President Obama talks healthcare
US President Barack Obama speaks about the healthcare reform laws, known as Obamacare, at an Organizing for Action event in Washington, DC, November 4, 2013. (Saul Loeb, Getty Images)
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Insurance companies are canceling health policies for nearly 250,000 Coloradans, many because of Affordable Care Act rules, a tally likely to inflame consumers upset with controversial reforms.
The Colorado Division of Insurance said policies for 2013 that do not meet new minimum benefits under Obamacare are being canceled. Other cancellations are the result of business decisions by the insurers as part of normal operations.
Kathleen Baker is among those furious at the changes. She said her Kaiser Permanente policy was canceled, and a replacement would cost 17 percent more a month with higher deductibles.
Colorado health care exchange webpage
A screenshot of the connectforhealthco.com home page taken on October 1, 2013 at 8:55 a.m. (Connect for Health Colorado)
"I would like to know how the president, or anyone in Congress, can say this is better for me," she said.
Opponents of Obamacare said the high number of cancellations is causing bewilderment and anger among consumers who thought they would be able to keep their plans.
Only 3,408 Coloradans have enrolled in the private insurance plans offered on a new state exchange, the conservative advocacy group Compass Colorado said.
"To have almost a hundred health plan cancellations for every exchange sign-up in Colorado under Obamacare is exponentially worse than even the most extreme skeptic could have predicted," said Kelly Maher, executive director for Compass Colorado.
Consumer advocates who welcome health reform said it will take time to decipher whether the cancellations represent disaster or simply transition.
Cancellations......