Many have forgotten that our Congress (Senate and State Representatives) and public employees are not fully subject to Obamacare. President Trump can change that with a stroke of THE Pen.

Congress was initially subject to the ACA. However, after a meeting with Senate Democrats in March 2013, Obama exempted Congress from section 1312(d)(3)(D). That section would have required Congress and their staff to buy insurance through an Obamacare exchange and does not authorize an employer contribution toward their premium. Congress and their staff would lose their taxpayer-funded, gold-plated health care rather than go into Obamacare and pay their own way.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), under the instruction of President Obama, ruled “the DC Health Link Small Business Market administered by the DC Benefit Exchange Authority, is the appropriate SHOP from which Members of Congress and staff purchase health insurance in order to receive a government contribution (subsidy). The Congress employees thousands, not the required 50 or fewer required to be eligible for the DC (or any) Exchange.

Federal Employees Health Benefits Program: Members of Congress and Congressional Staff, 78 Fed. Reg. 60653- 01 (Oct. 2, 2013). https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-10-02/pdf/2013-23565.pdf

President Trump has the power to end this abuse by directing OPM to rescind the rule and issue a new one that conforms to the statutory requirement the congress and their staff pay their own premiums in the individual Obamacare Exchange.

Employee Benefit Advisory provides employee benefits, tax-advantaged healthcare, compliance guidance for ACA and Health & Welfare DOL Audits, and PEO Advisory & Consulting Services.