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Ohio GOP
Delegation Releases ObamaCare Horror Stories from Ohio
WASHINGTON, DC - Speaker John Boehner (OH-08) and Representatives
Steve Chabot (OH-01), Brad Wenstrup (OH-02), Jim Jordan (OH-04), Bob
Latta (OH-05), Bill Johnson (OH-06), Bob Gibbs (OH-07), Mike Turner
(OH-10), Pat Tiberi (OH-12), Dave Joyce (OH-14), Steve Stivers (OH-15),
and Jim Renacci (OH-16) today released the following statement reacting
to their constituents’ experiences with open enrollment and the
Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) downgrade of projected
enrollees. The delegation is encouraging constituents to continue
the conversation by using the “hashtags” #ObamaCare #StoriesFromOhio on
social media platforms, such as Twitter and Facebook.
“All across Ohio, the harmful effects of the president’s health care
law continue to be widespread. Premiums and deductibles are rising,
plans are being cancelled, people are losing access to their doctors,
and small businesses have been forced to reduce employee hours in order
to comply with the law’s mandates – turning full-time work into
part-time work for too many.
“The president’s Department of Health and Human Services recently
reduced its estimate for projected enrollees, acknowledging the same
lack of confidence Ohioans have expressed in the product it’s selling.
“We've heard from a great many of our constituents who have shared
their stories, and that is why we will continue to fight to repeal and
replace this broken system with real health care solutions that will
lead to lower costs and more choices.”
Following are testimonials from Ohioans throughout the state:
"We have a ten-year-old daughter with cerebral palsy and a seizure
disorder. We are already feeling the effects of Obamacare, with our
current insurance company limiting therapy visits… and informing us
that her current drugs may not be covered starting in January. I
believe health care reform is needed. However, government-controlled
healthcare is not the answer. Health care needs to be
patient-and-doctor centered, with competition allowed across state
lines for insurance companies.”
–Carol, Mason, OH
“Our premiums are jumping by 18 percent for 2015 and because of
Obamacare; we will lose our plan in 2016. We are a healthy family of
three, and have had no significant claims. I worry that next year, my
family and I will be facing even higher deductibles, out of pocket
costs, and premiums for a plan that doesn’t meet our needs.”
–Mike, Cincinnati, OH
“My company had insurance that our employees liked, but costs rose
rapidly when Washington started discussing the Affordable Care
Act. After Obamacare was passed I hoped that the prices would
stabilize, but unfortunately we are still facing huge increases this
year. We now have insurance through a new company that got its
start with Obamacare but we are very unhappy. Our new plan has
altered our prescription coverage so that some employees must pay
hundreds of dollars out-of-pocket for prescriptions that were
previously covered with reasonable co-pays. Everyone should be
able to sit down with their own doctor and decide what treatment is
best.”
– Dan, Business owner in Ohio’s 4th District
"I am very disappointed with the Affordable Care Act. I just had to
change my insurance policy through work because my premium would have
gone up by $1300/year. I liked my policy. I wanted to keep my policy. I
was told that I could keep it if I liked it. But it was not supposed to
go up in cost. The ACA was supposed to save us $2500 not increase costs
by $1300.”
- Resident of Ohio’s 5th District, Perrysburg, OH
“Our medical insurance premium costs went from $235 per month to $520
per month…President Obama promised that people would not have to choose
between quality medical care and the basic essentials of life… I think
that this system and the president have greatly failed me and many
Americans in what was promised. I go to bed at night wondering how I am
going to pay the increase in the medical insurance premiums as well as
the increases in the out of pocket medical expenses we now face.”
– Alice, Dennison, OH
"Since I was a sophomore I had been working two jobs at Miami
University to help pay for my education. When I received a letter over
the summer saying that I would no longer be able to work more than
thirty hours a week because of a new ObamaCare requirement, I was
forced to give up one of my jobs. This is happening to students all
over the country due to the reckless requirements written into the
President's health care law. At a time when education is so expensive
in the United States, these work hour requirements are hurting
hardworking students."
-Carolyn Turner, Daughter of Congressman Mike Turner, Dayton, OH
“My insurance has increased over $100 a month. My daughter is not
covered because I cannot afford it, plus Medicaid has not gotten back
to me about her (she has a disability). My deductible is $2500, which I
have to pay before anything is covered! I cannot even afford to go to
doctor and my employer said it is because of ObamaCare. There are no
extras, just basic coverage. I hope nothing major happens to me and my
family!”
– Sherrie, Hartville, OH
"I found out today our premium is going up again this year another 35
percent. We also have a $7,000 dollar deductible... It really angers
me. We pay our taxes, we pay our bills. We try to do the right thing …
As things stand right now, with increasing cost of living, [stagnant]
wages, and increasing health care costs, I don't know how we are going
to remain financially solvent and also have any kind of quality of
life. For a health care law that was intended to help people, it sure
seems that the ones who are being hurt are those who have worked hard
to make a living for themselves.”
-Jamey, Piqua, OH
"My premiums rose 25 percent this year and will rise 25 percent again
next year. It’s not just my premiums that are increasing; my
out-pocket-expenses went from copays to a 20 percent cost-share, as
well. Obamacare certainly hasn’t made healthcare more affordable for
me.”
– Nancy, Central Ohio
“I had the same health insurance plan since 2007, one that was
affordable and the right plan for me. Six months ago, I got a letter
from my insurance company telling me that because of ObamaCare, they
were no longer offering the plan I had been on for seven years. After
struggling to find a new plan, my new monthly premium is now doubled
from $425 to over $900."
– Jeff, Hudson, OH
“My name is Mildred and I retired as a teacher's aide. I now live in my
daughter's home. As a retiree from the Ohio School system, I used to
have a good health care plan which has covered a heart surgery in
addition to other health needs. When ObamaCare started I received
a notice that my premium would increase from $66.00 to $299.00 per
month. That new amount was way more than my meager pension.
I had no choice but to cancel my policy. My doctors tell me that
I will eventually need another heart operation. I don't know what
I will do.”
– Mildred, Columbus, OH
“I own a small business and employ close to 1,000 people, of which 700
should be eligible for insurance. If 75 percent of those eligible
participate, I will be put out of business within 3-6 months. Though I
am planning to hire and expand, the 30-hour definition of full-time
employment within Obamacare threatens our very existence. I urge
Congress to apply the traditional 40-hour definition of full-time
employment to the health care law in order to provide me with the
certainty I need to grow my company and create jobs.”
– Jim, North Canton, OH
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