ACA premiums are stable for 2019 because they went up so much this year due to an uncertain environment and regulatory actions by the Trump administration. Premiums would be going down a lot if not for repeal of the individual mandate penalty and expansion of short-term plans.
Here's some important context for the Trump administration's announcement that ACA benchmark premiums will drop next year. Insurers in the exchange are quite profitable right now because they overshot so much in their premium increases for this year.
kff.org/private-insura…
kff.org/private-insura…
Ironically, one of the most stabilizing actions the Trump administration has taken was cutting of cost-sharing subsidy payments to insurers. That led to an increase in ACA benchmark premiums this year, which in turn led to higher premium subsidies and more stable enrollment.
The Trump administration has expanded insurance choices, including short-term and association health plans. This will tend to segregate healthy and sick people, benefiting some but hurting others, especially middle-class people with pre-existing conditions.
