Math and the Multiplier Effect of the ACA

You might have read or heard about recent enrollment figures regarding marketplace enrollments for health insurance.  Following are some facts** worth knowing: Individuals enrolled during open enrollment in marketplace coverage. (Approx. 9.6 million on the Federal exchange and 3.1 million on the state based exchanges.) x $294 The average monthly tax credit for people qualifying for assistance. x 83% The percentage of enrollees qualifying for tax credit assistance. = $3, 099,054,000 The approximate monthly tax assistance to qualified Individuals.  x 12 = $37,188,864,000 The approximate annual tax assistance to qualified Individuals.

That’s an astounding amount of money, however, as compared to our annual deficit, it might appear small to some.  Where’s the money coming from?  The many taxes enacted as part of the ACA.   The aforementioned $ amounts DO NOT include expenditures for the following: 21.6 million Text messages sent by healthcare dot gov to consumers interested in learning more. 35 avg. emails received per consumer w/ reminders about deadlines, coverage and financial help. 15,000 application counselors, navigators and in-person assisters throughout the nation. 8200 public enrollment events. 48 trips taken by administration officials to visit local events and raise awareness about open-enrollment. Some say that the current ACA model is unsustainable, while others argue that it should provide for more.  The original forecast by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) for enrollment by 2016 was 21 million.  Here’s the math for that scenario: (That’s $61.5 Billion for those that don’t like to interpret large numbers) Seems to me that sooner or later (hopefully sooner, for the future generation’s sake) math will dictate what’s possible.

**Figures & Statistics were estimates provided by CMS