Influential industry groups representing doctors, hospitals and insurance companies wrote to Congress on Tuesday to express their opposition to repealing Obamacare’s individual mandate.
In a letter, America’s Health Insurance Plans, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and the Federation of American Hospitals said that eliminating the mandate “likely will result in a significant increase in premiums, which would in turn substantially increase the number of uninsured Americans.”
Republican leadership in the Senate on Tuesday signaled the possibility of including a repeal of Obamacare’s individual mandate — which applies a penalty to individuals who meet certain criteria who do not purchase health insurance — in their bill to slash corporate taxes and the estate tax, among other things.
The President has long called for repealing the individual mandate as part of Republicans’ tax plan, most recently on Monday:
I am proud of the Rep. House & Senate for working so hard on cutting taxes {& reform.} We’re getting close! Now, how about ending the unfair & highly unpopular Indiv Mandate in OCare & reducing taxes even further? Cut top rate to 35% w/all of the rest going to middle income cuts?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2017
“Experts agree that in order to have a health insurance system in which anyone can obtain coverage regardless of their health status, there must be incentives for everyone to enroll in and maintain coverage throughout the year,” the groups wrote in their statement.
They added: “Repealing the individual mandate without a workable alternative will reduce enrollment, further destabilizing an already fragile individual and small group health insurance market on which more than 10 million Americans rely.”
Last week, the Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation estimated that repealing Obamacare’s individual mandate would increase the number of uninsured people by 13 million by 2027, versus the status quo.
Senate Democratic leadership posted the letter on their Twitter account. Read it below:
NEW LETTER: America’s Health Insurers, Doctors & Hospitals OPPOSE Republican Plan to repeal the individual mandate in #GOPTaxBill. pic.twitter.com/CE9Hu6Pqbt
— Senate Democrats (@SenateDems) November 14, 2017
