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| Republican senator says Obamacare will be 'sticker shock' for Americans | Republican senator says Obamacare will be 'sticker shock' for Americans |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Weeks before healthcare exchanges introduced under President Barack Obama's healthcare overhaul open, a Republican senator has attacked the plan by saying Americans may experience "sticker shock" from higher prices. | Weeks before healthcare exchanges introduced under President Barack Obama's healthcare overhaul open, a Republican senator has attacked the plan by saying Americans may experience "sticker shock" from higher prices. |
"Many families are going to have real sticker shock when they see their new insurance rates – even families who get government subsidies," said Barrasso, of Wyoming, who is an orthopedic surgeon. | In the weekly Republican address, released on Saturday, Senator John Barrasso used the term for shock or surprise at unsuspected retail prices as he said that the Affordable Care Act was hurting middle-class Americans. "Many families are going to have real sticker shock when they see their new insurance rates – even families who get government subsidies," said Barrasso, of Wyoming, who is an orthopedic surgeon. />A White House official disputed Barrasso's characterization, citing studies showing that repealing the healthcare law would lead to higher rates. |
| From 1 October, consumers will be able to buy health insurance from state exchanges – a key component of the healthcare overhaul. The exchanges allow residents of each state to seek subsidized health coverage. The government aims to sign up 7 million people in the first year, growing to 22 million in 2016, according to the Congressional Budget Office. | |
| Republicans are bitterly opposed to the healthcare plan, which passed without a single Republican vote in Congress in 2010 and is seen by Obama's supporters as one of his greatest achievements as president. In June 2012, the law was upheld by the supreme court. Republicans in Congress have made 40 attempts to repeal it. | Republicans are bitterly opposed to the healthcare plan, which passed without a single Republican vote in Congress in 2010 and is seen by Obama's supporters as one of his greatest achievements as president. In June 2012, the law was upheld by the supreme court. Republicans in Congress have made 40 attempts to repeal it. |
| Barrasso said there was "no question" that the US healthcare system needs reform – but at a lower cost, not a higher one. He cited a Kaiser Family Foundation study, released this week, as showing that the average family premium for people getting health insurance through their employers has risen by nearly $3,000 from when Obama took office in January 2009. | Barrasso said there was "no question" that the US healthcare system needs reform – but at a lower cost, not a higher one. He cited a Kaiser Family Foundation study, released this week, as showing that the average family premium for people getting health insurance through their employers has risen by nearly $3,000 from when Obama took office in January 2009. |
| The Obama administration also cited the study, saying it showed that insurance premiums will be more affordable on the healthcare exchanges. "In fact, if the ACA were repealed, individuals and families could see rate shock, with $1,000 to $8,000 in premium hikes based on data from the Kaiser Family Foundation," the White House official said on Saturday. | |
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