Trumps On The Verge Of Exploding The Health Insurance Market

[TomCADem]

Source: Huffington Post

President Donald Trump has had his finger on the detonator of the bomb to blow up Obamacare for months. Now he may be about to press it.

Trump told advisers earlier this week that he wants to cut off billions of dollars in payments to health insurance companies that serve the poorest enrollees in the Affordable Care Act exchanges, Politico reported Friday.

If Trump follows through on this threat, he could wreak havoc on the health insurance system. Insurance companies are likely to hike premiums or to stop selling to people who buy coverage via the exchanges, like HealthCare.gov and Covered California, or directly (rather than obtaining coverage through their employers or government programs like Medicare and Medicaid).

The results would be higher prices and fewer, if any, choices for consumers, and the effects could be felt quickly because many states would allow insurers to drop their customers right away in the absence of these payments. In short, this part of the health insurance market could fall apart under Trump’s watch if he doesn’t pay the money the federal government owes.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-blow-up-health-insurance-market_us_591f541be4b034684b0c6212?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009

---

Trump is betting that if enough people are deprived of their healthcare, the American people will blame Democrats for not supporting the Republican health plan.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/20/us/politics/trump-death-spiral-affordable-care-act.html

Trump, Shouting ‘Death Spiral,’ Has Nudged Affordable Care Act Downward

WASHINGTON — When Aetna, the health insurance giant, announced this month that it was pulling out of the Affordable Care Act’s insurance exchange in Virginia in 2018, President Trump responded on Twitter: “Death spiral!”

When Humana announced plans to leave all the health law’s marketplaces next year, the president chimed in, “Obamacare continues to fail.”

Left unremarked on was a big reason for the instability: The Trump administration and Congress are rattling the markets.

The administration’s refusal to guarantee payment of subsidies to health insurance companies, the murky outlook for the Affordable Care Act in Congress and doubts about enforcement of the mandate for most people to have insurance are driving up insurance prices for 2018, insurers say in rate requests filed with state officials.

[dalton99a]

1. He's hell-bent on wreaking maximum destruction at every turn

[Demtexan]

3. Yep.

This might have to happen.
We need single payer.
Damn.
Let the protests begin.
Hope this does not happen.

[burnbaby]

15. please bring on

single payer. I would like healthcare

[Demtexan]

28. We will have to have no health care to get single payer.

People will have die to wake up a lot of americans.

That is sad.

Single payer will look real good.

[TeamPooka]

2. He thinks people will blame the Democrats when the GOP controls the entire government.

He's going to bet the entire GOP on this.
He will lose.

[WinkyDink]

5. BIGLY. Everybody, even the most ignorant, knows the Republicans are now in charge.

[C Moon]

11. Yeah, that "olde" tactic that they've been using for the past few decades...

(making a mess when in control, then blaming the next administration), is not going to work this time.
What we are living through now, is going to go down in world history as one of the worst moments for the U.S.
I'm hoping beyond hope we can make it through this.

[Squinch]

18. I really hope you are right, but I fear that the American voter has proven themself too

stupid to realize, when the detonation comes, that the problem was with Trump and not with Obamacare itself.

IF the Republicans are able to convince the average voter that Obamacare was untenable and if they successfully say, "See, here's the proof. Watch it collapse!" I fear we will be another generation with people being ruined financially by medical costs. It will also confuse the confusable, making them not know whether to vote for the Republicans or "those Democrats that gave us that terrible Obamacare."

At this point I almost hope that the Republicans pass their healthcare debacle. If they do, I know that many will suffer but it will turn people so far against Republicans that the Democrats might be able to get single payer next time they are in office.

Sadly, I think the thing to do now is to acknowledge that the Republicans will cause untold suffering either way, and our job is to figure out where the suffering will be the least.

[brer cat]

26. The trump supporters long ago bought into the

"Obamacare is terrible" lie. They will cheer when he explodes it and blame Democrats when people die or face financial ruin because they have no healthcare.

[Squinch]

31. Yes. I think the only thing that could turn them back toward reasonable health care is a few years

living on TrumpRyan Care.

[Chemisse]

17. Actually I think he will succeed.

Since the Obamacare-is-collapsing has been a theme for months, and the Dems have done nothing to counter it. When Trump pulls the plug, people will assume the GOP has been right all along.

[Squinch]

19. Yes. We can see this coming.

[paleotn]

21. doubtful.....

If it collapses, it's because 45 stopped paying the government's obligations. It's simple and easy to frame that way. The only morons who think the ACA is collapsing and would buy the mem are propagandized fools who would blame the Dems for virtually everything, no matter what. Fuck them. They can't be reached or reasoned with, but luckily, they're not a majority of Americans. Not even close. The sooner the fools die off the better.

[Chemisse]

25. When have you heard a Dem step up and say Obamacare is NOT collapsing?

The silence allows the GOPO to frame the narrative - as always.

[paleotn]

29. Agree with you on that....

They need to talk up its good points, and there are many, and say it just needs to be tweaked...ie. reverse Rubio's blowing up of the risk adjustments. Of course the insurance companies raised rates, simply because, thanks to Rethugs, the government didn't stick to its part of the bargain....maintain lower rates by covering differences in risk from pool to pool through government funding. It's like tying ACA's arms behind its back and then saying it doesn't work. But that's hard to get across to those not versed in at least a rudimentary level of the ACA's details.

