While there is little doubt that short-term health insurance policies would benefit Americans under 50, policy availability and pricing changes for those over 50 is likely to be dramatic. Already, 50 percent of Americans 50 and older receive subsidies on their health insurance premiums in the ACA market, the AARP said.
“By taking the younger and healthier folk out of the market and putting them in a separate risk pool, the proposal would decrease affordability,” O’Reilly said. “We have advocated for proposals that will help stabilize the market and lower costs.”