Republicans begin repealing Obamacare - millions to lose health insurance

[Markhor]

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-obamacare-idUSKBN14X1SK

U.S. House Republicans on Friday won passage of a measure starting the process of dismantling Obamacare, despite concerns about not having a ready replacement and the potential financial cost of repealing Democratic President Barack Obama's landmark health insurance law.

The House of Representatives voted 227-198 to instruct committees to draft legislation by a target date of Jan. 27 that would repeal the 2010 Affordable Health Care Act, popularly known as Obamacare. The Senate approved the same measure early Thursday.

No Democrats supported the initiative. Nine Republicans voted against the measure.

So it begins. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare"), the uninsured rate plummeted to an all-time low. ACA allowed young people to remain on parents plans until they're 26 and stopped insurance companies from denying coverage for those with pre-existing conditions. But of course, since the Republican Party have an ideological obsession against government, and they take a healthy chunk of money from the insurance and pharmaceutical industry (as do Blue Dog Democrats to be fair) - the ACA has to go. This is despite:

1) MILLIONS will lose health care coverage as a result of this repeal. Republicans lack consensus on a replacement plan, but the ideas offered so far provide much less financial aid to purchase coverage and are likely to lead to more uninsured people.

2) Republicans cannot agree on what should replace the ACA.

3) Whilst its true premiums have increased under ACA, they were increasing at a faster rate before the Act ! Premiums for company-sponsored family plans, for example, increased 4.8% annually between 2005-2010. Since the ACA was enacted, they went up 3.8% a year.

3) The repeal exposes the Republican's deficit hypocrisy. A full repeal of Obamacare will INCREASE the deficit by $350 billion over the next decade, according to both the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office and the bipartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

Don't play politics with the health and lives of millions of families - if the Republicans seek to repeal the ACA they must pass a viable replacement in parallel.

 

[Thivagar]

Americans need to learn a lesson. They need to go through 4 years of this in order to have a better government down the road. This is that time. They have always been a bit slow because of all the brain washing through the media by benefactors. Now it is the time to learn.

 

[Bewal Express]

Why is it news here in the UK if the Americans have health care or not, do the Americans worry about anyone else besides themselves.

 

[Robert]

Americans need to learn a lesson. They need to go through 4 years of this in order to have a better government down the road. This is that time. They have always been a bit slow because of all the brain washing through the media by benefactors. Now it is the time to learn.

Aye, many Trump voters will lose access to health care. He will be a one-term President, if he gets through a term without impeachment.

 

[Bewal Express]

Aye, many Trump voters will lose access to health care. He will be a one-term President, if he gets through a term without impeachment.

By pretending to be a a complete chump, Trump has already lowered expectations and unless he is an absolute disaster, which I don't think he will be, he is onto a winner.

 

[Slog]

Hopefully it is replaced with something that works and does not punish the hard working folks

Obamacare had good intentions but was a failure

I didnt dislike it enough to say 'Good riddance' but certainly wont count myself a fan

 

[Pakpak]

What was wrong with Obamacare? Can anyone explain it in layman's terms?

 

[GenericBrand]

What was wrong with Obamacare? Can anyone explain it in layman's terms?

It had Obama's name.

 

[Markhor]

What was wrong with Obamacare? Can anyone explain it in layman's terms?

This article explains the pros and cons well - http://www.healthline.com/health/consumer-healthcare-guide/pros-and-cons-obamacare#Overview1

I don't deny the ACA has its flaws. In many counties there are only 1-2 insurers so little competition driving costs up. Premiums have risen, but they were increasing before the ACA and at a higher rate. The average premium for a family with employer coverage is now almost $3,600 lower than it would've been without the ACA if the rate increases in the preceding years continued on the same trend.

It is also true prescription drug costs have increased. Obama didn't ensure the government could negotiate prices with drug companies, IMO he kowtowed to the pharmaceutical lobby who are very powerful in Washington.

