A top centrist Republican won’t get on board with any changes to allow insurers charge sicker people more money, highlighting a key sticking point to an Obamacare repeal deal.
Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., told a raucous town hall Wednesday that he would not support any changes to a price control called “community rating.” Walden’s opposition comes as GOP leadership and the White House are trying to reach a deal over scaling back the reform.
“We are not going back to the days where you could underwrite where it becomes so expensive that you can’t afford [healthcare],” Walden told a packed house in the Dalles, Ore.
Walden is one of several Republicans holding town halls over Congress’ two-week recess, and the reception lawmakers get on healthcare could influence the repeal debate when they return April 25. He is a member of the centrist Tuesday Group and chairman of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Community ratings require an insurer to charge the same rate to an entire age group and not charge sicker people more money than a healthy person. And they are one of the biggest sticking points in Republican efforts to get Obamacare repeal legislation approved in the House.
Before Congress adjourned last week, a last-minute attempt to vote on the American Health Care Act collapsed because the Tuesday Group and conservative House Freedom Caucus were at loggerheads over which Obamacare insurance mandates to repeal. That was after the original legislation was pulled from the House floor March 24 because it didn’t have enough votes to pass.
The Freedom Caucus not only wants to repeal community ratings but also the mandate for insurers to cover pre-existing conditions and a requirement that insurers cover 10 essential health benefits.
A compromise last week would have given states the option to opt out of any of those mandates, but talks collapsed because centrists wanted community ratings and pre-existing conditions protected.
A last-minute amendment was added to the bill that would create high-risk pools that ensure coverage for people with pre-existing conditions.
House lawmakers and the White House are still hoping for some type of deal, with Freedom Caucus leader Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., saying that two options are on the table but didn’t elaborate.
Walden’s other comments on healthcare got stiff opposition from the town hall gathering.
“We are going after the exchanges because they are failing,” Walden said to boos.
He referred to less competition among insurers in his central Oregon district.
“I’m just saying we are trying to make this market work so you can get an affordable plan,” he said.
