Study: ObamaCare bills backed by Collins would lower premiums

[DonViejo]

Source: The Hill




BY PETER SULLIVAN - 12/06/17 12:22 PM EST

Two bipartisan ObamaCare fixes being pushed by GOP Sen. Susan Collins (Maine) would reduce premiums by 18 percent in 2019, according to a new study.

The study from Avalere, a consulting firm, finds that the two bills would more than cancel out the projected premium increase from repealing ObamaCare’s individual mandate.

Collins secured a commitment from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to support passage of the two bills before the end of the year, in exchange for her vote for tax reform, which includes repeal of the ObamaCare mandate.

The two bills provide funding for payments to insurers, known as Cost-Sharing Reductions (CSRs), and for “reinsurance,” which is money to pay for the costs of sick enrollees and bring down premiums.



Read more: http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/363553-study-obamacare-bills-backed-by-collins-would-lower-premiums

[old guy]

1. I don't trust her and don't trust anybody she trusts.

A CYA maneuver.

[BigDemVoter]

6. I hear ya. . . .

She is a dumb and worthless sack of shit.

[riversedge]

2. Press Release from polling compay

Press Release
http://avalere.com/expertise/managed-care/insights/funding-reinsurance-and-cost-sharing-reductions-would-lower-individual-mark


Funding Reinsurance and Cost-Sharing Reductions Would Lower Individual Market Premiums and Increase Enrollment
Chris Sloan, Elizabeth Carpenter, Caroline F. Pearson | Dec 06, 2017


New analysis by Avalere examines the impact of two market stabilization proposals—funding the cost-sharing reductions (CSRs) and implementing a federal reinsurance program—on individual market premiums and enrollment.

As part of the debate over tax reform, Congress is discussing a proposal put forth by Senator Collins that would provide 2 years of reinsurance funding at $5B per year. Avalere estimates that level of reinsurance would reduce 2019 premiums by 4% and increase enrollment by 180,000 people (Table 1). According to Avalere, reinsurance helps protect insurers from high cost claims and, as a result, lowers premiums.

In addition to the reinsurance funding, Congress may vote on the legislation previously proposed by Senators Alexander and Murray, which would fund the CSRs. In combination, CSR funding and $5B in annual reinsurance could lower 2019 premiums by 18% and increase enrollment by 1.3M people. Avalere experts find that reinsurance funding would contribute to lower premium costs while in effect, but would have little effect on the market once funding expires. The current debate suggests reinsurance would only be funded for 2 years.

“Together, funding for reinsurance and paying the cost-sharing reductions would significantly reduce premiums,” said Chris Sloan, senior manager at Avalere. “However, those effects only continue as long as the federal funding keeps flowing.”

Avalere experts note; however, that these stabilizing effects could be overshadowed by the consequences of repealing the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate, which is included in the Senate’s version of the tax reform bill. Consequences include increased premiums and reduced enrollment in the exchanges, according to estimates made by the Congressional Budget Office. Avalere’s modeling makes estimates relative to current law and does not assume the individual mandate is repealed.

“While funding reinsurance and cost-sharing reductions would help mitigate the impact of mandate repeal, eliminating the requirement to purchase coverage would create additional uncertainty in the market,” said Elizabeth Carpenter, senior vice president at Avalere. “As a result, it is important not to overlook the negative impact of repealing the individual mandate on long-term market stability.”

“Reinsurance is an effective policy solution, but it requires considerable federal funding to have a meaningful effect for consumers,” said Caroline Pearson, senior vice president at Avalere. “In order to substantially lower premiums, a reinsurance program would need more federal funding over a longer duration.”

METHODOLOGY

To conduct the analysis, Avalere used its proprietary individual market enrollment model to determine the project future impacts of federal funding of a reinsurance program and CSRs. The model relies on publicly available data provided by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, and American Community Survey (ACS) demographics information. Additionally, Avalere uses its proprietary MORE2 claims database to estimate the underlying risk of the population to project future premium increases and enrollee purchasing behavior in light of premium increases or decreases.

Authored By
Chris Sloan
Senior Manager
Elizabeth Carpenter
Senior Vice President
Caroline F. Pearson
Senior Vice President
Press Release

[turbinetree]

3. Collins math still does not work..................there is no competition in the

market place...........ie.....(public option) against United Health Care, Aetna, whoever.
They the health insurance market corporations is still being driven by greed, that is a simple fact

She was given the opportunity to vote against this tax bill----------she did not, she stood in that senate knowing full well, that even with her worthless provision it was not enough, she is a hypocrite, the cheapest option is Medicare for all.
She has no principles none, zilch, nada

She did not want to be sidelined by her caucus in fund raising that is all this and was for, she could have been taken from committees, where she has still inflicted hurt on the working poor and middle class across the country, she votes with her caucus,,she still voted with the idea of SALT elmination, she still voted with the elimination of a education deductions, medical deductions, charitable contributions, her numbers do not add up, except to be a big pile of sh*t

[Skittles]

4. she cannot POSSIBLY believe that fucking asshole McConnell

HE DOESN'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT AFFORDABLE PREMIUMS

[cstanleytech]

5. To little to late Collins after your tax vote to fuck

over most Americans in favor of your large campaign donors.

[Bengus81]

7. She voted to remove a key mandate......

Which in time will KILL the ACA for a BS Corporate give away,now she wants to cover her ass with some new health care "plan". Forget it................