Join the club, Daniel Werfel. The American people aren’t too keen on health insurance under Obamacare either.
While testifying on Capitol Hill on Thursday, Werfel, acting chief of the Internal Revenue Service, told a committee of representatives he would rather keep his current health insurance plan as opposed to making the switch to one offered by the Affordable Care Act.
“I can speak for myself, I would prefer to stay with the current policy that I’m pleased with rather than go through a change if I don’t need to go through that change,” Werfel told members of the House Ways and Means Committee.
The IRS’ top official was responding to a question posed by Rep. Sam Johnson (R-Texas) in regards to members of the National Treasury Employees Union — which represents IRS employees — requesting exemption from the Affordable Care Act’s healthcare exchanges, which open Oct. 1.
Johnson sought to find out just why Werfel’s own workers wanted to opt out of the healthcare law when their very agency oversees its enforcement and implementation.
“We have right now, as employees of the government of the IRS, affordable healthcare coverage. And I think the ACA was designed to provide an option or an alternative for individuals that do not. And all those being equal, I think if you’re an individual who’s satisfied with your healthcare coverage, you’re probably in a better position to stick with that coverage than go through the change of moving into a different environment and going through that process,” Werfel explained.
Though both federal and state healthcare exchanges have yet to open, states are already predicting premiums to skyrocket under the Affordable Care Act. Additionally, Americans continue to remain confused about just what Obamacare means for them, with the White House and state marketplace officials spending millions to educate the public on the law. And only a mere 35 percent actually think Obamacare will make things better for them, a study from United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connections revealed.
The acting chief testified before the House committee on the status of the Affordable Care Act. Republican committee members closely scrutinized Werfel’s comments as their counterparts in the Senate continue working to pass a continuing resolution defunding the controversial healthcare law.
Former Vice Presidential nominee Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) quizzed Werfel on the potential for Americans to receive subsidies through employer-covered plans while also receiving coverage through another entity — whether it be their spouse or parents for young people under the age of 26.
This, Ryan said, could result in them receiving thousands of dollars in subsidies without actually qualifying and therefore could lead to a substantial tax liability years down the road — something the acting IRS chief didn’t quite get.
“I don’t think you understand the law you’re in charge of executing and enforcing,” Ryan told Werfel. “…But if a person — this is your law — if a person gets a subsidy they’re not eligible for, which clearly will be the case if your major enforcement tool, the employer mandate, is not in place, that law requires you claw back 100 percent of that subsidy they’re not entitled to.”
Check out Werfel admit he’d rather not receive coverage under Obamacare.
And see Ryan stump the acting IRS chief.
