Politico reported this week that due to (1) Congress not taking measures to stabilize the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace, (2) the repeal of the individual mandate and the (3) “wild card” Administration proposals to allow short-term plans, insurers are preparing for double-digit rate increases. For months, we’ve been highlighting the harmful impact of expanding the use of short-term "junk" insurance plans that don’t comply with ACA coverage protections. These so-called insurance plans would leave consumers without any real coverage when they need care the most. Consumers who remain in the individual market, including those who are older or have pre-existing conditions, would be left with higher costs.
Also this week, in conjunction with other advocacy organizations, the Center submitted comments to the Administration’s Proposed Rule: Protecting Statutory Conscience Rights in Health Care. We shared the concerns of many advocates that this proposal is an attack on healthcare rights. As we expressed in our comments, this action is discriminatory, violates federal statue, fosters confusion, and causes real harm to real people. All Americans deserve access to affordable, quality health coverage. A better use of the Administration’s time and resources would be working to reduce health disparities and implementing the ACA.
We call on the Administration to stop undermining health coverage for millions of Americans, and instead, to work toward ending – not exacerbating – disparate access to care.
- Read the Center’s full comments on the Proposed Rule here: https://www.medicareadvocacy.org/cma-comments-on-conscience-rules/
March 29, 2018 – B. Belton