Potentially 129 Million Uninsured Americans? Not Quite.

According to the Obama Administration, repeal of ObamaCare will potentially cause anywhere from 50 million to 129 million non-elderly Americans to be denied affordable health insurance. Shocking figures are constantly used to defend ObamaCare, but this is particularly true when it concerns the issue of insuring those with pre-existing conditions.

In reality, this proposed range is hugely misleading. A Ways and Means Committee press release unpacks what these numbers mean, providing a much-needed and factual perspective to the Democrats' grandiose claims about their health care law and the dire consequences of repeal. The next time egregious numbers of uninsured Americans with pre-existing conditions are referenced, consider these facts:

o    There are 17 million - not 50 million and certainly not 129 million - non-elderly Americans without insurance.

o    Most Americans with pre-existing conditions receive coverage from their employer and are thus protected from being denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition. This protection is guaranteed by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA); it does not require the new health care law.

o    On top of employer coverage, 24% of the non-elderly are covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and other forms of government health care that cannot be withheld due to a pre-existing condition.

o    While it is true that 17% of the non-elderly population is uninsured, it is also true that 42% are guaranteed coverage through some outlet (their employer, government health care services, etc.) and regardless of medical history, but choose not to enroll.

o    In the end, less than 14% (not the 50% claimed by the Administration) of non-elderly Americans legitimately have no coverage. And only a minority of these uninsured have a pre-existing condition keeping them from insurance.