In nine of 11 states with competitive U.S. Senate races, at least one insurer seeks to hike rates for ACA customers by at least 30 percent next year, according to the article. That includes Pennsylvania, where Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield wants to hike average premiums by more than 40 percent. Politico also cites Wisconsin, where three insurers have asked for rate hikes of more than 30 percent, and New Hampshire, where two of the five carriers want to sell plans with rate increase above 30 percent.
While rate hikes haven’t yet emerged as a major campaign issue in most Senate races, several Republicans looking to discredit the ACA, including Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), said they plan to highlight the issue in the fall, according to the article.
Democrats, however, are downplaying the role rate hikes will play this election year, arguing that the election year instead will be defined by polarizing comments made by Republican presidential contender Donald Trump, reports Politico.
The ACA enrollment season starts one week before Election Day.
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