ALEXANDRIA, Va. ???Another quarter of a million people in the commonwealth will likely lose their health insurance plans by the end of the year.
Virginia???s Health Insurance Reform Commission learned on September 10 that 250,000 Virginians will receive notices their health insurance plans are being canceled as a result of the Affordable Care Act. That???s in addition to the thousands of Virginians who had already been notified over the last year their plans are no longer compliant with President Obama???s signature health care law.
???I am deeply concerned that, at a time when families are already struggling to make ends meet, another 250,000 policy holders will have to trim their budgets back even further,??? Republican Delegate and Commission Chairman Kathy Byron said in a statement.
Of course, those who lose their health care plans can purchase another that complies with the ACA ??? but the likelihood is they???ll pay higher premiums each month.
The Manhattan Institute, a think tank that studies health care issues among others, found that older men (around age 64) are the only general group benefitting from lower rates than before because of the ACA. Young men (around age 27) are suffering the most from higher premiums as a result of Obamacare ??? an average 67 percent monthly increase.
The announcement of 250,000 cancelled gave ammunition Republican Ed Gillespie, the candidate running to replace U.S. Senator Mark Warner. ???Because Mark Warner worked to pass Obamacare, 250,000 Virginians are losing the health insurance they liked, with thousands getting hit with huge out of pocket cost increases while unable to see thedoctors they trust,??? Gillespie said in a statement.
Warner???s office didn???t respond to a request for comment.
Kathryn Watson writes for Watchdog.org, where an earlier version of this article first appeared.
