Highlights:
- The American Benefits Council (ABC) issued a release outlining what payers should expect legislatively post-election including COVID-19 relief and stimulus legislation, Affordable Care Act expansion, and other efforts to ensure Americans have access to the coverage they need. “Without the support of a fully Democratic Congress, President-elect Biden’s broad health plan will be largely stalled,” the release stated. “However, there may be some opportunities for more targeted bipartisan health care legislation and the Biden administration will turn to executive action to pursue policy changes without Congress.”
- A Republican-controlled Senate is likely to block Biden’s bolder proposals. Such proposals might include the creation of a public health insurance option through the ACA Marketplace that would aim to reverse the increase in uninsured and underinsured Americans over the last four years. However, a combination of more modest plans could produce a similar effect, such as lowering the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 60, offering plans in states that did not expand Medicaid, and expanding subsidies. Therefore, the American Benefits Council expects that the Biden administration will focus its intent on achieving ACA expansion.
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