CNN
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\n A group of Democratic-led cities sued the Trump administration Tuesday over new changes to the Affordable Care Act that they say will undermine the sweeping health care law and result in nearly 2 million Americans losing health insurance.\n <\/p>\n
\n The rule, finalized on June 25, shortens the open enrollment period for Americans buying insurance on the marketplace and ends a monthly special enrollment period for people with incomes below 150% of the federal poverty line. It also introduces more preenrollment requirements, such as income verification checks.\n <\/p>\n
\n The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services estimated last month between 725,000 and 1.8 million people could lose coverage due to the rule, but said the changes introduce new \u201csafeguards<\/a>\u201d against improper enrollment and overspending.\n <\/p>\n \n The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Maryland, was brought by the cities of Chicago, Baltimore and Columbus, Ohio, as well as an association of doctors and a non-profit network of small businesses that rely on the Affordable Care Act marketplace.\n <\/p>\n \n They allege that several parts of the new rule violate the ACA and other federal laws, and say the administration ran afoul of federal rulemaking procedures when it created the new policies, including by failing to respond to public comments submitted as the rule was being finalized.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cRather than reducing the cost of insurance for consumers, or increasing their enrollment rates and benefits, Defendants\u2019 new policies will cause at least 1.8 million Americans to lose coverage on the ACA\u2019s health insurance Exchanges in 2026 alone and will ultimately result in higher premiums in the long term and higher out-of-pocket costs for the remaining enrollees,\u201d attorneys for the plaintiffs wrote in the lawsuit.\n <\/p>\n \n The plaintiffs, represented by attorneys with Democracy Forward, are asking the court to wipe away the parts of the new rule they\u2019re challenging.\n <\/p>\n \n A spokesperson for CMS\u2019s parent agency, the Department of Health and Human Services, defended the rule in a statement to CNN.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cThe rule closes loopholes, strengthens oversight, and ensures taxpayer subsidies go to those who are truly eligible\u2014that\u2019s not controversial, it\u2019s common sense,\u201d the HHS spokesperson said. They added that the rule would lower premiums and it \u201cstrengthens, not weakens, access by making the system more stable, fair, and sustainable.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n Advocates for the Trump administration\u2019s rule changes say the ACA marketplace is rife with fraud because of expanded subsidies, or tax credits that keep Americans\u2019 monthly premiums low. Millions of people are enrolling in those low-cost plans even if their income makes them ineligible for heavily subsidized plans<\/a>, according to conservative think tank Paragon Health Institute.\n <\/p>\n