The GOPs Obamacare sabotage continues (Washington Post Editorial Board)

[swag]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-gops-obamacare-sabotage-continues/2017/06/09/c0469574-4d40-11e7-a186-60c031eab644_story.html?utm_term=.6308f9d941fa

ANOTHER WEEK, another insurance company deserting patients in a wide swath of the country. Last Tuesday, Anthem announced it would pull out of the Obamacare marketplace in Ohio, potentially leaving individual insurance-buyers in about a fifth of the state’s counties without Affordable Care Act coverage to purchase. The news came after insurers in various other states announced or threatened market exits or big rate hikes over the past several weeks.

Are these moves more evidence that Obamacare is fundamentally unworkable? Hardly. Of greedy insurance companies callously disregarding their customers’ health? Not that either. Anthem explained clearly what is responsible for its retreat: Republican sabotage of the health-care system.

The Trump administration has been serially unclear about whether it will keep funding a crucial subsidy program, known as cost-sharing reductions . Without them, insurers would have to jack up premiums to cover their costs or leave markets that would become deeply unprofitable to them. Just as experts and industry officials predicted, insurance companies have done both as the uncertainty

Key Republicans understand the damage they are doing. “Insurers have made clear the lack of certainty is causing 2018 proposed premiums to rise significantly,” House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Tex.) said Thursday, arguing that Congress should step in. As the administration still appears determined to stoke uncertainty, lawmakers would have to move quickly to prevent more damage.

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[OnDoutside]

1. I would like to hear Democratic leaders shout from the rooftops

That this what the Republicans​ are up to, to kill Obamacare from the inside, and force Democrats to agree to a ridiculously poor replacement. Democrats should be screaming at Republicans that they will never agree to a Republican replacement that is one bed, one operation and most importantly, one American citizen's care, less than what Obamacare provided. They should be laying the groundwork NOW.

[bagelsforbreakfast]

2. At least it's Ohio...

Where they voted for it! Let's see how they like them apples! (sorry for the people who didn't).

[swag]

3. Pardon me for stating the obvious:

Republican policies seem to have two main aims: enrich themselves and their cronies at the expense of others and do as much harm to the rest of us as possible.

[judesedit]

4. Rethugs not following the law as usual. Won't pay up

[Vinca]

5. The odd thing about Republicans is they seem intent on killing their own voters.

Blue states will step up to the plate, but red staters might as well put their coffins on layaway.