Trump may not enforce individual health insurance mandate: aide

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

POLITICS | Sun Jan 22, 2017 | 1:03pm EST

Trump may not enforce individual health insurance mandate: aide

The Trump administration may no longer enforce a rule requiring individual Americans to carry health insurance or pay a penalty if they do not, a senior White House official said on Sunday

Speaking on ABC's "This Week" program, Kellyanne Conway, counselor to the president, said President Donald Trump "may stop enforcing the individual mandate."

Separately, on CBS' "Face the Nation" show, she reiterated Republican promises that no one would lose their health insurance under Obamacare while a replacement is being developed.

"For the 20 million who rely upon the Affordable Care Act in some form, they will not be without coverage during this transition time," she said.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-obamacare-idUSKBN1560SX

[TlalocW]

1. To be honest

Since the ACA started, I never signed up. I'm starting to come out of difficult financial times, and it was cheaper to take the hit at taxes, pay cash for maybe the 2 times a year I need to go to the doctor than pay for 12 months of coverage. Part of living in a state whose governor doesn't want the ACA. I'm wanting to get insurance now, but... who knows now.

TlalocW

[Kilgore]

2. To also be honst

I have serious issues with the ACA. We were paying almost $1400 a month for a bronze plan with a $10,000 deductible. Effectively we dont have insurance, just another house payment. We finally said screw it and are going without this year.

If an overhaul fixes this and gets us reasonable coverage at a reasonable price, I'm in.

I know this will offend many, so my asbestos underpants are on........flame on!!

[subterranean]

3. That would screw the insurance companies.

People have already signed up for their plans for this year, so the insurance companies can't discontinue them, but some of their healthier (and more profitable) customers will disenroll if they know the mandate won't be enforced. And I believe it's too late for them to raise their rates. I'm pretty sure most insurance companies will be pulling out of the exchanges next year due to all the uncertainty, whether the ACA is fully repealed by then or not.

[MichMan]

4. What happens if you need expensive care?

For those who decided they would rather pay the fine than buy insurance, what happens if you need expensive care?

[subterranean]

5. Same thing that happens to anyone who's uninsured.

They would be responsible for the entire cost.

[NickB79]

6. Which would gut the ACA

The whole point of the mandate was to get the younger, healthier individuals in to offset the old and sick.

[Norbert9]

7. Simple math

Less people with insurance means higher premiums. But this country elected a man who promised lower premiums and deductibles.