Cruz’s Amendment To Let Insurers Sell Cheap ‘Junk’ Plans Could Sway Conservatives
But moderates and experts warn that while allowing insurance companies to sell non-compliant plans would benefit young, healthy patients, it would hit others in the marketplace hard.
The Wall Street Journal:
Ted Cruz’s Plan To Save Republican Health-Care Bill Gains Traction
Senate Republican leaders, in a bid to salvage their health overhaul, are weighing the merits of a proposal by Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) to let insurers that sell plans that conform to the Affordable Care Act’s regulations also sell policies that don’t. The idea, also backed by Sen. Mike Lee (R., Utah), would allow insurers to offer cheaper, less-comprehensive policies, likely to be bought by healthier people. Those policies could charge higher prices to those with pre-existing medical conditions, and possibly deny them coverage altogether. (Armour and Peterson, 7/5)
The New York Times:
White House Backs Conservative Health Plan, But G.O.P. Leaders Are Leery
The White House is backing a health care proposal that would make it easier for insurance companies to avoid complying with consumer protection standards, siding with some of the most conservative senators, though Senate Republican leaders remain leery of the idea. (Pear, 7/5)
Politico:
Right Threatens McConnell's Obamacare Repeal
Conservative groups are aggressively backing Sens. Mike Lee and Ted Cruz in their bid to move the Senate Republicans' Obamacare repeal bill further to the right, setting up a major confrontation between the party’s warring factions next week. On Wednesday afternoon both FreedomWorks and the Club for Growth urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to adopt an amendment from Cruz of Texas and Lee of Utah that would largely gut Obamacare’s regulatory regime. (Everett, 7/5)
The Hill:
GOP Tensions Rise Over Cruz Proposal
Tensions between Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and his old antagonist, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), have reappeared in the high-stakes negotiation over healthcare reform. Cruz is insisting on a reform to the Senate GOP bill that senior GOP aides say is a nonstarter with much — if not most — of the Republican conference. (Bolton, 7/6)
The Hill:
Cruz 'Not Certain' Senate Will Pass Healthcare Bill
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) hedged on Wednesday night about the Senate's chances of passing the GOP bill to repeal and replace ObamaCare. "The process of repealing it in Congress has been messy. It's been bumpy. I am not certain we will get it done. I hope we will. I believe we will," the GOP senator said during a town hall with Concerned Veterans for America (CVA), a conservative outside group. (Carney, 7/5)
