None of this is surprising. What is surprising is that many people continue to believe that the Utah Health Exchange, launched in 2009 to increase small businesses’ health-insurance choices, can morph into some kind of foundation upon which a consumer-driven Obamacare can be built.
Like many conservative health-policy analysts, I have been skeptical that the Utah Health Exchange was as exciting a development as its promoters claimed. Although Governor Herbert and other supporters of the exchange continue to promote it as a successful consumer-driven alternative, these claims are difficult to credit: The Utah Health Exchange has never published an annual report, and its last press release was dated April 28, 2010! Nevertheless, if not for Obamacare, I doubt that the Utah Health Exchange would have caused very much harm. It only enrolled a dozen or so businesses in its initial phase, which started in September 2009.
But I agree with Governor Herbert on this: Let Utah have its exchange. Maybe someday it will find its feet and make a serious impact. However, this can never happen until Obamacare is repealed and replaced. After all, it’s hard to enroll new members if the federal government can’t even tell you whether you can use e-mail or not.
The Utah Health Exchange cannot redeem Obamacare. Instead, Obamacare will corrupt the Utah Health Exchange.
Nothing contained in this blog is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of the Pacific Research Institute or as an attempt to thwart or aid the passage of any legislation.
Obamacare Will Destroy Utah’s Health Exchange
John R. Graham
None of this is surprising. What is surprising is that many people continue to believe that the Utah Health Exchange, launched in 2009 to increase small businesses’ health-insurance choices, can morph into some kind of foundation upon which a consumer-driven Obamacare can be built.
Like many conservative health-policy analysts, I have been skeptical that the Utah Health Exchange was as exciting a development as its promoters claimed. Although Governor Herbert and other supporters of the exchange continue to promote it as a successful consumer-driven alternative, these claims are difficult to credit: The Utah Health Exchange has never published an annual report, and its last press release was dated April 28, 2010! Nevertheless, if not for Obamacare, I doubt that the Utah Health Exchange would have caused very much harm. It only enrolled a dozen or so businesses in its initial phase, which started in September 2009.
But I agree with Governor Herbert on this: Let Utah have its exchange. Maybe someday it will find its feet and make a serious impact. However, this can never happen until Obamacare is repealed and replaced. After all, it’s hard to enroll new members if the federal government can’t even tell you whether you can use e-mail or not.
The Utah Health Exchange cannot redeem Obamacare. Instead, Obamacare will corrupt the Utah Health Exchange.
Nothing contained in this blog is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of the Pacific Research Institute or as an attempt to thwart or aid the passage of any legislation.