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Statement of ACAP on Proposed Repeal of Individual Health Insurance Mandate
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 14, 2017
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Jeff Van Ness, (202) 286-4683
STATEMENT OF ACAP CEO MARGARET A. MURRAY ON PROPOSED REPEAL OF INDIVIDUAL HEALTH INSURANCE MANDATE
WASHINGTON—Margaret A. Murray, CEO of the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), issued the following statement on on the proposed repeal of the individual mandate in the most recent tax proposal under consideration by the U.S. Senate:
“The unpopularity of the individual mandate is outweighed only by the popularity of guaranteed issue. It’s true that nobody likes a mandate. But it serves a crucial function in maintaining a healthy risk pool and a market that functions properly.
“We’re not beholden to the mandate per se , but its function is essential. Replacing the individual mandate is a proposition where a lot more can go wrong than go right. As a recent ACAP report found, there are policy levers out there that can mimic the effects of the individual mandate. They require extremely thoughtful choice and implementation if they are to maintain the stabilizing power of the mandate. But this proposal includes no replacement.
“Repeal of the mandate without replacement ignores its likely downstream effects: fewer plan choices and higher premiums for people who rely on the Marketplace for health coverage.”
About ACAP
ACAP represents 61 not-for-profit Safety Net Health Plans in 29 states, which collectively serve more than 21 million people enrolled in Medicaid, Medicare, Marketplaces, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and other health programs. For more information, visit www.communityplans.net.
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