[dragonwriter]

I think a lot of this was related to the risk corridor payments insurers were entitlted to for 2014-2016 but which Congress simply refused to fund, resulting in a lawsuit that reached the Supreme Court in 2020 ruling that, yes, the payments had to be made.

[ceejayoz]

The loss of the individual mandate also probably plays a big role.

[s1artibartfast]

I imagine that would hurt the situation not help it. The individual mandate was intended and served more healthy individuals into the insurance pool.

[dragonwriter]

> The individual mandate was intended and served more healthy individuals into the insurance pool.

More people in the pool makes costs more predictable, and more healthy people in the pool makes them lower. The loss lf the individual mandate driving them out made costs less predictable and on-average higher, and higher rates themselves increase opt-outs, reinforcing the effect.

[s1artibartfast]

Indeed. sorry if it wasnt clear that was what I was saying.