So some say, but sick people certainly weren’t targeted for the benefits, though undoubtedly some did. Medicaid, we are told, took on another 17 million people. So, of those, some probably didn’t already have employment-based insurance of a better sort, though some undoubtedly did. Some probably didn’t have to dispossess themselves of assets, though doubtless some did. Some were chronically ill, but probably most were not.
Of those who went on the exchanges, some were well subsidized and have no deductibles. Some were well subsidized and had huge deductibles. Some are poorly subsidized and have huge deductibles. Some get no subsidies at all, pay a lot more than they would have otherwise, and have huge deductibles. Some would have been sick, but mostly not.
Some with employment-based insurance no longer do because of the additional cost of all the mandates. Some with employment-based insurance are paying in a lot more contribution than they did before and have bigger deductibles. Some would have been sick, but mostly not.
And some with high incomes are paying more than they ever did. Some are sick and most are not.
On balance, it seems the whole system was turned on its head when federal aid to the states’ forced placement programs for the few who were really in need, could probably have been cheaper and easier.