Stabilizing the Individual Market after Federal Efforts Stall

March 28, 2018

When President Trump signed the federal Omnibus spending bill on March 23, 2018, the bill did not include language or funding to stabilize the individual market under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). A bipartisan group of lawmakers had been working on strategies to prevent major premium hikes in the 2019 coverage year.

Covered California, the state’s ACA marketplace for individuals, recently estimated, absent state and/or federal action to address uncertainty in the individual market, premiums will increase between 12-30 percent in 2019. With federal efforts falling short, California is considering proposals to bolster the state’s marketplace and reduce anticipated increases in premiums.

Download the entire post and summaries of federal legislative proposals here.