After much lobbying from Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and other free market conservatives, the Trump administration has finalized rule changes that will provide another option for consumers getting squeezed by Obamacare.
“We’re putting the people back in charge with more choice for better care at a far lower cost — and other people will not be paying for their health care,” Trump said on Friday at the White House. “We won’t be taxing you into oblivion.”
The White House believes that up to 11.4 million workers will ultimately enroll in health reimbursement arrangements (HRA) under this new rule. Employers will now be able to offer subsidies to employees on or off the Obamacare exchanges, and steer tax-exempted money toward these plans.
“This rule enables these businesses to better focus on serving their customers and growing their businesses and not on navigating and managing complex health benefit design,” said Brian Blase, the highest ranking healthcare adviser at the National Economic Council, while addressing reporters on a call.
“It opens up an opportunity for healthy people to land with coverage that may be cheaper, but not necessarily as comprehensive,” said Kevin Lucia, research professor at Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University, to Bloomberg News.
The rules will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2020 unless lawsuits from Democrats kill the health care relief for consumers.
Democratic state attorney generals from the states of Rhode Island, California, Illinois, and Maryland have issued a letter calling for the new health care option to be infringed upon to prop up their Obamacare abomination.
“The proposed safeguards and notice requirements are insufficient to address the recognized harms that will result from this poorly justified rule change that is contrary to both the language and purpose of the ACA,” the letter stated.
Regardless of the whining of the anti-market Democrats, Paul and his good friend in the White House are moving forward on giving more options to Americans.
“The health care debate is not over,” said Paul, who has been the biggest proponent of associated health plans that are currently being tied up in the federal courts.
“Conservatives are still fighting for free-market reforms to the health care system. I am excited to be working with President Trump on this initiative,” Paul added.
