Getting rid of the individual mandate runs the risk that 13 million Americans will lose health coverage over the next decade, according the Congressional Budget Office. That’s the argument pushed by Democrats and most healthcare groups from the American Medical Association and the American Hospital Association to lobbies for health insurance companies like America’s Health Insurance Plans and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. It’s unclear whether the Senate will ultimately get rid of the individual mandate given the unpopularity of earlier proposals to repeal the ACA in its entirety. The healthcare industry argues that you need to have a mandate to ensure young and healthier people are buying policies and paying premiums. “There is an apparent contradiction in the strong support for repeal of the individual mandate and widespread recognition of the importance of health insurance.

Source: Forbes November 26, 2017 15:11 UTC