Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Premiums For Popular Plans To Spike, But That May Just Translate Into Government Paying More
Dozens of insurers are leaving the Affordable Care Act鈥檚 federal insurance exchange, and consumers who don鈥檛 get premium help will see some rates for popular plans jump by more than 30% next year, according to a Trump administration report聽released Monday. The data, which come just before聽Wednesday鈥檚聽launch of open enrollment under the ACA, is likely to add to debate over whether the Obama-era law is failing, or whether it is being sabotaged by congressional Republicans and President Donald Trump. (Armour, 10/30)
Premiums for ObamaCare plans are rising significantly in many counties across the country according to a new government report, which experts have largely attributed to actions taken by the Trump administration.聽According to the report from the Department of Health and Human Services, premiums are increasing for the average "benchmark" plans by about 37 percent. But tax credit subsidies are also rising, meaning more people will be able to purchase insurance at lower rates. (Weixel, 10/30)
In the annual landscape report, the Trump administration highlighted many of the negative developments that will plague Obamacare next year. In prior reports, the Obama administration focused on how the premium subsidies make Affordable Care Act policies more affordable. "This data demonstrates just how rapidly Obamacare's exchanges are deteriorating with skyrocketing premiums year after year, more than half of Americans with no more than two insurers to choose from, and the taxpayer burden exploding," said Caitlin Oakley, press secretary for the Department of Health & Human Services. (Luhby, 10/30)
It's sign up season for the Affordable Care Act. Open enrollment starts on Wednesday. Government numbers out today show that almost half of the population live in places where they can only choose from three or fewer insurers. Not much competition, so you鈥檇 expect premiums to be high. But in other places, there鈥檚 seven, eight or even 10 insurers in the market, and premiums have still gone up considerably. Why exactly? (Khrais, 10/30)
It's time to start shopping for health insurance if you're one of the millions who buys it on an Affordable Care Act exchange. Open enrollment for 2018 starts Wednesday, and new numbers released by the Trump Administration show that the average cost of a benchmark policy will be about 27 percent higher next year. But that's just the headline. The details suggest there's good news for lots of people who are willing to shop around a bit for insurance. (Kodjak, 10/30)
When the Affordable Care Act open enrollment period for health insurance begins on Wednesday, many individuals who buy their own policies will suffer sticker shock because of a sharp increase in premiums. But the state鈥檚 large and small businesses are girding for higher premiums to cover their workers in 2018 too. And they and their employees will face tough choices. (Radelat, 10/30)