Republicans unveil bill to repeal and replace Obamacare

[DeadLetterOffice]

Source: CNN

Washington (CNN) — House Republicans introduced their bill to repeal Obamacare's individual mandate that also aims to maintain coverage for people with pre-existing conditions and allow children to stay on their parents' plans until the age of 26.

The measure would restructure the country's Medicaid program so that states receive a set amount of money from the federal government every year and offer individuals refundable tax credits to purchase health insurance, all of which experts have warned could result in millions of people losing access to insurance they received under the Affordable Care Act.

It also largely would keep Obamacare's protections of those with pre-existing conditions, but allows insurers to charge higher premiums to those who let their coverage lapse.

<snip>

The GOP bill also includes a provision to strip all federal funding for Planned Parenthood, which is something Republicans has vowed to do for years citing concerns over the use of taxpayer money for abortion services. Even though current federal law bars the use of money specifically for abortions, conservatives have complained that the women's health services organization does support research they oppose. Planned Parenthood has warned that cutting off their funding will have major impact on Medicaid recipients, millions of whom obtain health care services in their clinics.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/06/politics/republicans-public-obamacare-plan/index.html

[humbled_opinion]

1. DOA... .n/t

[mobeau69]

3. DOA or See you in the streets.

[forgotmylogin]

34. "Refundable tax Credits". That's like a mail-in rebate, isn't it?

You still have to pay full price and then deduct it from your taxable income?

So you may not even get the money back depending on your tax situation.

[PSPS]

2. Passage is doubtful and I doubt this would survive the Senate even with its GOP majority.

[DeadLetterOffice]

4. I'm very much hoping you're right.

Especially since both Conservative and Moderate Rs aren't too happy with it.

[cstanleytech]

27. "Conservative and Moderate Rs" Are they unhappy that it screws over to many

people or because it doesnt screw them over enough?

[DeadLetterOffice]

37. Varies -- both, really

Link to tweet

[mobeau69]

5. Hey, his election was doubtful.

People better be prepared to raise some hell this summer.

[mvd]

14. I feel we have them over a barrel

Yes they can take away funding through reconciliation. Then millions lose their insurance with no replacement. We can really go after them over that. Any replacement like this will need 60 votes, which they will not get.

[still_one]

17. unless they remove the filibuster by changing the rules

[mvd]

19. I don't think they would get enough support for that

Unless they feel they can rig elections, which I really hope not.

[still_one]

23. I hope you are right, that they wouldn't get enough support for that

[sarcasmo]

25. Republican's have full control and will pass this stupidity.

[DeadLetterOffice]

6. See Babylon's post re: disagreement within GOP re:bill...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10028756930

[elmac]

8. Some repug state governors are fighting to keep Medicaid as is

even they know that the tax credit crap is just smoke and mirrors.

[ColemanMaskell]

32. Thanks for the link to Babylon post

[muriel_volestrangler]

35. and Susan Collins opposes defunding Planned Parenthood

http://www.vox.com/identities/2017/3/6/14836998/obamacare-repeal-replace-bill-defund-planned-parenthood

so that makes 5 Repub senators against it (Murkowski is also in the 4 senators talking about Medicaid)

[DrToast]

7. Obama should endorse it

To make sure it doesn't pass.

[OnDoutside]

9. Love it !

[BumRushDaShow]

12. That would be hilarious!

[Kimchijeon]

21. lol that is good thinking

[kairos12]

10. Not one Democratic vote in the House or Senate. This is Trumpcare.

[jayschool2013]

15. DonT Care

I thought we were calling it "DonT Care."

[LeftInTX]

33. Don T. Care is what it is...never call it TrumpCare

[TNLib]

11. So they're getting rid of the mandate

Insurance companies will drop out in droves.

[grantcart]

13. lunacy

the only way that you can mandate no preconditions is by having an individual mandate.

Requiring accepting people with no preconditions but not mandating universal coverage will revert in what is termed adverse selection

Regulation can exacerbate the problem of adverse selection and lead to chronic market instability, so certain steps must be taken to prevent risk screening and preserve competition for the market.

This is insurance 101. It will never be enacted and if it were would cause the collapse of health insurance markets.

[still_one]

18. Actually what will happen is they would charge such high rates for those withe preconditions, that

those who need to be covered wouldn't be because they couldn't afford it.

Yeah, everyone would have access to insurance, but they couldn't afford the premiums

What you said is correct grant, that is why the mandate is required.

[grantcart]

29. ironically the insurance companies will most likely pull out

of the rural areas altogether because even at elevated rates there wouldn't be enough volume.

[still_one]

31. hopefully this won't go anywhere. If they really wanted to help people they would

do Medicare for all, and for those who cannot afford that, then a real expanded medicaid would cover them.

[still_one]

16. It would likely take insurance from millions

House Republican leaders on Monday formally unveiled legislation to repeal most of the Affordable Care Act and “replace” it with a very different health policy scheme ― one in which government would do a lot less to help people get comprehensive health insurance and, most likely, many more people would struggle to find affordable medical care.

The “American Health Care Act,” as Republicans call it, actually consists of two separate, but complementary bills ― one for the Energy and Commerce Committee, and one for Ways and Means. Each committee plans to begin “marking up” the legislation on Wednesday, which means they will review the text, contemplate amendments, and then vote.

If they pass their bills, it will be a major step toward pushing legislation through Congress to the desk of President Donald Trump ― who, along with GOP leaders, has made repeal of Obamacare a top priority.

Republicans have at various times promised that their proposal would provide better, cheaper insurance than the Affordable Care Act ― and that people who now depend on the law for coverage won’t be left in the lurch. But they have also promised to reduce spending and regulations ― and to get rid of the law’s highly unpopular individual mandate, which is a financial penalty for people who decline to get coverage even when it wouldn’t cause hardship.

These goals aren’t compatible with each other. And with this legislation, House leaders have made it clear they are going to err on the side of less regulation, spending, and taxes ― even if that means people who need help paying their medical bills don’t get it.

In fact, the new legislation looks a lot like earlier versions of the measure that Politico, The Wall Street Journal, and other publications have described. Studies of those bills suggested they would result in cheaper premiums for younger and healthier people, and new tax breaks for more affluent consumers ― but also higher out-of-pocket costs, higher premiums for older and sicker people, and ultimately many more uninsured.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/house-republicans-obamacare-repeal_us_58bdf877e4b09ab537d63e57?

Gee, I guess elections do matter

[flamingdem]

20. This is not replacement, this is gutting

Woe be any dem who votes for it

[cstanleytech]

28. Agreed, any Dem that votes yes for this needs to be forcible ejected by the party

and the party should seek someone else to replace them in the next election.

[ffr]

22. When.....Do.....We.....March?

Fuck those fucking evil heated republicans!

[sarcasmo]

26. Republican Jesus has no soul.

[videohead5]

24. Over at Redstate

They don't like it either.one person complained about the big tax cut to the rich in the bill.I was shocked.

[procon]

30. If Republicans tried to use that same formula on car and home insurance

no one could afford to buy any coverage. Good drivers pay a share of cost for bad drivers. The same for home owners who do not have to contend with hurricanes, tornadoes or earthquakes, they pay for those disasters. That how insurance works.

You can't separate those who need high risk insurance from the the norm and expect the system to work effectively.

[DeminPennswoods]

36. GOP congresscritters are really going to hide now

Cutting medicare? Wait until their supporters figure that out. Punxsutawney Phil's burrow is going to get awful crowded.