Sen. Alexander to CMS: Why Not Make ‘Keep Your Plan’ Promise a Law?

ALEXANDER: "Your regulations said if you increased cost sharing, co- pays, change the employer contribution, change the fixed amount, change the benefits, all those would mean that those plans didn't continue, and basically Washington is saying to people like the 16,000 whose loose their Cover Tennessee Plan, 'we know better than you do what is a good plan for you. We want you to buy a better plan even though you like a plan you keep.' So why not put the president's words into law and simply say if you like the plan you have -- we're not going to decide for you, you can decide it, you as an individual -- if you like the plan you have, you can keep it without having to change a thing. That's what's on the White House website today."
TAVENNER: "Senator Alexander, for those 16,000 individuals that you listed, they were also given the option of renewing with the new plan. And yes, maybe some of those plans were more expensive, but I would encourage those individuals to go on the website, take a look at what is available in the individual market in Tennessee. I think you will see that the pricing in the individual market actually came in about 18 percent lower. Also some of these individuals may qualify for a subsidy. And so I would just encourage them to look at their current issue work, but also go on the website, take look at plans that are available in Tennessee and also check to see if they qualify for subsidy."