September 15, 2017

New Democrat Coalition Sends Letter to Senators Alexander and Murray

While the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee wrapped up their fourth and last hearing on stabilizing premiums in the individual insurance market, New Democrat Coalition Members sent a letter to Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.) calling for a path forward on legislative solutions to reduce health care costs. The Committee heard from state insurance commissioners, health care experts, and a bipartisan group of governors to discuss stabilizing premiums in the individual insurance market so that the 18 million Americans in the individual market will be able to buy insurance at more affordable prices in the year 2018.

“As you develop a targeted, short-term package to provide certainty and limit premium increases, we hope you will consider our enclosed proposal,” the letter reads. “We believe these ideas provide a framework to reduce health care costs for families and seniors, increase choices for consumers, and encourage participation by the young and healthy.”

On July 12, The New Democrat Coalition, along with other House Democrats, put forward a proposal to improve the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This letter outlines the New Dem-led set of proposals to stabilize the market and make health care more affordable for American families:

  • Guaranteed cost-sharing payments to reduce out-of-pocket costs
  • Dedicated reinsurance funds to keep premium costs down
  • Increased insurance coverage through outreach and enforcement
  • Additional flexibility to create more affordable insurance options while protecting consumers
  • Marketplace improvements and technical changes

In recent months, bipartisan support has grown on the need to improve the ACA individual marketplaces to provide certainty and limit premium increases. New Democrat Coalition Members look forward to working with the Senate HELP Committee on a bill that paves the way to address long-term stability and predictability to the individual market.

 

Read the full letter here or below:

 

September 15, 2017

Dear Chairman Alexander and Ranking Member Murray,

Thank you for your leadership and commitment to an open, bipartisan process to stabilize and strengthen the individual health insurance market. On July 12, The New Democrat Coalition, along with other House Democrats, put forward a proposal to improve the Affordable Care Act. As you develop a targeted, short-term package to provide certainty and limit premium increases, we hope you will consider our enclosed proposal.

This set of proposals to stabilize the market and make health care more affordable for American families was designed to have bipartisan appeal and was the result of months of meetings with constituents, health policy experts, and health care providers. Specifically, we identify solutions in five areas:   

  • Guaranteed cost-sharing payments to reduce out-of-pocket costs
  • Dedicated reinsurance funds to keep premium costs down
  • Increased insurance coverage through outreach and enforcement
  • Additional flexibility to create more affordable insurance options while protecting consumers
  • Marketplace improvements and technical changes

Since releasing our proposal, bipartisan support has grown on the need to improve the ACA individual marketplaces. We believe these ideas provide a framework to reduce health care costs for families and seniors, increase choices for consumers, and encourage participation by the young and healthy.

As you well know, timing is critical and the window to provide necessary certainty for 2018 is closing. We know you share our goal finding solutions to reduce health care costs and look forward to working with you on a bill that paves the way to address long term health challenges.

Sincerely,

 

 



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