North Dakota Could Use That Obamacare Apology: Over 35,000 Lost Insurance, Less Than 5,000 Gained It

“For the State of the Union, one of the things President Obama really ought to do is look in the TV camera and say to the over five million Americans all across this country who have had their health insurance cancelled because of Obamacare — to look in the camera and say, ‘I’m sorry,’” Texas Senator Ted Cruz said on Face The Nation yesterday. “‘I told you if you like your health insurance plan you can keep it. I told you if you like your doctor you can keep your doctor. And that wasn’t true. I’m sorry.’”

Many in North Dakota would no doubt like to hear that apology. According to the most recent numbers, just 2,624 North Dakotans have been able to enroll in an insurance policy through the Obamacare exchange, and just roughly 1,700 have enrolled through the Medicaid expansion.

Meanwhile, over 35,000 North Dakotans – an estimated 80% of the individual health insurance marketplace in the state – lost their insurance thanks to Obamacare.

An apology is, indeed, in order.

And most Americans agree, if this poll is any indication.

Negative perceptions of the health care rollout have eased, a new Associated Press-GfK poll finds. But overall, two-thirds of Americans say things still aren’t going well.

Of those who’ve tried to sign up, or who live with someone who has, 71 percent have encountered problems. But the share reporting success jumped to 40 percent from a meager 24 percent in December. …

In December, 76 percent of adults had said the opening of the new markets was not going well. Such negative perceptions have now fallen 10 points to 66 percent.

Still, rave reviews remain rare.

Only 4 percent said things were going extremely or very well, while another 17 percent said things were going somewhat well.

Compare that to 38 percent who said the rollout had gone not at all well. Another 28 percent said things were not going too well. Add those together and it makes up two-thirds of the public.

Meanwhile, the cost of health insurance in terms of premiums and out-of-pocket expenses is accelerating thanks to Obamacare. The President promised to “bend the cost curve” on health insurance and health care, but it’s been bent the wrong way.