Reports Show Enrollment Numbers Have Dropped in Absence of Administration’s Reports
“For the past five months, the administration has been silent on enrollment details for the president’s health care law, and now we know why: the number was going down. Sadly, this comes as no surprise," commented Vice Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Health and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittees Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX). “Meanwhile, there are plenty of unknowns still surrounding this law: What is the status of building the backend? Is HealthCare.gov secure? The fight for transparency continues…"
President Obama took to the Rose Garden on April 17 and declared mission accomplished for his health care law with the news that 8 million Americans had signed up for health insurance. The White House celebrated their enrollment reports with not one, but two Hollywood champagne parties. Then the reports stopped.
Today, The Associated Press headline tells us what has happened since: “Latest health law enrollment figures show slippage from 8M high point." The administration now says that 7.3 million Americans have enrolled in and paid for health coverage through the law. National Journal adds, “The number could drop again at the end of the month, when individuals who have not verified their citizenship or immigration status will lose their coverage. CMS said this week that there are currently 115,000 individuals whose discrepancies in records of legal status have not been resolved."
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Marilyn Tavenner testified that these figures represent data through Aug. 15, 2014, which is just days after reports indicated enrollment figures were falling. Investors Business Daily reported on Aug. 11, 2014, “Aetna’s Obamacare exchange statistics should clear up any doubt as to why the Obama Administration has been tight-lipped about enrollment since celebrating 8 million sign-ups in mid-April. Reality, evidence suggests, could require quite a come-down from those lofty claims."
