Senate Republicans Twist Sen. Durbin's Remarks On Health Care Premiums
Senate Republicans wrote a blog post juxtaposing Sen. Durbin's remarks with those made by President Obama a few days earlier.
Senate Republican Conference:
[Republican.Senate.Gov, 3/10/10]
The Truth
While Sen. Durbin did make those remarks, they were grossly misrepresented by Senate Republicans. While Durbin said "next year's" premiums would increase slightly after the bill is enacted, he stressed that they would increase more rapidly without reform. The president, on the other hand, discussed the long-term impact of the bill.
Sen. Durbin Stressed That Premiums Would Not Go Down "Next Year."
SEN. DICK DURBIN: Anyone who would stand before you and say well, if you pass health care reform, next year's health care premiums are going down, I don't think is telling the truth. I think it is likely they would go up, but what we're trying to do is slow the rate of increase. [Durbin Remarks, 3/10/10]
President Obama Was Discussing The Long-Term Effects Of The Bill. According to a transcript of the president's remarks, President Obama said:
Our cost-cutting measures mirror most of the proposals in the current Senate bill, which reduces most people's premiums and brings down our deficit by up to $1 trillion over the next decade because we're spending our health care dollars more wisely. Those aren't my numbers. Those aren't my numbers --they are the savings determined by the Congressional Budget Office, which is the nonpartisan, independent referee of Congress for what things cost. [President Obama's Remarks at Arcadia University, 3/8/10]
Health Care Reform Would Lower Premiums
PolitiFact: "For Most People, Premiums Would Stay About The Same, Or Slightly Decrease." According to PolitiFact.com: "The CBO reported that, for most people, premiums would stay about the same, or slightly decrease. This was especially true for people who get their insurance through work. (Health policy wonks call these the large group and small group markets.) People who have to go out and buy insurance on their own (the individual market) would see rates increase by 10 to 13 percent. But more than half of those people -- 57 percent, in fact -- would be eligible for subsidies to help them pay for the insurance. People who get subsidies would see their premiums drop by more than half, according to the CBO. So most people would see their premiums stay the same or potentially drop." [PolitiFact.com, 1/27/10, emphasis added]
CBO: House Bill Will Result In Lower Costs For American Families. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that in 2016, premiums will be $5,300 for an individual and $15,000 for a family of four in the Exchange. Without reform, the average family premium is expected to grow to $24,000. [CBO, 11/2/09; House Education and Labor Committee, 11/2/09]
Health Care Reform Would Slow The Growth Of Health Care Costs
CMS: Reform "Would Have A Significant Downward Impact On Future Health Care Cost Growth Rates." According to the Senate Finance Committee, "A new report by the Chief Actuary at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) provides an independent, non-partisan analysis of how this bill affects the bottom line for American families and businesses. The CMS Actuary found that, as a result of the Senate health care reform bill, the growth rate of national health care costs will begin to decline as cost-saving reforms kick in. The Actuary concludes that together the provisions in the bill, 'would have a significant downward impact on future health care cost growth rates.'" [Senate Finance Committee, 12/14/09; emphasis added]