RNC Research

An Obama Administration Official Didn’t Rule Out Additional Tweaking Of ObamaCare If Small Businesses Face Higher Costs Prior To The 2014 Midterm Election. “A lot of small businesses pushed off those changes this year by renewing their old, pre-Obamacare health plans early, extending them into next year. A common tactic, according to insurers and brokers, was to reset their plans with a Dec. 1 renewal date, which allowed them to hold onto the old benefits and rules as long as possible. Next year, though, many of those small businesses will have to upgrade to health plans that comply with the new Obamacare rules. Unlike the canceled health policies which largely hit this fall, those changes will be spread throughout the year. But there will be a cluster of December renewals, industry officials say, and those small businesses will get the first look at their new prices in October — right at the height of an election that’s increasingly being framed as a referendum on the impact of Obamacare.  … But an administration official said the Obama team will be watching the small business situation closely as the time for those renewals approaches. ‘I think that’s something we’re going to take a hard look at and see if there are things that can be tweaked’ if there is a lot of disruption, the official said.” (David Nather, “Next ObamaCare Crisis: Small-Business Costs,” Politico, 12/17/13)

ObamaCare’s Small Business Rate Hikes Are “Another Political Time Bomb Lurking That Could Explode” Before The 2014 Midterm Election. “Think the canceled health policies hurt the ObamaCare cause? There’s another political time bomb lurking that could explode not too long before next year’s elections: rate hikes for small businesses. Like the canceled individual health plans, it’s another example of a tradeoff that health care experts have long known about, as the new rules for health insurance prices create winners and losers. But most Americans won’t become aware of it until some small business employees learn that their premiums are going up because of a law called — oops — the Affordable Care Act.” (David Nather, “Next ObamaCare Crisis: Small-Business Costs,” Politico, 12/17/13)

• “The Timing Will Be Terrible For Democrats.” “And the timing will be terrible for Democrats: A lot of those small businesses will have to start dealing with their new prices in October — just in time for Republicans to make it an issue in their mid-term election campaigns.” (David Nather, “Next ObamaCare Crisis: Small-Business Costs,” Politico, 12/17/13)

The Obama Administration Already Tried To Save Democrats By Pushing Back Next Year’s Enrollment Period

The White House Pushed Back “The Start Of Next Year’s Open Enrollment Period Past The 2014 Midterm Elections. “Stung by a brutally messy October for ObamaCare, the White House is pushing the start of next year’s open enrollment period past the 2014 midterm elections.” (Devin Dwyer, “White House Delays 2015 ObamaCare Enrollment,” ABC News’ The Note, 11/22/13)

The Delay Will Prevent Customers From Accessing The ObamaCare Exchange To See Prices Until After The 2014 Midterm Elections. “The Department of Health and Human Services tells ABC News that it is delaying by one month the 2015 sign-ups in the health insurance marketplace – from Oct. 15 to Nov. 15, 2014.  The shift means consumers will not be able to access the marketplace to see plans – or prices – until after votes are cast.” (Devin Dwyer, “White House Delays 2015 ObamaCare Enrollment,” ABC News’ The Note, 11/22/13)

• Industry Experts Have Speculated That The White House “Wants To Avoid Widespread Sticker Shock” Among Voters.  “Some industry experts, citing the likelihood of big premium hikes for 2015, speculate that the administration likely wants to avoid widespread sticker shock just days before an election in which ObamaCare is already a contentious issue.” (Devin Dwyer, “White House Delays 2015 ObamaCare Enrollment,” ABC News’ The Note, 11/22/13)