Deutch, FL Dems Ask Gov. Scott to Reduce Healthcare Costs and Expand Coverage for Floridians
Today, Congressman
In the coming weeks, health insurance companies are expected to announce their premium rates for Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans in
These changes already have had devastating consequences. As the members state in the letter, "According to the latest data from Gallup, 3.2 million fewer people across the country had health insurance coverage during the first year of the
Health policy experts predict that the resulting uncertainty and instability will lead to higher premiums, but the state has tools available to protect Floridians. The members warn, "[O]ur neighbors could see premiums increase by 16.9 percent and over 600,000 Floridians could be uninsured or underinsured all due to the sabotage."
In
* Protect state residents by limiting the sale of sub-par junk insurance plans.
* Boost coverage (and lower costs) by increasing outreach, enrollment and marketing.
* Strengthen state oversight of the individual market to improve plan participation and lower costs.
* Protect consumers by ensuring their health plan provides essential health benefits, like hospital care or prescription drugs.
* Use existing Affordable Care Act authority to craft a reinsurance program to reduce health insurance premiums.
* Broaden the insurance risk pool by passing a state-level-policy designed to boost enrollment.
The members close their letter with the following message for Governor
"
The letter was co-signed by Senator
The signed letter can be accessed here, and the text of the letter can be viewed below.
Dear Governor Scott,
We are very concerned that the
Over 1.7 million Floridians are enrolled in Marketplace health insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) - more than any other state so the sabotage has a larger and more serious impact on
While public outrage last year over the Republican plan to weaken the ACA, Medicare and Medicaid helped defeat the outright dismantling of health care in America as we know it, the
Furthermore, according to a recent analysis conducted by the
In the face of such intentional efforts to inflict higher costs on Floridians by
There are a number of actions at the state level that you can take to help increase health coverage and improve the affordability of care for families that will mitigate the harm and higher costs facilitated by
Protect state residents by limiting the sale of sub-par junk insurance plans.
Boost coverage (and lower costs) by increasing outreach, enrollment and marketing.
With the lack of federal commitment,
Strengthen state oversight of the individual market to improve plan participation and lower costs.
Like the current Administration,
Protect consumers by ensuring their health plan provides essential health benefits, like hospital care or prescription drugs.
While Congressional Republican legislative attempts to undermine critical health benefits like maternity care and prescription drugs have not succeeded to date, the Administration is considering steps that would allow plans to charge more for certain life-saving benefits or allow plans to exclude certain needed items from coverage altogether. States and localities have the opportunity to demonstrate the importance of these essential health benefits and ensure equal access to needed care by passing their own requirements to protect residents and bolster the intent of current law and regulations.
Use existing Affordable Care Act authority to craft a reinsurance program to reduce health insurance premiums.
A number of states have sought State Innovation waivers under Section 1332 of the ACA to create reinsurance funds to stabilize the individual market. These funds protect consumers from dramatic premium increases by paying claims above a certain limit or paying for claims for certain specific high-cost conditions. Removing these claims or conditions through reinsurance allows plans to reduce premiums for other consumers.
Broaden the insurance risk pool by passing a state-level policy designed to boost enrollment.
Passing a state level policy designed to boost enrollment which would both increase coverage and reduce premiums for consumers. After
Sincerely,
The Post House – Southwest Indiana’s Largest Regional Cities Project Delivers a Major Milestone
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