A few months ago, Obamacare critics were pointing to alarming predictions that some insurance rates would spike when the law took effect — by as much as 41 percent in Wisconsin, 85 percent in Ohio and so on. In Virginia, though, the potential increases are not all that bad.

Some are actually much worse.

Virginia’s State Corporation Commission soon will assume control over insurance policies offered through the new state-level exchange. That’s where those who don’t get in-surance through their employers will shop for policies they will be forced by law to ob-tain.

Recently the SCC asked Virginia’s major underwriters to provide information on what they charge now and what they will charge starting Jan. 1, when Obamacare regulations take effect. Specifically, the SCC asked for rate estimates in the individual market and the small-group market.

In the individual market, the SCC asked for the rate for the most popular insurance plan for a 29-year-old male; a 45-year-old couple with two children; and a 60-year-old couple. For the small-group market, the SCC sought quotes for a business with eight 29-year-old male employees; a business with four male and four female employees, all 45; and eight 60-year-old female employees.

Ready for the results? Brace yourself.

Aetna says its most popular policy for a 29-year-old man currently costs $118 per month in Richmond. Once Obamacare kicks in, the rate will jump to $225 — an increase of more than 90 percent.

Obamacare supporters say this is only natural, because one of the ideas behind expanding coverage is to get young, healthy people to help pay the health-care costs of sicker, older people. (Not exactly a point they stressed during debate over the bill, but never mind.) That’s why the law forbids charging the latter more than three times the rate charged to the former. Jacking up rates for “young invincibles” is supposed to help hold down rates for old vulnerables.

But it doesn’t appear to be working. Aetna says its rate for the family with two kids is liable to jump 36 percent, and the rate for the older couple is liable to jump 44 percent.

The CareFirst BlueChoice outlook is similar: Premium increases of 108 percent, 40 per-cent and 36 percent, respectively. For Group Hospitalization and Medical Services (an independent licensee of Blue Cross and Blue Shield), the percentage hikes are: 113, 89 and 69.

Where’s the “affordable” part in the Affordable Care Act?

For small employers, things could be equally grim. Take Optima, which operates in the Hampton Roads area. Optima says the premium for a policy covering eight young male employees — a landscaping business, say — could jump 132 percent. A similar policy for Anthem HealthKeepers would double in price.

Not all the premium increases are this bad, and the increases for companies with female employees are smaller. Obamacare’s defenders may seize on that as proof that the presi-dent’s signature policy is working. There’s just one problem: It isn’t working according to the president’s own standards. “If you already have health insurance,” candidate Obama promised, “the only thing that will change for you under this plan is the amount of money you will spend on premiums. That will be less.” The law’s advocates echoed the talking point; MIT’s Jonathan Gruber, for instance, said, “What we know for sure the bill will do is that it will lower the cost of buying non-group health insurance.”

To be fair, many people will be eligible to receive subsidies offsetting part of the bill, and some of them — though by no means all — might see lower costs year over year. But this does not reduce the actual cost, it only shifts some of it. And cost-shifting — such as a hospital charging 10 bucks for aspirin to subsidize emergency-room care for the uninsured — was supposed to be something Obamacare would reduce, wasn’t it?

The ACA’s cheerleaders also might argue that what happens in the state exchanges is a sideshow, since most people get their insurance through their employers anyway. This is not an argument made gracefully by those who, during debate over the bill, lamented the 45 million Americans without health insurance. They were supposed to be the chief rea-son for the law’s passage. Some sideshow.

What’s more, the non-group market will grow more relevant, not less so, as time wears on. Thanks again to Obamacare, companies are either dropping health-insurance coverage al-together, shifting employees to part-time status to avoid providing coverage, or (if they’re small) finding ways to avoid crossing the 50-employee threshold for mandatory coverage. Partly because of such developments, the leaders from three of America’s biggest unions, including the Teamsters’ James Hoffa, wrote to the administration complaining that “you pledged that if we liked the health plans we have now, we could keep them. Sadly, that promise is under threat.” Their support for the president, they said, “has come back to haunt us.”

The administration has delayed the employer mandate for a year. But when it kicks in, it will dump many more people into the exchange market. There — if the news from the SCC is any guide — they will get a rude awakening.

A. Barton Hinkle is deputy editor of the editorial pages at the Richmond Times-Dispatch. bhinkle@timesdispatch.com

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A new local group is exploring ways to get people outside, starting with a vacant lot at the corner of Quaker Alley and Sixth Street in downtown Stroudsburg.

