With the deadline for payers to file their 2018 proposed rates steadily approaching, payers are scrambling to strategize their plan of attack in the uncertain healthcare marketplace, according to npr.
Here are four things to know:
1. The Trump administration told lawmakers it plans to continue paying ACA cost-sharing subsidies on April 28, which has been a highly controversial issue since the health law implemented the program. Both parties have fiercely debated the subsidies with Democrats threatening to allow a government shutdown if the administration discontinued subsidies.
2. Tom Policelli, CEO of Minuteman Health, which sells ACA policies, said the subsidy debate is creating more waves for insurance companies and is not useful in helping them decide their 2018 plans.
3. A 2017 Kaiser Family Foundation analysis shows premiums could increase by up to 19 percent if the government stops its subsidy payments.
4. Mr. Policelli said the industry also faces issues with medical loss ratios and risk adjustment schemes and said many payers are striving to just break even on the ACA exchanges, including Minuteman Health.