“We have effectively three months to negotiate. In the White House and in the halls of Congress, that’s like an eternity,” Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told MSNBC’s Ali Vitali.
During a press conference Monday, Johnson said a debate on tax credits can wait.
“There’s a lot of thoughtful debate and discussion that has already been going on about that, that will be going on about that. But that’s a Dec. 31 issue,” he told reporters.
Yet experts and leaders of state-based health insurance marketplaces say an extension realistically needs to pass by Nov. 1, when open enrollment for people with plans on the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) marketplaces begins. The window-shopping period begins next week.
If Congress waits until the end of the year, most Healthcare.gov customers will have already selected plans. That risks people getting sticker shock and deciding to drop their coverage.
“Once people start seeing premiums that they cannot afford, that are not within reach, a lot of those people will turn away. They will decide to either drop coverage if they already have it, or people who are intending to sign up will not do so,” said Audrey Morse Gasteier, executive director of the Massachusetts Health Connector.
While most states follow healthcare.gov, Idaho's open enrollment period starts Oct. 15.
“When you’re talking about changing something, this is late. You know, like two weeks is not enough time to really do that without consumer disruption, consumer confusion and, to some extent, consumer degradation. Just from the confusion that it would cause,” said Devon Trolley, executive director of the Pennsylvania Health Insurance Exchange Authority.
At the same time, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has repeatedly said he can’t even guarantee a vote on an extension of the subsidies; the final say has to come from the White House.
And the White House seems to be of two minds.
For his part, Trump on Monday indicated a willingness to talk with Democrats.
"We are speaking with the Democrats, and some very good things could happen with respect to healthcare,” Trump said.
But just minutes before, press secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted there was nothing to negotiate.
“His position is very clear,” Leavitt said.
