Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Obama's Pitch That Subsidies Offer Safety Net For High Premiums May Have Some Holes
Urging people to sign up for coverage under the Affordable Care Act, President Obama said last week that while premiums might be rising, most consumers need not worry. 鈥淧remiums going up,鈥 he said, 鈥渄on鈥檛 necessarily translate into higher premiums for people who are getting tax credits.鈥 ... But left unmentioned in the pitch to consumers are what economists and health policy experts describe as possible reasons to be concerned about rising premiums. (Pear, 10/30)
Republicans are jumping on the news that ObamaCare premiums will rise nationwide to push a GOP alternative.聽In the GOP weekly address, Rep. John Ratcliffe (Texas), bemoaned the news that premiums on the most common ObamaCare plan will rise nationwide, by an average of more than 20 percent. ... Republicans have jumped on the mounting headlines of rising ObamaCare prices and fewer insurers on the marketplace. (Rupert, 10/29)
And in other health law news聽鈥
Tuesday聽is a big day for ObamaCare.Officials are kicking off a sign-up season that is critical for the health of the law.聽The enrollment period for 2017 coverage stretches from聽Nov. 1聽to聽Jan. 31. The administration is looking to boost the sign-up numbers by bringing in more young and healthy people. That would help ease insurer concerns about the stability of the law, amid attention on spiking premiums and insurers dropping out of the market. (Sullivan, 10/31)
Having health insurance is vital for 21-year-old Mercedes Nimmer, who takes several expensive prescription drugs to manage multiple sclerosis. So Nimmer was thrilled to get health insurance last year through the Affordable Care Act鈥檚 marketplace and qualify for a federal subsidy to substantially lower her cost. Yet, the government assistance still left her with a $33 monthly premium, a hefty amount for Nimmer, who makes $11,000 a year as a part-time supply clerk. (Galewitz, 10/31)