The group hopes the space will eventually include amenities like an outdoor performance area, park, community garden and space for a farmers’ market.

“Our value in the Poconos is the outdoors, and in a way that’s been lost,” said Zech Strauser, addressing the crowd gathered at his landscaping business, Strauser Nature’s Helpers in Smithfield Township, where the project was announced Wednesday.

Strauser recently began working with Jim and Beth Paluch, founders of the “Come Alive Outside,” campaign based in Cleveland.

The campaign was started in 2010 as a response to the growing sedentary, indoor lifestyle many people now lead, Beth Paluch explained. The campaign works with local landscapers to help them develop outdoor community projects in their local towns.

About three weeks ago, Strauser approached Monroe County commissioners about starting a Pocono chapter of Come Alive Outside.

Strauser also told commissioners that since last spring he has been searching for a place in downtown Stroudsburg to start a community garden.

John Moyer, chairman of the Monroe County commissioners, suggested the empty lot at the corner of Quaker Alley and Sixth Street, across from Quench on 6th Caf and Juice Bar. The lot, which is owned by the county, has been empty for at least a decade, Moyer said.

Prior to that, a warehouse-type building was there, but it burned down.

The commissioners had looked into expanding the county’s administrative buildings there, but in the end decided the cost of acquiring an existing building would be substantially less, Moyer said.

In addition, the lot is not very big, only “a couple hundred feet by about 150 feet,” and it would be difficult to construct there due to an underground tunnel that runs from Main Street TV Appliances to the municipal parking garage, Moyer said.

Although he has never seen the agreement, Moyer believes the owner of Main Street TV Appliances has a permanent easement to use the tunnel.

“My thought is if the lot is turned into a park, (the store owner) can continue to have access to the tunnel,” Moyer said.

Right now, the project is in the very early stages and still requires the approval of the county commissioners. The park would also likely require the approval of Stroudsburg Borough officials, Moyer said.

Strauser is hoping to start conversations with local business owners and community leaders about how to best develop the space.

In the meantime, a website for a Poconos Come Alive Outside chapter has been started where people can share their ideas about the proposed park and other potential outdoor projects. Because it is in the very early planning stages, organizers are still trying to determine the park’s cost and how they will raise money.

For more information, visit comealiveoutsidepocono.com.

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TOTOWA – The Totowa Public Library held an art reception last week honoring students who took acrylic painting classes at the Lena DiGangi Art Gallery. The library’s Dwight D. Eisenhower room was fully transformed into an art gallery showcasing artworks of kids between the ages of 7 and 17.

DiGangi, who has taught art at her gallery for over 20 years, was on hand during the reception, along with Anne Krautheim, library director.

“The students whose works are hanging here this evening took art classes with me for the past two years,” said DiGangi. “They did acrylic painting color theory and then we went into landscaping together. Some of my older students have been with me for many years and have never left because they enjoy it so much.”

About 50 students, including their families, attended the reception, along with several library patrons passing through to admire the walls displayed with landscape sceneries and several portraits, including one of legendary reggae singer Bob Marley.

“I think it’s a great turnout here tonight,” added DiGangi. “One of my students just sold one of her paintings to a library patron just before. Many of my students have come back over the years and have showed me that they’ve become very successful. This isn’t only just fun for them but it also prepares them for potential careers in the field. Eighty five percent of my students go to art colleges and have become artists themselves, or find work in various related areas. Three of my former students have already published illustrated children’s book. I’ve also hired some as part time teachers at my gallery.”

Krautheim said she approached DiGangi to hold the art exhibit at the library. The student art works were on display from July 1 through July 23. DiGangi said it was an honor to hold the exhibit at the library and looks forwards to next summer, where she hopes to spotlight pencil portraits at her gallery and again at the library.

“Those classes will be held this fall and we are registering for them now. The gallery is really becoming more of a cultural center and we’re offering piano lessons, voice lessons, a youth fitness class, an Indian traditional dance class, classical dance class and Italian language class. Many of these programs are for kids and adults and all of them are taught by high level instructors. Several have graduated from the Julliard School and are active teachers.”

DiGangi said during the reception that art classes give kids and teens a relaxing place where children and adults can interact with one another.

“In this day and age, where kids as well as many adults, are constantly on the computer or gaming systems or texting, it’s important that they share ideas with each other and really learn to socialize, which is what we’re lacking in today’s world. It’s also a known fact that taking art classes improves school grades and builds self esteem at an early age.”

Krautheim commented afterwards.