Democrats constantly push their narrative that more people are covered by health insurance now than before ObamaCare was implemented. There are, of course, a plethora of problems with this argument. ObamaCare is unequivocally bad for the healthcare system and for patients. Once again, we are reminded just how bad.

UnitedHealth, is now forecasting that it will lose $500 million this year on its so-called Affordable Care Act plans. That’s up from $475 million loss in 2015. The nation’s largest insurer is also dropping products and hiking premiums in an effort to discourage individuals from buying its health plans. “But despite its best efforts,” Politico said, “executives still project that 200,000 additional customers will sign up for UnitedHeath plans during the current open enrollment.”

This is worth reiterating – UnitedHealth is making its health insurance coverage worse AND more expensive, yet consumers are still buying. Why? Because they have to. If they don’t, the full weight of the Democrat-politicized IRS will weigh down on them.

Don’t feel bad for UnitedHealth, they can pull out of the exchange at any time – and are even considering doing so in 2017 if losses continue to mount. The individual American, though, will be forced to participate in exchanges that will continue to grow even more expensive.

That will lead more individuals into financial hardships, and ultimately into a growing government crutch.

Earlier this month, a study by The New York Times and the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 20 percent of people under 65 with health insurance still struggled with paying their medical bills – the result of high premiums and gaps in coverage:

In recent years, health plans have come with growing deductibles and narrowing networks of providers, provisions devised to lower the cost of premiums. Those features have made health insurance accessible to a larger share of the population, but may also be leaving more insured Americans vulnerable.

This translates to real challenges for the average American, according to the survey:

We found that medical bills don’t just keep people from filling prescriptions and scheduling doctors’ visits. They can also prompt deep financial and personal sacrifices, affecting their housing, employment, credit and daily lives.

And that scathing critique is from The New York Times.