What 45 is proposing isn't nearly as sneaky as blowing up the risk channels. It's in your face, ain't gonna pay what the government owes. One doesn't have to get into the minutia to understand that clearly. It's like stiffing Lockheed Martin for 20 F-35 jets. It's nearly impossible to spin that....thus this will blowup in 45's orange face.

[Chemisse]

32. Good point.

Even the dumbest among us understand that if you don't pay your bills the shit is going to hit the fan.

[paleotn]

37. I hope that's the case

otherwise we're all going to get screwed, and a certain segment will be cheering on their own screwing, the idiots.

[TomCADem]

38. Right. Instead, Dems Are Running to Single Payer...

...thus implicitly agreeing with Republicans and Trump that the ACA is a "disaster" rather than defend or make the ACA stronger.

[Thekaspervote]

41. How can you say that??

Schumer has been there at every turn, as has pelosi! Speaking out, asking dems to call, making sure it's known who will end health care and it isn't the dems!!

[dchill]

4. He will blow it up, then say it's not working.

And the millions he's killing will believe him. Or maybe not.

[WinkyDink]

6. THIS. He said, with the Pres. of Colombia, "We have no health care in America."

[iluvtennis]

7. Absolutely DEPLORABLE...I despise Dumpty for these hateful acts

[elmac]

10. I despise Dumpty almost has much

as I despise the ignorant assholes that voted for him.

[TalenaGor]

8. I thought this was a couple weeks ago n he backed off it?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

9. Republicons must own this. They can't be allowed to con voters into believing they didn't do it. nt

[Demtexan]

12. The bigger picture is hospitals will close and people will be laid off.

Last edited Sun May 21, 2017, 01:45 PM - Edit history (1)

People who supply hospitals will be laid off.

Of course people will die.

The insurance plan the republicans were trying to sell is just junk.

The whole mess will fall down.

Time for single payer

In a way Trump will be the reason for single payer.

[NickB79]

22. Rural areas will be hit especially bad

When hospitals are 40-50 miles apart to begin with, and the smaller clinics between them shut down, people WILL die. Pure and simple. Dad has a farm accident? He bleeds out in the 1.5 hr it takes for the ambulance to arrive and get him to the hospital. Mom has a heart attack? Same deal. Grandma has a chronic health issue, but can't do to get her meds on a regular basis because its too far? Sorry.

I grew up in just such an area. Most of my family still up there voted Trump. They will regret it.

[Demtexan]

27. I know.

None of this should be happening.
Car wrecks in rural areas.
City people out for a drive.
We will get single payer because there be nothing left of the insurance companies.
Only the well off will be able to afford insurance.
Even city hospitals will get hurt.
Who can go to hospitals without insurance.
Something will happen.

[Hugin]

13. Scorched earth.

He's not going to go quietly.

The Republicans want... As always... Their solution to every GAWD DAMN THING... Vouchers. Better known as Two-fer-one coupons which only help those who don't need additional help.

[Achilleaze]

14. Pissing on the poor

How republican is that?

[Honeycombe8]

16. It's the PEOPLE who are stuck paying for insurance they can't use.

Can the U S renege on a deal like that? Not pay what they have agreed to pay? Sounds like another lawsuit brewing.

How much have we spent on lawsuits so far because of Trump? Not surprised, since he's been involved in over 3,500 lawsuits himself.

[Mr. Ected]

20. Well, if the American people can't do a thing about this, and the GOP won't do a thing about this

A visit from the aliens may once again be our only option.

[roamer65]

23. Aliens would be well advised to stay away.

We are in a very dangerous part of our de-evolution.

[xor]

24. What a dick.

[paleotn]

30. Without legislation ....

...modifying the ACA, I don't think shit stain can actually do that. We will see. They can rattle the markets, as they're doing, but I don't think he can just not pay what's owed, based on current law. Then again, they're probably not actually going to not pay. This is just another mechanism to add instability to insurance markets, thus damaging ACA.

[Demtexan]

33. This will effect everybodies insurance.

Will not matter if you get it from work.

The cost will go up for everybody.

Pre existing illness and the other 9 rights Obama care gave everybody.

Just gone.

I do not see how hospitals will stay open.

At work we told we might have not insurance at all.

The rates may be to high.

[paleotn]

36. That's certainly possible

ACA has been a boon to small, rural hospitals, many of which would no longer exist without it. And you're right, just injecting such uncertainty into insurance markets will impact the company paid, group markets as well. I guess that's what happens when rank amateurs, with little to no good sense take over.

[Demtexan]

39. I work for a decent company.

So just be aware.

[Thekaspervote]

42. Thank you for a voice of reason!!

[riversedge]

34. Trump is vindictive--he has to take his vengence out someplace on someone. He is angry

over the Russia gate crap--but is rather helpless.. So now those least able to care for themselves will get hit hard.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

35. It's a distraction from the Russia stuff

we gotta keep our eye on the brass ring.........

[dchill]

40. K&R.

[Kennah]

43. On the bright side. No need for kids to read "The Grapes of Wrath". They'll get to live it. (n/t)