The GOP has a new plan to destroy Obamacare. It's even crueler than the last one.

[DonViejo]

By Greg Sargent April 20 at 10:17 AM

House Republicans have been hinting they may introduce a new plan to replace Obamacare before the 100th day of the Trump presidency. Naturally, giving President Trump something to arbitrarily tout as an achievement (even if it passes the House, the Senate looms) in advance of the arbitrary 100-day mark is far more important than the human toll the proposal would have on millions.

Now Republicans are indeed set to introduce the new plan, multiple reports tell us. And judging by a new study set to be released today, it is even crueler than the last GOP plan: The study finds premiums would likely soar for the sick, probably pushing them off coverage.

The Huffington Post has a detailed rundown of the new GOP plan, which is designed to bridge the gap between moderates and conservatives who rejected the last one for different reasons. It allows states to seek a waiver to get rid of the Affordable Care Act’s prohibition on charging higher premiums to people with preexisting conditions, on the condition that states set up or participate in high-risk pools that would help cover any of those people who lose insurance. It would also restore to the GOP bill the ACA’s requirement that insurers cover Essential Health Benefits (EHBs) — such as doctor’s and emergency room visits and maternity care — but allow states to seek waivers from them.

In effect, the waiver on preexisting conditions is designed to make conservatives happy, while giving moderates high-risk pools that allow them to argue it wouldn’t harm people with preexisting conditions. The restoration of EHBs is designed to make moderates happy, while telling conservatives states could still get out from under them.

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[woodsprite]

1. You know, the evil, vile machinations of the Repubs, their consistant ability to get away with it,

and their general disdain for the human race (excluding themselves and their peers) and the world in general, has me seriously questioning the existence of God as most think of Him.

.
.
.
.

That is all.

[classof56]

5. Me too!

In fact I, a lifelong evangelical fundamentalist, am now an atheist. It was a torturous path down a long and winding road to get there, but the reasons you mentioned finally turned the trick. Blessings to you, and may you stay strong in the face of all that evil. They don't make it easy!

Peace.

[vlyons]

6. I was thinking about this today. What is the essence of the problem?

The answer that I came up with is human greed. We must have a greed gene in our make-up, because many of us are never content with what we have. If a little of this or a little of that is good, then more of this and that, lots lots more, must be even better!

We have fucked our biodiverse planetary eco system to grow a few crops at an industrial level for profit. We have polluted our waters and oceans, because we don't want the expense of clean industries to interfere with our profits. We have stolen wages, retirements, estates, healthcare, education - all for more and more money. Human greed seems to have no boundaries. But who will see this? Who will work on curbing their own inclinations towards greed? Correct me if I'm wrong.

[Tanuki]

2. It is a health plan in name only. There is no consideration of

health and well being. This is a tax cut for the wealthiest, at the expense of those in greatest need, masquerading as a health plan and is being rammed through so that those cuts will be in place in time for the phase of tax cuts that he will actually acknowledge. The media should not collude in this grotesque farce by going along with calling this a health care plan.

[Cattledog]

3. These people are scum. tRump just wants a bill, any bill, before his 1st 100 days.

Then he can just lie about what a great bill it is.

[bagelsforbreakfast]

4. Looks like they're adopting the old "Die Quickly" plan Alan Grayson exposed... n/m

[Lyricalinklines]

7. The GOP will use the April 28th deadline to bully congress members to pass a bill, I bet.

It's disgraceful. Seems they'll use a body to bleed tax payer money from and then just let us die when there's nothing more they can gain.

[kimbutgar]

8. How is somebody who is sick afford to pay high healthcare premiums?

What employer wants a sick employee working for them suffering from cancer?