WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A large majority of seniors believe the costs of new health plans under the Affordable Care Act are not so affordable.
A majority, 50 percent, of senior citizens agreed that ObamaCare plan deductibles and out-of-pocket costs were too high to provide good coverage, according to a Wednesday survey released today by The Seniors Citizens League.
"The findings clearly indicate that senior Americans don't believe the new health law fulfills the promise of providing affordable care," TSCL Chairman Ed Cates said. "High healthcare costs remain a major issue with older Americans and younger seniors close to retirement age."
The survey found that only 17 percent of seniors thought that there was a good selection of health plans, while 42 percent thought there wasn't. Eighteen percent thought premiums were affordable with subsidies. Forty-three percent thought premiums were unaffordable, even with subsides, and 40 percent didn't know.
Of those who shopped for a new health plan, only 14 percent reported successfully enrolling in a new health plan using the Healthcare.gov web site. Forty percent said they had not done anything.
"We have already seen some early reports of proposed premium increases," Cates said. "Given that the majority of respondents to our survey believe that new health plan costs are already unaffordable, premium increases of even eight percent or higher could put the new plans out of reach, or place big new financial burdens on senior households."
The survey was conducted online during the new health law's January-March open enrollment period. It was open to all seniors, including those age 65 and over and covered by Medicare.
TSCL is urging seniors to get involved this election year and let incumbent members of Congress know what they think about their healthcare costs under the new health plans, and under Medicare.
Reach David Yates at elections@legalnewsline.com.
Survey finds seniors don't think Affordable Care Act is affordable
