In response to Patrick Murphy’s call to expand Obamacare by adding a public option, the Rubio for Senate campaign released the following statement:

Patrick Murphy promised voters that Obamacare’s state exchanges would bring down costs and create more competition, but Floridians are finding themselves with fewer health care options and skyrocketing premiums they can’t afford. Only someone like Patrick Murphy who has consistently embellished the facts about himself could read the latest devastating headlines about the failure of Obamacare and declare it a success that should be expanded. – Michael Ahrens, Rubio spokesman

Today, Patrick Murphy said he wants to add a public option to Obamacare

And in 2012, Murphy promised that Obamacare would “create more competition and help bring down costs”

VIDEO: In 2012, Murphy said state exchanges would “help to bring down costs” by creating more competition, because “long term, it’s all about costs.” MURPHY: “There is no more lifetime caps and the part that I especially like, are the state exchanges that are created now. There is more openness, more transparency that in each state, whether you are a business or an individual, you can go buy your insurance, and see what exactly the plan offers. This will create more competition and help to bring down costs. Long term, it’s all about costs. It’s all about preventative treatments, getting people treated earlier and that is a big part of ObamaCare. That is a big part of the Affordable Care Act, is making sure people can go to the doctor, get their annual check-ups and identify diseases, whatever it is, diabetes, early on to make sure they prevent it becoming a much bigger problem.” (League of Women Voters’ Candidate Forum 10/4/12)

But the latest headlines have been disastrous for both Obamacare and Florida’s families

Earlier this month, Aetna announced it would stop selling individual Obamacare plans next year in 11 of the 15 states where it had been participating in the marketplace. “Health insurer Aetna Inc. will stop selling individual Obamacare plans next year in 11 of the 15 states where it had been participating in the program, joining other major insurers who’ve pulled out of the government-run markets in the face of mounting losses. … Here’s a full list of the states Aetna is exiting: Arizona; Kentucky; Pennsylvania; Florida; Missouri; South Carolina; Georgia; North Carolina; Texas; Illinois; Ohio.” (Zachary Tracer, “Aetna To Quit Most Obamacare Markets, Joining Major Rivals,” Bloomberg, 8/15/16)

Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, and Humana’s announcements mean “fewer choices” and “higher premiums and/or lower benefits.” “Earlier this month, health care giant Aetna announced that it had lost more than four hundred million dollars on Obamacare policies since the Obamacare exchanges were set up, in 2014, and was going to pull out of most of them, including in Florida. That followed similar announcements made by United Healthcare and Humana. Which means fewer choices for those on the ACA. Lack of competition means higher premiums and/or lower benefits.  A public option would be a federal option open to anyone on the individual market, and Murphy said he’d push for it if elected in November. Hillary Clinton has made similar comments on the campaign trail.” (Mitch Perry, “Patrick Murphy Says He’ll Push For Public Option To Be Added To ACA If Elected To The Senate,” Florida Politics, 8/29/16)

“The decision by Aetna is the latest blow to President Barack Obama’s signature domestic policy law.” “The decision by Aetna is the latest blow to President Barack Obama’s signature domestic policy law. While it has brought coverage to millions, the new markets have proven volatile for some of the largest for-profit insurers, and UnitedHealth Group Inc. and Humana Inc. are also pulling out, after posting hundreds of millions of dollars of their own losses. Aetna said earlier this year that it expects to lose $300 million on the plans.” (Zachary Tracer, “Aetna To Quit Most Obamacare Markets, Joining Major Rivals,” Bloomberg, 8/15/16)

It “raises the prospect that some consumers will only have one insurer to choose from when they buy 2017 coverage.” “Next year will be the law’s fourth of providing coverage under the new markets. Aetna’s decision doesn’t affect people covered by the company this year, but when they look for 2017 coverage, they’ll need to pick a new insurer. The decision raises the prospect that some consumers will only have one insurer to choose from when they buy 2017 coverage.” (Zachary Tracer, “Aetna To Quit Most Obamacare Markets, Joining Major Rivals,” Bloomberg, 8/15/16)