How ObamaCare Strokes the Fat Cats | Michael D. Tanner | Cato Institute: Commentary

How ObamaCare Strokes the Fat Cats | Michael D. Tanner | Cato Institute: Commentary: "An 18-month congressional probe found that the AARP stands to make $55 million to $166 million in one year alone from seniors switching from Medicare Advantage to AARP Medigap plans. Over the next 10 years, it would earn more than $1 billion from new customers. Business is good if you can get the government to put your competitors out of business."

"The program doesn't even require companies or unions to demonstrate any 'financial need' for the subsidy. As a result, it enables companies to incentivize early retirement for older employees, saving the companies money and improving their balance sheets — with taxpayers footing the bill."

"The major pharmaceutical firms got a requirement that all insurers must cover their products. That's one reason why Big Pharma spent more than $150 million on ads in favor of the bill."

"Even large insurers played the game: They got a mandate requiring everyone to buy their product. Sure, they'll have to adjust to some costly new regulations, and those added benefits will be expensive, but they can simply pass the costs on to consumers via higher premiums. After all, what can consumers do? If they decide not to buy insurance, the government will punish them."