Obamacare: Another waiver for favored client

The Daily Caller has learned that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rate review rules, which it finalized on Thursday, exempt "Medigap" policy providers, like the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), from oversight when such providers increase payment rates for their supplemental insurance plans.

Insurance providers who aren't exempt from Obamacare's rate review rules are required to publicly release and explain some health care payment rate increases.

The AARP is the nation's biggest seller of Medigap policies, or supplemental healthcare plans that add onto what Medicare won't cover for seniors. The senior citizens interest group advocated for Obamacare to include an attack on Medigap policies' biggest competitor, Medicare Advantage.

Though the White House and HHS dismiss allegations of political favoritism when it comes to who's getting exceptions from the new health care regulations - such as in the recent uproar over the disproportionate number of Obamacare waivers that went to companies in House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's district - Obamacare critics say the mere appearance of the administration helping friends is disturbing.

This is what eventually happens in banana republics; ordinary people become so cynical that the system is rigged against them that they stop producing and become government wards. The spirit of creativity and entrepreneurship dies while people do just enough to get by - figuring correctly that they won't be rewarded for extra effort so why bother?

Eventually, a "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" attitude takes over. In the end, it's not how good you are or how talented, but rather who you know and how juiced you are.

Lots of juicing going on with Obamacare waivers.