2013
For a variety of reasons, mainly underestimating the complexity of the effort, the funds allocated in the Affordable Care Act for implementation of the health insurance exchanges are gone.
The Health and Human Services Department asked Congress for $5.9 billion more, but the request was turned down. To continue the implementation HHS is now using funds that were allocated under the Act for preventive services.
What is the lesson here? Well, it’s not a new one for sure. It is hardly unusual for government to underestimate costs (or overestimate savings) or project completion times. However, when it comes to this health care initiative there is a great deal at stake and one heck of a lot of promises to keep.
Reaching the goal of affordable health care may not be affordable.
- Drat, this isn’t the way I planned it!
QUINNSCOMMENTARY 
Very good point Dick. I suspect that there will be many more underestimates in the Obamcare law as things roll out. Too many overly optomistic assumptions due to Washington legislators and administrators wearing”rose colored” glasses. I recall the President stating that the Health Care Law will reduce the deficit! If that happens I may start believing again in the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny and Santa Claus. No wonder that the deficit will soon exceed 17 Trillion and still climbing and the President is’nt at all concerned.My gut feeling is that when Obamacare really kicks in we will see that deficit figures start to escalate and there will be a lot of finger pointing in DC.
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I fear you are correct. My biggest concern is that the use of the exchanges will gradually exceed predictions with the result that the government cost for the tax credits will soar. In addition, smaller employers especially will do the math and figure out its a better deal to pay the fine and give something to employees in lieu of providing health insurance.
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