Facts Deflate Sebelius’s Defense of Obamacare

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Facts Deflate Sebelius’s Defense of Obamacare It must be a tough job defending Obamacare, but someone’s got to do it. Last week, that someone was Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, who wrote an op-ed for The Washington Post. A Decrease in Health Care Costs? Not So Fast Sebelius says national health expenditures have increased only by about 4 percent annually over the past two years, significantly less than in previous years. Sure—health care costs did, in fact, slow somewhat over the last few years. But the trend started before Obamacare even became law. The real reason for slowed growth in health care costs, as Administration officials themselves explain, is the poor economic climate. Relief for Small Businesses? Not Really According to the Secretary, “new tax credits in the law are saving hundreds of thousands of small companies thousands of dollars each on their insurance costs.” But the truth is that, despite original estimates that 4 million small businesses would be eligible for and benefit from Obamacare’s small business tax credit, only 28,100 employers claimed the full credit amount. The Government Accountability Office even concluded that the credit was not big enough to incentivize employers to offer coverage and was too complex and time-consuming to file for. Obamacare Strengthens Medicare? Not Quite Last but not least, Secretary Sebelius argues that under Obamacare, “Medicare is stronger than ever.” She claims that the Medicare savings achieved in Obamacare extends the solvency of the program. But the Secretary and supporters also argue that the new spending in the law is paid for by using these same Medicare savings. Sebelius says it best herself: “People are entitled to their opinions, but not to their own facts. And the facts in this case are clear.” However, the facts aren’t on the side of Obamacare. Read the rest on The Foundry >> Supreme Court and Obamacare: Judicial Activism or Judicial Review? Catholic Charities of Chicago Joins Lawsuit Challenging HHS Mandate New Report: Turning Medicare into True Social Insurance VIDEO: Sen. Jim DeMint's Rallying Cry to Repeal Obamacare The Supreme Court’s Medicaid Decision: The Obamacare Mess Just Got Messier   $421 Billion IN CUTS TO MEDICARE Obamacare raids Medicare to pay for other new programs. Learn More >>     About The Heritage Foundation Founded in 1973, The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institute — a think tank — whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense. The Heritage Foundation | 214 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002 | 202.546.4400 | heritage.org