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Article snippet: Mixed signals from President Trump and opposition from House Republicans will make it difficult to pass a stand-alone bill to fund ObamaCare subsidies before December, Senate Republican sources say. But Republican leaders are looking at attaching a bipartisan health care deal to a major bill, likely a package funding the federal government beyond Dec. 8 or an end-of year spending deal. That move would likely reduce insurance rates beginning in October of 2018 — just one month before the midterm elections, when Republicans will be defending their House and Senate majorities. “It’s not going to be a standalone vote. Now we’re going to be in a wait-and-see mode until CHIP or the CR,” a senior Republican aide said, referring to a bill to reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program and a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government beyond Dec. 8. Pushing action until the end of the year means that Congress will not be able to reduce individual insurance premiums immediately; ObamaCare’s open enrollment period for next year begins on Nov. 1 and is scheduled to end Dec. 15. But if a deal crafted by Senate Health Committee Chairman MORE (Wash.), the ranking Democrat on the committee, passes by the end of the year or early next year, insurance rates could drop significantly ahead of the enrollment period for 2019. “We won’t be able to lower premiums for 2018,” said the senior GOP aide. “The good news is that premiums in 2019 will lower dramatically. The new i... Link to the full article to read more