Heidi Alexander: “when the 18 million Americans in the individual insurance market--those are Americans, shopkeepers, songwriters…”

“when the 18 million Americans in the individual insurance market--those are Americans, shopkeepers, songwriters, farmers, men and women who don't get their health insurance from the government or on the job--begin enrolling on Wednesday, they will discover something very strange. The Wall Street Journal, in a weekend story, explained exactly how strange this phenomenon will be. Some of these 18 million Americans will be able to get their insurance for free. They will pay absolutely nothing for their premium, but others will see their premiums skyrocket far beyond the increases they have seen in recent years. Here is what the Wall Street Journal says: In nearly all of the 2,722 counties included in the data, some consumers will be able to obtain free health insurance because they qualify for larger federal premium subsidies that cover the full cost of the plan, according to the new analysis. The Wall Street Journal continues: In the coming weeks, insurers are gearing up to promote the no-premium option. . . . On the flip side, those who don't get premium subsidies under the 2010 law may be responsible for the full brunt of steep rate increases, though they may be able to mitigate the impact by staying away from silver plans. Insurers are gearing up to shepherd Americans into plans that will cost zero because taxpayers will be paying much higher subsidies.…”