Health Affairs June 30, 2020
A combination of health insurance initiatives by the presumptive 2020 Democratic and Republican presidential nominees could expand health care coverage and significantly reduce costs, without raising taxes. Along the way, the combination could revitalize private plans.
One initiative, proposed by former Democratic Vice President Joseph Biden, requires a Public Option so non-seniors can enroll in Medicare. The other initiative is President Donald Trump’s rule that enables employees in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to use pre-tax funds, which their employers deposit in Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRAs), to buy Section 1301 qualified health plans in the individual market. Using an Executive Order to designate the Public Option as a “qualified health plan” for purposes of Internal Revenue Code...