GOP Sabotage of ACA Causing Premiums to Skyrocket in Tennessee

Once again, Republican sabotage of the ACA is causing premiums to skyrocket – today it was reported that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee, the state's most popular insurer, is requesting an average rate increase of 21.4 percent in the individual health insurance marketplace.

The Trump Administration's refusal to commit to continue the cost-sharing reduction (CSR) payments, which make health care affordable for millions of Americans, is creating a crisis in the marketplaces for 2018. 

In Tennessee, Insurance Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak called out Republicans in Congress for failing to take steps to stabilize the marketplaces and keep premiums down:

"Every dollar matters when Tennessee consumers are feeling like they need to choose between health insurance or groceries or mortgage payments and the Congress could take action that would pay immediate dividends."

As Democratic Leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer pointed out in their letter to President Trump on March 30, there are some straightforward steps that the Administration and Congressional Republicans could take to help start stabilizing the marketplaces for 2018 right away.

It's time for Republicans to stop sabotaging the ACA and work with Democrats to lower health costs and expand access to affordable health care for every American.