Court Ruling Throws A Wrench In Trumps Obamacare Sabotage Plan

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Huffington Post

08/01/2017 10:52 pm ET

States have standing to fight a lawsuit threatening billions in funding for health insurers, an appeals court said.
By Jeffrey Young


President Donald Trump has been making noise again about halting payments to health insurance companies, which are crucial to making Obamacare work. A court decision Tuesday could disarm him.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled Tuesday that attorneys general from 17 states and the District of Columbia may pursue the Trump administration’s stalled appeal of a lawsuit alleging the federal government has been making these payments illegally.

The court agreed with the state officials that there’s reason to believe the Trump administration isn’t adequately acting on behalf of states. The Trump administration and House Republicans opposed the states’ effort.

Since before even taking office, Trump has threatened to withhold payments to health insurance companies that serve the lowest-income enrollees on the Affordable Care Act’s exchanges. On Monday, Trump renewed this threat on Twitter in the aftermath of the Senate Republican failure to repeal the law last week.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/court-trump-obamacare-sabotage_us_598128c6e4b09d24e993d470?section=us_politics

[still_one]

1. Appeals take time

[BigmanPigman]

2. I hope not since they are setting prices for 2018 now.

My state (CA) is one that is suing and I really need the ACA with subsidies (even that is 25% of my income!).

[Alice11111]

3. Even Orin Hatch is against withholding the subsidies.Appeals Crt is scary because if they lose, DT

Will surely take it to the Supremes, where we are outnumbered w Gorsuch. However, as said above, these things take time. There is no emergency the Repubs can assert. It could be bounced around a couple of years. Also, it could become mute, if there is a bipartisan agreement, which most of both sides are calli g for now. The Dems are rapidly putting together a plan.

I know Pigman, it is extremely unsettling, but given the myriad of possibilities, I think you are going to get the subsidies.

[DarthDem]

4. Not Outnumbered with Gorsuch

Roberts has ruled twice in favor of upholding the tenets of the ACA and would be likely to do so again.

[Princess Turandot]

5. And Kennedy also voted with Roberts and the liberals on the second of the two ACA cases..nt

[DarthDem]

7. Exactly Right

I should have noted that. Thanks.

[Alice11111]

8. I agree. There is cause for optimism.

Roberts must secretly detest DT, even though he is truly very conservative.

[VermontKevin]

6. Standing is everything.

[TexasBushwhacker]

9. Just threatening to withhold payments will make premiums go up

Insurance companies have to submit 2018 rates to the state insurance boards by August 15th.