From your article:
The report from Medicare's Office of the Actuary carried a disclaimer saying it does not represent the official position of the Obama administration. White House officials have repeatedly complained that such analyses have been too pessimistic and lowball the law's potential to achieve savings.
The report acknowledged that some of the cost-control measures in the bill -- Medicare cuts, a tax on high-cost insurance and a commission to seek ongoing Medicare savings --
could help reduce the rate of cost increases beyond 2020. But it held out little hope for progress in the first decade.
(snip)
The report found that the president's law missed the mark,
although not by much. The overhaul will increase national health care spending by $311 billion from 2010-2019, or nine-tenths of 1 percent. To put that in perspective, total health care spending during the decade is estimated to surpass $35 trillion.
Administration officials argue the increase is a bargain price for guaranteeing coverage to 95 percent of Americans. They also point out that the law will decrease the federal deficit by $143 billion over the 10-year period, even if overall health care spending rises.
FOXNews.com - Report: Health Overhaul Will Increase Nation's Tab
Two things: Long term versus short term. If we don nothing, long term is bleak.
Second, cost is only part of the concern. The other is coverage and health.