We have five state Insurance Commissioners. Thank you for coming from long distances, some of you, to be with us to give your testimony on how to help the 18 million americans in the individual Insurance Market. To give an idea of how many people are interested in this, senator murray and i invited senators who were not on our committee, which has about a quarter of the senate is on this committ committee, to come to a coffee with the five commissioners that weve just completed for an hour. We had 31 senators there. Thats a remarkable level of interest. Senator murray and i will each have an opening statement. Then well introduce our five witnesses. After their testimony, senators will have an opportunity to ask witnesses questions and well do it in fiveminute rounds. This includes 23 United States senators. Nearly onequarter of the members of the senate. It includes senators with the widest divergence of views. It has a republican majority of only one. Yet working together the last tw
The Senate Committee on health, education, labor and pensions will please come to order. This morning were holding our first hearing on stabilizing premiums and ensuring access to insurance in the individual Health Insurance market for 2018. We have five state Insurance Commissioners. Thank you for coming from long distances some of you to be with us to give your testimony on how to help the 18 million americans in the individual Insurance Market. To give an idea of how many people are interested in this, senator murray and i invited senators who were not on our committee which has about a quarter of the senate is on this committee, to come to a coffee with the five commissioners that we have just completed for an hour. We had 31 senators there. So thats remarkable level of interest. Senator murray and i will each have an Opening Statement then we will introduce our five witnesses, after their testimony senators will have an opportunity to ask witnesses questions and we will do it in f
Looks good morning, the Senate Committee will please come to order. We are holding a fourth hearing on stabilizing premiums and ensuring access in the Health Insurance market for 2018. Senator murray and i will have an Opening Statement in the way with hope in our five. Well have the opportunity to ask five minutes of questions. To begin, we ought not to take for granted the three hearings we have had over the last ten days. For seven years, are the civil word was spoken between republicans and democrats on the Affordable Care act. His trump care versus obama care, day in and day out. Rs for the last ten days senators have engaged in serious discussions for several hours at a time about what congress can do between now and the end of this month. To help limit premium increases for 18 million americans next year. And began to lower premiums inei the future and prevent ensures for leaving the markets where the 18 million americans bymeria insurance. Last week between the meeting so befor
Happening with these plans, but, i mean, many including yourself have commented about 100 premiums. What percentage of people on the exchanges approximately are subsidized people . What percentage of people or maybe the better question is that are getting coverage through the exchange dont get a subsidy . About 20 . So, 20 dont get a subsidy. Thats about right. The premiums for those folks do you know what those are . Whats the level of subsidy on average, for example, for a person on the exchange thats getting a subsidy . Its a tough question to answer. It depends if theyre silver, gold, bronze and so forth and the income levels and a variety of factors. Because, you know, my constituents are complaining about the deductibles also. And, again, the devils in the details, right . If you pay 1 100 for a premium and most likely you are being subsidized thousands of dollars for your premium or maybe hundreds of dollars. But your deductible is 6,000 to 10,000. I would argue that those bette