Washington, D.C., February 15, 2017 -- Today, in response to the Department of Health and Human Services' proposed market stabilization rule for the Affordable Care Act's insurance marketplaces, Council for Affordable Health Coverage Executive Director Katie Allen issued the following statement:
With its proposed market stabilization rule, HHS has wisely begun addressing the long-standing issues leading to market instability while Congress debates the future of the ACA. The rule's main goals of helping issuers attract healthy consumers, balancing the risk pool, incentivizing continuous coverage, and deferring regulatory oversite to the states, fully align with the consumer advocacy efforts we have been working on for years.
Many of the rule's provisions seek to deter consumers from raising premiums across the board by signing up for coverage only when they get sick. For example, the administration is proposing greater pre-enrollment verification of special enrollment period eligibility and incentivizing continuous coverage.
These are commendable, positive first steps. However, they are likely not enough to give insurers who have abandoned the marketplaces a reason to come back. It is even more apparent that immediate congressional action is needed to shore up the marketplace.
CAHC urges Congress and the administration to continue building on these efforts. Our recently released policy paper details a crucial game plan for stabilizing markets, cultivating choice and competition, and shifting focus to long-term cost containment.
The Administration's decision to quickly implement short-term ACA stabilization policies is absolutely correct. In the wake of imminent health care reform from President Trump and Republican congressional representatives, CAHC’s policy proposal aims to guide the U.S. health care market toward more sustainable, affordable consumer solutions.
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For more information or to set up an interview with Katie Allen, contact Sandra Ramos at 202-471-4228 ext. 115 or [email protected].
About the Council for Affordable Health Coverage
The Council for Affordable Health Coverage is a broad-based association of organizations representing consumers, physicians, small businesses, large employers, manufacturers and retailers, franchises and insurers, working to lower health costs for all Americans.
February 17, 2017
