It’s no wonder so many people have rejected this law. In 2015, roughly 8 million Americans paid the Obamacare penalty and more than 12 million claimed an exemption from the penalty. That’s 20 million Americans. What does it say about this law when 20 million Americans want nothing to do with it – many preferring to pay a penalty rather than be subjected to its higher costs and fewer choices?

If you ask me, it’s strong evidence that the American people are tired of paying more and getting less."

Read the full statement here: http://bit.ly/2jEQ65i

THE FACTS:

· According to a 2016 patient survey, the most important thing to patients is a personal health care experience with their preferred provider that does not require the patient to be rushed through their exams.

· High quality, personalized care has been diminished by the Affordable Care Act. In fact, 25% of people report that Obamacare has personally hurt them.

· In a recent survey of physicians on their impressions of the ACA, over 60% of physicians responded that the ACA has had a negative impact on the quality of care patients receive nationwide.

· Investments in medical innovation, which drive personalized medicine, have also decreased since 2010. Obamacare imposed over $500 billion in new taxes that stifle innovation and capital investment.

· Today, developing new drugs costs over $2.5 billion and takes an average of 14 years – costs that are passed on to patients in the form of higher prices and reduced access to treatments.

· Obamacare’s medical device tax has contributed to discouraging investment in medical technology. For example, venture capital investment is down for all stages of development – early, growth, and later stages – since 2009.

THE FACTS:

• Americans with employer health care coverage – approximately 155 million people – are paying higher premiums and higher deductibles under Obamacare. President Obama promised premiums would decline $2,500 per family; instead, average family premiums in the employer-sponsored market have soared to more than $18,000.

• Deductibles are also increasing. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, deductibles for individual plans in the employer-sponsored market are up an average of 89 percent, from $646 in 2010 to $1,221 in 2016. This is faster than the rise in individual premiums (27 percent), four-and-a-half times more than the rise in workers’ wages (6 percent), and more than cumulative inflation over the period (10 percent).

• Individuals and families are facing higher prescription drug costs under Obamacare. The average individual with a plan in the exchange marketplace has to pay 46 percent of his or her total drug costs, compared to 20 percent for someone with employer-sponsored health care, according to Health Affairs.

• Many families have found health care under Obamacare to be so unappealing that instead of purchasing coverage they have chosen to pay the individual mandate penalty. In 2015, roughly 8 million Americans paid the penalty and more than 12 million claimed an exemption from the penalty. That’s at least 20 million people who have decided Obamacare is not worth the trouble and/or the price.