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Obamacare premiums are once again poised to spike by double digits in 2019, causing heartburn for politicians as voters will head to the polls within days of learning about the looming hit to their pocketbooks. But unlike recent campaign cycles, when Republicans capitalized on Obamacare sticker shock to help propel them to complete control of Congress and the White House, they’re now likely to be the ones feeling the wrath of voters. That’s because Republicans are now in total control of the federal government and therefore on the hook for the health care system’s chronic shortcomings. Polling data has consistently suggested that more voters will blame Republicans for future problems with Obamacare. In addition, the GOP’s repeated failures to repeal Obamacare after eight years of campaign promises will make it difficult to galvanize the base on health care. (Demko, 6/21)

Medica’s exact rate-increase proposal was not made public this week. But Iowa Insurance Division announced Wednesday which insurance companies were proposing increases of more than 5.6 percent. Any proposals over that level would require a public hearing in front of Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen. Medica’s proposal did not go over the threshold, the division said. Medica's 45,000 customers should receive information this fall about how much the carrier plans to increase their premiums. About 85 percent of them will be shielded from the increases, because they qualify for Affordable Care Act subsidies that rise as premiums go up. (Leys, 6/21)

Under the federal health-care law, all plans sold to individuals and small businesses were required to cover a list of basic benefits, such as maternity, mental-health services, and prescription drugs. Now, association health plans, through which small businesses buy insurance together, will be able to omit some of those benefits. (Gantz, 6/22)