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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 21 November 2017

Hard to believe: Some consumers find free health insurance

The bigger available sub- Vatick is a computer sci- month for coverage.
sidies mean that cheaper ence student who lives in At Lighthouse Insurance
“bronze” plans can increas- Jacksonville, Florida. He Group, an agency with
ingly be had for no monthly qualified for a monthly sub- national reach, CEO Jason
premium, after consumers sidy of about $280 and he Farro said they’re seeing a
subtract their subsidy from found a bronze plan with a shift to bronze plans. The
the list price. premium of less than $270. share of customers picking
It’s like pushing down on “My health care is techni- bronze has more than dou-
one end of a see-saw, and cally free,” said Vatick. bled this sign-up season, to
the other end goes up. “Was it too good to be about 27 percent from un-
In some cases, “gold” plans true?” he said he asked der 12 percent last year.
offering enhanced protec- himself when he first saw the Online insurance broker
tion against the costs of ill- numbers. “Sure enough, it eHealth says it is seeing a
ness are also available for wasn’t.” Vatick said bronze similar trend among young-
free to people whose in- plans aren’t for everybody er consumers aged 18-24.
comes qualify them for fi- because they come with “The shift in young people
In this Oct. 18, 2017 photo, the Healthcare.gov website is seen nancial assistance. very high deductibles. But in particular tells me that
on a computer screen in Washington. Consumers are getting Dillon Vatick said he he’s in his 20s and figures he we are seeing new people
the word that taxpayer-subsidized health plans are widely
available for next year for no monthly premium, and marketing couldn’t believe it as he won’t be going to the doc- come out,” said Nate Pur-
companies say they’re starting to see an impact on sign-ups. shopped online recently tor much. He said he had pura, vice president of mar-
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon) for next year’s health plan. been paying about $80 a keting at eHealth.q
By RICARDO ZALDIVAR the program, although it’s
Associated Press too soon to tell. The ACA
WASHINGTON (AP) — Con- offers taxpayer-subsidized
sumers are getting the private insurance to low-
word that taxpayer-sub- and middle-income peo-
sidized health plans are ple who don’t have cover-
widely available for next age on the job. About 10
year for no monthly pre- million people are enrolled.
mium or little cost, and It’s another twist in a year in
marketing companies say which the Obama health
they’re starting to see an law has managed to sur-
impact on sign-ups. vive despite rising premi-
“Free Obamacare Cover- ums, dwindling insurer par-
age in 2018,” says an online ticipation and President
pitch from insurance broker Donald Trump’s predictions
eHealth, showing a young of a swift and sure demise.
woman with a big smile. What’s more, experts say
“See if you qualify.” wider availability of no-pre-
HealthSherpa, a private mium plans is the unintend-
website that focuses on ed consequence of Trump
signing people up for Af- administration actions to
fordable Care Act cover- undermine the ACA.
age, said nearly 1 in 5 of its The president stopped re-
customers thus far will be imbursing insurers for re-
paying no monthly premi- duced copays and de-
um. That’s a change from ductibles, available to peo-
last year, when the share ple with modest incomes
was about 1 in 7. More purchasing a “silver” ACA
consumers also are find- plan. Sure enough, that has
ing plans for under $25 a boosted premiums for silver
month. plans. But government sub-
Analysts say the odd phe- sidies also shot up, because
nomenon is a wild card that they’re pegged to the cost
could boost enrollment in of silver plans.