After Mr. Bertolini’s comment, HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell called him to discuss the exchanges.
“The Secretary called me that evening at home to say, ‘What happened?'” Mr. Bertolini said in a Kaiser Health News interview, according to the report. “Well, I told her you need to read the whole [earnings transcript], which she did and she calmed down. We like the program and we think it’s an appropriate effort. But we do need to make changes.”
A spokesman from HHS declined to comment.
Mr. Bertolini’s proposed changes include alterations regarding low-deductible plans for young Americans.
“Young people pay some amount of premium, pick a number and have a $5,000 deductible and go to the doctor once a year and pay all in cash,” he said. “For people under 35, their definition of health is looking good in their underwear. How does [the Affordable Care Act] support their view of what’s good health?”
More articles on payer issues:
CMS finalizes changes to ACA marketplace: 6 things to know
Fitch: Blue Cross hit hard by ACA losses
California lawmakers consider insurance tax package
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