Obamacare
Commentary
Enhanced Obamacare subsidies are the problem
Democrats are refusing to reopen the federal government unless Congress extends the enhanced Obamacare premium subsidies scheduled to expire at the end of this year. Their ultimate goal is to make those subsidies permanent. The shutdown’s architects say that failing to renew these tax credits will threaten the finances of ...
Sally C. Pipes
October 24, 2025
Commentary
Yes, Democrats are defending Medicaid for illegal immigrants
“Not a single federal dollar goes to providing health insurance for undocumented immigrants. NOT. ONE. PENNY.” These were the words of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in a recent X post, after Republicans accused Democrats of shutting down the government in order to keep funding Medicaid for illegal immigrants… ...
Sally C. Pipes
October 20, 2025
Commentary
Republicans shouldn’t cave to Democrats’ shutdown demands
As the government shutdown stretches into its third week, Republicans have signaled some willingness to agree to Democrats’ demand to extend billions of dollars in enhanced premium subsidies for exchange plans beyond their scheduled expiration at the end of this year. That would be a mistake. The enhanced insurance subsidies ...
Sally C. Pipes
October 20, 2025
Commentary
How Obamacare Set In Motion Today’s Premium Crisis
Democrats are panicking about a looming 75% average increase in the out-of-pocket cost of insurance premiums next year for the roughly 6% of the population that shops for coverage on Obamacare’s exchanges. Their panic led them to shut down the government at the end of September. The increase is a ...
Sally C. Pipes
October 14, 2025
Commentary
Shut down the enhanced Obamacare subsidies, not the government
Is it worth shutting down the government to keep billions in federal cash flowing to health insurers? That’s a question Republicans should be asking Democrats every chance they get. The minority party has brought business in Washington to a halt as part of a wrongheaded strategy to obscure the out-of-control ...
Sally C. Pipes
October 6, 2025
Commentary
Doctors and patients have endured enough pay cuts from Medicare
Doctors who treat Medicare beneficiaries are in for leaner times, judging from the program’s recently announced reimbursement update. And it will be those beneficiaries who will pay the price. The proposed changes to Medicare’s “fee schedule” would technically increase doctor reimbursement by 2.5%. But the government is also proposing to ...
Sally C. Pipes
September 22, 2025
Commentary
Republicans Must Stand Their Ground On Enhanced Obamacare Subsidies
A group of Republican lawmakers is trying to preserve one of the worst mistakes of former President Biden’s tenure—the enhanced subsidies for health insurance sold through Obamacare’s exchanges. The subsidies—which were first enacted on an explicitly temporary basis during the pandemic before being renewed in 2022—are set to expire at ...
Sally C. Pipes
September 15, 2025
Commentary
Trump’s Medicaid reform is moral and necessary
Among the most contentious provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which President Donald Trump signed into law on July 4, are its Medicaid work requirements. Starting in 2027, able-bodied, working-age Medicaid beneficiaries enrolled through Obamacare’s expansion of the program must spend at least 80 hours a month on ...
Sally C. Pipes
September 8, 2025
Commentary
Thanks to Obamacare, Insurance Fraud Irresistible
Something strange is afoot on the Obamacare exchanges. According to a new study by the Paragon Health Institute, an astounding number of patients with premium-free exchange plans filed no claims whatsoever last year. It’s possible that none of these individuals required medical care in 2024. Read the op-ed here.
Sally C. Pipes
September 5, 2025
Commentary
Let the Obamacare subsidies expire
As members of Congress return to their districts this month, they may receive earfuls about extending the Biden administration‘s enhanced subsidies for Obamacare, which are scheduled to expire at the end of this year. Pundits warn that, unless Congress extends the subsidies, premiums in the individual market could increase by ...
Sally C. Pipes
August 12, 2025
Enhanced Obamacare subsidies are the problem
Democrats are refusing to reopen the federal government unless Congress extends the enhanced Obamacare premium subsidies scheduled to expire at the end of this year. Their ultimate goal is to make those subsidies permanent. The shutdown’s architects say that failing to renew these tax credits will threaten the finances of ...
Yes, Democrats are defending Medicaid for illegal immigrants
“Not a single federal dollar goes to providing health insurance for undocumented immigrants. NOT. ONE. PENNY.” These were the words of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in a recent X post, after Republicans accused Democrats of shutting down the government in order to keep funding Medicaid for illegal immigrants… ...
Republicans shouldn’t cave to Democrats’ shutdown demands
As the government shutdown stretches into its third week, Republicans have signaled some willingness to agree to Democrats’ demand to extend billions of dollars in enhanced premium subsidies for exchange plans beyond their scheduled expiration at the end of this year. That would be a mistake. The enhanced insurance subsidies ...
How Obamacare Set In Motion Today’s Premium Crisis
Democrats are panicking about a looming 75% average increase in the out-of-pocket cost of insurance premiums next year for the roughly 6% of the population that shops for coverage on Obamacare’s exchanges. Their panic led them to shut down the government at the end of September. The increase is a ...
Shut down the enhanced Obamacare subsidies, not the government
Is it worth shutting down the government to keep billions in federal cash flowing to health insurers? That’s a question Republicans should be asking Democrats every chance they get. The minority party has brought business in Washington to a halt as part of a wrongheaded strategy to obscure the out-of-control ...
Doctors and patients have endured enough pay cuts from Medicare
Doctors who treat Medicare beneficiaries are in for leaner times, judging from the program’s recently announced reimbursement update. And it will be those beneficiaries who will pay the price. The proposed changes to Medicare’s “fee schedule” would technically increase doctor reimbursement by 2.5%. But the government is also proposing to ...
Republicans Must Stand Their Ground On Enhanced Obamacare Subsidies
A group of Republican lawmakers is trying to preserve one of the worst mistakes of former President Biden’s tenure—the enhanced subsidies for health insurance sold through Obamacare’s exchanges. The subsidies—which were first enacted on an explicitly temporary basis during the pandemic before being renewed in 2022—are set to expire at ...
Trump’s Medicaid reform is moral and necessary
Among the most contentious provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which President Donald Trump signed into law on July 4, are its Medicaid work requirements. Starting in 2027, able-bodied, working-age Medicaid beneficiaries enrolled through Obamacare’s expansion of the program must spend at least 80 hours a month on ...
Thanks to Obamacare, Insurance Fraud Irresistible
Something strange is afoot on the Obamacare exchanges. According to a new study by the Paragon Health Institute, an astounding number of patients with premium-free exchange plans filed no claims whatsoever last year. It’s possible that none of these individuals required medical care in 2024. Read the op-ed here.
Let the Obamacare subsidies expire
As members of Congress return to their districts this month, they may receive earfuls about extending the Biden administration‘s enhanced subsidies for Obamacare, which are scheduled to expire at the end of this year. Pundits warn that, unless Congress extends the subsidies, premiums in the individual market could increase by ...