Trump ends CSR subsidies

[Ann H]

Weren't carrier subsidies supposed to sunset under Obamacare anyway?

Maybe not this soon, but seems like there were several provisions that were going to phase out by 2020

APTC subsidies for the premium does not have an expiration date nor phase out clause in the ACA. In some of the "repeal and replace" bills, there was a phase out, which is what you might be thinking about.

Medicaid expansion funding from the Federal govt phases out, as AllenChicago posted above, and becomes state responsibility.

CSR subsidies is the only funding not specifically codified in the law, and therefore the House is supposed to appropriate funds. This is where the current "big political hot button" lies, and hence Trump's decision to halt the funding for CSR.

Grandmother plans phased out years ago, and have been extended every year. Some insurance companies decided not to continue them, but the government extended the ability to renew them.

By the way, there was a rumor earlier that Grandfathered plans were supposed to phase out, and that is not true. There is no expiration date nor phase out in the law for Grandfathered plans.

The only other thing that phases out are politicians. Every 4 years we have a chance to "phase" them.

 

[cornelius322]

Medicaid expansion funding from the Federal govt phases out, as AllenChicago posted above, and becomes state responsibility.

AFIK Medicaid expansion goes to 90% by 2020 and beyond, nowhere does it go away ... so expansion states responsible for 10%?

 

[kgmom219]

By the way, there was a rumor earlier that Grandfathered plans were supposed to phase out, and that is not true. There is no expiration date nor phase out in the law for Grandfathered plans.

.

I trust you more than them, but the HCSC attorneys are stating that GF/GM has to term on 12/31/2019 according to ACA.

 

[Yagents]

If CSR's are not paid for Nov / Dec 2017, then carriers are out that money entirely.
If carriers did not adjust prices, or the state did not mandate they adjust prices, or allow them to, carriers may lose a ton. CMS has given green light..........14 days before OEP. Well I guess there is only 1 carrier per county, systems can probably be adjusted over night.

Be prepared.............agents are the first to get cut out when cost savings are urgent.
I wouldn't be surprised if we see another wave of $0 commission announcements coming in select states.

Montana insurance providers allowed to file rate increases

reports the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services will allow health insurance companies selling plans on the individual market to file new rate increases after President Trump's move last week to cancel subsidy payments to insurers that help low- and middle-income workers. CMS reversed its decision from Friday when it said that the insurers could not raise rates further.

 

[AllenChicago]

The bi-partisan commission led by Murry/Alexander, has reached an agreement on a short-term (2 year) fix, to reinstate the CSR payments, while making Catastrophic plans available to people over age 30, and giving states a little more flexibility in applying for ObamaCare waivers.

STORY: Senators Get Deal to Prop Up Obamacare, Keep Subsidies Trump Cut

Immediately, Senator Chuck Schumer applauded this agreement. That's a flashing red light, in my mind. Republicans should go over this with a fine toothed comb, before signing on.

Opinion: Making catastrophic plans available to those over age 30 won't help, because it's not the metal level that's the problem. It's the government thinking that citizens are too stupid to choose the benefits they want, and to be underwritten, that is the driver behind the high prices. (FYI: The BCBSIL catastrophic plan costs more than the Bronze.)

 

[Yagents]

Once again, politicians are out of touch. Not one Phoenician in AZ has access to a CAT plan in 2017 & 2018.

 

[kgmom219]

Health Care Compact - Ballotpedia

This should be fun. NOT.

 

[taterpeeler]

Health Care Compact - Ballotpedia

This is freaking me out. Tater is calm.

Tater is always calm..... I don't allow anything to get personal from an internal side.

 

[scagnt83]

Health Care Compact - Ballotpedia

This should be fun. NOT.

More bureaucracy is exactly what the system needs

 

[Yagents]

Meanwhile in La La Chicago land:

How Illinois hustled to protect Obamacare from Trump
Anticipating that Trump would eventually do away with the subsidies to insurers, Team Rauner directed carriers that aim to sell Obamacare insurance to Illinoisans in 2018 to attach a surcharge—on average 15%—to silver plan premiums.
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Meanwhile, Hammer is waiting to learn what the new rules will be for the expansion of bare-bones, short-term health plans that Trump created via executive order last week. Insurers in Illinois already sell these types of plans, but their duration is limited to three months. These plans do not have to provide benefits required under the Affordable Care Act, such as hospitalization, emergency care and prescription drug coverage.

It's not clear if the Rauner administration will even allow bare-bones plans to be sold in Illinois for longer than three months.