However the Republicans have offered no coherent alternatives and have whined about how its "big government" with right-wing donors like the Kochs pouring millions into blocking what is modest healthcare reform. This isn't a single payer system like our NHS but it's still too much for these ideological zealots. Ben Carson (who's in Trump's cabinet) compared the ACA to Nazi Germany and slavery !

Not to mention, this was a similar healthcare plan Mitt Romney introduced in his state ! Obamacare is a version of the plan produced by the right-wing Heritage Foundation think tank in the 1980s. Republicans are basically opposing their own plan ! That's how insanely anti-Obama they are and how far they've moved to the right. Moderate Republicans like Ronald Reagan, Bob Dole, George HW Bush and Richard Lugar would be out of place in today's GOP.

 

[Pakpak]

This article explains the pros and cons well - http://www.healthline.com/health/consumer-healthcare-guide/pros-and-cons-obamacare#Overview1

I don't deny the ACA has its flaws. In many counties there are only 1-2 insurers so little competition driving costs up. Premiums have risen, but they were increasing before the ACA and at a higher rate. The average premium for a family with employer coverage is now almost $3,600 lower than it would've been without the ACA if the rate increases in the preceding years continued on the same trend.

It is also true prescription drug costs have increased. Obama didn't ensure the government could negotiate prices with drug companies, IMO he kowtowed to the pharmaceutical lobby who are very powerful in Washington.

However the Republicans have offered no coherent alternatives and have whined about how its "big government" with right-wing donors like the Kochs pouring millions into blocking what is modest healthcare reform. This isn't a single payer system like our NHS but it's still too much for these ideological zealots. Ben Carson (who's in Trump's cabinet) compared the ACA to Nazi Germany and slavery !

Not to mention, this was a similar healthcare plan Mitt Romney introduced in his state ! Obamacare is a version of the plan produced by the right-wing Heritage Foundation think tank in the 1980s. Republicans are basically opposing their own plan ! That's how insanely anti-Obama they are and how far they've moved to the right. Moderate Republicans like Ronald Reagan, Bob Dole, George HW Bush and Richard Lugar would be out of place in today's GOP.

Thanks a lot for this summary.

Have you come across that facebook exchange with a Trump fan celebrating ACA's repeal when he finds out he is actually a beneficiary of it.

 

[Abdullah719]

It had Obama's name.

This does seem to be a recurring theme amongst (some) Trump supporters.

When they're asked why they don't like it, they fail to give a reasonable answer.

 

[GenericBrand]

This does seem to be a recurring theme amongst (some) Trump supporters.

When they're asked why they don't like it, they fail to give a reasonable answer.

Forget Trump supporters, its also funny because ObamaCare is similar to what Republicans of the yester-years have proposed and would have supported. But since this has Obama's blessing on it they have constantly opposed it and have had to modify the Bill over the the years to get their support, and now they still want to repeal it!

 

[Markhor]

Thanks a lot for this summary.

Have you come across that facebook exchange with a Trump fan celebrating ACA's repeal when he finds out he is actually a beneficiary of it.

That's the most tragic part of this election. Millions of working-class Americans voted against their self-interests. Not saying Obama was or Clinton would've been perfect but Republicans are planning to roll back even the modest progresses made in the last eight years. People could die due to this repeal because they won't be able to afford insurance - and even if GOP replace it they won't maintain the subsidies Obama introduced that helped the poor with their insurance costs.

I'll give you another example of how ideologically extreme Republican Party have become. There's an influential American conservative by the name of Grover Norquist. He famously said he wants government "so small you could drown it in the bathtub". He also got 95% of Congressional Republicans to sign his "No Tax Pledge" in 2012. That's right, 95% of Republicans pledged NOT to raise a penny in income tax ! Yet they accuse progressives of fiscal irresponsibility.

Every developed country provides universal healthcare coverage of one model or another - except the US, the richest country on earth. Britain and Canada have single payer healthcare, France, Germany and the Netherlands have state health insurance - last time I checked they haven't turned into Castro's Cuba.

