CBO Sees Higher Premiums if Trump Blocks 'Obamacare' Subsidies

(CN) — People buying individual health care policies would face higher premiums, and some may be left with no insurance options at all if President Donald Trump makes good on his threat to stop Affordable Care Act payments to insurers, the Congressional Budget Office said Tuesday.

In a new report, the nonpartisan agency said cutting off the payments would add $194 billion to federal deficits over a decade.

That’s because other subsidies would automatically increase with rising premiums, wiping out any savings.

The so-called “cost-sharing” payments reimburse insurers for subsidizing out-of-pocket costs for people with modest incomes.

Trump  threatened to cut off the money earlier this month after the collapse of the GOP health care bill.

He said at the time that the tactic would force Democrats to negotiate with him on health care. – Developing story .