Will Federal and State Policies Make Health Coverage Less Affordable for Middle-Income Americans?
<p>The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has increased access to health care and reduced medical debt for many people. But there is growing concern about the affordability of health insurance for middle-income consumers who lack health benefits through their jobs and aren’t eligible for tax subsidies or other federal assistance. </p><p>In a new post on <em>To the Point</em>, Washington and Lee University School of Law’s Timothy S. Jost reviews actions taken by the Trump administration and certain states — such as promoting low-cost, stripped-down health plans that don’t comply with ACA protections — that are likely to make coverage more expensive for people remaining in the individual insurance market.</p>
<p>Jost reviews steps the federal government and states could take to stabilize the market for all Americans. “Congress will likely need to act soon to address the fact that many middle-income purchasers of individual insurance in the U.S. face unaffordable insurance prices,” he says.</p>