Freedom Caucus balks at Republican leadership's Obamacare replacement

[Sanguine]

That is thinking!  I like the idea of catastrophic for lower premium.  It would work well with young people who are healthy.  Why that may not work is because if a good portion of the population chooses a lesser policy its harder to pay for the other people who need full coverage.

I think it would work well with those of us who are....more mature, and less healthy, too.  As long as there is a savings account up to the amount of the deductible so that anything before that is paid out of the HSA, and it benefits the account holder to be thrifty and shop around.   THAT would bring down health costs.

[Jazzhead]

How about this, as a random thought - and I know it involves using the tax code, but it's a step in delinking:

Instead of a penalty for not having insurance, give a tax incentive to do so. At the same time, tax employer provided insurance as a perk, same as any other perk. Combine that with reopening the range of policies the insurance companies can provide - from catastrophic to covering everything down to hangnails and split ends.

Can't see why it wouldn't work. 

Of course, I'd do something about the ridiculous hospital charges as well. What, I'm not sure though.

That's basically the purpose of the refundable tax credits - to put the self-employed and other individuals without employer-based health coverage on a more-or-less equal footing with corporations and their employees who get employer-provided health coverage tax-free (and can often exclude from income their own cost-share for their employer plan's coverage). 

There are some other approaches that can work as well,  but the plan at hand - the attainable plan - replaces ACA's subsidies and mandates with refundable tax credits and premium surcharges on free riders.   No,  AHCA isn't revolutionary - it hardly touches the current employment-based system.   It retains much of the structure of the ACA while improving it - a true repair but hardly a repudiation of the private insurance approach to the access issue. 

But the alternative to a private insurance approach to the access issue is single payer.

[Hoodat]

We need more consumers - not less.   Monopolistic pricing only results in worse service at higher cost.

[Bigun]

Repeal and Replace has somehow become Revise and Rename!

Anyone surprised?

[txradioguy]

Repeal and Replace has somehow become Revise and Rename!

Anyone surprised?

I'm not.

[Sanguine]

Repeal and Replace has somehow become Revise and Rename!

Anyone surprised?

No, but I am disappointed.

[XenaLee]

That's basically the purpose of the refundable tax credits - to put the self-employed and other individuals without employer-based health coverage on a more-or-less equal footing with corporations and their employees who get employer-provided health coverage tax-free (and can often exclude from income their own cost-share for their employer plan's coverage). 

There are some other approaches that can work as well,  but the plan at hand - the attainable plan - replaces ACA's subsidies and mandates with refundable tax credits and premium surcharges on free riders.   No,  AHCA isn't revolutionary - it hardly touches the current employment-based system.   It retains much of the structure of the ACA while improving it - a true repair but hardly a repudiation of the private insurance approach to the access issue. 

But the alternative to a private insurance approach to the access issue is single payer.

It still amounts to the same bullshit.  Government meddling where it has no business meddling, putting everyone on an equal footing of misery via SOCIALISM.  The alternative is to repeal the damned thing and go back to what we had before the g-damned Democrats screwed everything up....and work from there, slowly, towards a better deal.  This is, as Ann said, a piece of crap.  And no amount of polishing and painting over it will be able to camouflage the smell.

[Bigun]

No, but I am disappointed.

Yes, 51 Senators Can Fully Repeal Obamacare

http://thefederalist.com/2017/03/10/yes-51-senators-can-fully-repeal-obamacare/?utm_source=The+Federalist+List&utm_campaign=4afcc2a5fd-RSS_The_Federalist_Daily_Updates_w_Transom&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_cfcb868ceb-4afcc2a5fd-83773485

[Sanguine]

Yes, 51 Senators Can Fully Repeal Obamacare

http://thefederalist.com/2017/03/10/yes-51-senators-can-fully-repeal-obamacare/?utm_source=The+Federalist+List&utm_campaign=4afcc2a5fd-RSS_The_Federalist_Daily_Updates_w_Transom&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_cfcb868ceb-4afcc2a5fd-83773485

But, only if they can find their long-lost spines.

[Cyber Liberty]

Repeal and Replace has somehow become Revise and Rename!

Anyone surprised?

