- As Trump Attacks the Federal Health Law, Some States Try to Shore it Up Stateline by Christine Vestal — This year, a handful of Democratic-led states are gearing up to curb further rate hikes by enacting laws and adopting insurance regulations designed to shore up the traditional insurance industry and restore parts of the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare. At the same time, at least one Republican-leaning state has moved to further unravel the federal health law by encouraging insurance companies to offer cheap policies with fewer benefits. Others are expected to follow. Both red and blue states are reacting to a series of federal actions. It's too early to know how many other states will move this year to fill the policy gaps in the tattered ACA. But consumer advocates are urging lawmakers and governors to act sooner rather than later.
- Trump Administration Seeks New Ways to Allow People to Dodge Obamacare's Individual Mandate Washington Post by Paige Winfield Cunningham and Juliet Eilperin — The Trump administration is exploring ways to excuse more Americans from the requirement that they prove they're insured in the remaining months before the ACA's individual mandate is laid to rest. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is working on guidance expanding the "hardship" exemptions from the 2010 health care law's mandate that people purchase health plans, according to two people familiar with the effort. Agency officials haven't yet finalized the guidance, but aim to increase the number of reasons people could cite as justifications for not showing they're insured when they file their tax returns.