Five changes the Senate could make to the ObamaCare repeal bill

[corbe]

Five changes the Senate could make to the ObamaCare repeal bill

 By Rachel Roubein - 05/05/17 05:44 PM EDT 

GOP senators are making it crystal clear. The House’s ObamaCare repeal-and-replace bill is getting changed.

Senators say the legislation can’t pass the upper chamber in its current form, and they are looking to put their own stamp on the bill.

Here are five big changes that senators will be eyeing.

Tax credits

The Senate is likely to change the bill to provide more tax credits to better help low-income people afford health insurance.

Sen. John Thune (S.D.), the No. 3 Senate Republican, is already working on an amendment to ramp up the credits.

The issue was also raised Thursday during a meeting in Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) office that was focused on possible changes to the bill.

Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), part of the leadership team, acknowledged afterwards that changes to tax credits were “part of the active discussion.”
Under the House bill, a single 64-year-old making $26,500 would have to pay more than half his or her salary — $14, 600 per year — in premiums, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. This stark datapoint made the rounds on social media after CBO scored the bill in March.

In part, this is because insurers can only charge older adults three times more than those who are younger and generally healthier under the Affordable Care Act. The House bill lets carriers charge older adults five times as much as young people. Also, tax credits are more generous for those with lower incomes under ObamaCare, and thus, lower premiums.

Medicaid

Medicaid has emerged as one of the thorniest issues of the ObamaCare repeal and replace debate.

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http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/332159-five-changes-the-senate-could-make-to-the-obamacare-repeal-bill

[libertybele]

After reading this, I only have one word:  "REPEAL"!!!