Public option may not significantly drive down uninsured rate, study finds

Fierce Healthcare May 28, 2020
Paige Minemyer

Launching a public option on the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA’s) exchanges could lower premiums but isn’t likely to make a significant dent in the number of people without insurance, a new study shows.

Researchers at RAND Corporation modeled four scenarios in which a public option was offered on the ACA’s insurance exchanges and found premiums would be between 10% and 27% lower than private plans due to lower provider payment rates.

However, a public option was less impactful on the uninsured rate, according to the study. In three of the models, the number of people without coverage declined between 3% and 8%, while in the fourth it declined marginally.

The study also notes that low-income people enrolled...

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