Attorney General Charity Clark has joined a multistate effort opposing proposed changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The changes, if implemented, could hinder access to health coverage and exclude DACA recipients from purchasing insurance on exchanges.
The proposed changes could lead to between 750,000 and two million Americans losing their health insurance in 2026, which may strain state resources and lead to economic repercussions as emergency care costs rise. The alterations come after a 2024 federal rule by the Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services had expanded access to ACA exchanges, including for DACA recipients.
A recent initiative by the Trump Administration seeks to reverse this rule, potentially cutting insurance for DACA recipients, affecting their access to necessary medical attention and increasing emergency room visits.
Additionally, the proposed rule suggests shortening the open enrollment periods across all state ACA exchanges. It also proposes prohibiting coverage for gender-affirming care as an essential health benefit, arguing without evidence against its inclusion in employer-based plans. Current trends show an increase in coverage, with surveys indicating 72% of Fortune 500 firms included gender-affirming care in 2024.
A multistate comment letter signed by Attorney General Clark and her counterparts from states including California, New York, and Massachusetts, challenges these proposals. The letter argues these changes could impose financial burdens on states and negatively impact public health.