Congressional Democrats are demanding that ObamaCare payments to insurers be included in the next spending bill — increasing the chances of a government shutdown if President Trump does not play ball.
The calls came after Trump threatened to cancel insurer reimbursements — which would eliminate health insurance for millions of poorer Americans — to force Democrats to come to the table to negotiate health care reform.
Without the payments, known as cost-sharing reductions, insurers could pull out of ObamaCare exchanges altogether or spike premiums, causing chaos in the health insurance market.
“The president’s comments on stopping the Cost Sharing Reduction payments will increase costs, is a threat to the good health of the American people and a threat to keeping government open,” an aide to House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi told The Hill.
The Democrats say Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer agree that the payments have to be included in the spending bill before the April 28 deadline to get it done.