Is Cost Sharing Reduction on the Chopping Block?
Posted: July 26, 2017
by John Hansen
If consumers have are under 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), they qualify for Cost Sharing Reduction (CSR), which means better benefits at the same cost if you enroll on a Silver Plan through Covered California, the California Health Exchange. However, these benefits are being threatened by Republican leaders in Washington DC as they consider the future of health care in America.
If CSR payments from the federal government are stopped, that would mean a decrease of $400-$600 million from Washington coming to California insurers. Top leaders at Blue Shield of California say that this alone could lead to a rate increase of 5%-10%.
Covered California Executive Director, Peter Lee, warned the GOP in Washington that cutting off Cost Sharing Reduction could lead to rate increases of 25%-40%.
CSR was challenged by Republicans in Washington during Barrack Obama’s presidency. The Obama administration fought to save CSR in court. However, the case was not closed before Trump came into office.
So this puts President Donald Trump into an interesting dilemma. The court case and the responsibility to defend CSR falls into his lap. So, should the President fight to save an element of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), even though he opposes Obamacare? Or, does he purposely choose to lose the case and by so doing dismantle that portion of the ACA?
After Trump and Ryan’s first failed attempt to get enough votes to pass a repeal and replace of Obamacare, Trump threatened that he might sit back and watch the ACA fall apart. Allowing, CSR to fail would have definitely be a step in that direction.
Jeff Smith, Blue Shield of California Individual and Family Plan General Manager, was asked by a California broker, “What will Blue Shield of California do if Cost Sharing Reduction is taken away? Will you increase your rates or will you leave some markets?”
Smith responded, “We’d likely have to increase rates, and we might have to pull some of our plans.”
Not sure how Obamacare affects your health care plans in California? Learn how the ACA works in California, including benefits, costs and enrollment.
Covered California is the Golden State’s official health exchange marketplace where individuals, families and small businesses can find high-quality, low-cost California government health insurance.
Learn about Obamacare income guidelines in California using our income limits chart, and see if you’re eligible for government assistance.
Learn about the Covered California website. Find easy online enrollment. Set up your account, log in, buy insurance and more on the California health marketplace website.