President Trump's administration indicated that it will continue to pay the disputed Obamacare subsidies in 2018, The New York Times reported.
The move is what insurance companies have been waiting for as the deadline loomed for them to decide whether to stay in the Obamacare exchanges next year.
Republicans filed suit against the Obama administration in 2014, arguing that the subsidies were illegal because they weren't approved by Congress. A federal judge agreed but suspended action in lieu of an appeal by Obama.
That appeal is still outstanding.
"The precedent is that while the lawsuit is being litigated, the cost-sharing subsidies will be funded. It would be fair for you to report that there has been no policy change in the current administration," the White House said in a statement Monday to the Times.
Republicans' shot at ending the subsidies crashed and burned March 24 when they failed to bring a vote on the American Health Care Act.
To force the hand of Republicans, one GOP lawmaker wants Trump to end special subsidies that are in place for members of Congress, who are on Obamacare plans.
Newsmax reported Rep. Ron DeSantis sent a letter to the president asking him to axe the special subsidies granted by the Office of Personnel Management in 2013, figuring if Republicans lost their subsidy, they'd be less likely to continue funding rank and file Americans and, thus, repeal Obamacare once and for all.
Ceasing to pay the subsidies would also throw millions of Americans into the ranks of the uninsured, not the best of moves with midterms fast approaching.
The subsidies were put in place by the Obama administration to help insurance companies offset their costs for helping low-income Americans reduce their costs.
The subsidies are projected to run $11 billion in 2018.
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