Obamacare name change won't change attitudes

The Hill:
The Obama administration is re-branding the central component of its signature healthcare law.

The Health and Human Services Department suddenly stopped referring to insurance “exchanges” this week, even as it heralded ongoing efforts to prod states into setting up their own. Instead, press materials and a website for the public referred to insurance “marketplaces” in each state.

The change comes amid a determined push by conservative activists to block state-based exchanges in hopes of crippling the federal implementation effort.

Dean Clancy, the director of healthcare policy at FreedomWorks, said HHS’s decision to ditch the “exchanges” label shows that opponents of the healthcare law are succeeding.

“I think the patient-centered care movement can chalk up a minor victory here,” he said. “If they’re trying to re-label, it means they’re flailing.”
... 
The change to "marketplace" is of limited benefit.  It is certainly not a free market but one of limited choices at regulated prices.  Opponents of rationed healthcare will continue to attack the program no matter what you call it.  Right now it looks like the program is so botched that it was a deliberate attempt by the Democrats to destroy health insurance so they can replace with a welfare program
 

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