Black Community News News and Commentary for Christians
Repealing Obamacare is another Donald Trump campaign promise that’s become more complicated than it should be. Republicans sent a repeal bill to Barack Obama, and that process hadn’t seemed nearly as complicated.
Republicans have released the text of a repeal and replacement bill, and Obamacare opponents will be pleased that it doesn’t call for government penalties for failing to have health insurance.
But the bill would encourage individuals to maintain health insurance by allowing insurers to add a 30 percent surcharge for gaps in coverage.
It’s a compromise that certainly won’t please all.
Like Obamacare, the new measure would allow adults to stay on their parents’ health insurance until age 26 and bar insurance companies from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions. The bill would do away with subsidies and offer tax credits instead.
“This is #ObamaCare gone.” – @RepKevinBrady
WATCH highlights from the American Healthcare Act news conference. pic.twitter.com/dDurJ5NcC6— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 7, 2017
President Donald Trump, ever the businessman, praised the measure but said it’s up for “review and negotiation.”
Naturally, some Republican lawmakers don’t like it. They accused their colleagues of creating yet another entitlement program with the tax credits (as opposed to subsidies under Obamacare).
Senator Rand Paul called the repeal bill “ObamaCare Lite” and “in all likelihood unconstitutional.”
President Trump said there’s more to come.
“Don’t worry, getting rid of state lines, which will promote competition, will be in phase 2 & 3 of healthcare rollout.”
Photo credit: NObama NoMas (Creative Commons) – Some rights reserved
East is east and west is west: repeal MUST be done first and decisively. Then, as Sen. Rand Paul (a physician) says, we need a combination of CASH, CATASTROPHIC INSURANCE, and CHARITY; we don’t want “ObamaCare-Lite.” Ken Blackwell wisely says to let the individuals and the market (states & local) have the most control. I hope that Pres. Trump negotiates a MUCH BETTER DEAL.