The Obama administration is set to unveil new procedures that will greatly expand the government’s ability to verify the income of Americans who seek government subsidies under the federal health care law.
“We’re going to be sampling 100 percent. There’s new information,” Gary Cohen, deputy director of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, told the House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday.
He made his assurances after Chairman Dave Camp, Michigan Republican, aired concerns that enrollees in state health exchanges will self-certify their income. The administration would have to cross-check that information much later, when the enrollees file their tax returns.
Mr. Cohen said the government will verify the income of everyone who applies for subsides on the state-based exchanges, where those without employer-based insurance can shop for private health coverage with the help of premium tax credits.
Daniel Werfel, acting director of the IRS, said the tax credits will be delivered through the health exchanges, and not directly to the individual enrollees.
“That money goes directly to the insurance company,” Mr. Werfel said.
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