Cutting Off Insurer Payments Increases Number Of People Who Get Help Through Other Subsidies
Stopping insurer subsidies is like pushing down on one end of a see-saw only to see the other end go up because another of the health law's subsidies would rise for people with low-to-moderate incomes. Meanwhile, a look at how Illinois raced to get ahead of President Donald Trump's move to cut off payments.
The Associated Press:
Trump's Health Subsidy Shutdown Could Lead To Free Insurance
If President Donald Trump prevails in shutting down a major "Obamacare" health insurance subsidy, it would have the unintended consequence of making free basic coverage available to more people, and making upper-tier plans more affordable. The unexpected assessment comes from consultants, policy experts, and state officials trying to discern the potential fallout from a Washington health care debate that's becoming harder to follow. (Alonso-Zaldivar, 10/19)
Modern Healthcare:
How Illinois Hustled To Protect Obamacare From Trump
Even before President Donald Trump announced plans last week to nix Obamacare subsidies, the Illinois Department of Insurance raced over the summer to get insurers on board with a strategy to minimize the financial pain of such a move. The action in essence allows Illinois—as well as more than two dozen other states adopting the maneuver—to sidestep Trump's recent moves to undo major portions of his predecessor's signature health insurance law. Trump on Oct. 12 ordered the federal government to stop paying the cost-sharing subsidies provided to insurers to defray the cost of covering low-income people. (Schorsch, 10/18)
The Hill:
ObamaCare Allies Fear Deal Won’t Mitigate Trump Attacks
ObamaCare supporters are worried that President Trump’s attacks on the law will depress enrollment and confuse consumers, inflicting damage that can’t be fixed even if Congress comes up with a bipartisan health-care deal. Open enrollment begins in less than two weeks, and advocates are bracing for a drop in the number of people signing up amid the Trump administration’s months-long campaign against ObamaCare. (Hellmann, 10/19)
