Campaign Action
How rich of this? Donald Trump's sabotage of the Affordable Care Act, his work to send premium costs so high no one would sign up, has actually resulted in free health insurance for lower-income people in 98 percent of counties. Premiums aren't skyrocketing for the very big majority of consumers in the Obamacare markets—they're shrinking.
Trump's refusal to pay cost-sharing reduction payments to insurance companies meant those companies had to figure out how to recoup their losses. In doing so, they did the exact opposite of what Trump wanted to happen—they made free health insurance available to people who qualify in 98 percent of counties, according to a analysis by Avalere. Astounding, isn't it? What that means is this:
"This year, more than ever, it is important for consumers to shop around and compare their options across metal levels," said Chris Sloan, senior manager at Avalere. "The dramatically higher subsidies mean consumers could be getting much better deals for bronze and gold plans for 2018." […]
"The curious effect of the Administration's elimination of the cost-sharing reduction payments is that many subsidized individuals may find that they pay less for premiums in 2018," said Caroline Pearson, senior vice president at Avalere.
A low-income consumer aged 50 earning 150 percent of poverty or less ($18,090 for an individual or $36,900 for a family of four) in 98 percent of the nation can get a bronze plan that will be entirely paid for by federal subsidies. And in nearly one-fifth of counties—18 percent—this consumer would be able to get a free silver level plan, and 10 percent of counties will have free gold plan for individuals at 150 percent of poverty, or $18,090.
If you are one of the Open Enrollment Street Team volunteers helping Get America Covered, this is great information to have in hand as you talk to family and friends and neighbors about getting covered. If you're not one of the volunteers, please consider signing up.
Let's exploit Trump's stupidity and make it backfire even bigger. Let's help Obamacare succeed this year, and let's get millions more people covered.
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