Federal judge rules Trump can end health insurance cost sharing subsidies

A federal judge Wednesday OK’d President Trump’s decision to stop payments that reduce consumers’ out-of-pocket health costs. 

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria denied the request from 19 state attorneys general to block the move. 

Republican leaders in Congress also called for continuing the payments to insurers, at least until lawmakers can come up with a solution. A bipartisan bill would continue the payments but Trump tweeted that he opposed it. 

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Even without the administration funding the subsidies to insurers, the federal government will still wind up covering the higher premiums for millions of lower-income people that will result. Insurance companies in most states announced premiums that were an average of about 15% higher due to the uncertainty over whether the subsidies would be paid. 

Tax credits eligible to those who earn less than 400% of the federal poverty limit (about $65,000 for a family of two) increase as premiums increase so it’s those who earn more who are most affected.  

“State regulators have been working for months to prepare for the termination of these payments,” Chhabria wrote in his ruling. “And although you wouldn’t know it from reading the states’ papers in this lawsuit, the truth is that most state regulators have devised responses that give millions of lower-income people better health coverage options than they would otherwise have had.” 

What’s your health care experience? Write us at healthinsurance@usatoday.com

 

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Multiple Women Accuse Veteran Journalist Mark Halperin Of Sexual Harassment

“During this period, I did pursue relationships with women that I worked with, including some junior to me,” Halperin told CNN in a statement Wednesday night. “I now understand from these accounts that my behavior was inappropriate and caused others pain. For that, I am deeply sorry and I apologize.”

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