Trump gives nod to Republican tax-credit proposal on Obamacare

[DonViejo]

Source: Reuters



Wed Mar 1, 2017 | 12:23pm EST

By Yasmeen Abutaleb | WASHINGTON

U.S. President Donald Trump backed the use of tax credits to help people purchase health insurance in a speech to Congress on Tuesday, the first time he signaled support for a key component of House Republican proposals to replace Obamacare.

Republicans, who control the White House and Congress, are united in their opposition to former Democratic President Barack Obama's signature 2010 healthcare law, but have so far failed to agree on the details of how to replace it.

"We should help Americans purchase their own coverage, through the use of tax credits and expanded Health Savings Accounts," Trump said. "But it must be the plan they want, not the plan forced on them by our government."

Democrats are ardently opposed to tampering with Obamacare, which provided coverage to millions of previously uninsured people.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-obamacare-idUSKBN1683F9?il=0

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. Doomed, we are so fucked.

[George II]

2. What about people who either don't earn enough or earn TOO much to actually pay taxes?

[Hoyt]

3. If they don't earn enough, they'll essentially get paid the credit. Question is, how insufficient

will GOPers make it?

[bucolic_frolic]

6. They could make the credit worthless if you don't use it

Or tax it for not using it.

[George II]

16. That's the thing, a "tax credit" is essentially a voucher, worthless if not used.....

...it's like a coupon for a Big Mac to a vegetarian.

[bucolic_frolic]

4. Voucherize my appendectomy

I SO want to stay out of hospitals. And away from doctors.
11 years without has been paradise.

[PRETZEL]

5. These two ideas do absolutely nothing to help

you only get the tax credit when you file your taxes so each month you are still putting out the same amount of money.

HSA's are your money to begin with as it's a deduction from your paycheck.

Either way, the insurance company has no reason to reduce rates.

[bucolic_frolic]

8. no reason to reduce rates

That's the whole idea. It's comparable to auto insurance.
Any fool knows, you have an accident, there are several prices
to repair your car: the estimate, the accepted average, the insurance
company's estimate, the "wholesale" price, and the uninsured price
with some used parts. Take your pick: $6500, $5700, $4450, $3200,
$1750.

Anytime there is a big pool of money around - insurance premiums for example -
the price goes up. College tuition the same thing.

Mutual insurance companies still have the lowest rates in my experience. I chopped
about 13% off my low rates last year with a regional mutual insurer that gets in your
head and life to keep rates low. And they keep customers for decades with such things
as fixed auto rates for as long as you make no changes. Fixed!

[Bengus81]

7. I'm saving for open heart surgery right now Donnie!!!

I think at about $20.00 bucks per week I'll have enough to cover the operation in about oh...50-75 YEARS.

[Bengus81]

9. Last one of their "plans" their tax credit was going to be 250.00 per month....

BCBS has now raised a premium I used to pay $290 per month for back in 2011 to $836 in 2017. So...that would still be about $600 per month out of pocket. Donnie and Turtle think anyone retired can do that amount if your not filthy rich??

[LonePirate]

10. Aren't the current subsidies applied at the time of purchase whereas tax credits are a year later?

If so, that alone will cause millions of people to lose coverage due to not being able to afford it at purchase time. Then there's the likelihood of tax credits being far less than the current subsidies.

One more thing. Is this whole "forced on them" malarkey part of the right wing push back to birth control and maternity coverage? The anti-women party displays its true colors once again.

[Bengus81]

14. That's the way I understand it. Hell..how else COULD it work??

Getting a big tax credit in March or April when you file your taxes after having to pay 100% the rest of the year will NEVER work for most of the Country. And...I can't see them depositing that $250 in 20 million + accounts every month.

Trust me,those tax credits aren't even in the ball park unless someone like Blue Cross Blue Shield would reduce their premiums for most by about 75%. WHY would they?? And they won't.

But...I wonder about those Insurance Companies potentially LOSING 20M+ customers in which they get a FAT check from the US treasury each month. I've had an policy with BCBS since early 2011 and have never cost them so much as ONE CENT in health care costs. They make out like a bandit each month on my market place coverage.

[yallerdawg]

18. They have a federally-guaranteed profit margin for these ACA plans!

The problem for these insurers is - 15-20% profit is not enough?

[Cryptoad]

11. If there is anyway the GOP can fuck it up,,,,,,,they can do it!

[KittyWampus]

12. Giving us coupons isn't going to help pay for $1000/month premiums or help with deductibles.

10% rebate on $100,000 per year is still more than I can afford.

[IronLionZion]

13. Right, health savings accounts

people should have thought about their health needs before choosing to be poor!

[BumRushDaShow]

15. Drumpf Death panels and care rationing. nt

[riversedge]

17. Trump had no plan of his own. So far, he is adopting Paul Ryan's "access" (only) and tax credits.

[Red Knight]

19. But healthcare is so complicated!

Who knew?

[kimbutgar]

20. If you have no money to pay for the monthly premiums tax credits mean jack$hit

[Kimchijeon]

21. We are fucked. Poor/working class, this means death

literally death... disgusting


Well some states like MN still have stuff like Minnesotacare which existed prior. That's our only hope I guess. Flee to states with healthcare, or flee to a first world country as a refugee? Dunno.

Pretty bleak.

[Sunlei]

22. I can't afford insurance without the subsidy PAID IN ADVANCE to Insurance Corp. every month.

Insurance REQUIRES a monthly premium payment.