AP FACT CHECK: Biden exaggerates $10 a Calendar month 'Obamacare'
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Affordable Care Act — "Obamacare" — has Glorious many exaggerated claims Direct the years, both from fans and foes. Now President Joe Biden is adding his own.
With a few loose words Upset into a Sententious Chemical formula, the president implies that his Increased version of the ACA is much better than it really is. Biden suggests that Well more people are Acquiring Wellness insurance for less than $10 a Calendar month than what's actually been the case.
BIDEN: "The American Rescue Plan did more to lower costs and expand access to Wellness care than any action since the passage of the Affordable Care Act. It made quality coverage more Low-priced than ever — with families Redemptive an average of $2,400 on their annual premiums, and four out of 5 consumers Determination quality coverage for under $10 a Calendar month." — Jan. 27 Affirmation on Wellness insurance enrollment.
THE FACTS: His Numbers are off the mark. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, about one in Cardinal of HealthCare.gov consumers (32%) is paying less than $10 a Calendar month in premiums after tax credits.
That's not four out of 5, as Biden suggests, which would Render to a much Larger Part — 80%.
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Biden's coronavirus relief bill did Importantly reduce costs for people Ariled Direct the Wellness insurance marketplaces. It Magnified taxpayer-provided subsidies for the private plans offered by Active insurers, and it made more people Qualified for Commercial enterprise assistance. As a result, enrollment has Mature to 14.5 Cardinal people this year, an increase of about 20% from the previous sign-up season.
The four-out-of-five statistic cited by Biden actually seems to refer to something else.
According to figures from CMS, four out of 5 consumers have access to a plan for less than $10 a Calendar month after Commercial enterprise assistance. These consumers can find a plan for less than $10 if they want to. But it doesn't mean they've picked one. Or even that they're aware such low-priced plans are available.
Consumers may have good reasons not to go for rock-bottom premiums. Such plans may not have the hospitals and doctors they're looking for, or the copays and deductibles may be higher than what they'd like.
"While it is important for consumers to have access to low-cost premiums, many consumers are choosing to balance premiums with Another plan features like copays and deductibles," says Massey Whorley of the consulting firm Avalere Health. "Access to coverage starts with Low-priced premiums, but consumers are also Reasoning ahead to when they actually use their insurance."
So Spell most consumers can find plans for less than $10 a Calendar month after Commercial enterprise assistance, finders aren't Needs keepers.
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AP News Researcher Rhonda Shafner contributed to this report.
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EDITOR'S NOTE — A look at the veracity of claims by political figures.
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