With Government Shutdown Ending, GOP Struggles With Obamacare
With the government funding bill almost assuredly to pass the House Wednesday, the GOP will next have to turn to what to do with the expiring enhanced Exchange subsidies and perhaps some healthcare reform in general.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-SD, promised a vote on the subsidies by mid-December, but House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-LA, refuses to make any commitment on a vote. Moderate GOPers in the Senate and about several dozen moderates in swing districts in the House GOP caucus want a vote and some sort of extension. Various potential compromises are being discussed including an income cap, minimum premiums, and an extension vs. permanency.
The GOP may also want to pass healthcare reform changes but have yet to truly put up a plan. Conservatives, such as Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene, R-GA, have been pressuring the Speaker to pass yet another budget bill with reductions and reforms. They have criticized the GOP leadership for having no plan.
The GOP has never crafted a healthcare plan that did not mean millions losing coverage. The party favors individual purchasing, health savings accounts, ICHRA health reimbursement, and alternative plans that fall short of comprehensive coverage.
The president this weekend proposed that subsidies that go to insurance companies go directly to those in need, but the treasury secretary had to quickly point out there is no real plan for this.
#healthcare #coverage #exchanges #obamacare #aca
https://thehill.com/newsletters/the-movement/5599435-shutdown-health-care-republicans
Kaiser Reports Q3 Financials
Kaiser Permanente and its subsidiaries posted a $218 million operating income, or a 0.7% operating margin, for Q3 2025. The result is a recovery compared with a $608 million operating loss (-2.1% operating margin) a year ago.
Kaiser had $2.4 billion in non-operating income for the quarter, giving the non-profit insurer a bottom line net income of $2.6 billion. This is well above the prior year’s $845 million.
Consolidated operating revenues for the quarter hit $31.8 billion, up about 99.7% year over year. Operating expenses were $31.6 billion, a 6.8% increase.
#kaiserpermanente #healthplans #margins
UnitedHealth Group Discusses Recovery
United revealed a number of things about its ongoing financial recovery. The company says they will see a 10% medical cost trend for 2026, up from a 7.5% trend expected in 2025. Within its Exchange business, United is implementing a 25% rate increase and will lose two-thirds of its membership if enhanced premiums expire. Its Medicare Advantage (MA) business will contract by about 1 million.
The Change Healthcare cyberattack has meant a major loss of customers at Optum.
Performance will improve in 2026 before its new strategic approach really pays off in 2027 with margin expansion.
Additional article: https://www.beckerspayer.com/payer/unitedhealths-new-cfo-details-plan-to-restore-swagger/
#unitedhealthcare #healthplans #margins
— Marc S. Ryan