 

[Saeed]

I heard a lot of people in red states are on it. The won't like it when the big bad guberment stops subsidizing it. Right now they get tax credits.

* In red states, a total of at least 3 million people are currently getting subsidies. This doesn’t include the swing states that Donald Trump won. If you add those in, that swells the total to over six million people.

* Some of the states with the highest populations of people getting subsidies are represented by GOP Senators. This includes Florida (more than 1.4 million); Texas (more than 913,000); North Carolina (more than 499,000); Georgia (more than 427,000); and Pennsylvania (more than 321,000). Many other states with GOP senators also have sizable populations getting subsidies.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2016/12/05/a-lot-of-people-in-red-states-are-set-to-lose-obamacare/?utm_term=.8150375204ec

 

[Markhor]

I heard a lot of people in red states are on it. The won't like it when the big bad guberment stops subsidizing it. Right now they get tax credits.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2016/12/05/a-lot-of-people-in-red-states-are-set-to-lose-obamacare/?utm_term=.8150375204ec

Another irony is that the places with high rates of opioid dependency saw strong support for Trump.

Obamacare has helped 1.2 million people in 31 states access addiction treatment under its expansion of Medicaid. The repeal will hit those people hard.

 

[sjahmed23]

I don't get the whole argument about Obamacare but for all I know my health care preimums are ridiculously high and go up every year along with my out of pocket deductibles. Going to see a doctor for anything but the annual check up costs $300 upto deductible which is around $600. I'm not sure what old people are paying but its probably more than me and they have a right to be upset about that. However, I don't think Obamacare is the reason for the problem, it's the whole system which includes greedy insurance, pharmaseutical and other adminstrative costs that make the healthcare system a nightmare for the average joe. I would rather have NGO's and non for profit organizations like red cross provide free medical care which should be a basic human right.

 

[the Great Khan]

Why is it news here in the UK if the Americans have health care or not, do the Americans worry about anyone else besides themselves.

trump is a nice distraction

 

[Thivagar]

Aye, many Trump voters will lose access to health care. He will be a one-term President, if he gets through a term without impeachment.

Like I said, if this is the way they gotta learn, then that is the way they gotta learn.

 

[Pakistanian]

Obamacare is a scam, it hasn't benefited anybody and has punished the middle class.

 

[Pakistanian]

I don't get the whole argument about Obamacare but for all I know my health care preimums are ridiculously high and go up every year along with my out of pocket deductibles. Going to see a doctor for anything but the annual check up costs $300 upto deductible which is around $600. I'm not sure what old people are paying but its probably more than me and they have a right to be upset about that. However, I don't think Obamacare is the reason for the problem, it's the whole system which includes greedy insurance, pharmaseutical and other adminstrative costs that make the healthcare system a nightmare for the average joe. I would rather have NGO's and non for profit organizations like red cross provide free medical care which should be a basic human right.

THIS! So many Canadian and British liberals here don't understand what a sham this Obamacare is.

Get rid of it, we'd be better off!

 

[Cracket]

Its hilarious British Pakistani expats are discussing domestic healthcare as it pertains to Americans. I mean I know everybody loves to talk about USA but this is a bit much. On that note I expect even Indian media is talking about Obamacare.

 

[saeedhk]

Appalling to see that the superpower of the world - the US- has a terrible medical system.

 

[from_da_lost_dim3nsion]

I like Obamacare .It covers pre existing . Helped the heck outta my parents .

 

[Abdullah719]

Obamacare: Texas court rules key health law is unconstitutional

A federal judge in the US state of Texas has ruled that a key part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), better known as Obamacare, is unconstitutional.

A coalition of 20 states argued the entire law had been invalidated by a change in tax rules last year which eliminated a penalty for not having health insurance.

President Donald Trump said the ruling was great news for America.

The case is now likely to go to the US Supreme Court.

President Trump promised to dismantle Barack Obama's landmark 2010 healthcare law, which was designed to make medical cover affordable for the many Americans who had been priced out of the market.

