On the Oregon Trail

News today out of Oregon courtesy of Fox News:

Some applicants for health insurance in Oregon have begun receiving robocalls from that state's health exchange warning that they will be forced to seek coverage elsewhere if they don't receive confirmation of enrollment by Monday.

The Oregonian reports that the robocalls from Cover Oregon consist of a woman's voice saying "If you haven't heard from us by December 23, it is unlikely your application will be processed for January 1 insurance coverage. If you want to be sure you have insurance coverage starting January 1, you have other options."

The phone call goes on to say that applicants who don't receive confirmation will be able to get coverage from an insurance company or agent, but will not be eligible for tax credits.

So....we make the insurance more expensive, but promise to offset it with tax credits.  But then we have a failed system which means you can't avail yourself of the credits.  Which means you pay more, and for a policy that fits some bureaucratic standard, not your preference.

That's what you get when government tries to get into business.  When government knows best.

At least someone remembers Harry Truman:

Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber vowed in November to enroll all Oregonians who needed individual insurance by January 1. In an interview with the Associated Press earlier this month, Kitzhaber said that the process had been slowed due to incomplete applications, some of which had come back unsigned. However, he added "I'm certainly willing to be held accountable for the fact that everybody who wanted coverage by January 1 is not going to get it."

So, when are Sebelius and Obama going to be held accountable?  Or is it still George Bush's fault?