What happened to all of the choice and competition Democrats from Obama down promised with the ACA? In 2009, Obama insisted on passing the law because five choices were too few to guarantee access. “Unfortunately, in 34 States, 75 percent of the insurance market is controlled by five or fewer companies,” the president lectured Congress in joint session. “In Alabama, almost 90 percent is controlled by just one company. And without competition, the price of insurance goes up, and quality goes down.”

What does that say about the quality of care now under the ACA? Seven years ago, five insurers controlled “75 percent of the insurance market” in 34 states, which meant that more than five choices existed. Kaiser’s data shows that in 2017, only 15 percent of all enrollees will have more than five choices (from 33 percent in 2016), a dramatic drop thanks to the policy Obama pushed while promising the exact opposite outcome.

And one other note: In 2017, one hundred percent of Alabama will have only one insurer in the Obamacare exchange.