Eighteen US states sued President Donald Trump’s administration to stop him from scrapping a key component of Obamacare, subsidies to insurers that help millions of low-income people pay medical expenses, even as Trump invited Democratic leaders to negotiate a deal. “As far as the subsidies are concerned, I don’t want to make the insurance companies rich,” Trump told reporters at the White House. Frustrated by the failure of his fellow Republicans who control both houses of Congress to repeal and replace Obamacare, Trump has taken several steps to chip away at it. If the subsidies vanish, low-income Americans who obtain insurance through Obamacare online marketplaces where insurers can sell policies would face higher insurance premiums and out-of-pocket medical costs. About 10 million people are enrolled in Obamacare through its online marketplaces, and most receive subsidies.

Source: Dhaka Tribune October 14, 2017 15:00 UTC