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COMMENT Bob Weaver
Pick your spin, but here's a report on Trumpcare.
Obamacare [Affordable Care Act] is a cumbersome and sometimes troubling concoction of rules
that were put together with insurance companies, the healthcare industry and the Obama administration.
It has been wildly pushed for repeal by Republicans since its inception, saying their political base opposes it and it costs too much money.
Now, the Republican-led congress is calling to "replace" sections of Obamacare, but the current Trumpcare plan is deeply flawed.
Trump has promised "great" insurance benefits for ALL Americans, which puts him at odds with Washington Republicans, who for years have just wanted it repealed.
The Congressional Budget Office report on the Trumpcare Bill is out, and it's devastating, with the White House essentially indicating the CBO report numbers are "fake news."
14 million people losing insurance in the first year, 24 million over time, with premiums soaring for older, lower-income Americans â in
many cases, the very people strongly supported President Trump.
The old political adage that "People will vote their pocketbooks," has gone out the window, with more West Virginians voting for Trump than any other state.
Tens of thousands of West Virginians, from coal country to other poor counties, will suffer a major loss of insurance if Trumpcare is approved.
Many on Medicaid, mostly the working poor, will lose coverage.
Supporters say there will be greater access, but if you don't have the cash, you're sunk.
The CBO thinks it would reduce the deficit, but only marginally, around $30 billion a year in a $19 trillion economy.
The AARP, the American Medical Association, the American Hospital Association, the American Nurses Association and about 40 other professional organizations have gone on record against the current Trumpcare plan.
"AARP opposes this legislation as introduced that would weaken Medicare, leaving the door open to a voucher program that shifts costs and risks to seniors."
"Before people even reach retirement age, big insurance companies would be allowed to charge them an age tax that adds up to thousands of dollars more per year. Older Americans need affordable health care services and prescriptions. This plan goes in the opposite direction, increasing insurance premiums for older Americans and not doing anything to lower drug costs."
Attacking what it calls an age tax and saying it undermines Medicare, AARP is coming out strongly against the GOP's plan to replace the Affordable Care Act.
The main proposal to replace Obamacare would allow insurance companies to charge people in their 50s and 60s much more than the current law.
And the bill, known as the American Health Care Act or Trumpcare, would cut subsidies that help low and moderate-income families afford their coverage.
Trumpcare is a further boon to Big Pharma and America's most wealthy citizens.
Nancy LeaMond, AARP executive vice president, says the legislation would also repeal a tax on drug makers that now helps fund Medicare.
"The American Health Care Act weakens Medicare, it increases insurance premiums for older Americans, and it does nothing to lower drug costs," she states.
According to AARP's projections, a 55-year-old making $25,000 a year would likely have to pay $3,600 more per year for insurance in the individual marketplace.
LeaMond says a 64-year-old making $15,000 a year would pay $8,400 more in premiums.
"Insurance premiums for older adults would skyrocket," she stresses. "These are increases that the American people simply can't afford."
Most analysts are saying the GOP plan would favor younger, healthier and more well off consumers, while meaning much higher costs to insure older people and less healthy, low-to-moderate income folks.
LeaMond says, "Now on top of this, drug companies and other special interests get a sweetheart deal in the form of tax cuts, while there's nothing in the bill about lowering drug costs."
It was a sweetheart deal for Big Pharma with former President George Bush's senior drug plan, hatched without any discount for the drug company's biggest customer - the US government. Full prices ahead.
Trumpcare (American Health Care Act) also faces opposition from the most conservative members of Congress, as well as Democrats and moderate Republicans in the Senate.
Worse yet, is the folks who will really feel the heat - Trump supporters, while he is saying the plan will be "great" and everyone can have "access" to coverage.
"Access" does not mean that a family can afford healthcare.
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