WMAL Interview - SEN. RON JOHNSON - 10.13.17

INTERVIEW - SEN. RON JOHNSON (R-Wisconsin) - Member of Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and Chairman of Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs o The executive order that President Trump signed today will extend the length of time short term, limited duration (STLD) can be issued for. This is something Sen. Johnson has been advocating for for months now. In fact, in June he led a letter to Sec. Price calling for him to reverse Obama-era regulations that reduced STLD plans from 364 days to 90. o U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) led 14 senators in sending a letter to HHS Secretary Tom Price encouraging the administration to reverse Obama-era regulations that limit consumers’ ability to purchase short-term, limited duration insurance plans. o Trump signs executive order to loosen Obamacare rules. (Washington Examiner) -- President Trump signed an executive order Thursday aimed at loosening some Obamacare requirements so that people can buy less comprehensive, but also less expensive, healthcare coverage, in the wake of the Senate's failure this year to move any legislation to change the law. The executive order directs the departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury to take steps to make it easier for people to band together and buy coverage through what is known as "association health plans." It also would allow people to buy low-cost, short-term health insurance plans, which the Obama administration limited to three months, and would expand the use of health savings accounts. The process will take several months and will not go into effect in time for open enrollment, which runs from Nov. 1 to Dec. 15. o Trump will scrap critical Obamacare subsidy. Scrapping the payments to insurers, which could happen almost immediately, is likely to provide another jolt to Obamacare markets. (Politico) - President Donald Trump plans to cut off subsidy payments to insurers selling Obamacare coverage in his most aggressive move yet to undermine the health care law, according to two sources close to the discussions. The subsidies, which are worth an estimated $7 billion this year and are paid out in monthly installments, may stop almost immediately since Congress hasn’t appropriated funding for the program.