When Obamacare became law in 2010, 50 million Americans, for one reason or another, had no health insurance. One of the main goals of the Affordable Care Act was universal health insurance. To date, only about 40 percent of those previously uninsured now have health insurance through Obamacare. Half or those people enrolled nationally and 80 percent in Washington state were forced into the low-quality Medicaid entitlement.

Although the Medicaid entitlement continues with ever-increasing taxpayer costs, the Obamacare exchanges are in a financial death spiral. Predictably, young and healthy people are choosing to not buy the ACA insurance loaded with benefit mandates they don’t want and can’t use. This leaves older, sicker, and more costly individuals in the exchanges, which pushes premiums higher to cover their costs. As premiums go higher, purchasing health insurance in the exchanges becomes even less attractive to young, healthy people.

One very reasonable alternative for these individuals is a plan called short-term, limited-duration insurance. These plans were originally designed to be used by people transitioning from one plan to another, for example while changing jobs. The Obama Administration limited their duration to 90 days. The Trump Administration is extending their use to 364 days.

The plans are much cheaper than ACA-approved insurance because they don’t have all of the benefit mandates and other Obamacare regulations included.

Washington State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler doesn’t like them and wants to restrict their use in our state. (here) He firmly believes that young and healthy people should pay ever-increasing premiums and be forced to purchase insurance they don’t want. According to Kreidler, these individuals should have no other alternative than Obamacare health insurance.

A better alternative would be to allow people to purchase health insurance that fits their actual needs. A renewable, catastrophic plan could be reasonably priced, would protect young, healthy people from the costs of major illness, and would be financially attractive.

There is no question that the ACA has helped some people. However, the law has not fulfilled the promises made to the American public. Obamacare has not provided universal health insurance, it has not held down health care costs, and it has not simplified our health care delivery system.

Elected officials should now welcome alternatives to Obamacare.