Future Of Bipartisan ACA Fix Wobbly Despite Key Role It Played In Securing Tax Bill Votes
Some centrist Republicans only threw support behind the tax bill after they were assured that legislation shoring up the health law marketplace would pass. But the future of the bills don't look certain. Meanwhile, House Speaker Paul Ryan's office said that he made no such promise to help get the fixes through before the end of the year.
The Wall Street Journal:
Support Wavers For Senate Bill To Shore Up Health-Insurance Markets
Republicans appear to be on the brink of striking down the Affordable Care Act’s health-insurance requirement, an ardently sought goal of the law’s opponents. But the fate of a bipartisan bill that centrist Republicans hoped would offset some of the fallout remains uncertain. Some key GOP centrists supported a Senate tax overhaul that repeals the requirement that most people have health insurance, a move experts say will likely drive up premiums, on the condition that it be swiftly accompanied by a bipartisan measure that aims to lower premiums. (Armour and Peterson, 12/5)
The Hill:
Ryan's Office Warning He Wasn't Part Of Deal On ObamaCare: Source
Speaker Paul Ryan's (R-Wis.) office told a meeting of congressional leadership offices on Monday that the Speaker is not part of a deal to get ObamaCare fixes passed before the end of the year, according to a source familiar with the meeting. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) made a commitment to Sen Susan Collins (R-Maine) that he would support passage of two bipartisan ObamaCare bills before the end of the year, a promise that helped win her vote for tax reform. (Sullivan, 12/5)
In other news —
Kaiser Health News:
Facebook Live: A Status Check On Obamacare Enrollment
As of today, Dec. 5, only 10 more shopping days remain for consumers who buy their own Affordable Care Act health insurance on the federal exchange and in most state marketplaces. So how is it going? What are the numbers so far? What are the market trends? And how has the enrollment experience been for consumers? This live chat features KHN senior correspondent Julie Appleby answering these and other questions. (12/5)
CQ:
States Upbeat on Health Exchange Enrollment Outlook
Enrollment in the state health insurance exchanges is looking healthier than on the federal platform as local officials deploy targeted advertisements and allow for later deadlines. Many states embraced the flexibility that comes with running their own exchange by maintaining a longer enrollment period than the six-week window established this year by the Trump administration. State exchanges have significantly more control over enrollment than states that rely on HealthCare.gov, including the ability to set deadlines. Open enrollment on the federal HealthCare.gov website ends Dec. 15, but states have deadlines as late as Jan. 31. (Clason, 12/6)
