GOP: ObamaCare failed to create insurance options in Arkansas

The Republican congressional delegation from Arkansas warned the Obama administration on Monday that ObamaCare has so far failed to deliver the number of health insurance options that state officials promised.

“Before the law’s implementation, state insurance officials claimed that there would be as many as eight carriers offering coverage in the individual market,” they wrote in their letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “However, a consumer logging on to the AR Health Connector website will find, at most, four plans offering coverage, while over 60 percent of the state will have no more than two provider options.”

{mosads}”This is a disappointing, if unsurprising, failure of the reforms promised by ObamaCare, which will mean decreased competition among plans, leading to higher costs, higher premiums, and less consumer choice.”

The letter was sent by Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.) and all four Arkansas House members, all Republicans: Reps. Rick Crawford, Tim Griffin, Steve Womack and Tom Cotton.

To better understand how the law is affecting their state, the members asked for all correspondence between Sebelius and Arkansas Department of Insurance on the impact federal rules would have on insurance options. They also asked for all correspondence given to stakeholders about the launch of the website on October 1, and the number “confirmed enrollments” as of October 25.

They asked for this information by November 1, and said if that deadline can’t be met, “please immediately contact our offices.”

According these members, the average family has been income fall by 9 percent over the last decade, but said ObamaCare’s rules will make them pay between 100 to 600 percent more for health insurance.