The CBO has now updated its ACA projections around health insurance coverage and federal spending in the wake of last month's Supreme Court ruling. Not unexpected: giving states the option of expanding their Medicaid programs means 1) more people in private health insurance plans bought through the exchanges, 2) fewer people enrolled in Medicaid, and 3) modestly lower federal spending. All relative to what was expected to be the case with the ACA entirely intact.
From The Hill:
Meanwhile, the GOP repeal bill still increases the deficit.
From The Hill:
The Supreme Court ruled in June that the government cannot withhold all Medicaid funding from states that do not agree to expand Medicaid coverage to more adults. It is unknown how many states may opt out of providing expanded Medicaid, but CBO assumes that some will opt out in its projections.
CBO said the ruling added uncertainty to its estimates but it has put forward a number that comes down in the middle of possible outcomes. It estimates that the ruling will save the government $84 billion because fewer people would be covered by Medicaid. CBO estimates 3 million more people will be uninsured as a result of the ruling.
Those cost reductions are not outweighed by increased costs from subsidies in the health insurance exchanges, CBO said.
Meanwhile, the GOP repeal bill still increases the deficit.