We were told ObamaCare is not socialized medicine. Proponents assured us that ObamaCare would simply quell problematic insurance practices such as medical underwriting and preexisting condition exclusions. System-gaming would not break the insurance industry as the individual and employer mandates would prevent such catastrophic industry failure inherently at play in any law that guarantees coverage while reducing the ability to manage risk (insurance is, after all, the buying and selling of risk). Now the Obama Administration has unilaterally proclaimed success with a reported 8 million exchange enrollees. Game, set, match; drop all opposition as the battle has been won, we are told. Sounds like claiming a win before the first pitch is thrown.  What matters is not the number of enrollees as of April 2014. The real issue is how ObamaCare will impact healthcare in the long haul. The true effects will take some time to rear their ugly head but, like rabies, once...(Read Full Post)