Alexander to Obama Administration: Don’t Hide Obamacare Rates from Public Because of Elections
Says final rates should be released November 3, the day they are available, so families can plan their budgets before buying
MARYVILLE, October 2 – U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today called on the Obama administration to make public the final insurance premium rates for next year as soon as they are finalized on November 3, so families can plan their budgets before the exchanges open on November 15.
“The administration will know exactly what health insurance plans cost on November 3, and they should release that information to the public on that day so families can start to plan. If the Senate majority leader hadn't sent the Senate home so he could keep his majority, we could be debating my bill to make health care premium costs available to Americans before open enrollment.”
News reports today indicated Health and Human Services officials will have rate information before open enrollment but will not say when they plan to release the information.
Alexander introduced legislation last year with Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) to reverse the Obama administration’s decision to delay the 2014 Obamacare enrollment until after the 2014 election. The exchanges this year were originally set to open on October 15, but were delayed by a month by the administration. “The Premium Disclosure Act” also required the administration to provide premium increase information to Americans before open enrollment so they have time to make decisions about their health care.
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For access to this release and Ranking Member Alexander’s other statements, click here.
