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Republican plan to repeal Obamacare would leave millions uninsured -report

By David Lawder

REUTERS

 

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, sitting with Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin, discusses the American Health Care Act during a meeting with local business leaders at the Harshaw-Trane Parts and Distribution Center in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S., March 11, 2017. REUTERS/Bryan Woolston

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Fourteen million Americans would lose medical insurance by next year under a Republican plan to dismantle Obamacare that would also reduce the budget deficit, the nonpartisan U.S. Congressional Budget Office said on Monday.

 

The CBO report, which also dealt a potential setback to President Donald Trump's first major legislative initiative, forecast that 24 million more people would be uninsured in 2026 if the plan being considered in the House of Representatives were adopted. Obamacare expanded insurance to about 20 million Americans. (http://bit.ly/2mkdeYA)

 

The report could influence sentiment toward a bill already under fire from Democrats and some Republicans, who have long vowed to repeal the 2010 Affordable Care Act, former Democratic President Barack Obama's signature piece of domestic policy.

 

The CBO projected that 52 million people would be uninsured by 2026 if the bill became law, compared with 28 million who would not have coverage that year if the law remained unchanged.

 

Two House of Representatives committees have approved the legislation to dismantle Obamacare that was unveiled by Republican leaders a week ago, but it faces opposition from not only Democrats but also medical providers including doctors and hospitals and many conservatives. The CBO report's findings could make the Republican plan a harder sell for lawmakers, particularly in the U.S. Senate.

 

The agency, however, said federal deficits would fall by $337 billion between 2017 and 2026 under the Republican bill.

 

Some health policy experts and Wall Street analysts said the report was more draconian than expected, with the uninsured rate declining more quickly than foreseen. Doctors groups and patient advocates said the bill must be abandoned.

 

Some Republicans worry a misfire on the Republican healthcare legislation could hobble Trump's presidency and set the stage for losses for the party in the 2018 congressional elections.

 

The Trump administration defended the healthcare plan, which they say will have a second and third phase that will entice consumers. Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price said at the White House that Trump's plan would cover more individuals at a lower cost and it was "virtually impossible" to envision that 14 million people would lose insurance coverage by next year.

 

Democratic leaders in Congress said the bill could result in elderly people being kicked out of nursing homes as it simultaneously gives tax cuts for the richest Americans.

 

"How can they look their constituents in the eye when they say 24 million of you no longer have coverage and those of you who do have it, will have less coverage at more cost to you," House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said.

 

Trump himself made no comment on the report.

 

PREMIUMS TO RISE

 

The Affordable Care Act, often called Obamacare, aimed to help restrain U.S. healthcare spending, which is about 17 percent of the nation's economy, but it has continued to grow faster than inflation.

 

The proposal would end the Obamacare expansion of the Medicaid insurance program for the poor and would replace Obamacare's income-based subsidies with fixed tax credits for the purchase of private insurance.

 

The nonpartisan Tax Policy Center on Monday said the Republican plan would benefit the wealthiest U.S. households far more than middle-income families. A family making $51,600 to $89,400 a year, including fringe benefits like employer-provided health insurance, would get a tax cut averaging $300. The top 0.1 percent of earners with incomes of at least $3.9 million would get a tax cut of about $207,000, the study said.

 

The CBO estimated that insurance premiums would rise 15 percent to 20 percent in both 2018 and 2019 because fewer healthy people would sign up after the repeal of the Obamacare penalty for declining to obtain insurance. But it said the hikes would be offset after 2020 by a $100 billion fund allocated to states in the bill and deregulation in the insurance market.

 

While the federal government would lose revenues through the repeal of Obamacare’s individual and employer mandates’ tax penalties, CBO said the loss would be surpassed by savings on insurance subsidies and Medicaid payments that Washington would no longer have to provide for people who lost coverage.

 

At the same time, CBO said the repeal of the individual mandate’s tax penalties would mean higher health insurance premiums for those who retained coverage, because insurers would still have to cover any applicant without being free to raise premiums for older, sicker people, despite lower numbers of younger, healthier customers who are cheaper to insure.

 

Craig Garthwaite, director of the healthcare program at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, said the CBO estimates made it harder for Republicans to sell their proposal.

 

"Overall, this is a really bad number for the AHCA. Far more people are predicted to lose coverage than many estimated - and these losses are going to happen more quickly than we would have thought," he said.

 

House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan, a key backer of the plan called the American Health Care Act, said the CBO estimates showed it would ultimately lower premiums.

