Like everyone else, I want the Republicans who owe their current power to a foreign enemy, Russia, punished for that act. But as we ponder the spectacle, Paul Ryan, and his cohort are decimating ALL of our healthcare. Here is the action we must take.
First, we must realize that millions of well-intentioned Americans only understand that their healthcare is expensive now. Competing narratives hamper their ability to absorb the reality that what they consider bad would have been much worse. The difficulty in explaining the virtues of the Affordable Care Act (ACA/Obamacare) will remain challenging.
That said, I received an email tonight that is a must read for the ACA believer and non-believer alike. It is one of the shortest comprehensive and easy to understand write up I have seen. And I have read hundreds of pro and anti-ACA narratives. It is a piece that we should get in front of the eyeballs of all our friends, families, acquaintances, Trump supporters, and everyone in between.
The article expands five ACA facts. Most importantly it points out something that many times go unsaid in the debate. The ACA did not only make things better for most in the individual market (not the majority of Americans with health insurance). It illustrates how those on employer insurance and Medicare benefitted as well. Many believe the ACA is for those ‘other’ people. Many do not realize the ACA made their healthcare life much better as well. Read the email titled “For The Fact Checkers Tonight” here. It is very easy to understand so share it.
VOX got a hold of a version of the Republicans Obamacare replacement plan. They detail its pitfalls in their article titled “The leaked Republican plan to replace Obamacare, explained” and it is not a beautiful picture. In short, Republicans intend to remove the risk from insurance companies. In other words, if you are young and healthy, insurance companies will want you. After all, for the most part, they will take your premiums with little to pay out. In other words, they know they can make big profits since the young and healthy will not require much healthcare.
Paul Ryan and the Republicans will allow insurance companies to sock it to the old, the sick, and the marginalized. And tax credits will not be needs based. So a billionaire and a poor person get the same tax credit to purchase insurance. The Medicaid Expansion to the ACA is not a part of their plan.
While many are spending all of their time hyperventilating about Trump and his team being in bed with the Russians, the act of terror against most Americans is occurring in the halls of Congress under the direction of Paul Ryan and the Republicans. We must walk and chew gum at the same time. Make sure we keep our fellow Americans informed regularly. Read these article and then find an Indivisible group and make your Senators and Congressperson know your position. Find your group here.