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News Monday, May 22 2017

ICYMI: Healthcare experts condemn Trump sabotaging insurance markets

May 22, 2017

Today, after the Trump Administration and congressional Republicans failed yet again to address the instability and escalating prices they have brought on the American healthcare system, numerous experts weighed-in about how dangerous and reckless this current approach is for millions of American people.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to end the cost-sharing reductions as a craven political negotiating tactic that would inflict pain on working people in order to pressure opponents into supporting Trumpcare.

Trump’s Administration reportedly even attempted to use the need for CSRs to shakedown insurance companies that were concerned about Trumpcare being bad policy. ​

America’s Health Insurance Plans Spokesperson Cathryn Donaldson: “We need swift action and long-term certainty on this critical program…It is the single most destabilizing factor in the individual market, and millions of Americans could soon feel the impact of fewer choices, higher costs, and reduced access to care.” [Bloomberg, 5/22/2017]

BlueCross BlueShield Association Senior Vice President of Policy and Representation Justine Handelman: “There needs to be sustained federal funding…It’s critical to ensuring overall affordability.” [Associated Press, 5/22/2017]

Association for Community Affiliated Plans CEO Margaret Murray: “Uncertainty is destabilizing the market and leading health plans to raise their rates for 2018 to account for the political risk brought on by Congress and the administration through a protracted debate over the fate of these reimbursements.” [Reuters, 5/22/2017]

CNBC: “Dave Dillon, a fellow of the Society of Actuaries, a group of experts that help set premium rates, said ‘gross premiums could increase significantly — in the 20-25 percent range’ if insurers price in the potential loss of the subsidies for affected plans next year.” [CNBC, 5/22/2017]

Kaiser Family Foundation Senior Vice President Larry Levitt: “The president’s threat to end ACA payments to insurers while saying the law is collapsing is kind of like yelling fire in a crowded theater. [Twitter – Larry Levitt, 5/22/2017]

Washington University in St. Louis Law Professor Rachel Sachs: “Insurers will have no certainty on CSRs before 2018 rates are due. Uncertainty drives up rates & may drive insurers out of the market.” [Twitter – Rachel Sachs, 5/22/2017]

Former Acting Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Andy Slavitt, Bipartisan Policy Center: “If they kick the can down the road, you’re basically sowing more uncertainty.” [USA Today, 5/19/2017]


Published: May 22, 2017

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