With Republicans set to take control of the House in January, progressive plans to build on Obamacare at the federal level are going nowhere
And in Washington state, which was the first to pass a public option in 2019, enrollment remains paltry, and while the cost of the health insurance plans has decreased, state health officials said the policies available are still too expensive.
Insurance companies, which have long viewed the public option as an existential threat, and private market advocates continue to argue that the policy isn’t living up to its goals and, instead, will damage the nation’s health insurance landscape — and, with it, people’s ability to access affordable health care and a robust network of providers.
But costs have not come down enough yet to make a real dent in affordability or in the rates of uninsured and underinsured. Next year, Minnesota is expected to again consider a proposal to expand MinnesotaCare. | Jim Mone/AP Photo, New Mexico Together for Health Care, a coalition of progressive and health care advocacy groups, are talking with lawmakers and the governor’s office about their proposal to allow all New Mexicans to enroll in Medicaid regardless of their income. Advocates said the proposal requires the state asking CMS to foot a large part of the bill through a state plan amendment.
But Amanda Massey, executive director of the Colorado Association of Health Plans, a trade group representing insurers, dismissed Denver Health as a “very unique example” and said that providing the robust coverage required of Colorado Option plans and cutting costs isn’t feasible. Kyle Brown, deputy commissioner of affordability programs at the Colorado Division of Insurance, said the old marketplace plans weren’t working for people and the state needed to try something new.
The state’s hospitals, meanwhile, are concerned by a new provider participation requirement aimed at addressing the fact that five of the state’s 39 counties don’t have public option plans available for purchase. The new requirement mandates hospital systems contract with at least one public option carrier in counties where there currently is no public option plan.
In Nevada, health officials are set to meet Tuesday to consider reducing legislatively-set premium reduction targets from 20 percent to 16 percent over four years — a decision state officials said is necessary to reflect the recent spike in medical inflation. The state this monthfrom the actuarial and consulting firm Milliman that found public option plans, which will be available starting in 2026, will meet that 16 percent target by 2029.
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