Top Insurer Wants ‘Grand Bargain’ If SCOTUS Blows Up Obamacare

President Barack Obama, center, meets with Speaker of the House John Boehner, left, and Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell, right, during a meeting with the Congressional leadership in the Cabinet Room of the Whi... President Barack Obama, center, meets with Speaker of the House John Boehner, left, and Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell, right, during a meeting with the Congressional leadership in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, D.C. on January 13, 2015. Photo Credit: Kristoffer Tripplaar/ Sipa USA *** Please Use Credit from Credit Field *** MORE LESS
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With the Supreme Court threatening to gut Obamacare, a top insurance executive says that he is working on a “grand bargain” between the White House and Congress in case that worst-case scenario comes to be.

Reuters reported Thursday on the comments that Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini, who has been a frequent critic of the law, made to a small group of investors. He described his ambitions as a “grand bargain” if the Court rules that tax subsidies offered in the 30-plus states using HealthCare.gov are invalid.

“Blowing up the (Affordable Care Act) is like shutting down the government,” Bertolini said. “So we are having conversations on both sides of the aisle about what … things you change in the ACA, what we could introduce, about how to make a grand bargain should the Supreme Court decide.”

As TPM reported Thursday, House Republicans met behind closed doors Thursday to discuss their options if the high court blows up the health reform law. Health coverage for up to 9 million people would be at risk, according to independent estimates. A ruling is expected this summer.

“We’re obviously doing contingency planning for King v. Burwell,” House Ways and Means Committee Chair Paul Ryan (R-WI) told reporters after the meeting. “It would be wrong not to. … That’s something that is an ongoing conversation and we’re doing all of our diligence on that.”

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