Hoping to block an effort by union leaders to gain access to federal subsidies from health insurance exchanges, 31 Republican senators penned a letter to the White House urging the administration bar health plans jointly run by employers and unions from the subsidies, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
Some 20 million Americans are covered by union-sponsored plans subsidized in part by groups of employers. Many of the plans' members could fall into the income category eligible for the insurance subsidies offered through the online health insurance marketplaces, but they are excluded because of their union benefits.
The Obama administration previously rejected a union request to be included on the exchanges. Labor representatives worry that without the federal subsidies, employers will discontinue offering their own on the union plans.
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Some 20 million Americans are covered by union-sponsored plans subsidized in part by groups of employers. Many of the plans' members could fall into the income category eligible for the insurance subsidies offered through the online health insurance marketplaces, but they are excluded because of their union benefits.
The Obama administration previously rejected a union request to be included on the exchanges. Labor representatives worry that without the federal subsidies, employers will discontinue offering their own on the union plans.
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