Instead of mandates and fines for not buying health insurance the American Health Care Act provides a 30% increase in premiums. Instead of means based subsidies there are age based tax credits.
Left in place are mandated coverage for pre-existing conditions and extension of coverage to 26 year old ‘children’. Because these are popular. So are unicorns. The cosmetologists behind the GOP health insurance plan can’t be bothered to point out any connection between these policies and insurance premiums. Because insurance premiums are not popular.
The President promised health insurance would be made available across “the [state] lines.” Trump’s website said he would “ask Congress to immediately deliver a full repeal of ObamaCare” on day one. So much for those promises on day sixty three.
A few of the Obamacare decreed coverages, like maternity insurance for males, are removed, but only after strong objection from the Freedom Caucus; people who know how to spell ‘repeal.’
This bill, in all its superficial wordplay, is capitulation to the core principles of Obamacare. It puts the GOP stamp of approval on policies the GOP derided as socialist as recently as six months ago.
Now, the Great Negotiator, who insists this is a “wonderful” health care bill, has said “take it or leave it” – after threatening those who are trying to get him to keep his promises.
If anything good is to arise from this debacle it will only come from the courage of a handful of people who still believe in a free market. Better to take the President up on his offer to do nothing than to accept this travesty.