H.H.S. director Dr. Tom Price continues implementing “Phase 2” of the American Health Care Act even before it passes the U.S. Senate. You know, that “Phase 2” that so many naysayers said would “never happen“. Yeah, that one. Dr. Price is allowing any state who wants a 1332 waiver to apply for one now, even before the American Health Care Act is voted on in the U.S. Senate. 1332 waivers allow states to implement risk mitigation programs like high risk pools so consumers experience immediate premium reduction.

Recent empirical evidence proves that 1332 waivers actually DO reduce premiums

The state of Alaska used a 1332 waiver last year to create their own high risk health insurance pool and saw premium reductions of 33% in their individual health insurance marketplace. A 33% premium decrease is a much better outlook for 2018 than yet another double digit premium increase that states like Virginia, Maryland and Connecticut are facing for 2018 right now, some as high as 60%! Why so high? Because the PPACA (Obamacare) destroyed healthy competition by causing 83 health insurers to leave the marketplace last year. This has left states like Virginia with only two health insurers left and states like Iowa with only one carrier left and possibly no carrier for 2018 if Medica follows through on their threat to throw in the towel after losing $100 million under Obamacare. My home state of Illinois just lost one of only four insurers left that offer individual products when Harken Health called it quits this week after losing $64 million just last year.

This isn’t the first time our H.H.S. & C.M.S. directors have taken corrective action

Last month, Dr. Price and our new C.M.S. director Seema Veerma stopped the reckless practice of Healthcare gov jet issuing policies to Special Enrollment applicants who claimed a ‘loss of income’ without requiring any proof that they actually did lose income before issuing the policy. Now, these Special Enrollment applicants have to prove a ‘loss of income’ before they get a policy. This action alone by Dr. Price and Seema Veerma stopped consumers from attempting to “game the system” by waiting to buy a health plan until they have scheduled medical treatment and then canceling that health plan shortly thereafter which drives up premiums for everyone.

Maybe, just maybe U.S. Senators can take a lesson from Dr. Price and Seema Veerma’s work ethic and pass the American Health Care Act now.  Why now? Because health insurers are required to submit their 2018 plans and premium rates for review by C.M.S. no LATER than June 21, 2017. Time is of the essence here if consumers want to experience premium relief and desperately needed restoration of competition in the individual marketplace before the next open enrollment period begins on Nov. 1, 2017.

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