Covered California Points Fingers As It Adds Surcharge To Its Most Popular Plans
"Thanks to President Trump's and Congressional Republicans' inaction, the 2018 health insurance rates are higher than they would otherwise be," California insurance commissioner Dave Jones wrote in a statement.
KPCC:
California Blames Trump Administration For Health Care Price Hike
The 1.4 million people who buy insurance through Covered California will likely want to do some comparison shopping for their 2018 health plans. State regulators announced the most popular plans on the state exchange will include an average 12.4 percent surcharge next year. (Faust, 10/11)
California Healthline:
California Slaps Surcharge On ACA Plans As Trump Remains Coy On Subsidies
California’s health exchange said Wednesday it has ordered insurers to add a surcharge to certain policies next year because the Trump administration has yet to commit to paying a key set of consumer subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. The decision to impose a 12.4 percent surcharge on silver-level health plans in 2018 means the total premium increase for them will average nearly 25 percent, according to Covered California. Taxpayers, not consumers, will bear the brunt of the extra rate hike because federal premium assistance for policyholders, which is pegged to the cost of coverage, will also increase. (Terhune, 10/11)