OBAMA/TRUMPCARE MEGATHREAD

[StrangeSox]

Bill is great if you can guarantee you will be healthy and can guarantee you can live in a state that won't waive benefits.

 

Healthy people get slightly lower premiums over time because sick people are priced out of the market/die.

 

Over time, it would become more difficult for less healthy people (including people with preexisting medical conditions) in those states to purchase insurance because their premiums would continue to increase rapidly. As a result of the narrower scope of covered benefits and the difficulty less healthy people would face purchasing insurance, average premiums for people who did purchase insurance would generally be lower than in other states

[StrangeSox]

There's so much outrage today about this new health care plan. Look, it hasn't passed yet. If it's not reviewed closely and rejected by the House then that is as bad as Trump proposing it. Just reject it if it's so bad. Why would it pass into law?

 

It's already passed the House. The House Republicans and Trump had a big celebration in the Rose Garden three weeks ago.

 

Please try learning at least the basic facts about something before commenting on it.

[bmags]

There's so much outrage today about this new health care plan. Look, it hasn't passed yet. If it's not reviewed closely and rejected by the House then that is as bad as Trump proposing it. Just reject it if it's so bad. Why would it pass into law?

 

It was passed by the house.

[greg775]

It was passed by the house.

I know. Can't Senate reject it?

[caulfield12]

Yes, Gregster.

 

The current House bill, without any bipartisan elements, is polling 22 points less popular than even Donald Trump.

That's amazing. Senate doesn't want to give up their majority in two years (despite numerous Dems compared to Republican seats up for re-election in 2018.)

Edited May 24, 2017 by caulfield12

[caulfield12]

Amazing you can offer savings when you only cover young and healthy, offer fewer benefits...magic tricks!!!

 

 

 

In areas that opt to make modest changes, premiums would be reduced by 20%, on average, but mainly because insurers would cover fewer benefits.

 

And in the places that opt to jettison the Obamacare protections, premiums would vary widely based on a consumer's health status and the benefits provided in the policy.

 

In a statement, House Speaker Paul Ryan was defiant that the CBO confirms the GOP's "mission" of lowering premiums and the deficit.

 

"We are on a rescue mission to bring down the cost of coverage and make sure families have access to affordable care," Ryan said. "This CBO report again confirms that the American Health Care Act achieves our mission: lowering premiums and lowering the deficit. It is another positive step toward keeping our promise to repeal and replace Obamacare."

 

http://money.cnn.com/2017/05/24/news/econo...-cbo/index.html

 

 

Ryan is even more dangerous than Pence.

Edited May 24, 2017 by caulfield12

[caulfield12]

Indeed, the CBO score’s main function is to clear the way for the Senate to take up the House’s legislation. The bill needed to save at least $2 billion to qualify for consideration under a reconciliation process that is filibuster-proof by requiring only 51 votes in the Senate, not the typical 60-vote threshold.

 

But the report highlights the central dilemma that Republicans are grappling with now — how to write a health care bill that preserves peoples’ coverage at a reasonable price, without resorting to government mandates and billions in federal spending. And it drops that problem right on the Senate’s doorstep. Despite weeks of work, GOP lawmakers remain split on fundamental, yet high-stakes, decisions like how quickly to roll back Medicaid expansion and the amount of financial aid older and sicker enrollees should receive.

 

The CBO score could jump start those talks by giving the Senate a concrete starting point. But it also threatens to ratchet up public scrutiny of a process that Democrats argue is bound to eliminate the major health gains achieved under Obamacare.

 

“It was irresponsible for the House to vote for the GOP health bill before a CBO analysis was available,” said Ron Pollack, the founding executive director of advocacy group Families USA. “Now that it exists, however, anyone still supporting the bill is probably a prime candidate for a conscience implant.”

 

"With today's news, the 'Collapse and Replace' of Obamacare may prove the most effective path forward," Lindsey Graham tweeted. "After Obamacare collapses, we should challenge Democrats to work with us to fix the mess they created."

 

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/24/c...e-reform-238786

Edited May 25, 2017 by caulfield12

[greg775]

Yes, Gregster.

 

The current House bill, without any bipartisan elements, is polling 22 points less popular than even Donald Trump.

That's amazing. Senate doesn't want to give up their majority in two years (despite numerous Dems compared to Republican seats up for re-election in 2018.)

Well they better damn well vote it down. I mean you are talking about crippling 50 million Americans or more? That means 50 million homeless people coming up? Wow.

[greg775]

My favorite argument is that 20 year olds dont need insurance. Has anyone BEEN to a doctor on a college campus? Its full as f***.

Any 22-35 year old (young working adult) that is not obese is probably enjoying an active lifestyle: playing basketball, softball, tennis, s*** maybe baseball and pick up hockey) and guess what, in that span that young working adult is probably going to break something or tear ligaments.

And with costs the way they will be, those injuries/surgeries would be enough to put a person on the streets homeless. Fix healthcare, America! We shouldn't all be homeless someday because we are tossed on the street after a broken leg or illness.

What's it going to cost to have a baby if there are any complications at all???

Edited May 25, 2017 by greg775

[caulfield12]

I'm not sure about 50 million homeless....people would move in with their families/relatives as a first recourse.

 

But sure...it's fair to say at least 10-15 million (mostly bottom quartile economically) American families would be on the brink of catastrophic dislocation/s, family breakdowns, etc.

