The market’s about to change… maybe

(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

In just a couple of months, we should get a ruling in the King v. Burwell Supreme Court case and should know the fate of the premium tax credits in those states using the Federally Facilitated Marketplace instead of “an exchange established by the state.” Much has been written about the possible negative implications of a ruling in favor of the plaintiffs, and many of the disastrous consequences people are predicting could in fact materialize: millions could lose coverage; the individual health insurance market could go into a death spiral; and both hospitals and insurance companies could lose a fortune.

Agents, too, could be hurt by a ruling against the administration. Brokers across the country have spent the past couple years figuring out the Healthcare.gov website and working to get individuals enrolled in qualified plans and set up with financial assistance. If the subsidies go away, so would many of these clients.