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This election is a choice in health between aggressive incrementalism and a sharp right-hand turn in federal policy and spending, but ... no one should doubt the capacity of our system and institutions to thwart dramatic change in any direction.
The Trump administration this week backed off a key element of its Medicare Advantage rate proposal, resulting in billions of dollars in additional payments to private insurers.
The Republican leadership in the House of Representatives recently indicated that it will be seeking to repeal regulations under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that govern the “grandfathered” status of health plans. As this aspect of the health reform law gets more scrutiny, it may be useful to review some of the specifics of how grandfathering works. The purpose of grandfathering: As provisions of the ACA go into effect, grandfathering provides for a smoother transition by…
Trump has long talked about making the ACA less expensive, but the question is less expensive for whom
High U.S. prices and demand for Ozempic and Wegovy have implications for insurance premiums, public program costs, and affordability.
It is worth a refresher on how the ACA protects people with pre-existing conditions. It’s also worth asking whether and how an alternative would do the same.
Vance’s debate comment likely refers to state reinsurance waivers, largely approved by the Trump Administration. These waivers aimed to lower unsubsidized premiums by offsetting insurer costs for very sick enrollees.
The ACA enhanced premium tax credits expanded financial assistance to more Marketplace enrollees, an expansion that was especially helpful to older middle-income enrollees, who would see the largest increases in out-of-pocket premiums if the enhanced credits expire.
Affordable Care Act Marketplace insurers are raising premiums by an average of 18% next year, due in part to the expiring enhanced premium tax credits. Even if the credits are extended in shutdown negotiations, it is unlikely that insurers will have time to revise premiums, though the credits would still offer enrollees relief from them.
The amount health insurers charge for coverage on the ACA Marketplaces is rising 26%, on average, in 2026.... Most enrollees would face even sharper increases in what they pay if they ACA’s enhanced premium tax credits expire.
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