“Although we’ve made all of this progress, we as members of Congress have to acknowledge that too many Americans still struggle with costs, especially people in the individual market,” said Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Okla., co-chair of the Affordable and Accessible HealthCare Task Force, the Democratic group that authored the proposal.
Although House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Md., said the plan had “some promising ideas,” she did not seem to fully endorse it, according to the report. She added, “Instead of devastating millions of families across America with Trumpcare, Republicans should work constructively with Democrats to enact improvements and updates that help every family secure affordable quality health care. The GOP needs to stop the sabotage, give up repeal, and start putting solutions over politics for the good of the American people.”
The task force’s Solutions over Politics plan would include the following provisions, according to The Hill.
- The plan would create an annual $15 billion reinsurance fund to provide payments to payers that enroll higher-cost, sicker individuals.
- It would continue the ACA’s reimbursements to payers for giving discounts to low-income individuals. Payers have said uncertainty over whether these payments would continue is a reason for double-digit premium increases in 2018.
- It would include “robust marketing strategies” to ensure more people sign up for coverage during the enrollment period.
- The plan would include a Medicare buy-in option for people nearing the age of retirement.
- The plan would expand tax credits according to age, geography and income to help people afford insurance.
- It would expand access to catastrophic health plans that include essential health benefits, as well as coverage for primary care for younger enrollees.
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