Obamacare Frustrations Could Fuel ‘Riots’

Facing exorbitant insurance rate hikes and a dwindling choice of doctor — in some cases, no choice of doctor at all — few Americans appear happy about their health care options right now.

That scenario may soon get worse, an economist told 1210 WPHT, the CBS radio station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

“If Hillary Clinton is elected, taxes and regulations on small businesses and the middle class will lead to systemic collapse sooner,” said one physician.

In a discussion about the rising cost of health insurance plans next year under the Affordable Care Act, Chris Butler, an economist, told talk show host Chris Stigall on Friday that “he expects the populace to express more outrage as they learn they will be priced out of health care options,” CBS Philly reported. That anger, Butler added, may turn into public demonstrations.

“Right now, I think you do have to say that, a) it’s failing and that, b) — I think, next year, you’re going to have a bunch of people that don’t get the subsidies that make the premiums a little bit more affordable — [and they] are just going to riot because it’s just too expensive for most people if [they] don’t qualify for subsidies.”

Rioting sounds a bit fantastic, said Dr. Ramin Oskoui, a cardiologist in the Washington, D.C., area and CEO of Foxhall Cardiology PC. He’s also a regular contributor to LifeZette. “The current system is simply too costly and thus unsustainable,” he said. “Once it collapses, I expect a cost-effective, market-based solution to develop. A lot of people will suffer in the meantime.”

Related: 5 Things to Do as Obamacare Collapses

But, he added, “If Hillary Clinton is elected, taxes and regulations on small businesses and the middle class will lead to systemic collapse sooner.”

Butler, who has over 20 years in the investment management business, went on to say he still objects to court rulings that side with the government — and that require individuals to purchase insurance or pay a penalty.

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“You can go back to the Supreme Court decision on this,” he said. “I’m still shocked we are being told that our Constitution says it is allowable to force people to buy something. When I hear people talk about ‘forcing them’ not only to buy something, but to make the penalty stiffer if they don’t, I just get queasy,” as CBS Philly reported.

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