House Speaker Paul Ryan said Monday that the huge premium increases announced for Obamacare show that the controversial health law is blowing up like a Samsung phone that was recently recalled because of its tendency to catch fire.
Ryan made the remark after Obama said last week that when a private sector product fails, the company keeps at it until all the problems are fixed. “Unless it catches fire, and they just, then they pull it off the market,” Obama said.
Obama didn’t compare Obamacare to one of the failed phones, but Republicans have argued nonetheless that it was a telling comment in light of all the problems Obamacare is facing.
“The president recently compared Obamacare to a Samsung Galaxy Note 7, and he’s right: this disastrous law is blowing up,” Ryan said Monday evening. “But at least you can return the phone. Families are stuck paying these higher premiums, and Democrats only want to double down on Obamacare.”
The GOP leader’s response comes hours after the White House confirmed Obamacare shoppers in most states will see premiums rise by 22 percent and have 36 percent fewer plans to choose from next year.
The announcement comes a week before the next Obamacare enrollment period, and 15 days before the presidential election, where Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, who supports Obamacare, leads in the polls over Donald Trump, who has promised to rescind the Affordable Care Act.
Ryan touted the Republican Party’s “A Better Way” plan, which would include replacing the plan with “real, patient-centered solutions that fit your needs and your budget. We don’t have to accept this kind of sticker shock.”
