Study estimates impact of ending subsidies in FFM by demographics

A study released yesterday by the Urban Institute looks at who would lose health insurance if the Supreme Court decides for the plaintiffs in King v. Burwell, who seek to limit subsidies under the Affordable Care Act to states that set up their own health insurance marketplaces. “Not surprisingly, those with incomes below 400% of the [federal poverty level] would be most likely to become uninsured, although over 500,000 individuals with incomes above 400% FPL would lose coverage,” the authors conclude. “Those that would become uninsured are more likely to be white, have lower education levels, live in the South, and to have a family member who works for a small firm.” The study builds on an earlier Urban Institute study that found ending subsidies in the 34 states with federally facilitated marketplaces would increase the number of uninsured Americans by 8.2 million in 2016 and the annual premium for nongroup coverage in states with federally facilitated marketplaces by 35%. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation provided funding for both studies.