Republicans’ Phony Obamacare Replacement
By the Editors - Sep 18, 2013, Bloomberg
A mere 48 months after the law was introduced, only 42 months after it was signed, with just two weeks until one of its main provisions takes effect, Republicans today finally offered their alternative to the Affordable Care Act.
Which would be cause for genuine (if belated) congratulations, except for one thing: It’s not really an alternative. Understanding why can help clarify the U.S.’s seemingly endless debate about health care.
The Republican bill would give individuals tax deductions to buy health insurance, expand tax-free health savings accounts and limit insurance premiums for people with pre-existing conditions. What it wouldn’t do is expand coverage to the same number of uninsured Americans -- about 25 million, according to the latest estimates -- as Obamacare.
That last point may seem like one among many, but it’s not. The most important achievement of the Affordable Care Act is that the law attains something like universal health care in the U.S., closing an embarrassing and indefensible gap between it and every other developed country.
(More here.)
A mere 48 months after the law was introduced, only 42 months after it was signed, with just two weeks until one of its main provisions takes effect, Republicans today finally offered their alternative to the Affordable Care Act.
Which would be cause for genuine (if belated) congratulations, except for one thing: It’s not really an alternative. Understanding why can help clarify the U.S.’s seemingly endless debate about health care.
The Republican bill would give individuals tax deductions to buy health insurance, expand tax-free health savings accounts and limit insurance premiums for people with pre-existing conditions. What it wouldn’t do is expand coverage to the same number of uninsured Americans -- about 25 million, according to the latest estimates -- as Obamacare.
That last point may seem like one among many, but it’s not. The most important achievement of the Affordable Care Act is that the law attains something like universal health care in the U.S., closing an embarrassing and indefensible gap between it and every other developed country.
(More here.)
Powered by Blogger
1 Comments:
Gosh, Bloomberg's Editorial Board really missed it here ... the stark reality of the GOP plan H.R. 3121, the American Health Care Reform Act, is that it does not address affordability.
They repeal the Medical Loss ratio which means insurance companies profits can grow ... pre-existing conditions are left to the States to address ... no lifetime cap ... no minimum policy requirements.
It's all power to the insurance industry ... no wonder that the US Chamber of Commerce sent them a Thank You letter.
Post a Comment
<< Home