Eyes On the Ball...

I'm guessing the press will continue to refuse to address the important issues that matter to the American public in this current entertainment tv season. Here's what's important:

If the government is going to require citizens to buy a product, then it better make sure the product is accessible. 

Obamacare is complex; some parts are good, some not. On the plus side, Obamacare expanded coverage for the working poor. It knocked out exclusions for pre-existing conditions. It eliminated annual and lifetime benefit caps. It requires coverage for preventive care. It extended coverage to age 25 for children under family policies.

Most people get coverage through an employer. Obamacare requires employers to provide a minimum level of health coverage, or pay a tax. Of the rest? The poor qualify for Medicaid. Low-income families qualify for MinnesotaCare. The elderly qualify for Medicare.

About 6 percent of the population — mostly self-employed — composes a residual “pool” of people who must buy individual coverage, or pay a tax. This small “pool” is now comprised of higher-risk policyholders, as younger, healthier folks have continued without coverage rather than pay high premiums.

The result? Rates have soared even higher for individuals in the pool who are mandated to buy health insurance.