Please, need some help with understanding the republican health care plan

[Lady_Chat]

When I go for my chemotherapy sessions, I sit next to a woman, a rabid Trump supporter (as if chemo wasn't bad enough) who insists, that the clause regarding patients with pre-existing illnesses will still be covered in the republicans new health care plan, and they will only lose it, if they don't pay their premiums on time. Also, that children will still be covered until the age of 26. Is this true? Also is there any chance of the plan being turned over to the states, and they be allowed to use their own discretion as to how they follow the plan. Also why would so many people be losing their insurance as the CBO estimates, is this only those on Medicaid, Medicare or for all plans. Exactly how do credits play into it? Is it based on age, or income. I am so confused. Any information, links, regarding this would be so appreciated. I really need to understand this. Thank you!

[Rhiannon12866]

1. I know they're still working on it, but last I heard

Both preexisting conditions and kids up to 26 being still covered under their parents' plan were two parts of the ACA they said they were keeping. Best of luck with your chemo! My Dad had chemo, too, and I know it can be awfully rough. And being forced to sit next to a gabby Trumpeter is the last thing you need...

[Hoyt]

2. I think poster above is correct. The biggest issue with the GOPer plan, short-term, is amount of

subsidies/credits is insufficient for a lot of people. Subsidies/credits are based on age rather than income, actuarial realities, etc. Longer-term, it just doesn't address health care system or offering plans that help poorer, sicker patients.

If they listened to Democrats, the GOPer plan could end up a decent transition to public option or single payer.

[Rhiannon12866]

3. I also ran across this explanatory video in my travels

It's a couple of weeks old and I'm sorry that Trump's in it, but I liked that there was a woman who explained things:

Two ways Trump proposes to change America's health care

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/white-house/article135824093.html

Mar 01, 2017
Republicans promised America during the 2016 election that they would repeal and replace Obamacare. Trump, during his joint address to Congress, laid out a series of proposals to do just that, including giving tax credits as incentives and allowing insurance plans to be sold over state lines. Natalie FertigMcClatchy

[still_one]

4. The republican bill would roll back the expansion of Medicaid which provided coverage to more

10 million people. It would also remove the insurance mandate, and remove the requirement for larger employers to offer coverage to their full-time employees.

People who let their insurance coverage lapse would face a significant penalty, where insurers could increase their premiums by 30%, which most likely would keep many people uninsured permanently since they could not afford those increased premiums

The bill would still keep the prohibition on denying coverage for pre-existing conditions, ban on lifetime caps, and allow young people to remain on their parents plan until 26

The new Republican plan gets rid of income-based subsidies and replaces them with a new system of tax credits based on age.

Medicaid recipients would get a per-person allotment to the states, and those with pre-existing conditions would face uncertainties in a deregulated insurance market, where an individual mandate is not required, and rates would go up. In addition, many insurers might drop out of the republican healthcare plan because of the uncertainties involved without the individual mandate, and rates would go up even higher.

Federal funds to Planned Parenthood Clinics would be cut, and many Americans would either end up with worse coverage, or it would push millions of Americans off of coverage entirely.

The republican plan as it is today will cost everyone more, especially those in lower incomes, by either loss of insurance, or making it unaffordable. People on Medicare will be affected also because there was savings from the ACA that was passed onto Medicare, and that savings will now be lost.

The conservative republicans believe the plan is handout, and want a complete repeal, while a few of the republicans believe it is too harsh. Either way the status of the bill is in chaos, and no on knows what the result will be.

There is a very real possibility that the ACA may be repealed without a replacement. There is also a real possibility that they won't be able to repeal the ACA because they don't have the votes. There is also a real possibility that the chaos that is being caused by all this will create such uncertainty that it will cause hurt and perhaps destroy the ACA, which is what the republicans want

[MiniMe]

5. And I think they are putting lifetime caps back on the plans

So if an insurance company spends x dollars on your care, they will stop paying when you hit the lifetime limit. I don't know if they added that one back in, but the repukes want to add it, god forbid that the insurance companies have to spend money on their clients

[wishstar]

6. Three main reasons fewer people will be covered:

Three main reasons fewer people will be covered:

Medicaid expansion will end with millions fewer covered by Medicaid. Without current subsidies and instead just getting once a year tax credit after filing tax return, it is unlikely most of them could afford to maintain insurance coverage and if they fail to pay a couple of months, their premiums would greatly increase permanently, making coverage even more expensive.

Insurance companies would be allowed to charge much higher premiums for those over 50 years old, while tax credits are drastically less than current subsidies, so premiums would be unaffordable to millions of older people between age 50 and 65 who are not yet old enough for Medicare.

Currently employers with 50 or more people are mandated to cover them and are given tax credits, but new plan eliminates employer mandate and credits, so many employers will drop coverage causing people to go without health insurance since many will opt out due to higher premiums, lack of adequate subsidies and no mandate requiring that they obtain health insurance.

Supposedly Repub plan is being revised to increase tax credits, but details aren't clear yet.

[pnwmom]

7. If she cares about Medicare, tell her this will be the first step toward coupon-care.

Vouchers for the elderly poor is the ultimate goal of Paul Ryan, replacing Medicare for everyone.

Obamacare includes a special tax for people with non-salary income above $250K -- and that money is specifically directed toward shoring up Medicare; helping make it solvent.

They want to repeal that tax, which will then weaken Medicare, so they can kill it off in a few years.

This is part of why the AARP opposed the ACHA.

AARP.com