Recent comments by a leading insurance executive that Obamacare is in a “death spiral” is the theme of a new digital ad being run by the National Republican Congressional Committee.
The 55-second Internet ad features a clip last week of Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini saying the Affordable Care Act’s insurance marketplaces are in a death spiral, adding to a growing body of evidence that they won’t be sustainable.
The NRCC is running the ads with the aim of building more popular support for repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, whose state-based marketplaces have been plagued by increasingly bad news over the past few weeks. Congressional leaders have said they’ll hold markups on a repeal and replace bill when they return to Washington next week.
Molina, a smaller insurer that had expected to make money in the marketplace last year, recently announced massive losses and is considering withdrawing entirely next year. Major insurer Humana has said it will exit all of the marketplaces because it’s unable to stem heavier-than-anticipated losses.
“Obamacare is spinning in a death spiral,” the ad says. “Tell Democrats it’s time to dismantle Obamacare and find something that works for the American people.”
