Insurers Can Trim Obamacare Premiums, Federal Regulators Say

Insurers can offer temporary premium reductions for individual and small group Obamacare policies, the Trump administration said Tuesday.

“In light of the urgent need to help individuals and small employers experiencing economic hardship maintain continuous coverage through the COVID-19 public health emergency, CMS will adopt a policy of relaxed enforcement” of federal law and regulations that don’t permit insurers to change premiums during a benefit year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said in regulatory guidance.

The premium reductions must be made before the end of 2020, the CMS said.

The guidance comes as high numbers ...