The American Healthcare Act: Myth vs Fact

[SirLinksALot]

SOURCE: CONGRESSMAN HAL ROGER's WEBSITE

URL: https://halrogers.house.gov/press-releases?id=AFFF4632-34C9-494E-B21E-F1E98B648F7B

I have a pre-existing condition. How does this bill affect me?

Under our plan, insurance companies cannot deny you coverage based on pre-existing conditions. And your health status cannot affect your premiums, unless your state asks for and receives a waiver—a condition of which is the state having other protections in place for those with pre-existing conditions. Even if your state does obtain a waiver, so long as you’ve been continuously covered, you still cannot be charged more. And the bill provides added resources to help people in waiver states who have not been continuously covered to gain coverage. Bottom line, there are many levels of protection for those with pre-existing conditions in the legislation.

I heard about the MacArthur amendment allowing states to waive protections for pre-existing conditions. If this happens, will I lose all my benefits?

No. This amendment preserves protections for people with pre-existing conditions while giving states greater flexibility to lower premiums and stabilize the insurance market. To obtain a waiver, states will have to establish programs to serve people with pre-existing conditions. And no matter what, insurance companies cannot deny you coverage based on pre-existing conditions.

And what about the Upton amendment?

The Upton amendment provides an additional $8 billion for states seeking a waiver. These resources will allow people with pre-existing conditions who haven’t maintained continuous coverage to acquire affordable care.

Are Members of Congress exempt from this provision?

No. Members will not be exempt. This was initially included for technical reasons to comply with Senate rules, but the House is voting to fix this before voting on the AHCA.

Why are you cutting women’s health services?

We’re not. In fact, we’re expanding women’s access to health services by redirecting Planned Parenthood dollars to community health centers, which vastly outnumber Planned Parenthood clinics.

Why are you voting to kick 24 million people off health care?

We’re not. AHCA will ensure everyone has access to affordable, quality health care, but we’re just not forcing people to buy insurance. Moreover, that estimate failed to take into account other planned legislative and administrative actions, which will help bring down costs and expand coverage.

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REFUNDABLE TAX CREDITS

Refundable tax credits are an important component of the AHCA, designed to give people who don't receive health care at work the same tax benefits as those who do so they can purchase the kind of coverage that is right for their family.

It equalizes the tax treatment of health care regardless of where you buy it and helps create a vibrant individual market. These credits are longstanding conservative policy goals.

REFORMS MEDICAID

One in three physicians are unwilling to accept new Medicaid patients. Unfortunately, Obamacare simply added more people to a broken system. The AHCA is a historic shift of power back to the states so that we can make it work for those who need it. It reforms Medicaid so that it is flexible and responsive to those it was created to serve.

It prohibits states from expanding into the current broken Medicaid system.

It maximizes state flexibility. It gives states the choice between a per capita allotment or a traditional block grant and provides the option for states to implement work requirements for Medicaid recipients.

It ensures the rug isn’t pulled from underneath any able-bodied patient as he or she transitions to other coverage, like a plan purchased with refundable tax credits.

EXPANDS HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are tax-free health care savings accounts for Americans with high-deductible health plans. HSAs are critical for helping Americans save and spend their health care dollars more wisely.

The AHCA would nearly double the amount Americans can contribute to their accounts, which will give greater choice and flexibility in purchasing coverage. Conservatives agree: HSAs must be a focal point of health care reform.

PROTECTS PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS

First and foremost, the bill contains numerous protections for people with pre-existing conditions. The law is clear: Under no circumstance can people be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition. The latest draft contains two more layers of security for these individuals:

The MacArthur amendment gives flexibility to states to tackle premium prices. However, there is a very strict process for obtaining that waiver. It will only be given to states with high-risk pools and other protections in place.

For states seeking a waiver, the Upton amendment provides an additional $8 billion to allow people with pre-existing conditions who haven’t maintained continuous coverage acquire affordable care.

RESTORES PRO-LIFE PRINCIPLES

The AHCA defunds Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the country, for one year by blocking more than $500 million of federal dollars. It redirects the money to community health centers, which far outnumber Planned Parenthood clinics.

Let’s pass the American Health Care Act. After all, seven years of Obamacare is enough.

SOURCE: speaker.gov

[jmyrlefuller]

Well stated.

[Hondo69]

I have a pre-existing condition called Big Government Phobiosis.  How does this bill affect me?

You're screwed.  Canada might be a good option for you and you might also check out Thailand as I hear the weather is nice time of year.

[bolobaby]

"Well stated" says our resident statist.

