Tag: ACA

ObamaCare proves surprisingly resilient

The following article by Peter Sullivan was posted on the Hill website December 25, 2017:

ObamaCare is showing its resilience after a year where in which it took a beating but survived.

A surprisingly high number of people signed up under the law in the enrollment period that ended last week: 8.8 million, just short of the 9.2 million from last year.

And that was despite the Trump administration’s attacks on the health-care law, cutbacks on outreach and an enrollment period that was half as long as previous ones. Continue reading “ObamaCare proves surprisingly resilient”

Obamacare Sign-ups at High Levels Despite Trump Saying It’s ‘Imploding’

The following article by Robert Pear was posted on the New York Times website December 21, 2017:

Kelley Mui helped a client sign up last week in Chicago for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. The number of people who signed up through the federal marketplace was only slightly lower than last year despite a shorter enrollment time. Credit Scott Olson/Getty Images

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration said Thursday that 8.8 million people had signed up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act’s federal marketplace, a surprisingly large number only slightly lower than the total in the last open enrollment period, which was twice as long and heavily advertised.

The numbers essentially defied President Trump’s assertion that “Obamacare is imploding.” They suggested that consumers want and need the coverage and subsidies available under the Affordable Care Act, even though political battles over the law, President Barack Obama’s signature domestic achievement, are sure to continue in Congress and in next year’s midterm election campaigns. Continue reading “Obamacare Sign-ups at High Levels Despite Trump Saying It’s ‘Imploding’”

Trump Falsely Claims to Have ‘Repealed Obamacare’

The following article by Linda Qiu was posted on the New York Times website December 20, 2017:

WASHINGTON — President Trump celebrated the tax bill that Congress approved on Wednesday by characterizing it as a two-for-one victory, falsely claiming that it also made good on his promise to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

“When the individual mandate is being repealed, that means Obamacare is being repealed,” Mr. Trump said in a cabinet meeting. “We have essentially repealed Obamacare, and we will come up with something that will be much better.” Continue reading “Trump Falsely Claims to Have ‘Repealed Obamacare’”

The stealth repeal of Obamacare

The following article by Joanne Kenen was posted on the Politico website December 19, 2017:

The health law has been wounded in a year of Trump.

The manadate’s repeal is only one of several heavy blows to the health law since President Donald Trump and the GOP swept in nearly a year ago. | Evan Vucci/AP

Obamacare survived the first year of President Donald Trump, but it’s badly damaged.

The sweeping Republican tax bill on the verge of final passage would repeal the individual mandate in 2019, potentially taking millions of people out of the health insurance market. On top of that, the Trump administration has killed some subsidies, halved the insurance enrollment period, gutted the Obamacare marketing campaign, and rolled out a regulatory red carpet for skimpy new health plans that will change the insurance landscape in ways that are harmful to former President Barack Obama’s signature health care law. Continue reading “The stealth repeal of Obamacare”

Those That Shall Not Be Named: Cost Sharing Reductions

The following article by Lindsey McPherson was posted on the Roll Call website December 14, 2017:

Speaker Paul D. Ryan once panned a measure that would restore cost-sharing reduction subsidies for health insurance companies. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)

In Congress, where most lawmakers are hesitant to spill secrets about ongoing negotiations, answers are often found in what lawmakers are not saying. And House Republican leaders are not saying much about subsidies for health care insurers lately.

GOP leaders’ continued refusal in recent weeks to rule out funding the cost-sharing reduction subsidies, or CSRs, which President Donald Trump’s administration has stopped paying, is not a guarantee that Congress will do so. But it’s certainly a green light for negotiations to continue. Continue reading “Those That Shall Not Be Named: Cost Sharing Reductions”

Trump vows to repeal and replace ObamaCare ‘disaster’

The following article by Jacqueline Thomsen was posted on the Hill website November 23, 2017:

Credit: Mark Weber

President Trump attacked ObamaCare on Thursday night, calling the health-care law a “disaster” and vowing to repeal and replace it after the GOP passes tax reform.

“ObamaCare premiums are going up, up, up, just as I have been predicting for two years. ObamaCare is OWNED by the Democrats, and it is a disaster,” Trump tweeted.

“But do not worry. Even though the Dems want to Obstruct, we will Repeal & Replace right after Tax Cuts!” Continue reading “Trump vows to repeal and replace ObamaCare ‘disaster’”

Surge in ObamaCare signups surprises experts

The following article by Nathaniel Weixel was posted on the Hill website November 23, 2017:

The number of people signing up for ObamaCare has surged in the first few weeks of open enrollment this year, contrary to dire predictions.

The spike in sign-ups is good news for supporters of the health-care law, but experts warn the early numbers don’t necessarily signify a trend. Final enrollment numbers could still be much lower than in the past, they say.

The first ObamaCare open enrollment period of the Trump administration has been surprisingly robust, despite the uncertainty caused by nearly 10 months of repeal attempts in Congress, rising premiums and insurer exits. Continue reading “Surge in ObamaCare signups surprises experts”

GOP will try to tack Obamacare repeal to tax reform, which would cause millions to lose health care

The following article by Emily C. Singer was posted on the mic.com website November 14, 2017:

Republicans just can’t quit their unpopular effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

After multiple failed efforts to repeal former President Barack Obama’s signature health care bill, Republicans announced on Tuesday they will try to tack a repeal of the individual mandate — a key pillar of the health care law — onto the GOP tax reform bill.

Repealing the individual mandate — which was part of the “skinny repeal” effort that failed in the Senate over the summer — would free up funds that Republicans could use to pay for their tax cuts. Continue reading “GOP will try to tack Obamacare repeal to tax reform, which would cause millions to lose health care”

ObamaCare becomes political weapon for Democrats

The following article by Peter Sullivan was posted on the Hill website November 10, 2017:

© Greg Nash

ObamaCare is emerging as a top issue for Democrats as they seek to gain control of Congress in next year’s midterm elections.

Just a year after worries about ObamaCare premiums were seen as a contributing factor in Hillary Clinton‘s loss, voter concerns about GOP attacks on the health-care law seem to be bolstering Democratic candidates.

Health care was by far the number one issue in Virginia, where Democrats won races up and down the ballot on Tuesday night with a surprisingly strong showing. Exit polls showed that 39 percent of voters ranked health care as their top issue, with 77 percent of those voters backing Democrat Ralph Northam for governor. Continue reading “ObamaCare becomes political weapon for Democrats”

Federal notices about ACA enrollment season get cut in number and messaging

The following article by Amy Goldstein was posted on the Washington Post website November 1, 2017:

Consumers will receive scaled-back notices about their enrollment options during the Affordable Care Act’s fifth sign-up season. (HealthCare.gov)

In preparation for the Affordable Care Act’s latest enrollment season, the Trump administration sent notices about the sign-up options to millions fewer Americans than in past years and deleted themes known to be most effective in motivating consumers to sign up.

Emails went in advance only to people with current health-care plans through marketplaces created under the law, leaving out most of the names in a database of about 20 million consumers who once had such coverage or at some point explored the federal website HealthCare.gov.

The greatly reduced outreach is reflected in a set of internal documents obtained by The Washington Post, which also shows a sharp change in the tone and content of the messaging ahead of Wednesday’s sign-up start. Continue reading “Federal notices about ACA enrollment season get cut in number and messaging”