Some Republican senators are considering the possibility of a narrow, standalone healthcare bill that would ensure funding for Obamacare's insurer subsidies, but are getting resistance from House Republicans.
The Senate is wrestling with how to handle a larger, House-passed bill to partially repeal and replace Obamacare. But that process could take months, and insurers are nervous that these cost-sharing reduction payments could soon be reduced or eliminated by the Trump administration unless they are guaranteed by new legislation.
Insurers have said they need to know as soon as possible whether the payments will be made for 2018 since they are formulating rates for next year and have to publicize them in a matter of weeks. Without the payments, insurers have said, they could be forced to drastically raise premiums or leave Obamacare's exchanges altogether.
Given this potential problem, Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., told reporters Monday he wants to do "something very quickly short-term to stabilize the insurance markets for 2018."
"This process has dragged on longer than I would have liked," said Johnson. "They need some certainty as to what is going to happen in 2018."
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05.11.2024