Azar Touts Trump’s ‘Decisive Action’ On Health Law, But Experts Say It’s States’ Work That’s Stabilizing Marketplace
The marketplace is getting stronger and next year's premiums are not expected to be as shockingly high as previous years. While HHS Secretary Alex Azar credits that success to President Donald Trump's policies, other experts say that it's because states' insurance departments have been working to blunt the attacks to the law. Meanwhile, Azar took a swing at Democrats' "Medicare for All" plan, saying it's too good to be true.
Modern Healthcare:
Azar Credits Trump For Lower Premiums, Lambastes 'Medicare For All'
HHS Secretary Alex Azar on Thursday praised President Donald Trump for taking "decisive action" to stabilize the individual insurance market and lower health insurance exchange premiums for American consumers. Health insurers have proposed to reduce benchmark exchange premiums by 2% in 2019 following years of increasing rates, Azar said, providing evidence that the Trump administration's moves to gives states flexibility to prop up their insurance markets and expand the types of health plans allowed have been successful. (Livingston, 9/27)
The Associated Press:
Trump Health Chief: Premiums To Drop For Popular ACA Plan
Premiums for a popular type of "silver" health plan under the Affordable Care Act will edge downward next year in most states, the Trump administration's health chief announced Thursday. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said premiums for a so-called "benchmark" silver plan will drop by 2 percent in the 39 states served by the federal HealthCare.gov website. (9/27)
Nashville Tennessean:
Trump ‘Better’ At Managing Obamacare Than Obama, Says Health Secretary
"It turns out, when you have a president who’s willing to take decisive action, who understands business, who’s willing to work with the private sector, you can find a way to help American patients, even within a failed system like the ACA," Azar said. “The president who is supposedly trying to sabotage the Affordable Care Act has proven better at managing it than the president who wrote the law.” (Kelman, 9/27)