The new laws had nothing to do with the price increases; rapidly increasing premiums coupled with reduced benefits are a trend that stretches back to the mid-90

The new laws had nothing to do with the price increases; rapidly increasing premiums coupled with reduced benefits are a trend that stretches back to the mid-90s. Obamacare actually caused a temporary slowdown in premium hikes, though they have since picked back up to the previous pace. I don't have the data in front of me right now, but I've looked it up in the past enough times. And yes, Obamacare did increase costs for young, healthy people. But one day, those young, healthy people are not going to be so young or healthy; and the system will need new young, healthy people to help subsidize the cost of health care for the old and sick. Or to put it another way: if we as a society don't want to deny life-saving health care based on a person's ability to pay, we have to make everyone pay all the time. And honestly, it's cheaper overall if people have less hesitation to go to the doctor and get their medical issues treated before they become serious and life-threatening, so we should pay to treat the non life-threatening conditions as well because it's a better use of money.