A Cautionary Tale: Washington State Tried Its Own Repeal In The ’90s And It Left Its Market In Shambles
As Republicans rush to roll back the Affordable Care Act, it might do them well to look at Washington state's attempts to undue health care reform two decades ago. Meanwhile, the current GOP plan could leave many priced out of insurance if they let their coverage lapse and senators mull what to do with ACA tax cuts.
Los Angeles Times:
In Washington State, A Healthcare Repeal Lesson Learned The Hard Way
Republicans in the state of Washington didn’t wait long in the spring of 1995 to fulfill their pledge to roll back a sweeping law expanding health coverage in the state. Coming off historic electoral gains, the GOP legislators scrapped much of the law while pledging to make health insurance affordable and to free state residents from onerous government mandates. It didn’t work out that way: The repeal left the state’s insurance market in shambles, sent premiums skyrocketing and drove health insurers from the state. It took nearly five years to repair the damage. (Levey, 5/31)
The Associated Press:
GOP Health Plan Could Be Costly For Those With Coverage Gaps
As a thyroid cancer survivor battling nerve damage and other complications, Lisa Dammert was in such dire financial straits in 2014 that she and her husband did the unthinkable: They let their health insurance lapse for a while. If the Dammerts and some of the millions of other Americans like them do that under the Republican health care plan now making its way through Congress, they could end up paying a heavy price. (5/31)
Bloomberg:
To Repeal Obamacare, Senate May Have To Keep Some Of Its Taxes
Senate Republicans crafting an Obamacare replacement are delaying one of their toughest decisions: whether to keep all of the House measure’s $664 billion in tax cuts that mostly benefit well-off Americans. The House in a bill passed May 4 voted to end taxes enacted under the Affordable Care Act, including those on investment income, expensive "Cadillac" health plans and even indoor tanning. Yet some moderate senators want to keep part of that revenue to soften the House plan’s deep health-care cuts that are estimated to leave 23 million fewer people with insurance by 2026. (Litvan, 5/31)
Morning Consult:
Uncertain Future Of Individual Mandate Could Contribute To Higher Premiums
Uncertainty about whether the Trump administration would enforce the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate is causing heartburn for some insurers — and it’s evident in their requests to set premiums. Rate filings show some insurers believe the Trump administration could stop enforcing the mandate — or it’s already not being enforced, Sabrina Corlette, a research professor at Georgetown University’s Health Policy Institute, said at an event on Wednesday. (McIntire, 5/31)