EDITORIAL: Obamacare survives the GOP’s many cuts
Despite all their efforts -- getting rid of the individual mandate, eliminating reimbursements to insurance companies for reducing out-of-pocket costs for low-income customers, cutting the open enrollment period in half, refusing to defend the Affordable Care Act against yet another lawsuit challenging its constitutionality -- the Obamacare market refuses to collapse.
At a
But data from health insurers filing their 2019 proposed rates makes clear that the Obamacare market is far more stubborn and resilient than
Not that
Luckily, the vast majority of Obamacare recipients are shielded from the bulk of the increases because of the law's subsidies to lower-income customers. Silver plan enrollees won't see more than a 2 percent increase. In some states where reinsurance programs are being set up, insurers are even predicting steep declines in premiums.
Statistics released by the
Those most hurt by the instability created by
But taxpayers in general are also hurt. The Republican sabotage will mean a
Imagine a different world where
Such action appears beyond today's
Trump can boast all he wants about how he has "essentially repealed Obamacare," but he hasn't. Nor has he ever revealed his own plan, which he promised would result in coverage for everyone, along with lower premiums and deductibles. We're sure it's a beautiful plan. It's a shame Trump seems determined to keep it to himself.
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