“The Single Most Destabilizing Factor” in the Health Insurance Market

Need further proof that Republicans’ request to delay their cost-sharing reductions lawsuit will harm consumers? CNBC reports that the uncertainty Republicans are injecting in the health insurance market with this delay could result in premiums increasing by 20% or more:  

“Delay, delay, delay means Obamacare customers will pay, and pay, and pay a lot more next year.”

“The Trump administration's move Monday to avoid for 90 days — yet again — making a decision on a major court challenge to key Obamacare subsidies paid insurers by itself will alone add up to 20 percent or more to the price of individual health plans next year, experts said Monday.”

“America's Health Insurance Plans, a leading industry lobbying group, expressed dismay over the latest delay, and the lack of a guarantee that the subsidies will continue. ‘AHIP's position and unwavering focus on cost-sharing subsidies remains the same — we need swift action and long-term certainty on this critical program,’ a spokeswoman for the group said. ‘It is the single most destabilizing factor in the individual market, and millions of Americans could soon feel the impact of fewer choices, higher costs and reduced access to care.’"

“Because insurers have to finalize their premium requests within the 90-day window of the appeals case, they will not know for sure the fate of the subsidies”