Sen. Lamar Alexander: ‘Prospects are good’ for bipartisan Obamacare fix
The
"I think more and more
The bipartisan deal, announced in mid-October after weeks of negotiations by Alexander and the committee's top Democrat, Sen.
The deal comes too late to lower insurance rates for next year, but enrollees would get back the extra premiums they had to pay because of the elimination of the subsidy reimbursements to insurers.
The deal also would expand authority for states to experiment with alternative standards for insurance plans that deviate from federal requirements, but it would not do away with the requirement to cover people with pre-existing conditions. The deal would also not eliminate so-called essential health benefits -- such as mental health and maternity care -- that insurance plans must cover.
The bipartisan bill is sponsored by 12
Senate Majority Leader
Alexander said Trump is continuing to review the legislation. Alexander also said he's not sure in what large piece of legislation the bipartisan bill might be included. That decision is up to
But, "I think the prospects are good," Alexander said, noting that Trump has said he doesn't want people to be hurt in the interim as
"The way you keep people from being hurt and avoid chaos is to pass our bill, so I think something like it will pass," Alexander said.
In
Those consumers already have seen premium increases as much as 176 percent in the past four years. During 2018, their premiums will have increased from
The Alexander/Murray bill will provide relief because it gives states flexibility through waivers to approve different kinds of health plans, which would provide consumers with more choices and lower prices, Alexander said.
Open enrollment in Obamacare markets started Wednesday and runs through
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