The Trump-GOP Banner
(Vote Gimmick and Not Much Else)
Trump-GOP ACA (Obamacare) Substitute Plan
(Also comes in non-stick)
Interesting
story the Washington Post here –
it’s the continuing saga about Trump and GOP campaign pledge to “repeal and
replace” ACA (Obama-care). It is kind of sickening in an awful around way.
Even
without Congress repealing the ACA (Obama-care), the incoming Trump
administration could undermine the law by unilaterally ending billions of
dollars the government pays insurers to subsidize the health coverage of nearly
6 million Americans. How exactly and what’s the impact?
1. Given that insurers would still be required
to provide consumers that financial help, such a move could create upheaval in
the ACA’s marketplaces — prompting health plans to raise their prices or drop
out, according to health-policy experts in both major political parties.
2. Intervention by Trump to stop the payments
“would precipitate a pretty serious crisis almost immediately” unless Congress
stepped in. (Says James Capretta, a
resident fellow at the AEI).
3. FYI: The money is for a kind of financial
assistance that is less familiar than the tax credits the law gives most people
for their ACA plan premiums.
4. These “cost-sharing reductions” are designed
instead to lower the deductibles, co-pays and other out-of-pocket fees for
nearly half the customers this year.
5. The payments are expected to total
$9 billion in 2017.
6. Eligible consumers would not feel their loss
right away because the law still would compel insurers to lower the fees
charged.
7. Without government money to make up the
difference, the insurers would take an instant hit.
“Repeal
and replace – the Trump and GOP battle cry. Okay – show us your plan – BTW: Where
is your plan. As Rick Perry would say, “Oops.”
A
more-serious impact:
Andy Slavitt,
acting administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the agency that carries out much
of the sprawling law, said that ending these subsidies would be “a drastic move and an enormous step
backwards.”
Well, at least Trump’s
personal MD says this about him and his health that in essence, his “physical
strength and stamina are extraordinary and that his recent lab tests results
were astonishingly excellent.”
Dr. Harold Bornstein went on
to write in his one-page release: “If elected, Mr. Trump, I can state
unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the
presidency.” (He has been Trump's
personal physician since 1980).
Well that’s good to know –
too bad millions of Americans can’t afford the same level of care that Mr.
Trump is able to get, but conversely he intends to make it “tough luck for
those in dire need – the millions with healthcare now for the first time by
taking even that away – and indications very soon.” That’s what good
presidents, do, right? Harm people – deprive them have a decent and healthy
life, and help the mortuary industry expand? Creating jobs, um? I see, I see.
Finally, this his Trump's message, both cruel and simple: “I’m busy trying to “Make America Great Again” and this
is the center piece of that grand plan.” Or at least words to that effect.
So, cutting off millions from
the ACA will make us great again. Pray tell, Mr. Trump, when did we stop being
great by helping millions get good decent health care now that the ACA has been
place for going on six years. I mean how crappy was the system before that?
Oddly enough another Perry “Oops” seems apropos.
B/L for all those
(mostly GOPers) who say Obama-care costs too much, doesn’t work, costs us jobs,
and is useless, etc., etc., take this trip back in time, okay?
Dateline 2003 and Presidency of Geo. W. Bush: Republicans enacted the largest expansion of Medicare
since it was created in 1965 by adding a huge unfunded program providing
coverage for prescription drugs to the Medicare program – it was called “Medicare
Part D (Rx coverage).” Lest, We Forget:
Key points:
1. Republicans decided to forgo dedicated
financing for Part D except for trivial premiums paid by recipients, thus the
entire cost would fall on taxpayers.
2. Republicans refused to raise the Medicare tax
or cut spending to cover Part D.
3. The national deficit increased by virtually
the entire cost of the program.
4. Through 2012, Part D added $318 billion to
the national debt (refer to “General Revenue” on Page 111 in the 2013
Medicare trustees report).
5. That same report projects that Part D will
add $852 billion to the debt over the next 10 years.
Continue that fine coverage of Part D here or at the link above and please note who the author
was, okay.
In essence it costs more than
the ACA (Obama-care) which is funded and Part D was not.
How about a final Rick Perry “Oops”
fits nicely doesn’t it, GOP hypocrites.
Stay tuned folks – it ain’t
over yet. Thanks for stopping by.
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