Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Insurers Invited To Submit Two Sets Of Rates Amid Uncertainty Over Subsidies
Politico Pro: Some States Give Insurers Flexibility Before King Ruling
The uncertainty over King v. Burwell is prompting a handful of states to allow health insurers to submit two sets of proposed 2016 premium rates — one for each Supreme Court scenario. If the Supreme Court in late June rules against the Obama administration and halts subsidies in 34 states, the cost of insurance is expected to increase significantly because mostly the sickest people would keep their coverage. The potential for such a sudden change makes it complicated for insurers to plan their rates for 2016 — a process that is beginning now. (Pradhan, 4/9)
McClatchy: Supreme Court’s Obamacare Decision Could Hike Premium Costs In 34 States
Tens of thousands of people in Missouri and Kansas could see their health insurance premiums double or even triple if the Supreme Court declares that the tax credits they receive through Obamacare are illegal. Such a ruling could send both states’ insurance markets into a “death spiral,” a nightmarish scenario that means skyrocketing premiums and a financial crisis for hospitals, health policy experts say. (Wise, 4/9)
The Boston Globe: Hundreds Of Mass. Health Connector Customers Still See Snags
Hundreds of consumers trying to buy health insurance through the Massachusetts Health Connector continue to encounter snags, even as new leadership works to fix a balky system. (Freyer, 4/10)
Kaiser Health News: Federal Marketplace More Adept Than States At Enrolling Customers, Study Finds
Despite its rocky launch, the federal health insurance exchange did better than the exchanges run by individual states at both enrolling new people in Obamacare and hanging onto previous enrollees during the 2015 open enrollment period that ended in February, according to a recent analysis. (Andrews, 4/10)