But despite his Republican Party having majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the ACA is still operating.

However, in 2017 Congress did repeal the requirement - the so-called individual mandate - that people buy health insurance or pay a tax penalty.

Mr Trump took to Twitter following the judge's ruling in Texas.

He also urged incoming Democratic Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to "pass a STRONG law that provides GREAT healthcare".

The ruling came a day before the deadline for Obamacare enrolment for the coming year.

What does the ruling say?
Two Republicans - Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and his Wisconsin counterpart Brad Schimel led the legal challenge.

Sitting in Fort Worth, US District Judge Reed O'Connor noted that a $1.5tn tax bill passed by Congress in 2017 eliminated the tax penalties which anyone who failed to obtain health insurance had to pay.

He ruled that the individual mandate was now unconstitutional.

As the individual mandate was an "essential" element of the ACA, the whole of Obamacare was therefore unconstitutional, Judge O'Connor said.

He said his ruling was concerned with the intentions of the 2010 and 2017 Congresses.

"The former enacted the ACA. The latter sawed off the last leg it stood on."

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46577152

 

[Bewal Express]

Its hilarious British Pakistani expats are discussing domestic healthcare as it pertains to Americans. I mean I know everybody loves to talk about USA but this is a bit much. On that note I expect even Indian media is talking about Obamacare.

American problems are our problems, although our problems have about as much value to them as our lives.

 

[MenInG]

Millions of Americans who have survived Covid-19 or face future infections could lose their insurance or be barred from getting coverage should the Trump administration successfully repeal Obamacare.

The Trump administration asked the supreme court late Thursday to overturn the Affordable Care Act – a move that, if successful, would bring a permanent end to the health insurance reform law popularly known as Obamacare.

Under the ACA, insurance companies cannot deny coverage for pre-existing conditions. Its abolition would mean millions of Americans who have had or have cancer, multiple sclerosis or other diseases would struggle to find insurance.

Anyone applying for insurance who subsequently contracts Covid-19 could also find their insurance invalidated or be denied coverage in the future. If they were allowed to keep their insurance, they could still be charged higher premiums or have future treatment for coronavirus turned down.

“Abolishing the ACA would cause tremendous damage and cause chaos throughout the country,” said Karen Pollitz, senior fellow at the Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation.

Anyone buying health insurance who subsequently contracted the coronavirus would face loss of coverage, she said. “If you bought the insurance and then caught the virus, you would be out of luck,” she said.

The abolition of pre-existing condition coverage is especially difficult for those who have Covid-19, because so little is known about the long-term health impact of the disease. There is evidence that the respiratory illness causes permanent damage in some patients. Those who have had the disease and recovered would have to disclose their status to apply for insurance, and could be turned down for coverage.

“We could see tens of millions of people thrown out of coverage,” said Pollitz. “There would be an onslaught of un-insurance.”

Donald Trump has said he would maintain the protections for people with pre-existing conditions, but has not said how it would replace the existing rules if the ACA was invalidated.

The supreme court has not scheduled a date for oral arguments in the case, but it is expected to take place in the autumn and a decision would likely not arrive until after the November election.

In the meantime, doctors are searching for a vaccine for Covid-19, and 124,000 Americans have died from the illness. There has been a new surge in cases in several states, and the nation hit an all-time high of 40,000 recorded cases on Thursday, according to figures released by Johns Hopkins.

Hours before the Trump administration filed its briefing on Thursday, Joe Biden warned about the government’s assault on the ACA and said: “Most cruelly of all, if Donald Trump has his way, complications from Covid-19 could become a new pre-existing condition.”

“Some survivors will experience lasting health impacts – like lung scarring and heart damage,” Biden said during a speech in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

“And if Donald Trump prevails in court, insurers would be allowed to strip away coverage or jack up premiums simply because of their battle with the coronavirus.”

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jun/27/obamacare-trump-covid-health-insurance