Washington Post Says Kansas Congressman Wrong About ACA Numbers

A Washington Post blog called "The Fact Checker" gave "four Pinocchios" to recent claims by Kansas U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp about the Affordable Care Act.

The rating characterizes Huelskamp's claims as untrue.

The rating is based on statements Huelskamp made during recent town hall meetings in Hays and Salina, when he was asked about the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare.

“But the numbers we see today, is that, as I understand them, we believe there are more people uninsured today in Kansas than they were before the President’s health care plan went into effect. And I thought the goal was to bring more people under insurance," said Huelskamp.

Glenn Kessler, who writes “The Fact Checker," says he asked Huelskamp’s office what “numbers” the congressman was referring to, but got no response until 12 hours after his column was published.

Huelskamp’s office says Census data shows the number of uninsured in Kansas rose 8,000 from 2010 to 2012.

Kessler points out that the percentage of uninsured Kansans was unchanged, and that these figures were before the exchanges even opened. He says the available figures on young adults and exchange enrollments provide good evidence that the law has led to a decrease in the number of uninsured.