Via the Seattle Times:
The executive order signed by President Donald Trump Thursday that could lead to changes in health insurance was greeted with strong condemnation by Washington state’s insurance commissioner.
“The executive order President Trump issued today proposes misguided and simplistic solutions to fix a complex problem – the growing costs of health care,” Commissioner Mike Kreidler said in a statement.
The executive order is the second insurance-related move the Trump administration has made since the latest attempt by Republicans in Congress to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, failed late last month. Last week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services rolled back a federal requirement issued under the ACA that employers must include birth-control coverage in their health-insurance plans.
Some experts said Thursday’s executive order would chip away at the ACA by easing rules that allow small businesses and individuals to get insurance through health associations, which could bypass regulations and mandates set by states and the ACA. Other experts said Trump’s proposals appear to be modest and would have limited impact.
Gasp! Imagine that! Allowing individuals to freely choose which insurance is best for them! You would think that this were a free country of something.