Premium Spin
Democrats have stressed that the GOP’s American Health Care Act would increase health insurance premiums, while Republicans have said it would lower them, both citing the Congressional Budget Office. Which is it? A little of both.
Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland cited the CBO on the House floor before lawmakers voted on the AHCA on May 4, saying the bill would “raise premiums 24 to 29 percent on average over each of the next two years. CBO says that, not me.” House Speaker Paul Ryan, meanwhile, said on ABC News’ “This Week” on May 7: “So what we’re trying to do here is have a system where we have more choices, more competition, and lower prices. And yes, this CBO score does say it lowers premiums.”
The nonpartisan CBO and the Joint Committee on Taxation in a March analysis of the legislation that it would increase premiums for single policyholders in 2018 and 2019 in the individual market on average by 15 percent to 20 percent, compared with current law. Hoyer misleadingly adds in a
