New D.C. insurance mandate breaks Obama’s promise, coalition says

Washington D.C. small businesses are now required to buy health insurance plans through the government, despite complaints that it violates President Barack Obama’s promise that Americans can “keep our health care insurance if we like it” under the Affordable Care Act.ALL AMERICANS WILL EVENTUALLY BE FORCED TO DO THE SAME

Last Wednesday, The D.C. Health Benefit Exchange Authority (HBX) unanimously voted to require all businesses in the district with 50 members or less to purchase employee health insurance plans through the exchange, despite backlash from local businesses.

Before the HBX ruling, a coalition of more than 150 small businesses and associations signed a letter arguing that the new exchange mandate undermined “President Obama’s repeated assurances that, ‘If you like your health plan . . . you will be able to keep your health care plan. Period.’ ”