Health insurance

The Senate rejected a simple repeal of the ACA on Wednesday, still in the early stages of an unpredictable floor debate on healthcare amid significant doubts that Republicans can muster the 50 votes needed to pass any kind of bill.

The Senate rejected Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s healthcare proposal late Tuesday at the start of several days of debate with no clear idea of what ACA-replacement plan the senators will ultimately be asked to pass.

Senate Republicans agreed to begin floor debate on healthcare legislation, a hard-fought step amid uncertainty about exactly what plan senators will ultimately be asked to vote on.

First seen as a silver bullet to cut costs, employers now know the true value of the platform, Willis Towers Watson mid-market exchange head Rob Harkins says.

Next week could be a key test over whether Republicans have any chance at delivering on their seven years of promises of repealing and replacing the ACA.

The latest plan by Senate Republicans to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act would increase the number of uninsured Americans by 22 million in a decade.

A Republican fallback plan to repeal all of the ACA without a replacement health program would lead to 32 million more people uninsured than under current law.

Workers do not believe that the possible dismantling of Obamacare would have a major impact on them them and their families.

Even with the Republicans’ failed effort, there may be additional opportunities for relief from ACA requirements in the coming months.

New data technologies are making it possible for even the smallest employers to fund their own health plans

McConnell’s day-old proposal to simply repeal the ACA appears to already be dead as three Republican senators, such as Maine's Susan Collins, say they'll oppose the measure.

Senate Republicans anxiously awaiting a key analysis of their revised health bill have more time to wait, and debate on the controversial measure that had been expected this week.

New data technologies are making it possible for even the smallest employers to fund their own health plans

The latest legislation retains a number of pro-business aspects from the earlier draft, including a delay of the Cadillac tax, removal of employer mandate penalties and expanding and enhancing HSAs.

The bill already has drawn two firm no votes leaving Mitch McConnell no margin for losing GOP support to get the 50 votes he needs as senators await a CBO analysis expected early next week.

Some GOP proposals, such as emphasis on HSAs and association health plans, could help put the industry on a more stable footing.

Senate Republicans’ revised proposal to replace Obamacare would provide an added $70 billion to stabilize insurance exchanges over a decade compared with an earlier version.

Most hope key elements of the healthcare law, including coverage of pre-existing conditions and preventive care services, will remain intact.

Some GOP proposals, such as emphasis on HSAs and association health plans, could help put the industry on a more stable footing.

Talks about a bipartisan fallback are based on the idea that ACA insurance markets have problems and would need to be fixed if the healthcare bill dies.