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A much tighter sign-up deadline and coverage delays will be waiting for some health insurance customers now that President Donald Trump's administration has finished a plan designed to stabilize shaky insurance markets. Shoppers will have a shorter time period to choose a 2018 plan and a harder time enrolling outside that window if they lose a job or have some other special circumstance that affects their coverage. (Murphy, 4/14)

Insurers are reeling from regulatory changes to the individual insurance market that they say will lower revenue and does nothing to address their biggest financial concerns. A final rule released Thursday was supposed to help stabilize the marketplace created by the Affordable Care Act in lieu of any resolution to repeal and replace the healthcare reform law. But the insurance industry immediately reacted with fear, saying the moves would reduce enrollment and therefore sales. The result could leave hospitals on the hook for more uncompensated care. (Dickson, 4/14)

The Trump administration's first major Obamacare regulation was largely intended to tighten insurance enrollment standards, but it also defers more authority to states to review insurers' provider networks. HHS is dropping its oversight in states that have the authority to review network adequacy. In states lacking that authority, HHS will rely on accreditation from insurers that their provider networks are sufficient. (Pradhan, 4/14)