This week, the Seattle Times endorsed Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler — a Democrat — for re-election. Acknowledging that he has had shortcomings as commissioner, the Times argues that Kreidler is the “clear choice”.
Surprisingly, the Times counts as one of Kriedler’s selling points the implementation of Obamacare in our state, though the paper suggests that that he should continue improving and not “rest on his successes with the Affordable Care Act here in Washington.”
Conveniently enough, the Times makes no mention that Kreidler faced allegations of undue influence over an independent judge charged with reviewing third-party complaints over insurance plans offered by the Washington Health Benefit Exchange. Kreidler made those allegations go away with a $450,000 settlement — at taxpayers’ expense.
It is troubling that the Times uses the word “successes” in the same sentence as the (Un)Affordable Care Act. Just last month, UnitedHealth Group announced it would withdraw from the state’s Obamacare exchange, leaving a large hole in what is offered those people in our state’s system.
As Shift reported, the insurance company’s withdrawal is total. It is also leaving the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) in Washington State. That means our state will be left without a statewide insurance company.
Making matters worse, a week before the November elections, the Obamacare exchange will open and Americans — including Washingtonians — are expected to see double-digit insurance rate hikes.
To be sure, Obamacare wasn’t the bright idea of Mike Kreidler — but it was the bright idea of his party, and one he strongly supported. The truth is that our state’s healthcare system requires a lot of reforms – and Kreidler is not the man to deliver those changes (as he has proved).
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