Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Trump's Daunting Challenge: How Do You Actually Replace Obamacare?
CNN: Obamacare Under President Trump: What Happens Next?
Trump has yet to lay out a detailed plan on how he'd replace Obamacare. But it's unlikely he and Congress will do anything that kills Obamacare for those who sign up for coverage next year, experts say. Open enrollment has already started, and the Obama administration estimated more than 11.4 million people will be insured through the exchanges in 2017. Any legislation will probably include a delayed shuttering of the exchanges -- and of the federal subsidies program that millions depend on to afford the policies -- to give enrollees time to find coverage elsewhere. The insurance industry will also need a period to adjust since any swift changes to the individual market could throw their businesses into turmoil. (Luhby, 11/10)
Los Angeles Times: Donald Trump Wants To Replace Obamacare. But It's Not That Simple.
Republicans, who for six years have promised to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, will finally get their chance to do it. But even with control of the White House and Congress, it’s unclear whether the GOP can pull it off. (Levey, 11/10)
The Associated Press: Behind The Smiles, Tough Reality For Trump And GOP Congress
The budding new alliance between Donald Trump and congressional Republicans hides a tougher reality: Even with unified GOP control of Washington, the president-elect's priorities may have trouble getting through Congress. ... Repealing President Barack Obama's health care law? That looks likely to happen in some way, shape or form, but a number of states that accepted that law's expansion of the Medicaid health program for the poor are represented by Republicans. It will take painstaking and potentially lengthy negotiations to come up with a solution. (Werner, 11/11)
The Washington Post: 12 Trump Promises And How He Could Fulfill Them
Trump benefits from the fact that House and Senate Republican leaders share his goal. Congress probably can readily rescind parts of the ACA that involve federal spending, through a method called budget reconciliation — a strategy that produced a bill early this year that President Obama vetoed but Trump would sign. This method requires 50 Senate votes — one fewer than the GOP majority in the next Senate — and could be used to eliminate federal subsidies for ACA health plans, the requirement that most Americans have insurance, and other important elements. (Gibbons-Neff and Fears, 11/10)
The Associated Press: President-Elect Trump Means Angst For 'Obamacare' Consumers
Donald Trump's election ushers in a time of high anxiety for people with health insurance under President Barack Obama's law, which expanded coverage to millions but has struggled to find widespread public acceptance. While repeal now seems likely, that may take Congress months. A replacement for the 2010 health care law could take even longer, and may retain some of its features. (Alonso-Zaldivar, 11/10)
Kaiser Health News: Concerned About Losing Your Marketplace Plan? ACA Repeal May Take Awhile
President-elect Donald Trump has promised that he’ll ask Congress to repeal the Affordable Care Act on Day One of his administration. If you’re shopping for coverage on the health insurance marketplace, should you even bother signing up? If everything’s going to change shortly after your new coverage starts in January anyway, what’s the point? (Andrews, 11/10)
The Wall Street Journal: 5 Questions About Affordable Care Act Coverage After Donald Trump’s Election
President-elect Donald Trump and the Republicans leading congress have said that they plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act. That’s left a lot of consumers wondering what is changing for them. Here are a few questions and answers. (Wilde Mathews, 11/10)
California Healthline: No Immediate Changes To Your Obamacare Coverage
To the millions of Californians who obtained health insurance as a result of the Affordable Care Act, know this: Despite the election of Donald Trump, who has promised to repeal the health law, nothing is going to happen to your coverage immediately. In fact, open enrollment for Covered California plans continues through January 31 despite the election outcome. (Bazar, 11/11)
California Healthline: Covered California’s Future In Peril If Federal Subsidies Dry Up
Before Election Day, California’s insurance exchange was slated to meet soon to map out its “long-term vision” for health reform. That conversation has suddenly shifted to whether the largest state-run marketplace has much of a long-term future itself. (Terhune, 11/10)
The Cleveland Plain Dealer: Obamacare Is Like Mouse Trap. Altering It Won't Be Quick Or Simple.
One of President-elect Donald Trump's promises was to decimate Obamacare and replace it with "something terrific." Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who will once again lead the GOP in the Senate, said this week he is eager to get working on that goal. (Koff, 11/11)
The Cleveland Plain Dealer: Repeal of Obamacare Could Put Strain On Local ERs, Affect Contraceptive Benefits
President-elect Donald Trump's repeated campaign promises to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, are causing anxiety among people who might lose their healthcare coverage, and the hospitals who treat them. (Zeltner, 11/10)
