A question hath arisen on Twitter: if federal Cost Sharing Reduction (CSR) reimbursements to insurers are cut off, either by Trump administration fiat or court ruling, would New York and Minnesota's Basic Health Programs formed under the ACA lose the portion of their federal funding derived from CSR payments?
To review, the ACA gives states the option of establishing a Basic Health Program (BHP) for qualifying residents with incomes between 138% and 200% of the Federal Poverty Level -- the very population eligible for strong CSR in the ACA marketplace in a state with no BHP*. A BHP is designed to have low premiums and high actuarial value -- though not necessarily higher than that provided by CSR. So far, Minnesota and New York are the only states to have formed BHPs. New York's BHP, the Essential Plan, has minimal cost sharing and a maximum premium of $20 per month (for those in the 150-200% FPL range). MinnesotaCare premiums top out at $80 per month; the actuarial value is 94%, matching CSR for marketplace enrollees with incomes up to 150% FPL.
Section 1331 of the ACA provides for federal funding of BHPs according to this formula:
To review, the ACA gives states the option of establishing a Basic Health Program (BHP) for qualifying residents with incomes between 138% and 200% of the Federal Poverty Level -- the very population eligible for strong CSR in the ACA marketplace in a state with no BHP*. A BHP is designed to have low premiums and high actuarial value -- though not necessarily higher than that provided by CSR. So far, Minnesota and New York are the only states to have formed BHPs. New York's BHP, the Essential Plan, has minimal cost sharing and a maximum premium of $20 per month (for those in the 150-200% FPL range). MinnesotaCare premiums top out at $80 per month; the actuarial value is 94%, matching CSR for marketplace enrollees with incomes up to 150% FPL.
Section 1331 of the ACA provides for federal funding of BHPs according to this formula:
The amount determined under this paragraph for any fiscal year is the amount the Secretary determines is equal to 85 percent [amended to 95%] of the premium tax credits under section 36B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and the cost-sharing reductions under section 1402, that would have been provided for the fiscal year to eligible individuals enrolled in standard health plans in the State if such eligible individuals were allowed to enroll in qualified health plans through an Exchange established under this subtitle.
