Anthem pulls the plug: No, Obamacare really is not doing well

Republicans insist that Obamacare is collapsing. That probably overstates the case. but it’s at least more tethered to reality than Democrats’ claims that the law is working well, going strong, and can only fall apart because Republicans are undermining it. The latest proof: Anthem’s apparent decision to withdraw from most or all of the Obamacare markets where it currently participates.

In 2017, for the first time, residents of one-third of U.S. counties can choose only one insurance provider. This decision, driven by the company’s lack of profitability on the Obamacare exchanges, means that next year there could be zero choices in some places.