An Executive Order directed the Administration to consider expanding access to association health plans, short-term limited duration insurance plans and health reimbursement arrangements in employer sponsored coverage. The intent is to undermine the ACA’s consumer protections. The impact will be clearer once proposed rule changes become available, but we fear skimpy benefit plans and additional cherry picking of healthier individuals from Exchange coverage.

“Trump’s executive order will allow healthier and younger people to pick skimpier, cheaper coverage, leaving the older and the sick to pay much more. This may lower some peoples’ costs in the short term — as long as they don’t get sick.

It also almost guarantees the eventual collapse of our health insurance markets across the country.”

• Mike Kreidler, Washington’s Insurance Commissioner