The story of a Las Vegas man who owes $407,000 in hospital bills is being seen by critics as another strike against the Affordable Care Act.
Larry Basich suffered a heart attack on Dec. 31, 2013, then racked up huge related health expenses in January and February, months after signing up for health coverage with his home state’s Nevada Health Link insurance exchange program, the
Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.
Basich has been paying premiums since November, yet wasn’t covered by any provider until March. He told the Review-Journal that he thinks Xerox, his insurance broker, is more concerned with finding itself not at fault than with covering Basich’s expenses.
Newsmax Washington correspondent John Gizzi said Republicans will surely use Basich’s story against Democrats in upcoming elections.
"We should never take comfort in the tragedy of other individuals, particularly when their life is not, but I will say this: The Democrats who voted for this are going to find themselves increasingly playing defense as we get into the fall campaign," Gizzi told "The Steve Malzberg Show" on Newsmax TV.
"I spoke this morning at a press breakfast to Republican National Chairman Reince Priebus," Gizzi said. "He's more confident than ever about Republicans winning for the Senate and gaining seats in the House. Why? Because of Obamacare and how it's poisoned the atmosphere."
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Democrats pinned their hopes nationally on the ACA, and that may come back to bite them, Gizzi said.
"If, indeed, the political calculus works out, it can be said about Obamacare that, for those who supported it, it will be the longest suicide note in history," Gizzi said.
States are lowering their projected counts for the coming March 31 deadline for enrollment, Gizzi said, and Basich’s story may indicate larger flaws in Obamacare.
Gizzi also weighed in on the continuing search for Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 and the non-stop media coverage of the situation.
"We really know no more in terms of solid evidence of what happened to MH 370 than we did when you first brought this subject up. I've heard all kinds of speculation," Gizzi said.
"You have 270 families and relatives, employers, and people who will never give up in an effort to find this plane or somehow get a clue from someone. Let me put it in another way: a 777 is a pretty hard thing to hide."
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