This puts the lie to the GOP in Congress (both Houses):  They were willing to Repeal when they knew there was a Veto waiting, but now they chicken out when there's a President willing to sign.  Disgusting.

[Lando Lincoln]

But, only if they can find their long-lost spines.

Yes.  A few additional 'nads wouldn't hurt either.

[Bigun]

This puts the lie to the GOP in Congress (both Houses):  They were willing to Repeal when they knew there was a Veto waiting, but now they chicken out when there's a President willing to sign.  Disgusting.

Yeah Makes me want to 

[Bigun]

Yes.  A few additional 'nads wouldn't hurt either.

I'm convinced that you could not find one full set among Washington republicans if you took up a collection.

[Jazzhead]

It still amounts to the same bullshit.  Government meddling where it has no business meddling, putting everyone on an equal footing of misery via SOCIALISM.  The alternative is to repeal the damned thing and go back to what we had before the g-damned Democrats screwed everything up....and work from there, slowly, towards a better deal.  This is, as Ann said, a piece of crap.  And no amount of polishing and painting over it will be able to camouflage the smell.

What you fail to appreciate is that the health care system before the ACA was, for millions of Americans, completely screwed up.   Hundreds of thousands who were laid off during the recession had no viable access to affordable coverage,  especially those in their fifties who were just starting to incur substantial medical expenses.   (COBRA, as has been pointed out, is frightfully expensive - most employees simply fail to appreciate the true value of the insurance their employers provide them as a tax-free benefit!).    The ACA was a lifesaver for so many older Americans laid off during last recession.   The ACA's rule allowing kids to stay on their parent's plan to age 26 has also proven enormously popular.

Going back to the status quo ante is completely unacceptable.  Conservatives who repeal the ACA without replacing it will be tossed out on their arses in 2018.   

[Jazzhead]

This puts the lie to the GOP in Congress (both Houses):  They were willing to Repeal when they knew there was a Veto waiting, but now they chicken out when there's a President willing to sign.  Disgusting.

The mandates WILL be repealed under the ACHA.   More affordable insurance products will be available too.   

The AHCA deserves the support of Republicans and conservatives,  given where we are right now.   The perfect is the enemy of the good. 

[XenaLee]

What you fail to appreciate is that the health care system before the ACA was, for millions of Americans, completely screwed up.   Hundreds of thousands who were laid off during the recession had no viable access to affordable coverage,  especially those in their fifties who were just starting to incur substantial medical expenses.   (COBRA, as has been pointed out, is frightfully expensive - most employees simply fail to appreciate the true value of the insurance their employers provide them as a tax-free benefit!).    The ACA was a lifesaver for so many older Americans laid off during last recession.   The ACA's rule allowing kids to stay on their parent's plan to age 26 has also proven enormously popular.

Going back to the status quo ante is completely unacceptable.  Conservatives who repeal the ACA without replacing it will be tossed out on their arses in 2018.   

The ACA was a lie from the start.  It wasn't ""Affordable"" then and it isn't affordable now.  The only ones truly benefitting from it are ones that are getting subsidies ....ie taxpayer funded ""free"" health insurance.  Many, if not most, of those getting subsidies have never paid into any welfare system, yet have taken full advantage of those freebies.  Something's got to give.  We can't afford to dole out all of these 'freebies'.  Have you bothered to notice the national debt lately?

As for those hundreds of thousands that were laid off, I know all about that. I was one of them.  Obama was elected in 2008, I was laid off in April of 2009.  Corporations knew what was coming down the socialist/leftist pike at them even then.

I chose to work in a corporate environment to get those benefits (ie healthcare insurance).  So cry me a river for folks that do not or rather did not want to work in the corp environment just to get health insurance.  Nothing is easy or free unless you're a leftie voting DemocRat.  If you choose to be self-employed (or unemployed) for the freedom, don't cry to me that you don't have health insurance.  You traded off that benefit for the freedom.

I see that you're all gung-ho on socialist, government run 'everything' here.  But your mentality was slapped down last November...and bitch-slapped hard, in fact.  Or.... didn't you notice.

