Many states blame Trump, GOP for ObamaCare premium increases

Twenty states attribute ObamaCare premium increases next year to uncertainty caused by the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress, according to a new report released Thursday. 

The report from pro-ObamaCare group Protect Our Care analyzed the 28 states where final, state-approved rates are public and found that 20 specifically cited uncertainty at the federal level for at least part of the reason for increases.

Insurers have pleaded with the Trump administration for more certainty over whether ObamaCare’s insurer subsidies will be paid but have yet to get it. 

{mosads}The Trump administration has made the payments on a month-to-month basis, but insurers have asked for a long-term commitment. 

Because that commitment didn’t come, many insurers across the U.S. have hiked premiums to account for the uncertainty. 

For example, premiums for Idaho’s ObamaCare plans will increase by an average of 27 percent next year because of “legitimate uncertainty” over whether the government will continue the insurer payments, Idaho Insurance Director Dean Cameron told the Idaho Statesman.

Because ObamaCare subsidies are designed to increase with premiums, consumers will be mostly insulated from the increases. 

But people who don’t get subsidies and buy ObamaCare plans could be affected.