Despite HHS saying the agency would maintain risk-corridor payments to payers, insurance companies are not convinced about the marketplace's stability and want more assurance before they propose premium rates, according to Morning Consult.
Here are four insights:
1. Most payers have until June 21 to file their 2018 premium request, with government funding for 2017 set to expire on April 28.
2. The Trump administration and the House are slated to provide the U.S. Court of Appeals an update on their lawsuit against the Obama administration for the risk-corridor program on May 22.
3. A Washington, D.C.-based America's Health Insurance Plans spokesperson said "As plans make decisions for 2018, they do so with a view of wanting to serve consumers in the market for the full year. That's why it's so important to know what will happen with cost sharing reduction subsidies long term," according to Morning Consult.
4. Kaiser Family Foundation Senior Vice President Larry Levitt said the administration didn't reveal its next steps regarding risk-corridor payments if the administration drops the lawsuit, which is a core reason payers want assurance from officials before making 2018 decisions.