Tim Kaine Just Doesn't Get It

Hello, Senator Kaine, you are supposed to represent the people of Virginia and of these United States, not the insurance industry against both. Obamacare is unsustainable, partly because insurance is the unjustified expense that's jacked up the cost of medical care. Mandatory participation in insurance gambling schemes may have fed the hogs enough money that they're not cranking up the prices any higher this year, but is anyone really banking on that to last? "More people buying insurance" is not a valid goal for our state or nation.

...Here is Senator Kaine's annoying e-mail:

"Thank you for contacting me about the health care reform law known as the Affordable Care Act.  I appreciate hearing from you.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law by President Obama on March 23rd, 2010.  The ACA created new benefits to increase affordability and access to health care, including cost-sharing subsidies to offset the cost of premiums for eligible individuals and families.  About 87 percent of individuals who signed up for coverage through the Federally Facilitated Marketplace were eligible for a subsidy in the first month of the 2015 enrollment period, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

There have been some claims that numbers released in a February 2014 CBO report suggest that the ACA will remove 2 million full-time jobs from the labor market by forcing more workers into part-time jobs.  These claims do not reflect all of the data in the CBO report.  The report states that there is "no compelling evidence that part-time employment has increased as a result of the ACA."  While I appreciate your concern that the ACA will lead to a reduction in full time workers, recent analysis suggests that the ACA has had numerous positive effects on the economy and the labor market. Since the ACA became law, the economy has added more than 10 million full-time private sector jobs. 

The ACA includes a range of provisions aimed to reduce the burden of medical expenses for millions of Americans and has helped to reduce growth in health spending for the fifth consecutive year.  Before the implementation of the ACA, the health insurance market experienced annual premium increases in the double digits.  Since the creation of rate review, a provision in the ACA that requires insurers to justify rate increases of 10 percent or more to regulators, the number of premium increase requests of 10 percent or more has dropped from 75 percent before the ACA to an estimated 14 percent.

Because of the ACA, the number of uninsured Americans was reduced by 25 percent in 2014.  I am a supporter of the ACA, but I believe it is important for lawmakers to continuously look for ways to improve it.  I have already cast votes to amend and improve the law where necessary and will continue to do so.  Congress and the Administration must remain vigilant with respect to how the law is working, including its implementation, and seek solutions wherever they are necessary to ensure the law works for our country.

Thank you again for contacting me."