Blair Miller, Denver 7 News
DENVER – Colorado’s insurance commissioner said Thursday afternoon that President Trump’s executive order aimed at solving his promise to repeal and replace the federal health care law will “cause problems” for the state’s health insurance market and warned it could end employer-provided coverage in the state.
“Expanding association health plans and short-term health insurance without [Affordable Care Act] protections will fracture the individual and small group markets,” Insurance Commissioner Marguerite Salazar said.
She warned the executive action, which he says will help millions get “affordable” insurance, would instead benefit mostly healthy people, while leaving those with pre-existing conditions paying higher costs.
“The limited benefits, the focus on the healthy at the expense of those with pre-existing conditions, and lack of regulatory oversight will cause problems for the health insurance market as a whole,” Salazar said.
The White House has touted the order as directing the Labor Department to conduct a study to find out how small businesses can switch over to using national association plans, which would allow employers to offer group plans across state lines and offer plans not up to the standards of the ACA, also known as Obamacare.
The order would also allow individuals to buy short-term plans the ACA doesn’t allow for, which analysts say could benefit healthy people who need short-term insurance and don’t feel they need to be covered year-round.
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