Directly From Insurance Companies, The Data Show.” (John McCormick, “Angry Self-Insured Voters Dim Democratic Takeover Plans,” Bloomberg, 12/5/13)

Nearly 17 Percent Of Residents In Representative Henry Waxman’s (D-CA) District Are Self-Insured Consumers. “Democratic Representative Henry Waxman’s Los Angeles-area seat leads the nation, with almost 17 percent of residents getting their insurance that way, the census data show.” (John McCormick, “Angry Self-Insured Voters Dim Democratic Takeover Plans,” Bloomberg, 12/5/13)

A Self-Employed Biotechnology Consultant That Voted Twice For Obama Recently Had His Plan Canceled And Will Now Pay More To Get Less. “Walter Niles is one of them. The self-employed biotechnology consultant with a doctorate in neuroscience was notified in September that his policy was being canceled. The coverage offered through Covered California, his state’s new insurance exchange, has left him unsatisfied. ‘I’m paying more and getting less,’ said Niles, 59, who leans Republican yet also says he voted twice for President Barack Obama. ‘It is fundamentally a worse plan.’” (John McCormick, “Angry Self-Insured Voters Dim Democratic Takeover Plans,” Bloomberg, 12/5/13)

• His Monthly Premiums Will Increase From $367 To $507. “A single man, Niles said his monthly premium will go from $367 to $507, even though he sees the coverage as less comprehensive and flexible. His higher income precludes him from getting any government subsidy for the new insurance.” (John McCormick, “Angry Self-Insured Voters Dim Democratic Takeover Plans,” Bloomberg, 12/5/13)