Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Insurers Left Scouring Social Media For Clues On Markets' Future As Politicians Vacillate Over Health Law
The Wall Street Journal: Insurers Scramble To Price Plans On Health Exchanges As Policy Seesaws
Health insurers, facing fast-approaching deadlines to file plans for next year’s Affordable Care Act marketplaces amid uncertainty about the law’s fate, are putting off key business decisions as they scour for clues on social media and in the hallways of Washington. A group of insurers meets Tuesday with Trump administration officials, seeking reassurance and greater clarity about the future of the exchanges. Some companies have just weeks to file proposed 2018 rates with state regulators. (Wilde Mathews, 4/17)
Bloomberg: Obamacare's Insurers Struggle For Stability Amid Trump Threats
Obamacare is stuck in limbo, and insurers and state regulators are struggling to set their plans for what’s increasingly shaping up as a chaotic year for the health-care program. After the failure of Republicans’ first attempt to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act and President Donald Trump’s subsequent threats to let the program “explode,” more health insurers are threatening to pull out next year, while others may sharply raise the premiums they charge. They’ll start to declare in the next few weeks whether they’re in or out. (Tracer and Edney, 4/17)
The Hill: Survey: Insurers Have 'Cautious Commitment' To ObamaCare Market
A new survey finds that insurers have a “cautious commitment” to remaining in the ObamaCare marketplaces next year, despite uncertainty from the Trump administration. The survey from consulting firm Oliver Wyman finds that 96 percent of insurers surveyed said they plan to remain in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces next year. The research “reveals that the vast majority of health insurers remain committed to the ACA exchanges, but with some adjustments in strategy and continued watchfulness,” according to the report. Still, Republicans’ pending decision on ObamaCare payments known as cost-sharing reductions creates a major source of uncertainty for the market. (Sullivan, 4/17)
