Key senators reach deal on Obamacare insurer subsidies (Washington Examiner)

Oct 17, 2017
2:13 PM

Sen. Lamar Alexander said he has arrived at a bipartisan deal with Democratic Sen. Patty Murray to stabilize Obamacare insurer subsidies.

Sen. Lamar Alexander, chairman of a key committee that has been working on a bipartisan deal to stabilize Obamacare, said Tuesday that he has arrived at an agreement with Sen. Patty Murray, the committee's top Democrat.

The deal would fund Obamacare's insurer funds, known as cost-sharing reduction payments, for two years, and includes what Alexander refers to as "meaningful flexibility" for states. Trump abruptly cut off the subsidies last week.

It would allow insurers to sell "copper plans," to people who are older than 30, which tend to have higher deductibles and offer fewer benefits than more expensive options, but could be one way to attract individuals into the market who have fewer medical needs.

"This is a small step, I'd like to undersell it, not oversell it," said the chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, adding that he hoped to release legislation this week.

Alexander said he is trying to line up Republican co-sponsors, while Murray is trying to get enough co-sponsors on the Democratic side as well.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the bill received "broad support" during a lunch with Democrats.

Read more: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/key-senators-reach-deal-on-obamacare-insurer-subsidies/article/2637770