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From our Expert Voices conversation on plans for health care reform after Trump's executive order:

Here's what the bipartisan Alexander-Murray bill would do to prevent large marketplace premium hikes on the eve of the 2018 mid-term election:

Ensure payments that reduce cost sharing for low-income enrollees for the next two years (cut by Trump's executive order)

Provide needed outreach support to help Americans sign up for coverage for the next two years (previously cut by the Trump administration)

Facilitate state waivers like Alaska's to provide reinsurance that lowers premiums

Yet, should this deal pass, it could be undone — and then some — by regulations pursuant to the order. Individual-market premiums could spike next fall if unregulated short-term plans could be sold alongside Marketplace plans. They would siphon off young and healthy enrollees.

Increasing premiums further, employers could drive their high-cost employees to the individual marketplace through loosely regulated health reimbursement arrangements. And employer risk-pooling could be frayed by unbounded association health plans that would separate low- from high-risk small employers.

Necessary as it is, the Senate bill cannot improve marketplace stability if the administration remains determined to undercut it.

The bottom line:  Congress should block executive actions that raise premiums, especially for people with pre-existing conditions — in this bill or any other legislation.

James Capretta, resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and former associate director for health programs at the OMB: Alexander-Murray deal a flawed first attempt at bipartisanship

John McDonough, professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and former Senate adviser on health reform: Obamacare is dead. Long live the Affordable Care Act.

Tevi Troy, CEO of the American Health Policy Institute and former deputy secretary of HHS: Expanding HRAs would bolster individual market

Christopher Condeluci, principal at CC Law and Policy and former tax and benefits counsel to the Senate Finance Committee: Clearing the air on AHPs

Health care fix today could be undone tomorrow

Expert Voices

From our Expert Voices conversation on plans for health care reform after Trump&#x27;s executive order:Here&#x27;s what the bipartisan Alexander-Murray bill would do to prevent large marketplace premium hikes on the eve of the 2018 mid-term election:<ul><li>Ensure payments that reduce cost sharing for low-income enrollees for the next two years (cut by Trump&#x27;s executive order)</li><li>Provide needed outreach support to help Americans sign up for coverage for the next two years (previously cut by the Trump administration)</li><li>Facilitate state waivers like Alaska&#x27;s to provide reinsurance that lowers premiums</li></ul>Yet, should this deal pass, it could be undone — and then some — by regulations pursuant to the order. Individual-market premiums could spike next fall if unregulated short-term plans could be sold alongside Marketplace plans. They would siphon off young and healthy enrollees.Increasing premiums further, employers could drive their high-cost employees to the individual marketplace through loosely regulated health reimbursement arrangements. And employer risk-pooling could be frayed by unbounded association health plans that would separate low- from high-risk small employers.Necessary as it is, the Senate bill cannot improve marketplace stability if the administration remains determined to undercut it.The bottom line: Congress should block executive actions that raise premiums, especially for people with pre-existing conditions — in this bill or any other legislation.Other voices in the conversation:<ul><li>James Capretta, resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and former associate director for health programs at the OMB: Alexander-Murray deal a flawed first attempt at bipartisanship</li></ul><ul><li>John McDonough, professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and former Senate adviser on health reform: Obamacare is dead. Long live the Affordable Care Act.</li><li>Tevi Troy, CEO of the American Health Policy Institute and former deputy secretary of HHS: Expanding HRAs would bolster individual market</li><li>Christopher Condeluci, principal at CC Law and Policy and former tax and benefits counsel to the Senate Finance Committee: Clearing the air on AHPs</li></ul>

Jeanne Lambrew

Stories

Health care fix today could be undone tomorrow