HEALTHCARE/OBAMACARE(ACA)/PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The Trump administration on Tuesday [2-20-18] released a proposal that would allow for the proliferation of less-comprehensive, cheaper health plans restricted under the Affordable Care Act, marking one of the most significant efforts by Republicans to roll back the Obama-era health law.
The proposed rule would loosen restrictions on short-term insurance policies, which are low-cost plans that have fewer benefits and limited consumer protections. Such plans can now only be carried for 90 days, and the new proposal would allow them to extend for a year. The plans are often sold only to people who qualify as healthy and they may have annual limits on the amount of care they will cover. The plans don’t have to cover people with pre-existing conditions, for example, and insurers can charge higher premiums based on a consumer’s health status. They also don’t have to include benefits mandated by ACA plans such as prescription-drug coverage.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told reporters that ‘expanding options for more affordable, individual insurance’ is one of his top priorities… The proposal marks the latest Republican-led effort to roll back the ACA after GOP lawmakers in Congress failed to repeal it last year. Congressional Republicans ended the ACA’s penalty on people who don’t have health coverage.”
-Stephanie Armour, “Health Proposal Would Loosen Limits on Short-Term Insurance,” The Wall Street Journal online, Feb. 20, 2018 01:55pm