The New York Times : declared in Facing Trump Subsidy Cuts, Health Insurance Officials Seek a Backup Plan

"Our market wouldn't recover."With no guidance or clarity from the Trump administration, state officials are agonizing over what to do. "But that's not the case right now."Without the federal subsidies, insurers would need to get the money — estimated at $7 billion to $10 billion next year — from another source. And that means higher premiums, state officials said. What happens if state officials guess wrong? State officials said they would allow insurers to impose a surcharge on premiums if the federal government cuts off funds for the cost-sharing subsidies.

Dan Haar: Soaring Health Insurance Profits Add Intrigue To Obamacare Debate

It was a tense winter for Aetna, Cigna and the other giant national managed health care companies. Experts say the big managed care companies are well insulated as they lobby for favorable treatment with hefty profits in their pockets. "Absolutely it does make it more difficult," said Sumesh Sood, a partner at Veda Partners in Bethesda, Md., who follows health care. The companies leave the talking on health care reform to their trade group, America's Health Insurance Plans, which is focused squarely on stabilizing the individual markets. Out-of-control health care spending of $3.2 trillion a year can return to a sustainable level only if doctors, hospitals and managed care providers devise new and better ways of maintaining public health.


That's especially true in Central Texas, where folks looking to buy insurance are going to have even more insurers to choose from. In the Austin area, people will soon be able to buy a plan from a company called Oscar Health Insurance. Described as a sort of health insurance startup, the technology-focused company has only been around since 2012. KUT's Ashley Lopez reports"I like to say we're a new kind of health insurance company," says Kyle Estep, Oscar's Texas market director. "For us, it comes down to helping people navigate this incredibly complex health care system we have in America," he says.


collected by :Lucy William

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