Top 8 Ways Young Women are Hurt By ObamaCare

Cosmopolitan online magazine has published an article titled, “Top 8 Ways Young Women Benefit from ObamaCare” by Senior Correspondent for Kaiser Health News, Phil Galewitz. The misguided list seems to be a desperate attempt to get most young women (like myself) to act against their own interests by signing up for ObamaCare. Young women deserve to know the truth about their health care options. Here’s a quick list of what’s so bad about ObamaCare, especially for young women: 

1. ObamaCare Treats Grown Women Like Children

Phil Galewitz patronizingly touts that, “You can stay on your parents’ health policy until you turn 26” even if you’re married. Is still being dependent on mom and dad something to celebrate? ObamaCare requires health insurance companies to provide coverage for the customers’ “adult children” (actual demeaning term used in the legislation!) until age 26. Excussseeeee me, but women in our mid-20’s are not children. Whatever happened to Cosmopolitan magazine promoting female empowerment and independence? Plus, Galewitz doesn’t mention that the under-26 mandate has increased families’ insurance premiums by $151 to $452 per year. Simply, it cost more money to insure more people. This is the basic economic principle called: you don’t get something for nothing. Of course, you can’t get covered on your parents’ plan if they lose their health insurance (see #5). 

2. “Free” Birth Control Costs A Lot of Money

Phil Galewitz writes, “You’re entitled to free preventive care, including birth control.” That sounds great at first. Who doesn’t love getting free stuff?! But to paraphrase late economist Milton Friedman, TNSTAFBC: there’s no such thing as free birth control. ObamaCare requires all insurance plans to cover all FDA-approved brand name contraceptives and procedures. Well, funny thing, covering more expensive forms of birth control costs more money. There may be no co-pays at the doctor office’s counter, but everyone will have to pay higher insurance premiums. Not exactly “free.” It doesn’t matter your contraceptive of choice or if you don’t use any form of birth control. Shouldn’t young women be allowed to pick the affordable insurance plan that best meets their birth control needs? 

3. ObamaCare Health Insurance Exchanges Are a Bad Deal for Young People 

Phil Galewitz tries his best to sell young women on the ObamaCare health insurance exchanges. A dirty little secret is that ObamaCare’s success is completely dependent on young people opting into the unfair system. The way that the ObamaCare exchanges are set up is that young and relatively healthy people will be subsidizing the health care costs of old and unhealthy people. Sixty-four-year-olds typically spend six times as much on health care as 18-year-olds. This means that young women that rarely see a doctor will see their health insurance costs skyrocket in the system! Pro tip: If you’re a single childless adult, you’ll save at least $500 by not opting into the insurance exchange and paying the government fine instead.

4. You’ll Pay More For Things You Don’t Want

Phil Galewitz says that all health insurance plans will be required to cover maternity care, mental health services, and preventive services. What if you don’t want or need these things? Well, too bad. Maternity coverage will be mandatory—even for men. Women who do not plan on having children will have to pay extra for maternity benefits. Adding coverage for things that some people do not want will only increase insurance costs for everyone. Shouldn’t women that do not want kids or any mental health counseling be allowed to choose a cheaper plan that makes sense for them? 

5. You May Lose Your Insurance Coverage

Phil Galewitz writes about all the benefits and coverage that insurance policies must provide under the law. It’s interesting what he does not mention: the number of people who will lose their health insurance. According to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office, seven million people will lose their job-based health insurance coverage because of the law. Due to the mandates in the law, employers will find it much cheaper to pay the penalty for not offering coverage than to offer health benefits. Many young women just starting their careers will be dumped since it will primarily affect low-income workers. 

6. Healthy People Will Be Charged More 

Cosmopolitan magazine is full of helpful exercising, diet, and health tips. Some young women readers may be surprised to learn that insurance companies will not be allowed to give them a discount for making good health choices. Phil Galewitz explains, “health premiums may vary based on three factors only: age, where you live, and whether you’re a smoker.” Shouldn’t young women get some benefits for eating healthy and staying fit? 

7. ObamaCare Will Make More Women Dependent

Phil Galewitz boasts that Medicaid will be expanded to people currently making too much money to qualify for the program. Medicaid is the government health care entitlement program for the poor. Many states have already wisely rejected the expansion because they can’t afford its huge price tag. Encouraging young women to be dependent on the government is not exactly a message of female empowerment. It would be nice to see a top women’s magazine inspire women to be strong, independent, and leaders in our society. 

8. You May Lose Your Job or Get Your Hours Reduced

Phil Galewitz writes that employers are required to give women “reasonable break time” to pump breast milk while at their jobs. What about the women who will not have a job because of ObamaCare? The unemployment rate for young women aged 16 to 24 is 13.9 percent. ObamaCare is making it harder to find a job by causing employers to eliminate jobs, especially entry level positions. Employers are avoiding new hires because they don’t know how exactly the law will be enforced and the employer mandate that punishes businesses with over 50 full-time employees. With “full time” defined as 30 or more hours a week, many businesses are reducing workers’ hours to 29 hours or below to avoid the expense. More young women are focused on actually getting a job—rather than work breaks. 

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