Krugman: Those counting on Obamacare collapse are "making a very bad bet"

The New York Times columnist weighs in on the healthcare reform's troubled start

Published November 20, 2013 9:04PM (EST)

Paul Krugman                                                                                                                                                                   (AP/Lai Seng Sin)
Paul Krugman (AP/Lai Seng Sin)

Writing at his New York Times blog, Paul Krugman warned that those banking on Obamacare to collapse are "probably making a very bad bet."

As proof, Krugman points to the record of state-level healthcare exchanges, which by and large have been performing much better than their federal counterpart. He also cites the rising levels of Medicaid enrollment — which is occurring in both states that have and haven't accepted the Obamacare expansion — and the slow improvement of Healthcare.gov as reasons for optimism. All in all, Krugman says, the law is "probably going to stumble through to the finish line."

More from Krugman at the New York Times:

If all this is right, by the time open enrollment ends in March, millions of previously uninsured Americans will in fact have received coverage under the law, and reform will be irreversible. Obama personally may never recover his reputation; Democratic hopes of a wave election in 2014 are probably gone, although you never know. But anyone counting on Obamacare to collapse is probably making a very bad bet.


By Elias Isquith

Elias Isquith is a former Salon staff writer.

MORE FROM Elias Isquith


Related Topics ------------------------------------------

Affordable Care Act Healthcare.gov Medicaid Obamacare Paul Krugman The New York Times