Proponents of government-run health care, including Medicare, often point to the efficiency gained from large-scale purchasing and administration, a generally false claim, but well accepted nonetheless. The reality is that massive projects by government always tend to be over budget and behind schedule. That’s not the fault of those doing the work, but rather of the policy makers making unrealistic promises.
It’s hard to believe but the Department of Health and Human Services actually asked for an additional billion dollars to implement Obamacare or that they admit that the number of states where they have to establish health insurance exchanges was unexpected.
Those observers who have been criticizing this effort for one reason or another were generally dismissed as obstructionists and all the while HHS has been pumping out press releases telling us how wonderful Obamacare is and how many “free” services Americans have been collecting.
The fact is that after three years and only six months from the initial enrollment date most Americans do not understand the Affordable Care Act, possess unrealistic expectations around the cost of insurance they will purchase and have little idea of the choices they must make starting in October.
The Administration is in a serious bind. It risks a disaster during the October enrollment and subsequent implementation in the fifty states OR it must seek a delay in the effective date of the health insurance exchanges.
A steady stream of news stories is appearing that appears to be lowering expectations for a smooth and fully operational enrollment process in October.
Tight Deadlines and Lagging Funds Bedevil Obama Health Care Law
By ROBERT PEAR Published: March 22, 2013
WASHINGTON — It was another turbulent week for President Obama’s health care law. Congress rejected a White House request for nearly $1 billion to carry out the law, even as federal responsibilities increased to include the supervision of insurance markets in more than half the states. Then, on Friday, Republican attacks on the law continued in the Senate, where Democrats beat back Republican proposals to repeal the law and many of its tax increases. Federal officials are racing to set up insurance marketplaces, or exchanges, in 33 states — more than they ever expected.
Enrollment begins in six months, and the amount of work to be done is staggering, officials say.
Mr. Obama scored his biggest legislative achievement exactly three years ago when he signed the Affordable Care Act. But this week the administration cautioned officials to be careful about suggesting that the law would drive down costs.
After extensive research, the administration said it was unwise to tell consumers that they could get “health insurance that fits your budget.” That message, it said, is “seen as highly motivational, but not as believable.”
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QUINNSCOMMENTARY 
Dick. They could put you in charge and give up the state by state customization in release 1 .0. You could get it organized in 60 days. Implemented in 120. I know you could, I know I can!
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Good point, but don’t you know that once you pass 65, you don’t know anything anymore. My old company where I worked for nearly fifty years had lawyers tell me not to send anyone an e-mail because they weren’t interested in my comments or ideas.
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