Great News: Health Care Costs to Rise Thanks to Obama

Don't say you weren't warned.

Health-care costs are forecast to rise after enactment of President Obama's new health law -- and the average American will have to shell out an additional $265 each year for care, a new government report concludes.

Factoring in the law, Americans will spend an average of $13,652 per person a year on health care in 2019, according to the US Office of the Actuary. Without the law, the corresponding number would be $13,387.

By 2019, health-care spending will be a fifth of the nation's gross domestic product, according to the estimate by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Of course most "government reports" are usually way off base, so this number is likely quite modest compared to what we'll see. Naturally the wizards in the Obama administration laughably claim you'll actually "save" money.

Coming from a neutral government source, the report could fuel heated claims about the costs and benefits of the new law in congressional campaigns.

The White House countered the report, arguing the average person would see health costs drop by $1,400 by 2019.

So the difference in estimates is a mere $1665. Expect Obama's flunkies to be calling for abolishing the US Office of the Actuary by the end of the day.