New report shows lower than expected Obamacare premiums

GOP efforts to repeal would hurt economy and raise average rates

As Republicans continue to march the country toward a government shutdown and a default on our obligations in an effort to defund Obamacare, the Oklahoma Democratic Party touted new data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services showing that Obamacare is working and will cost at least Oklahomans, less than anticipated.

“The new report found that health care rates in Oklahoma are affordable, especially with new subsidies that will be available for around half of Americans buying their health insurance. The report found that right here in Oklahoma, a 27 year old making $25,000 a year would have access to insurance plans as low as $84 per month, and a family of four making $50,000 would only pay $63,” said ODP Chair Wallace Collins. “Obamacare is working and Republicans in Washington are doing everything in their power to take it away, even if it means hurting our economy by shutting down the government and not paying our nation's bills.”

The report found that in addition to lower premiums, in Oklahoma, consumers will be able to choose from an average of 53 plans so they can pick the plan that works best for them and their family. The health care plans give Oklahomans access to quality affordable coverage with no lifetime caps on care, ends discrimination due to preexisting conditions, bars insurers from charging women more and so much more. In contrast, the House of Representatives last week passed a bill with the support of Oklahoma’s Republican delegation to demand a shutdown of the government unless Obamacare was defunded and all those hard-fought provisions were removed.

The Obama Administration is set to launch "Out2Enroll" on National Coming Out Day, Oct. 11th, 2013. Out2Enroll is a new initiative to educate the LGBT community about the Affordable Care Act. For more information, see The Gayly October issue on stands now, or visit www.out2enroll.org.

To view the report with a breakdown of how the Affordable Care Act is helping people in every state, click here.

September 28, 2013