From MS NOW · Steve Benen · · 1m 10s
Trump removes 760,000 from ACA over fraud claims
The administration says it's purging ineligible enrollees, but critics question the evidence and methods.
In brief
The administration says it's purging ineligible enrollees, but critics question the evidence and methods. The Trump administration removed 760,000 people from ACA coverage citing fraud, but the reliability of their fraud detection methods, including AI models, remains uncertain. Originally reported by MS NOW.
Trump removes 760,000 ACA enrollees
Vice President JD Vance announced the administration is removing about 760,000 people from Affordable Care Act coverage, claiming they were fraudulently enrolled.
“We're actually making sure that the people receiving Obamacare subsidies are actually entitled to receive them.”
Mix of ineligible and fake enrollees
Vance said the 760,000 included people who didn't meet eligibility requirements and people who didn't exist. Another 440,000 are under review.
Detection method raises questions
Mehmet Oz said the purge targeted people who never filed a claim or filled a prescription, assuming real enrollees use their coverage.
AI model used in fraud detection
Administration officials relied partly on an artificial intelligence model to identify ineligible ACA enrollees, despite a poor track record with AI on health matters.
Critics call it a smokescreen
Brad Woodhouse of Protect Our Care said the task force won't help families afford coverage and is a distraction from the administration's goal of making coverage harder to obtain.
“Families need coverage they can afford and count on when they get sick.”
The key point
The Trump administration removed 760,000 people from ACA coverage citing fraud, but the reliability of their fraud detection methods, including AI models, remains uncertain.
