The Senate seems poised to vote for what leadership is calling a fix to ensure the stability of the federal exchanges, yet it appears to be little more than a continuation of the ‘hand-outs’ to insurers. It will extend the subsidies for 2018 through 2019, long enough to get through the coming 2018 Congressional election cycle, but that’s the reality of this political calculus.

The facts indicate that most states have already made an adjustment to make sure coverage of those at 100% to 250% of the federal poverty level still receive subsidies to purchase insurance on the exchanges. This subsidy amounts to as much as 30% of the overall cost as it did previously.

Leadership is hopeful these facts are obscured and the financial bailout for insurers will continue. The reality is that this bill does nothing to reduce the cost of insurance because the states have already acted.