The Washington Post Gives Obama Site Three Pinocchios for Medicaid Enrollment Claim

acaAccording to an Organizing for America tweet six million Americans now have health insurance because of ObamaCare. This includes 3.9 million who have enrolled in Medicaid. But where does the 3.9 million figure come from? That number (through October and November) turns out to include:

  • Medicaid and CHIP eligibility determinations made directly through state Medicaid and CHIP offices in every state.
  • Medicaid and CHIP eligibility determinations made directly through state-based marketplaces (where the state is running their own marketplace).
  • New eligibility determinations as well as renewals — i.e., people previously enrolled in Medicaid who are deemed eligible for another year.

What about Medicaid or CHIP eligibility determinations made through healthcare.gov? Through November, that figure was about 750,000.

More at The Washington Post.

Comments (17)

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  1. Andrew says:

    “But what these figures do not tell you is how many additional people have joined Medicaid because of the Affordable Care Act. No one really knows”

    Well if no one really knows, might as well pick the most impressive number to give the illusion ObamaCare is effective.

  2. Matthew says:

    “Any of the Medicaid or CHIP eligibility determinations made through healthcare.gov. (Through November, that figure was nearly 270,000.)”

    It’s all smoke in mirrors.

  3. Thomas says:

    Numbers can always be manipulated, especially in favor of failed systems that are trying to prove they are successful.

  4. Walter Q. says:

    “New eligibility determinations as well as renewals — i.e., people previously enrolled in Medicaid who are deemed eligible for another year”

    I’m not sure ObamaCare can take credit for those previously enrolled in Medicaid.

  5. Trent says:

    “According to an Organizing for America tweet six million Americans now have health insurance because of ObamaCare. This includes 3.9 million who have enrolled in Medicaid.”

    Congratulations. Now how many Americans are without coverage who previously held it?

  6. Trent says:

    “Bottom line: This number tells you almost nothing about how the Affordable Care Act is affecting Medicaid enrollment. Reporters need to stop using it.”

    Goodluck getting them to stop