Trump Administration Won’t Defend Obamacare, Says Mandate Is Unconstitutional

The Trump administration told a federal court on Thursday that it would no longer defend crucial provisions of the Affordable Care Act that protect consumers with pre-existing medical conditions. Under those provisions of the law, insurance companies cannot deny coverage or charge higher rates to people with pre-existing conditions.

Democrats inch left in some swing districts for midterms

In this May 22, 2018, file photo, Clarke Tucker talks to supporters after winning the District 2 U.S. House Democratic primary at Cotham's in the City in Little Rock. Democrats typically aren't embracing their most liberal options in House districts that'll determine which party controls Congress after the November midterms, but candidates will test how liberal the party can go and still win among GOP-leaning voters.

Justice Department says heart of ObamaCare unconstitutional

The Trump administration said in a court filing late Thursday that it will no longer defend key parts of the Affordable Care Act , including the requirement that people have health insurance and provisions that guarantee access to health insurance regardless of any medical conditions. The decision, announced in a filing in a federal court in Texas, is a rare departure from the Justice Department's practice of defending federal laws in court.

State AGa s lawsuit wona t fix Obamacare a ” we need a health care solution that works for everyone

Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson is wasting his time and state taxpayers' money by joining 15 other Democratic attorneys general in a desperate effort to preserve Obamacare, says Columnist Dr. Roger Stark of the Washington Policy Center. Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson is wasting his time and state taxpayers' money by joining 15 other Democratic attorneys general in a desperate effort to preserve Obamacare, says Columnist Dr. Roger Stark of the Washington Policy Center.

Liberal tilt in some primaries a sign of Democratic fervor

Democratic primary voters have chosen decidedly liberal candidates in several closely watched congressional primary elections, a sign that the left is driving much of Democrats' enthusiasm and may be winning the tug of war with moderates over the direction of the party. In Omaha, Democrat Kara Eastman edged out veteran moderate Brad Ashford by casting herself as a progressive in Nebraska's lone urban district, supporting single-payer, government-run health insurance and a ban on assault weapons.

Thanks to Republican Tax Cuts, Obamacare is No Longer Constitutional

In one of its most controversial decisions, the Supreme Court in 2012 upheld the constitutionality of a provision in the Affordable Care Act mandating individuals purchase qualifying health insurance or else pay a fine, with Chief Justice John Roberts casting the deciding vote in favor of the law. However, nearly , a provision included in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, passed mostly along party lines in December 2017, may soon force Roberts to reevaluate his decision, potentially ending the health care law without a single vote being cast in Congress.

White House Requests Cuts to Children’s Health Insurance Funding

The White House is seeking to cut funding from the Children's Health Insurance Program, known as CHIP, as part of its larger request for cuts to the federal budget in a rescissions package sent to Congress this week . The request from President Donald Trump includes a $7 billion cut to the popular program, part of $15 billion in overall cuts.

Michigan may be next to set Medicaid work, training rules

Four years after agreeing to expand Medicaid to cover more low-income adults, Michigan Republicans want an estimated 350,000 enrollees who are not working to get a job - or, at the very least, to start preparing to enter the labor force. Their aim is threefold: to rein in a massive, costly government health insurance program they say has grown far beyond its basic mission, to help businesses fill job openings and to reinforce the importance of work for abled-bodied people.

How Arkansas Republican primary voters learned to stop worrying and love Obamacare

Don't miss Jay Barth's column in this week's Arkansas Times on the evolution of opinion on Medicaid expansion among Arkansas GOP voters. Barth digs in to a doozy of a finding in a recent Talk Business poll, one I also noted last week : A substantial plurality of Arkansas Republican primary voters now support Medicaid expansion.

Exclusive – As elections near, many older, educated, white voters shift away from Trump’s party

Older, white, educated voters helped Donald Trump win the White House in 2016. Now, they are trending towards Democrats in such numbers that their ballots could tip the scales in tight congressional races from New Jersey to California, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll and a data analysis of competitive districts shows.

Iowa governor signs law allowing health plans that skirt ACA

Iowa will allow people to buy a cheaper form of health insurance that skirts Affordable Care Act rules, under legislation signed into law Monday by the state's Republican governor. The law will allow Iowa's Farm Bureau to partner with a designated insurance company to offer so-called health benefit plans that technically aren't defined as insurance.

Library to host anniversary event for insurance program

The Philippi Public Library will host an exhibition and reception honoring the 20th anniversary of the Children's Health Insurance Program from 5 to 7 p.m. March 20. The intent of the exhibit and programming is not to advocate for or against CHIP or any political viewpoint but to share information about the program with the public.