The middle-class and the poor won the first round. Republicans were petrified to vote on their draconian Obamacare repeal/replace bill. To get the support of the Freedom Caucus, they have chosen even eviler. We are up against a new pilfer.
For anyone who believed the Obamacare fight was over, think again. Republicans are intent on defunding much of Obamacare to give big tax cuts to the wealthy.
The Center for American Progress came out with an important article titled “Latest ACA Repeal Plan Would Explode Premiums for People with Pre-Existing Conditions” that everyone must read. The authors wrote the following.
A bad bill is about to get even worse. Just before recess, in an effort to revive the American Health Care Act, or AHCA, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) and congressional Republicans proposed a plan for an “invisible risk pool.” And today, word has leaked that the pool is part of a broader plan to allow insurers in the individual market to charge a premium markup for enrollees with pre-existing conditions, with the pool put forth as a way to offset the premium increases resulting from the rest of the plan. Even before these changes, the AHCA would have thrown 24 million people off of their coverage to pay for massive tax cuts for the rich. Ryan’s most recent attempt to alter the bill would be even more harmful. Enrollees could see premium increases of tens of thousands of dollars, and the proposed invisible risk pool would shave only a tiny sliver off these increased costs for the sickest consumers.
The article further points out that the average enrollee will see an increase in their insurance by more than $3,000 buy 2020. Additionally, the draconian ACA replacement will allow states to eliminate protections for people with pre-existing conditions and minimum standards coverage.
The following chart should make it clear the heartlessness and immorality of the GOP plan.
And this analysis does not account for surcharges as a result of individuals’ previous health conditions. Scarce data exists on pre-ACA rate ups, but insurers raised premiums for individuals based on health history, not just current health status. Without pre-existing condition protections, cancer survivors now free of the disease or patients who underwent successful surgery years ago could find themselves facing significant surcharges as well.
This issue is neither Republican nor Democratic. It is a life or death issues. Every American should be fighting hand-in-hand to prevent this indirect form of future premeditated murder of our American brothers and sisters.