Ted Cruz’s Amendment to health care bill would keep Obamacare plans, if you want them
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) wants to offer an amendment to the Senate healthcare bill that would allow insurers to sell plans that are not compliant with Obamacare requirements.
Called the “Consumer Freedom Amendment,” this change would leave existing Obamacare plans on the individual market, while also allowing insurers to sell plans that don’t comply with requirements of the Affordable Care Act.
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“What that does — it leaves existing plans on the market but it gives new options so that people can purchase far more affordable health insurance. It will enable a lot more people to be able to afford buying health insurance,” Cruz told The Hill on Thursday afternoon.
Cruz’s amendment would allow insurers to continue offering plans that follow Obamacare’s “Title One” requirements, but allow for the sale of cheaper, less cumbersome plans which don’t cover those services.
“If a health insurer offers a plan consistent with the Title One mandates, insurers can also sell in that same state any other plans that consumers desire,” Cruz said.
Critics would say this will cause prices to rise since the pool of payments from the healthy consumers are funding the cost of the Obamacare mandated service.
While Cruz and three other Senate conservatives said Thursday afternoon they would not support the current version of the Senate’s bill, he was positive that an agreement will be reached.
“I have said from the beginning that there is an agreement to be reached, and I believe we can get to yes,” Cruz said.
“This current draft is only a draft. It’s a starting draft. This draft isn’t there yet, but we can get there. I’m continuing to work night and day to bring the conference together and get the job done.”
