Premiums In Calif. Could Skyrocket By More Than 40 Percent Without Individual Mandate, Subsidies
The study also concluded that some 340,000 Californians would drop from individual coverage in 2018.
KPCC:
Covered California Wades Back Into Obamacare Fight
The head of California’s health insurance marketplace waded back into the political debate over the future of Obamacare Thursday, warning that certain actions contemplated by President Trump and Congressional Republicans could cause premiums for individual plans to spike dramatically in 2018. Covered California Executive Director Peter Lee unveiled an analysis of what would happen if the federal government chooses not to enforce the Affordable Care Act's tax penalty on people without insurance and does away with cost-sharing subsidies that lower out-of-pocket costs. (Faust, 4/27)
Capital Public Radio:
Study Finds Republican Health Proposals Would Increase Premiums
Peter Lee, Executive Director of Covered California says these changes would be a setback for California's insurance market. "Changes in federal policy would pull the rug out from under what has been working, and working better year over year, over the last four years," Lee says. The two measures have been floated by either Congressional Republicans or President Donald Trump. (Schilling, 4/27)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Covered California Premiums Could Soar If Feds Stop Enforcing ACA
The projected increase would apply to all health plans in California’s individual insurance market, which includes 1.3 million people who buy plans through Covered California as well as 1.1 million people who buy plans directly from insurers outside of the exchange. (Ho, 4/27)
California Healthline:
Running Short On Time, Covered California And Insurers Seek Obamacare Answers From GOP
With a major deadline looming, California’s health exchange and a key insurer pressed Republican leaders in Washington to clear up confusion over their commitment to key provisions of the Affordable Care Act. Health insurers participating in the Covered California exchange for individuals and families must submit initial rates for 2018 on Monday. Peter Lee, the exchange’s executive director, warned in a conference call Thursday that rates could jump by more than 40 percent if the Trump administration and Republican-led Congress walk away from crucial elements of the health law. (Terhune, 4/28)