Hudson Statement on Blue Cross NC Lowering Rates by Average of 4.1 Percent

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08) released the following statement reacting to the announcement that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina requested an overall average rate decrease of 4.1 percent for 2019 Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans offered to individuals— the first rate decrease request since the ACA was passed into law. In 2015, rates increased by 13.5%; in 2016, by 32.5%; and in 2017, by 24.3%.

In their announcement, Blue Cross NC said it used tax savings from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to lower rates by an additional 0.5 percent.

Last week, the House passed a bipartisan bill, the Increasing Access to Lower Premium Plans and Expanding Health Savings Accounts Act of 2018 (H.R. 6311), to help lower costs for patients and consumers seeking relief from rising premiums. In addition, last week the House passed the Protect Medical Innovation Act of 2017 (H.R. 184) to permanently repeal the 2.3 percent excise tax on importers and manufacturers of medical devices imposed by the Affordable Care Act.

The House also passed the Restoring Access to Medication and Modernizing Health Savings Accounts Act of 2018 (H.R. 6199) to expand the scope of qualified medical expenses to provide greater incentive for individuals to enroll in HSAs and to make HSAs work better for individuals and families. These bills make good progress to help fix our nation’s broken health care system.

In addition, the House has passed legislation to fulfill their commitment to repeal and replace Obamacare. The American Health Care Act would return control of health care from Washington back to the states and restore the free market so Americans can access quality, affordable health care options that are tailored to their needs.