UPDATE, May 22: The Trump Administration on Monday asked for another 90-day abeyance in the CSR appeal, while continuing the payments in the interim. The action means an appellate decision on the legality of the crucial cost reduction subsidies will be put off for as much as three months. The Administration also indicated it opposes the request by 15 states and the District of Columbia to take over the defense of the CSR payments from the White House.

To some experts, this is the worst of all possible worlds: It continues the uncertainty over Trump’s policy on the crucial payments, while putting off further court deliberation until after many insurance companies have filed their initial rate requests for 2018.