A CNN correspondent argued Tuesday that the best fix for Obamacare is to raise fees on already sticker-shocked consumers.
CNN’s Carol Costello asked reporter Christine Romans what the “one thing” she would do to address the rising cost of healthcare, and Romans said that “higher fines on people who don’t come out and get insurance” could be the answer.
“People are just saying, ‘I’ll pay the fine, I’m young and healthy.'” Romans said. “The invincibles, they call them. Maybe if you raise the fees and the fines, maybe those young people would come in, pay $100 a month, and you’ll have more money in the system.”
Obamacare calls for fines against people who don’t buy insurance, and that fine will hit almost $700 this year. But Romans suggested it’s a problem that it is still more cost effective for many people to pay the fine rather than buy a plan.
“Right now … the cheapest plan is still more expensive than that $700,” said Romans, describing the typical fee for an individual adult.
“At least I have something tangible going into my partisan discussion,” Costello said.
“And don’t forget about the risk corridor, the risk pool, they can fix that too,” said Romans in response. She was referring to plans that are meant to even out profits and losses among insurance companies, another program that is short of money and could be the focus of bailout efforts by Democrats before the end of the year.
Obamacare customers are facing rising premiums in most states next year. The government announced Monday that states that use the federal Obamacare health insurance exchange will see an average premium increase of 25 percent in 2017.
