Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
An Unintended Side Effect Of Trump's Move To Cut Off Insurer Subsidies: Free Health Coverage
The Wall Street Journal: More ACA Plans To Come With No Premiums In 2018
Insurers selling Affordable Care Act plans have a compelling new pitch: free health insurance. When sales of plans on the law’s exchanges begin Nov. 1, a growing number of consumers around the country will be able to get coverage for 2018 without paying any monthly premium, according to health insurers and an analysis of newly available federal data. (Wilde Mathews and Weaver, 10/27)
The Hill: Trump's ObamaCare Move May Bolster Law
President Trump’s decision to cancel key ObamaCare payments could be backfiring. Trump has claimed the health law is “imploding,” and earlier this month he took an action seemingly aimed at that goal: cutting off key payments to insurers known as cost-sharing reductions. (Sullivan, 10/27)
The Washington Post: What It’s Like To Look For Health Insurance Now That Trump Has Tried To Undermine Obamacare
Cindy Purvance of Park City, Utah, was incensed when she received a letter in the mail alerting her that her family’s health insurance premium would skyrocket to $1,300 a month next year — a $500 increase. Purvance vented on social media, called her insurance company and eventually consulted with an expert who helps people sign up for health plans. She learned something counterintuitive: She would probably see a smaller increase if she bought the same kind of plan she currently has — but off the Affordable Care Act exchange. (Johnson, 10/26)
NPR: Some States Face Hard Choices After Federal Health Navigator Funds Are Slashed
Despite all of the efforts in Congress to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act this year, it remains the law of the land. People can start signing up for health insurance for 2018 starting Nov. 1. But the landscape for the law has changed a lot. Take navigators, for instance. Those are specially trained people who help consumers sign up for coverage. In August, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services cut funding for navigators by 41 percent. (Olgin, 10/26)
Reuters: Americans Want To See A Bipartisan Fix For Obamacare: Reuters/Ipsos Poll
As Republican and Democratic lawmakers clash over the future of Obamacare, Americans largely are eager for a bipartisan solution to its shortcomings, according to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released on Thursday. The Oct. 14-23 poll found that 62 percent of Americans want former President Barack Obama's healthcare law to be maintained, up from 54 percent in a January poll. About half – including 51 percent of Democrats and 56 percent of Republicans – want "a bipartisan group" rather than just members of their own parties to improve the healthcare system. (Mincer and Kahn, 10/26)
Kaiser Health News: What The Health? Open Enrollment Is Nigh
Despite the best efforts of President Donald Trump and the GOP-led Congress, the Affordable Care Act is still the law of the land. And after a turbulent year, open enrollment for individuals who buy their own health insurance begins Nov. 1 and ends Dec. 15. (10/26)
California Healthline: Acute Confusion As Exchange Enrollment Nears
If the comments on Covered California’s Facebook page are any indication, you’re all suffering from acute health insurance confusion. ... I don’t blame you. Choosing a health plan will be doubly hard this year given President Donald Trump’s recent move to cut off federal payments for a key consumer subsidy, his administration’s decision to shorten exchange open-enrollment periods in most states to 45 days, Congress’ failed attempts to repeal Obamacare and the departure of some insurers from certain markets. (Bazar, 10/27)
KCUR: Good News And Bad News For Missourians Buying Marketplace Health Plans For 2018
There’s some good news and some bad news for Missourians purchasing marketplace healthcare plans under the Affordable Care Act. The good news: Those eligible for premium subsidies will see no increase in their premiums. In fact, a 40-year-old non-smoker earning $30,000 a year will see a 2.7 percent reduction of his or her premiums to $201 a month. The bad news: Those not eligible for subsidies will see premium increases ranging from 12 percent to 50 percent for the benchmark silver plan. (Margolies, 10/26)
Cleveland Plain Dealer: Surprise: Obamacare Will Cost Some People Less Under Trump, Not More
Despite the sharp rise of Obamacare premiums in 2018, a number of people in Ohio and elsewhere will wind up paying less, not more, a cleveland.com review of coming premiums shows. Some people can even get richer health coverage: a gold-level plan for less than they paid for a silver plan in 2017. (Koff, 10/26)
