With the decision in King v. Burwell looming, the Pennsylvania Insurance Department has filed a federal application to start a state-based online insurance exchange that could sell subsidized policies under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, according to a TribLive report.
If the Supreme Court rules in favor of the plaintiffs in King v. Burwell, up to 8 million Americans in 34 states that used the federal government's HealthCare.gov site to purchase health insurance could lose their subsidies. Both supporters and opponents of the health reform law agree that a loss of subsidies for people who use the federally run exchange would cause them to lose insurance, as well as a rise in premiums.
Approximately 382,000 Pennsylvanians receive subsidies to help pay for their health insurance premiums, and by creating a state-based exchange, those individuals would likely be able to keep their subsidies even if the high court sides with the plaintiffs in King v. Burwell, according to the report.
Pennsylvania Insurance Department spokesman Ron Ruman told TribLive a state-based marketplace could be up and running as early as Nov. 1.
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