Sign up for our daily briefing
Make your busy days simpler with Axios AM/PM. Catch up on what's new and why it matters in just 5 minutes.
Catch up on the day's biggest business stories
Subscribe to Axios Closer for insights into the day’s business news and trends and why they matter
Stay on top of the latest market trends
Subscribe to Axios Markets for the latest market trends and economic insights. Sign up for free.
Sports news worthy of your time
Binge on the stats and stories that drive the sports world with Axios Sports. Sign up for free.
Tech news worthy of your time
Get our smart take on technology from the Valley and D.C. with Axios Login. Sign up for free.
Get the inside stories
Get an insider's guide to the new White House with Axios Sneak Peek. Sign up for free.
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Want a daily digest of the top Denver news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Denver
Want a daily digest of the top Des Moines news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Des Moines
Want a daily digest of the top Twin Cities news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Twin Cities
Want a daily digest of the top Tampa Bay news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Tampa Bay
Want a daily digest of the top Charlotte news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Charlotte
Want a daily digest of the top Nashville news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with the Axios Nashville newsletter.
Want a daily digest of the top Columbus news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with the Axios Columbus newsletter.
Want a daily digest of the top Dallas news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with the Axios Dallas newsletter.
Sign up for Axios NW Arkansas
Stay up-to-date on the most important and interesting stories affecting NW Arkansas, authored by local reporters
Andrew Harnik/AP
The first big Obamacare rule from the Trump administration may try to help insurers in some ways, like tightening the enrollment rules and letting them charge older customers more. But a new study out today sends a strong signal about what they really need to stay in the Obamacare markets: They want to be paid back for the subsidies they've paid out to low-income customers.
The study — conducted by Milliman for the Association for Community Affiliated Plans, a group representing safety-net insurers — concluded that there would be "significant losses for many insurers in the individual market" if the Trump administration and Congress don't reimburse them for the cost-sharing reduction subsidies.
Why it matters: The payments are up in the air right now because of a lawsuit House Republicans filed against the Obama administration, arguing that the subsidies were paid illegally because Congress never provided the money for them. A federal judge ruled against the subsidies, and if the Trump administration decides to drop the appeal, the payments could stop.
Key numbers:
- Customers who got the subsidies in 2014: 3.1 million
- Payments to insurers: $2.8 billion
- Customers who got the subsidies in 2015: 5.2 million
- Payments to insurers: $4.9 billion
- Customers who got the subsidies in first half of 2016: 5.9 million