Ackerman letter: Amend ACA

Nuts and bolts solutions a key lesson from primary

There were different lessons from the May 17 primary. I see two: The more conservative and pro-liberty forces in Idaho took more hits than wins; and voters want legislators who will focus on solutions that make people better off.

One way a state legislator can help people deal with tougher economic challenges is to urge Idaho’s federal delegation to amend the Affordable Care Act by eliminating the Essential Health Benefits rule that mandates people pay for 10 “essential health benefits,” and to get rid of the power of the federal Department of Health & Human Services to override state governments by telling them what services must be included in health insurance policies sold through state health exchanges.

Health insurance premiums are estimated to rise 7-26 percent on most plans sold through Idaho’s health exchange. Anywhere from 3-33 percent of that premium increase comes from the “essential health benefits” mandate. Getting rid of this requirement could lessen that premium increase, and help people deal with the higher cost of health care insurance.

This story was originally published May 29, 2016 at 11:48 PM with the headline "Ackerman letter: Amend ACA."