[Sanguine]

What you fail to appreciate is that the health care system before the ACA was, for millions of Americans, completely screwed up.   Hundreds of thousands who were laid off during the recession had no viable access to affordable coverage,  especially those in their fifties who were just starting to incur substantial medical expenses.   (COBRA, as has been pointed out, is frightfully expensive - most employees simply fail to appreciate the true value of the insurance their employers provide them as a tax-free benefit!).    The ACA was a lifesaver for so many older Americans laid off during last recession.   The ACA's rule allowing kids to stay on their parent's plan to age 26 has also proven enormously popular.

Going back to the status quo ante is completely unacceptable.  Conservatives who repeal the ACA without replacing it will be tossed out on their arses in 2018.   

No, you bought into the leftist effort to paint the healthcare system in a crisis so that they could take advantage of it.  As they did.

[Jazzhead]

 If you choose to be self-employed (or unemployed) for the freedom, don't cry to me that you don't have health insurance.  You traded off that benefit for the freedom.

I see that you're all gung-ho on socialist, government run 'everything' here.  But your mentality was slapped down last November...and bitch-slapped hard, in fact.  Or.... didn't you notice.

I'm no socialist - I support the AHCA because it's a way to address the access issue without resort to single payer.  But if you're going to trade in insults,  then I consider you selfish in the extreme, apparently without compassion for those left high and dry by our current system that only provides affordable coverage to those lucky enough to work for large companies.   YOU had options - but you seek to deny options to others who are no doubt more virtuous than you.  These are folks who work two, three part-time jobs to make ends meet, none of which offer health insurance.   Do you not care about creating a fair system with reasonable access for all who are willing to work hard?  Obviously not; you've got yours and to hell with everyone else.   

[Jazzhead]

No, you bought into the leftist effort to paint the healthcare system in a crisis so that they could take advantage of it.  As they did.

Health insurance for me but not for thee?   Is that it?   Of course the heath care financing system was in deep crisis prior to the ACA, unless you were lucky enough to work for a rich company.   

[libertybele]

Repeal and Replace has somehow become Revise and Rename!

Anyone surprised?

With the leadership in Congress still under McConnell and Ryan, absolutely not.

[Norm Lenhart]

I'm no socialist...

...Said the guy promoting socialist healthcare and glowing with glee over people being 'punished' for not hopping on board the Obamacare train.

[Sanguine]

Health insurance for me but not for thee?   Is that it?   Of course the heath care financing system was in deep crisis prior to the ACA, unless you were lucky enough to work for a rich company.   

You're conflating health insurance with insurance and healthcare with health insurance.

[XenaLee]

I'm no socialist - I support the AHCA because it's a way to address the access issue without resort to single payer.  But if you're going to trade in insults,  then I consider you selfish in the extreme, apparently without compassion for those left high and dry by our current system that only provides affordable coverage to those lucky enough to work for large companies.   YOU had options - but you seek to deny options to others who are no doubt more virtuous than you.  These are folks who work two, three part-time jobs to make ends meet, none of which offer health insurance.   Do you not care about creating a fair system with reasonable access for all who are willing to work hard?  Obviously not; you've got yours and to hell with everyone else.

Lol!  Trade in insults?  Where was any insult I made?  I stated a fact.  But....I can see (clearly, now) how inconvenient facts come off as insults to your ilk.  You have just outted yourself as the atypical leftie.

Congrats.

And for the record, I don't seek to deny anyone options.  I seek to deny government forcing me to pay for them or forcing them to pay for me.  I hate socialism (communism with a smiley face).  So sue me.

[txradioguy]

Health insurance for me but not for thee?   Is that it?   Of course the heath care financing system was in deep crisis prior to the ACA, unless you were lucky enough to work for a rich company.   

Where and why is it the job of the government to make sure that people have health insurance?

What happened to personal responsibility and taking care of yourself? 

You seem to forget that the Constitution says you have the opportunity for life liberty and the pursuit of happiness...no where in there does it say it's guaranteed.

Your life is supposed to be what YOU make of it...good bad succeed or fail it's all dependent upon the individual and the effort they put into it.

[Norm Lenhart]

Where and why is it the job of the government to make sure that people have health insurance?

What happened to personal responsibility and taking care of yourself? 

You seem to forget that the Constitution says you have the opportunity for life liberty and the pursuit of happiness...no where in there does it say it's guaranteed.

Well the Constitution is a living document you know. It adapts into whatever the leftist needs it to be on a given day.