WASHINGTON, DC (July 31, 2017): The Council for Affordable Health Coverage (CAHC) – a coalition of employers, insurers, brokers, agents, patient groups, and physician organizations – responded today to a proposal from the bipartisan Congressional Problem Solvers Caucus to stabilize the individual health insurance market and make needed reforms to the Affordable Care Act.
CAHC President Joel White released the following statement:
“Democrats and Republicans alike recognize that the Affordable Care Act needs major surgery. Costs are up and choices are down. So we are encouraged to see that the bipartisan Members of the Problem Solvers Caucus are looking to do what Congress should have been doing all along — finding common ground on ways to stabilize markets, increase choice and certainty for consumers and states, and begin focusing on lowering health costs overall,” said CAHC President Joel White. “The Caucus has offered a plan to ease uncertainty by committing to CSR payments that help low income afford high its sharing requirements, while easing the burden on our nation’s job-creators by providing more flexibility under the employer mandate. Additionally, the outline seeks to dedicate funds for stabilization and greater certainty for states seeking waivers. If Congress provided at least $25 billion in the stability fund, we estimate the proposal would roll back the enormous premium increases we have seen over the last two years, stabilize the market and help increase plan choice and competition.”
White continued, “The Council for Affordable Health Coverage supports efforts to protect Americans who have been left behind by the failures of Obamacare and our political system by bringing much-needed certainty to patients and markets alike. Congress and the administration should build on this bipartisan framework so that Washington’s inaction does not allow a broken law to be made even worse. We look forward to seeing more details and working with them on getting such a plan across the finish line.”
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Background:
The Council for Affordable Health Coverage (CAHC) is a broad-based alliance with a primary focus: bringing down the cost of health care for all Americans. CAHC promotes policies that lower health costs through increased competition, informed consumers and more choices to help promote access to affordable coverage.