States That Get Obamacare Waivers Could Broaden Patient Pools

The administration’s efforts to make it easier for states to change their health insurance markets could strengthen the pool of covered patients, but that might hurt lower-cost plans, health-care industry participants said.

“States can redistribute the federal money that’s available in a way that would attract a broader mix of coverage,” Greg Fann, a senior consulting actuary with health-care actuarial firm Axene Health Partners LLC in Temecula, Calif., told Bloomberg Law. That could attract younger people into the market, which would help reduce costs and premiums overall, he said.

Recent guidance by the Health and Human Services and Treasury departments ...