Pallone on Anthem’s Withdrawal from Ohio Marketplace

Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) issued the following statement today following news that health insurance provider Anthem will pull out of Ohio's Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace:

"You can draw a straight line between Anthem's decision to pull out of the Ohio Marketplace and President Trump's intentional efforts to sabotage the health insurance markets, including the President's refusal to commit to making the cost-sharing reduction (CSR) payments.

"By refusing to commit to making these payments, President Trump is undermining the stability of the marketplace and leaving insurance companies with no choice but to withdraw. Make no mistake, President Trump is purposefully sabotaging the American health insurance markets and jeopardizing the health security of millions of Americans."

Last month, 196 House Democrats sent a letter to President Trump reminding him that millions of working families around the nation are relying on him to continue paying the ACA's cost-sharing reduction payments, and that the stability of health insurance markets depends on his commitment to making these payments. Since taking office, President Trump has continually raised doubts about the future of these payments, treating them as a bargaining chip in his administration's efforts to enact Trumpcare. Today, Anthem cited the uncertainty around CSR payments in their decision to withdraw from the Ohio Marketplace.

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