Trump’s axing of ACA subsidies will affect 2019 and beyond, analysts say
But supporters of the federal Affordable Care Act, which created the marketplace in
With the ACA's open-enrollment period set to take place
"It's a cruel and vindictive campaign to sabotage the ACA," said
Trump already has set in motion an ACA enrollment period shorter than previous ones, and the upcoming sign-ups will be interrupted by the HealthCare.gov website being taken down for maintenance all but one Sunday. The Trump administration also has cut funding for outreach and education efforts, Becker said.
But the most potential damage from the president's action on federal subsidies last week could come in 2019, Becker said.
That's when there could be even more premium increases, and more insurance companies could decide to no longer participate in the marketplace in
Executive authority on CSRs
The Republican president, who has said he wants to see the 2010 law known as Obamacare repealed, said last week he will use his executive authority to suspend the payment of "cost-sharing reduction" payments, or CSRs, to insurance companies.
The payments, which reimburse insurers for reducing co-payments and deductibles for people below 250 percent of the federal poverty level, affect coverage for close to half of Illinoisans and about 1,900 of the 4,321 people in
These enrollees include single people with annual incomes of less than
People can qualify for monthly premium subsidies, which are different from CSRs, if their income is less than 400 percent of the federal poverty level, or
Trump, on his own, can't stop premium subsidies, but he does have authority over the CSR payments to insurers, Becker said. Former President
Trump, according to a statement from his press secretary, views the payments as illegal and "a bailout of insurance companies."
Companies offering insurance through the
The companies, at the request of the
Companies could decide to drop out of the 2018 market, she said, but she doubts that any will.
No immediate effect
Insurance department spokesman
Batkins encouraged
When asked how Trump's decision on cost-sharing reductions will affect the company's ability to offer coverage in 2018 and the prices for that coverage, she said: "For now, we will work with our state and federal regulators to determine next steps. As always, we will do all we can to ensure consumers have high-quality, affordable coverage available, and we will keep members and prospective members up to date."
Humana, which serves central
CSRs are expected to cost the federal government
The long-term result, the CBO said, would be the federal government paying out more in premium subsidies than the government would save by eliminating CSRs.
The CSRs could be preserved if
Becker and
Altman was referring to the ACA-funded expansion of eligibility for Medicaid, which
A total of 649,000 Illinoisans, including 12,100 people in
But for the 20 percent of marketplace enrollees who don't qualify for subsidies, 2018's premium increases could prompt more people to decide to go uninsured and pay an income-tax penalty, according to
With the withdrawal of Humana,
An analysis issued by the
But for the region that includes
The increases wouldn't be so high if the threat of Trump eliminating the CSR subsidies weren't looming as insurers submitted their plans to regulators, Becker said.
She said rate filings from
Miller, the
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Congressional members react to Trump's plan
Reactions from
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In
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He added he continues to believe "that
In LaHood's
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ACA assistance
Free in-person assistance available to enroll in Affordable Care Act online marketplace plans
* Central Counties Health Centers,
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ACA marketplace enrollment in 2017
County; People enrolled; Percent (number) with premium subsidy; Percent (number) with cost-sharing reductions
Christian; 796; 86% (685); 42% (334)
Logan; 768; 85% (651); 46% (354)
Mason; 355; 87% (310); 46% (165)
Morgan; 883; 84% (740); 44% (390)
Schuyler; 208; 89% (186); 39% (82)
Scott; 122; 88% (107); 43% (52)
Source:
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