Is knowing what you’re talking about an automatic disqualification from writing about health policy at Forbes Magazine?
Josh Archambault at Forbes last June was advocating that Gov. Corbett (R-PA) pull the application for a waiver for Healthy PA because it was not reformy/screw the poor enough and fucks up some basic facts:
The flawed design of Healthy PA is also likely to result in higher costs to taxpayers. Similar to the “Private Option” Medicaid expansion in Arkansas, enrollees under Healthy PA can purchase any “private coverage option” in their geographic area without any additional financial cost to themselves.
This provision alone could drive costs sky-high. Enrollees have no financial incentive to keep costs low. In most regions of the state, the most-expensive plan costs more than twice as much as the least-expensive plan. Healthy PA enrollees are likely to flock to these Cadillac options, as they typically have broader provider networks and better prescription drug coverage. When enrollees pick these more expensive options, the tab picked up by taxpayers will skyrocket.
Wow, there is a lot of fail here.