 

"Our plan is not about forcing people to buy expensive, one-size-fits-all coverage. It is about giving people more choices and better access to a plan they want and can afford. When people have more choices, costs go down," Ryan said.

 

Vishnu Lekraj, an equity analyst at Morningstar, said the bill is a net negative for insurers, who would be helped by the elimination of a tax, but hurt by the shrinking individual insurance business.

 

“The headline number will be viewed as a shock to the system tomorrow," Brian Tanquilut, a stock analyst at Jefferies said of the 14 million losing insurance next year. "The reality of this is that the number being big makes it harder for the bill to pass in its current form.”

 

(Additional reporting by Tim Ahmann, Yasmeen Abutaleb, Doina Chiacu, David Morgan, Mohammad Zargham and Richard Cowan in Washington; and Caroline Humer and Michael Erman in New York; Writing by Paul Simao; Editing by Will Dunham and Lisa Shumaker)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-03-14

[whatawonderfulday]

Another Cilla - Surprise , Surprise. 

 

Trump is aiming to disenfranchise so many people one wonders what is political aim really is ? Perhaps Putin just wants political instability in the US, with these proposals aimed at alienating millions, and Trump is just doing as he is told.

[boomerangutang]

Recent town hall meetings were a big wake-up call for Republicans. They saw the anger erupting from their constituents.  That's a big reason why many Republican congresspeople are not backing Trumpcare.

 

I just got an opinion poll sent to me from the White House.  I jest not, it was from the actual White House address. The title: 'Share Your Obamacare Disaster Story'   (note: Trumpsters don't know how to craft an objective poll).   It's opening paragraph: 

"Obamacare has been a complete failure since the beginning, and things are only getting worse. 

Today, President Donald J. Trump held a listening session to hear directly from Americans who have experienced significant hardship as a result of Obamacare's poor coverage and rising prices.

President Trump wants to hear from hard-working Americans like you. How has Obamacare affected you? Share your Obamacare disaster story."

 

[whatawonderfulday]

5 minutes ago, boomerangutang said:

Recent town hall meetings were a big wake-up call for Republicans. They saw the anger erupting from their constituents.  That's a big reason why many Republican congresspeople are not backing Trumpcare.

 

I just got an opinion poll sent to me from the White House.  I jest not, it was from the actual White House address. The title: 'Share Your Obamacare Disaster Story'   (note: Trumpsters don't know how to craft an objective poll).   It's opening paragraph: 

"Obamacare has been a complete failure since the beginning, and things are only getting worse. 

Today, President Donald J. Trump held a listening session to hear directly from Americans who have experienced significant hardship as a result of Obamacare's poor coverage and rising prices.

President Trump wants to hear from hard-working Americans like you. How has Obamacare affected you? Share your Obamacare disaster story."

 

Perhaps they will all tweet him as that appears his primary source of communication.

[mtls2005]

Tangentially related to the Republican's plans for health care...

 

 

House Republicans would let employers demand workers’ genetic test results

 

A little-noticed bill moving through Congress would allow companies to require employees to undergo genetic testing or risk paying a penalty of thousands of dollars, and would let employers see that genetic and other health information.

 

Giving employers such power is now prohibited by legislation including the 2008 genetic privacy and nondiscrimination law known as GINA. The new bill gets around that landmark law by stating explicitly that GINA and other protections do not apply when genetic tests are part of a “workplace wellness” program.

 

The bill, HR 1313, was approved by a House committee on Wednesday, with all 22 Republicans supporting it and all 17 Democrats opposed. It has been overshadowed by the debate over the House GOP proposal to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, but the genetic testing bill is expected to be folded into a second ACA-related measure containing a grab-bag of provisions that do not affect federal spending, as the main bill does.

 

https://www.statnews.com/2017/03/10/workplace-wellness-genetic-testing/?s_campaign=tw&utm_content=buffer1effa&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

[darksidedog]

This is pretty bad, but kind of expected. Republicans just can't wait to get rid of Obamacare. They are obsessed with it, and now we see their offering to replace it.

I personally can't understand how the US doesn't have universal health care, but this new legislation is a serious step in the wrong direction.

Obamacare brought millions of people into Health cover, and this is going to strip it right back off them.

I suspect large numbers of poor Republicans are going to start questioning their blind faith if this awful measure manages to become law.

I would like to hope that there are a few decent Republicans, who will have the courage to not follow the party line blindly and help reject this.

If they are dead set on getting rid of Obamacare, fine. Just replace it with something better. This plan is just legalised theft from the poor.

Edited March 14, 2017 by darksidedog

[DM07]

...yeah...but it's only old, poor and sick people....

