Health Insurers Warn of Market Turmoil as Trump Suspends Billions in Payments

[Zorro]

Source: New York Times

The Trump administration said Saturday that it was suspending a program that pays billions of dollars to insurers to stabilize health insurance markets under the Affordable Care Act, a freeze that could increase uncertainty in the markets and drive up premiums this fall.

Many insurers that enroll large numbers of unhealthy people depend on the “risk adjustment” payments, which are intended to reduce the incentives for insurers to seek out healthy consumers and shun those with chronic illnesses and other pre-existing conditions.

“Any action to stop disbursements under the risk adjustment program will significantly increase 2019 premiums for millions of individuals and small-business owners, and could result in far fewer health plan choices,” said Justine G. Handelman, a senior vice president of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. “It will undermine Americans’ access to affordable care, particularly for those who need medical care the most.”

Trump administration officials said they decided to suspend payments under the program because of a ruling in February in Federal District Court in New Mexico. The judge tossed out the formula used to calculate payments, finding that it was flawed.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/07/us/politics/trump-risk-adjustment-payments-obamacare.html

[PSPS]

1. How can trump "suspend" payments authorized by congress?

I know they were floating the idea of the 'clawback' to try and pull off this 'spending by the king's fiat' nonsense, but that was quickly flushed when the house refused to pursue it.

[olddad56]

2. he can do anything he wants to do. Or at least anything his boss tells him to.

Putin is big on destabilizing the Divided States of Russia, and Trump will do what he is told.

Who is going to stop him? The GOP controlled Congress? No, the Trump controlled Supreme Court? No

We have a dictator half way around the world that is calling the shots. They congress and court will rubber stamp anything they are told to.

[Red Mountain]

3. The decisions our elected officials are making are going to kill people

If they vote along those lines I sincerely hope they have adequate security in their districts. I watched Mitch run from a restaurant to his car this evening to avoid a few peaceful protestors.

He would not have survived an unhinged grieving parent or spouse.....and that's where we are.

[dalton99a]

4. The Russian traitor is hell-bent on killing Americans

[BigmanPigman]

6. ...while bankrupting them before they die.

It's a two-fer for the fucking moron. I am one of his victims. I HATE HIM!

[CozyMystery]

14. So do I.

[Freethinker65]

5. Thanks Susan Collins

[appalachiablue]

7. And as said, bankrupt them, and their families before they die!

[Nero Mero]

8. Trump is fucking up the economy (tariffs) and health care

He will likely end up being the worst President in US history;

[davekriss]

9. Likely? He already is the worst ever

He is the worst President ever, and that’s saying something considering the very low bar set by previous Republican Presidents.

[Yavin4]

10. This is the flaw in fighting for health insurance reform instead of a single payer system

The ACA was primarily a re-regulation of health insurance with subsidies attached. It is a right of center compromise to single payer. The Republican party has become so radicalized that anything other than pure private health insurance, a system that would leave millions of Americans uncovered, is unacceptable.

In order to win this fight, Democrats have to push for a single payer health insurance system. A compromise could be a public option at the start, expansion of Medicare to people in their 50s, and an expansion of Medicaid nationally, but soon these programs should all melt into a single payer system.

[area51]

12. Yes,

we need single-payer healthcare now

[CozyMystery]

13. We sure do.

My situation is not unusual. If I were able to afford health insurance, it would cost $700 per month. The deductible would be so high that I could only use the insurance for physician visits, medications, and lab work.

When I used to have Blue Cross, they could tell me only that a procedure I needed would first be paid by me, out of my deductible of over $6,000. The physicans' office could not tell me what the cost would be, only that I would have to sign a form that I agreed to pay my part of the cost. They told me to ask my insurer what the cost would be.

Blue Cross didn't know either. Now, I wasn't about to pay for a procedure when I had no idea what it would cost me. That makes no sense. Also, I already knew that I wouldn't have the money to pay it, even on a payment plan. The payments would not be just a few dollars a month for a multi-thousand dollar medical debt.

So I tried to get Medicaid. No dice. We make too much money. I would be glad about that if we really did make so much money that I could afford health insurance. We have so much money that our biggest asset is a 2009 car that is worth about $4,000, so you can see that we are not rolling in dough.

Last week, my doctor said I needed an EKG (I have serious heart problems). I asked how much it would cost. He said, "nothing". I was so grateful to him for that.

[sakabatou]

11. That's what he wants

and Trump will use it as pretext to get rid of the ACA all together.

[Vinca]

15. Last night I had a nightmare that Trump was undoing Obamacare from day one and

I would be getting a bill for my hip replacement (I hadn't even heard of this NY Times report). WTF is wrong with them?

[Bengus81]

16. This is like the game Jenga. Just keep slowly pulling out a supporting piece,then another........

then the whole thing collapses.

[underpants]

17. Know the difference - Risk Adjustments, Reinsurance, and Risk Corridors

Sorry I didn't see your post before I posted the below

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100210842457

[geretogo]

18. I'll bet he got a call from the pro life Hypocristians to let the unbelievers die in this

theocratic fascist oligarchy .

[RussBLib]

19. where the hell is Trump's "cheaper, better, universal" health care coverage?

Yeah, I know, i never expected Trump or the GOP to produce one, but aren't any of his voters wondering where the better health plan went?