Can NJ Gov. Phil Murphy save Obamacare? Three steps he is taking
"In
Vitale spoke Monday at
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The Trump administration's bid to chip away at Obamacare could bring financial relief to consumers who don't need health care. But it also could lead to sharply higher premiums both for consumers who are covered and for taxpayers who provide subsidies that offset the cost.
Premiums in
That would be on top of the 22 percent average premium hike New Jerseyans saw this year.
Lawmakers continue to battle over the Affordable Care Act, the 2010 law that was designed to lower the rate of those without insurance and slow down the skyrocketing cost of health care.
The law set out to cover consumers who weren't covered by Medicare, Medicaid or their employer by:
* Mandating nearly all Americans have insurance or pay a penalty.
* Expanding Medicaid to more low-income consumers.
* Offering tax credits to more consumers to help them afford their plans.
But it did little to quell complaints. Many consumers were forced to dig deep into their own pockets because their insurance plans came with high deductibles. Other consumers, whose incomes were too high to qualify for subsidies, decided to forgo health insurance and paid the penalty instead.
"A typical four-person family in
MORE: Obamacare enrollment in NJ down from last year
MORE:
Pallone said his bill would expand subsidies to consumers in higher income groups. It isn't clear how he plans to pay for it. But with President
More likely are steps underway in
1. Restore the mandate
The
The provision, among the least popular in the bill, will be repealed beginning in 2019 as part of the tax law that was signed by Trump in December.
But health care experts say the mandate helped stabilize premiums. Without it, they worry that young, healthy people will drop out, forcing an older, less healthy population foot a bill that will become more unaffordable.
"Health insurance works when everyone is in," Vitale, one of the bill's sponsors, said.
2. Insure the insurers
The
3. Get the word out
The Trump administration reduced the enrollment period for consumers to sign up for Obamacare plans for 2018 by six weeks. And it reduced the marketing budget 90 percent.
Castro from New Jersey Policy Perspective said that's one reason
"He's really asked the whole government to step up," Elnahal said.
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