On Tuesday, Senate Republicans moved to nix the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate by rolling this repeal into their tax bill. Reno Public Radio’s Anh Gray reports how this could affect Nevada.
Heather Korbulic heads up the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange, which is Nevada’s health insurance marketplace. Repealing the individual mandate, she says, would be disruptive.
“The entire individual market nationwide would be significantly impacted," Korbulic explains. "We’ll see less young, healthy people in the risk mix nationally, and in Nevada, specifically, and with that comes an increase in premium cost.”
Due to the uncertainty, Korbulic says that the climate has been volatile and insurance companies are withdrawing.
“So in Nevada where we may be more impacted is that we only have two carriers for plan year 2018,” Korbulic says.
That’s down from four carriers in 2017. TheCongressional Budget Officeestimates that repealing the individual mandate would result in 13 million fewer people with health insurance by 2027. And it could spike insurance premiums by about 10 percent.
A vote on the Senate floor could take place soon.