If the individual mandate of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is struck down by the Supreme Court this March, individual health premiums could increase by 10-25 percent depending on how many people participate in the health insurance exchanges, according to a study from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
The individual mandate under the PPACA requires that most American be covered by health insurance or pay a penalty. The study's authors used models to simulate how individuals and businesses would respond if the individual mandate were thrown out, and their findings include the following:
• Between 40 million and 42 million people would still be uninsured, as opposed to 26 million if the mandate were allowed.
• Uncompensated care would spike due to the large uninsured population, perhaps by as much as $20 billion if Medicaid eligibility were still expanded.
• Private health plans would cover 4 million less people.
The individual mandate under the PPACA requires that most American be covered by health insurance or pay a penalty. The study's authors used models to simulate how individuals and businesses would respond if the individual mandate were thrown out, and their findings include the following:
• Between 40 million and 42 million people would still be uninsured, as opposed to 26 million if the mandate were allowed.
• Uncompensated care would spike due to the large uninsured population, perhaps by as much as $20 billion if Medicaid eligibility were still expanded.
• Private health plans would cover 4 million less people.
Related Articles on the Individual Mandate:
Nearly 500 Lawmakers Ask Supreme Court to Uphold Reform Law
26 States Call Medicaid Expansion "Unconstitutional"
AHA, Other Hospital Groups File Amicus Brief Supporting Individual Mandate