[boomerangutang]

An added note about the opinion poll sent out in a mass-mailing from the White House.

 

It's ridiculously one-sided.  It would be like a 4th grade teacher asking her kids: 

 

"Please write down all the reasons you hate carrots. 

Next, write down all the reasons you like candy."

 

I will then take the results to the principal's office and show him why we should have only candy for lunch, and never carrots.  

[funandsuninbangkok]

Only the government would think to allow sick people to buy health insurance for their ailments. 

 

Next they will insist on car insurance after the crash or perhaps property insurance, postfire. 

 

Genius 

Edited March 14, 2017 by funandsuninbangkok

[darksidedog]

https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2017/03/13/americans-are-suffering-under-obamacare-hear-their-stories

Amazingly, every single person invited to talk to the President had a bad story to tell. You have 14 million people who now have health care, that didn't before.

A dozen very one sided complainants in an obviously "arranged" environment seek to provide justification for a new law taking that cover right away.

Come on Donald. Everyone can see through this crap. If you are dead set on killing Obamacare, at least give the people something better, not the rubbish on offer that benefits your rich mates.

[Gecko123]

Trump vowed that "everyone will be covered." But here we find out that 26 million fewer people will be insured under the replacement proposal he has endorsed.

 

According to an AARP analysis,  the financial burden of the proposal would fall disproportionately on Americans 50 to 64 years old. Isn't that a key Trump supporter demographic?

 

During the campaign, Trump railed against how the national debt had grown under Obama. But now he is proposing huge tax cuts, trillions in infrastructure and defense buildup spending, not to mention a financially wasteful border wall. Interest rates are climbing which is adding to servicing costs for the national debt as well. 

 

Sooner or later, something's got to give, right? I'll give you three guesses what that "something" might be. Could it be entitlement programs like social security and medicare? That would pull the rug right out from under the feet of the average Trump supporter, wouldn't it? 

 

A word of advice to Trump's supporters: lose the "blind faith" mentality, and stay vigilant. This man cynically used you to get elected and does not have your best interests at heart.

 

 

Edited March 14, 2017 by Gecko123

[darksidedog]

"Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price said at the White House that Trump's plan would cover more individuals at a lower cost and it was "virtually impossible" to envision that 14 million people would lose insurance coverage by next year."

Tom Price should read the, the nonpartisan U.S. Congressional Budget Office report.

It explains exactly how this is not only possible, but likely. Hope that clears up the confusion Tom. Can we throw this worthless crap you are touting in the bin, now please?

[pegman]

32 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

Trump vowed that "everyone will be covered." But here we find out that 26 million fewer people will be insured under the replacement proposal he has endorsed.

 

According to an AARP analysis,  the financial burden of the proposal would fall disproportionately on Americans 50 to 64 years old. Isn't that a key Trump supporter demographic?

 

During the campaign, Trump railed against how the national debt had grown under Obama. But now he is proposing huge tax cuts, trillions in infrastructure and defense buildup spending, not to mention a financially wasteful border wall. Interest rates are climbing which is adding to servicing costs for the national debt as well. 

 

Sooner or later, something's got to give, right? I'll give you three guesses what that "something" might be. Could it be entitlement programs like social security and medicare? That would pull the rug right out from under the feet of the average Trump supporter, wouldn't it? 

 

A word of advice to Trump's supporters: lose the "blind faith" mentality, and stay vigilant. This man cynically used you to get elected and does not have your best interests at heart.

 

 

Do you really think these Trump supporters will listen to any of that? He will yell out "fake news" and do a little race baiting and they will all fall into line. With the repeal of the high income health care supplement tax a handful of Manhatten hedge fund billionaires will be pocketing huge sums for every million crackers losing their health insurance.

[pegman]

2 hours ago, funandsuninbangkok said:

Only the government would think to allow sick people to buy health insurance for their ailments. 

 

Next they will insist on car insurance after the crash or perhaps property insurance, postfire. 

 

Genius 

Better to let them go bankrupt or die?

[ilostmypassword]

Calling Trump supporters "crackers" or similar words such as redneck, hillbilly, or hick, does nothing to advance your argument. Especially given that the facts are overwhelmingly with you.

[Berkshire]

[House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan, a key backer of the plan called the American Health Care Act, said the CBO estimates showed it would ultimately lower premiums.

 

"Our plan is not about forcing people to buy expensive, one-size-fits-all coverage. It is about giving people more choices and better access to a plan they want and can afford. When people have more choices, costs go down," Ryan said.]

