Scapegoating the youth is only the tip of the iceberg. The reason why the insurance industry is playing along is the mandate. They saw the writing on the wall years ago, and now, realizing that the health care inflation they help create will eventually dive insurance prices through the roof, they want to chain us to a product that soon, none of us will want pay for. This trend was just beginning to percolate before ACA, which is why they are conceding to the ridiculous regulatory requirements.
They know that, in the end, the regs will be watered down via lobbying (something they're very good at) and the mandate will stay. They'll have captive customers and profits guaranteed by the state.
This is where Obama and democrats are in bed with medical insurer's. The insurer's get taxpayer guaranteed subsidies for payment. They have no risk as far as getting paid--so why on earth should they lower their premiums?
The ONLY thing that forces prices down is competition. We have witnessed that in the high tech industry. Being able to cross state lines to sell insurance would bring in more competition to the high flyers--therefore driving premiums down. But that was a Republican idea--that democrats fully rejected.
But the insurance companies also are now required to keep overhead/profits at 15% maximum, which means insurance companies have to pay out 85% of their premiums in claims,
or refund to their customers the difference.
That prevents them from raising premiums just for their own benefit. If they jack up preminums beyond their limit, they'll be giving that money back.
That
LOL... guaranteed 15% profits? Jebus... they must love the shit out of Obama.