39 Democrats Defect on Health Rules Despite Obama Veto Threat - I predict many of those Democrats who did not vote will wish they had when they face headwinds in their re-election efforts next year because of backlash from promise that "if you like your plan, you can keep your plan."
From The Wall Street Journal:
The 39 Democrats who backed the plan set a high-water mark in Republicans' efforts to win support from across the aisle to amend or delay portions of the law.
Some insurers said they had received no warning or direction ahead of Mr. Obama's announcement Thursday, and they weren't sure if renewing already-canceled policies was practical. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said the administration has been in consultation with insurers on a regular basis.
The health-insurance industry's top trade group, America's Health Insurance Plans, has warned that the president's proposal to extend canceled policies could lead to higher prices, a suggestion that the White House disputes.
If insurers go along with Mr. Obama's policy shift, as many as several million healthy people may stick with their current plans next year rather than buy coverage on new insurance exchanges set up under the health law. Many consumers upset about the policy cancellations say they enjoyed preferential pricing because of their good health.
If the exchange plans lose customers with lower-than-average medical costs, that would cut into the profits of insurers, because 2014 premiums were set on the assumption that owners of the canceled policies would move onto the exchanges. That could force premiums higher in 2015.
More than three dozen House Democrats rebuffed a White House veto threat and backed a Republican plan to change the health-care law, underscoring the tensions among members of President Barack Obama's party a day after he proposed his own fix to tamp down complaints.
The Republican plan, a response to unease among millions of Americans who face cancellation of health-insurance policies that don't meet the new law's standards, would give insurers one more year to offer policies that were set to end. Unlike Mr. Obama's plan, the GOP measure would allow insurers to sell those policies to new customers.
The 39 Democrats who backed the plan set a high-water mark in Republicans' efforts to win support from across the aisle to amend or delay portions of the law.
Some insurers said they had received no warning or direction ahead of Mr. Obama's announcement Thursday, and they weren't sure if renewing already-canceled policies was practical. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said the administration has been in consultation with insurers on a regular basis.
The health-insurance industry's top trade group, America's Health Insurance Plans, has warned that the president's proposal to extend canceled policies could lead to higher prices, a suggestion that the White House disputes.
If insurers go along with Mr. Obama's policy shift, as many as several million healthy people may stick with their current plans next year rather than buy coverage on new insurance exchanges set up under the health law. Many consumers upset about the policy cancellations say they enjoyed preferential pricing because of their good health.
If the exchange plans lose customers with lower-than-average medical costs, that would cut into the profits of insurers, because 2014 premiums were set on the assumption that owners of the canceled policies would move onto the exchanges. That could force premiums higher in 2015.
posted by Sid Cottingham | 10:33 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home