 

This is called...

 

 

 

[Jingthing]

Republicans being republicans. 

trump breaking his promises.

Take care of everyone? Want to enroll in trump University? Buy a vaporware Mexican condo? How about a trump steak?

Con man of the century. 

 

http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2017/03/13/republican_plans_could_raise_insurance_premiums_by_750_percent_for_some.html

Edited March 14, 2017 by Jingthing

[Gecko123]

Read this tax impact analysis of proposed repeal of Obamacare:

 

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-obamacare-taxes-idUSKBN16K2G6

 

Look who would and wouldn't benefit. Truly shocking. Still think Trump's got your back?  

Edited March 14, 2017 by Gecko123

[Jingthing]

Yes, trumpcare is a shanda.

No wonder trump doesn't want his name on it.

 

 

[Redline]

6 hours ago, whatawonderfulday said:

Another Cilla - Surprise , Surprise. 

 

Trump is aiming to disenfranchise so many people one wonders what is political aim really is ? Perhaps Putin just wants political instability in the US, with these proposals aimed at alienating millions, and Trump is just doing as he is told.

Something is not right.  What promises have been made?

[Redline]

5 hours ago, DM07 said:

...yeah...but it's only old, poor and sick people....

Yea, they are drain on society.  How can I get that money into my account?

[whatawonderfulday]

2 minutes ago, Redline said:

Something is not right.  What promises have been made?

I agree that something is not right as I have no idea what you are talking about as I have not mentioned promises in my post. What are you talking about "promises" ?  You appear to have responded to my post instead of jingthings'.

[Redline]

Another Cilla - Surprise , Surprise. 

 

Trump is aiming to disenfranchise so many people one wonders what is political aim really is ? Perhaps Putin just wants political instability in the US, with these proposals aimed at alienating millions, and Trump is just doing as he is told.

 

I was responding to this post.  What the political aim really is...what promises has he made, and to who, because his decisions don't make sense.

[Andaman Al]

Is there provision in the Republican plan for a new health care problem to be covered by insurers,  "Post Trump Election Stress Disorder", ? I feel there could be 50-100 Million new sufferers soon. 

 

The entire thing is insane. I have also seen the ridiculous one sided poll requests from the White House. They are an embarrassment to any modern Government.

 

Adios America.

[Neurath]

Congressional Budget Office? More so called "facts". This office has got to go. Employees should be prohibited from producing and issuing reports prior to the whole operation being de-funded at the next round of deficit cutting measures. This mob is just as bad as NASA the EPA and other fact-obsessed pin heads. Why can't facts just understand that they lost the election?

[silent]

7 hours ago, DM07 said:

...yeah...but it's only old, poor and sick people....

That's the secret plan to make America great again.

[silent]

2 hours ago, Andaman Al said:

Is there provision in the Republican plan for a new health care problem to be covered by insurers,  "Post Trump Election Stress Disorder", ? I feel there could be 50-100 Million new sufferers soon. 

 

The entire thing is insane. I have also seen the ridiculous one sided poll requests from the White House. They are an embarrassment to any modern Government.

 

Adios America.

Where have all the Trump supporters on here gone? 

[darksidedog]

3 minutes ago, silent said:

Where have all the Trump supporters on here gone? 

I suspect many of them have just checked up how much they will be paying for Health Insurance, and are quietly weeping to themselves and gnashing their teeth.

[Neurath]

16 minutes ago, silent said:

Where have all the Trump supporters on here gone? 

Finding that beating and baiting liberals isn't as much fun as they thought it would be given that what they beat and baited with is a huge leaky bag of yellowed liposuction fat? There's a bit of splash back. Oh well...hopefully the fun of deporting Mexicans will dull the pain of medical insolvency.

[realenglish1]

Fake News

Reality here is That the majority of the people they talk about not having Insurance are the ones that have been forced to buy insurance but dont want it

 

It is usually young healthy people that would have been fined by Obama care for not having it Opt out on the new plan with TRUMP CARE

 

Obama care forced you to have insurance or pay a tax for not having it Under Trumps plan there is no penalty so the ones that are young and healthy 

will opt out of it 

 

The governent in a Capitalist country should not be making people buy insurance 

 

They should try and bring down costs witch is exactly what the Trump Plan will do

 

Democrats are painting this as millions will go without insurance because of Trump That is dead wrong Millions will decide not to have insurance because they are not being forced into it which is why the majority hate Obama Care to begin with

 

It was shoved down the throats of the pupulas You cannot do that People will revolt as they have done with the Repeal of Obamacare down the line