Is Trump right that the the subsidies for health care raise prices?

Asked by JLeslie (65451) October 15th, 2017 from iPhone

First, let me say that I am in favor of socialized medicine, and I have little faith that free market will result in overall lower prices for American healthcare costs.

Several months ago I had to buy health insurance and I got it through an “Obamacare” plan hoping I’m going to make little enough money that I’ll get about a $300 discount per month. I’m pretty sure I’m going to make too much money, and will wind up paying the $300 back to the government. It’s going to be a really close call, I’m really not sure.

Recently, I find out there are other plans I could have looked at that would have probably been cheaper. I didn’t understand all of this when I was looking for insurance. The only insurance available to me in my county is BCBS, and I kind of walked in the office with an idea that I would be qualifying for the government subsidiary, so I’m giving the woman who helped me the benefit of the doubt that we didn’t have a thorough enough conversation.

If it’s true that my insurance could have been lower if I had bought it outside of the “marketplace” then isn’t it true that the government is probably paying unnecessary subsidies?

I’ve questioned this sort of thing previously with college tuition. Because the money is flowing from the government, I believe universities probably have prices higher than really necessary.