[bmags]

Any 22-35 year old (young working adult) that is not obese is probably enjoying an active lifestyle: playing basketball, softball, tennis, s*** maybe baseball and pick up hockey) and guess what, in that span that young working adult is probably going to break something or tear ligaments.

And with costs the way they will be, those injuries/surgeries would be enough to put a person on the streets homeless. Fix healthcare, America! We shouldn't all be homeless someday because we are tossed on the street after a broken leg or illness.

What's it going to cost to have a baby if there are any complications at all???

 

Greg I totally agree with this first paragraph. Wasn't so long ago that when friends got door'd on their bikes or broke their arm in football we'd be sitting there calling nursing major friends trying to figure out how we'd fix it without taking them to ER where they'd get a 10k bill.

[bmags]

Well they better damn well vote it down. I mean you are talking about crippling 50 million Americans or more? That means 50 million homeless people coming up? Wow.

 

The reason it freaks me out that they passed it without a score, is that they got a bunch of their 'moderates" to go along after the right of their party modified it to allow pre existing conditions and EHBs to be stripped. All in the name of getting something done. If that happened so easily in the house, it can happen in the senate. Because all it says is they don't care about the outcome, they care about action, and they care about getting 1 trillion for tax cuts for the rich.

[StrangeSox]

Anna Mathews @annawmathews

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina seeks 22.9% rate increase on 2018 ACA plans – would be 8.8% if cost-sharing payments guaranteed

9:31 AM - 25 May 2017

[StrangeSox]

The reason it freaks me out that they passed it without a score, is that they got a bunch of their 'moderates" to go along after the right of their party modified it to allow pre existing conditions and EHBs to be stripped. All in the name of getting something done. If that happened so easily in the house, it can happen in the senate. Because all it says is they don't care about the outcome, they care about action, and they care about getting 1 trillion for tax cuts for the rich.

 

They made the bill substantially worse, and that somehow got the "moderates" on board.

 

Tax cuts uber alles

[caulfield12]

Blue Cross out of exchange

 

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City announced Wednesday it will exit the Affordable Care Act exchange in 2018, Andy Marso and Bryan Lowry report. The decision affects about 67,000 Missourians plus many in Wyandotte and Johnson counties in Kansas.

 

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/artic...l#storylink=cpy

[Iwritecode]

Why would it pass into law?

 

 

they care about getting 1 trillion for tax cuts for the rich.

 

 

That pretty much says it all.

[Dick Allen]

No cuts to SS, or Medicare or Medicaid, no one will lose their insurance, it's just going to be cheaper and better care, and if you are rich enough, a big tax break. Trump making deals. That's what he does.

 

 

This is a wonderful bill. Get the congressmen some beer.

 

[caulfield12]

Insurance CEO: I’m raising Obamacare premiums because of Trump (by 22.9%, BCBS in NC)

https://www.vox.com/2017/5/30/15701986/blue...macare-premiums

Edited May 30, 2017 by caulfield12

[caulfield12]

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/uninsured-u-...2--finance.html

Uninsured in U.S. charged four times what Medicare pays for ER visit

 

A nationwide analysis of medical bills shows that hospitals typically charge uninsured emergency room patients four times what they're willing to accept from Medicare for the same service, U.S. researchers say.

 

That's more than double what those same hospitals charge for services performed in other parts of the hospital, the authors report in JAMA Internal Medicine.

 

The new study found, for example, that for a $100 treatment in the emergency room, some hospitals were charging patients up to $1,260.

 

"It points to the practice of price gouging by hospitals because patients often can't pick their doctors in the emergency department," lead author Dr. Tim Xu told Reuters Health in a telephone interview. "It's a system that needs help."

 

 

[StrangeSox]

Nevada's legislature just passed a radical plan to let anybody sign up for Medicaid

 

It's on the governor's desk now, but they're trying to offer a Medicaid-for-all public option on their exchanges. It's a cheaper if less comprehensive alternative to the "Medicare for all" plan, and it would be really interesting to see how it would shake out.

[StrangeSox]

Senate Republicans are planning on holding zero hearings and zero public sessions on their health care bill. Trying to rush it to a vote by the end of the month. Early reports are that they're going to have the same state waivers that will likely cause insurance markets to collapse as the House bill.

 

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/06/06/s...l-timing-239186

[caulfield12]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/senate-republica...-004533737.html

GOP most optimistic they've ever been about ACA repeal

 

 

That said, they've probably lost Rand Paul and Collins already.

 

That leaves a list of Rand Paul/Mike Lee (financial/budget hawks), Capito/Heller (politically vulnerable) and finally Cassidy, who seems like one of the few really ethical conscientious thinkers on this issue due to his own medical background. Still hard to imagine holding all 50 remaining in line, because the sweetening deals (Nebraska for ACA, NY state already for the House on AHCA) to keep those wavering will eventually create a negative counter-effect on those who were originally willing to vote yes.

Edited June 7, 2017 by caulfield12

[bmags]

It's going to pass.

[StrangeSox]

Yep. They're going to gut health insurance for the working and middle class in order to give a trillion dollars in tax cuts to the wealthy. Voters will probably still reward them for it.

[StrangeSox]

Sahil Kapur @sahilkapur

It begins: McConnell initiates the "Rule 14" process of putting the House-passed AHCA on the Senate calendar for fast-track consideration.

 

I've yet to see anyone outside of Congressional Republicans who actually defends this bill.