He's right. Obamacare established two things:

1. A massive entitlement to "insurance," which isn't actually insurance at all anymore, but healthcare cost sharing.
2. Government involvement in what should be a private industry.

This bill does absolutely nothing to fix any of that.

Moreover, it now removes the mandate to actually purchase "insurance," without removing the requirement that forces companies to provide the product for people preexisting conditions. So, basically, people will quickly figure out that the GOP just opened the door to buy it only when you're sick and have the gubbermint subsidize you.

GENIUS!

I'm so sick of the Idiocracy we've become.

[jmyrlefuller]

says our resident statist.
I'm so sick of the Idiocracy we've become.

Ah, the belligerent fool chirps in. (If you're going to call me a statist and idiot, prepare to get it both ways.)

[EC]

Myrle - you been holding out on me? What's this "statist" foolishness?

[jmyrlefuller]

Now to clarify: the bill is flawed, and there are things about it I don't like-- namely, the "refundable tax credit" scam all Republicans seem to love, which are nothing more than entitlement handouts masquerading as tax cuts... yet on the whole, the bill is better than what happens if people repeatedly vote no on any bill that comes their way, which is this: Obamacare and all its ills STAY IN PLACE.

Opposing this bill does not ensure that whatever incremental improvements can be made will ever get put in.

[jmyrlefuller]

This bill does absolutely nothing to fix any of that.

Moreover, it now removes the mandate to actually purchase "insurance," without removing the requirement that forces companies to provide the product for people preexisting conditions.

Actually, the current bill allows the insurance companies to charge more for covering those pre-existing conditions, just like they did before, to discourage this kind of act.

[libertybele]

From my perspective, this is irrelevant until we see what the Senate comes up with.  Rumor has it that the Senate is striking the House bill and creating their own from scratch.

[bolobaby]

Actually, the current bill allows the insurance companies to charge more for covering those pre-existing conditions, just like they did before, to discourage this kind of act.

But, but, but... @jmyrlefuller what if I can't afford those inflated premiums...?

You've already told me that "that's their own frickin' fault" isn't an acceptable answer, and this bill provides for subsidies, so...

Yep, you guessed it! The gubbermint will just cover it because those inflated premiums will be SKY HIGH due to the fact that:

No mandate + requirement to insure + willingness to subsidize = only buy it when you need it

Sorry this escapes you.

[mirraflake]

No mandate + requirement to insure + willingness to subsidize = only buy it when you need it

Sorry this escapes you.

NOPE. I was just on a webinar this morning with one of my health insurance carriers.

They said how it's looking the new plan will be the same as old Open enrollment period every year and if you do not purchase have to wait until the following year just as it is now. You sign up each year in Nov/Dec for a January 1st effective date. If you have no insurance and on Jan 15th you get diagnosed with cancer you cannot get insurance until the next January

And if you wait there is going to  be penalty of higher priced premium and possible a waiting period for coverage on pre ex to kick in

@bolobaby

[XenaLee]

"Well stated" says our resident statist.

He's right. Obamacare established two things:

1. A massive entitlement to "insurance," which isn't actually insurance at all anymore, but healthcare cost sharing.
2. Government involvement in what should be a private industry.

This bill does absolutely nothing to fix any of that.

Moreover, it now removes the mandate to actually purchase "insurance," without removing the requirement that forces companies to provide the product for people preexisting conditions. So, basically, people will quickly figure out that the GOP just opened the door to buy it only when you're sick and have the gubbermint subsidize you.

GENIUS!

I'm so sick of the Idiocracy we've become.

And the elephant in the room is.... that this nation simply can NOT afford to be doling out yet more freebies and entitlements (now called a "refundable tax credit"). 

Hell, the jobs have not come back yet (if ever) despite the oft touted low unemployment number.... the money going into the gov coffers hasn't really increased like we need it to in order to cover any new freebies (much less the entitlement spending already committed to).... and the economy is still just limping along while economists are only hoping things will improve.  Now is NOT the time to find more ways for government to spend taxpayer money.  Now is the time to tighten gov's belt, eliminate government agencies and jobs and go into at least a mini "austerity" mode.  But that would require a semblance of conservative governance.... and I'm afraid that hope is long-gone now.  Probably forever.

[mirraflake]

The bill also allows carriers to put people in various pools based upon their claim usage. If you have a expensive pre ex or  a new condition and you are costing the carrier mucho money each year they will put  you on a high rated class and your premium goes up so high you cannot afford it and go somewhere else.

This is how it was in the past. .One client get a 2% rate increase another gets a 35% rate increase. All legal of course and highly shady

@jmyrlefuller
@bolobaby

[bolobaby]

NOPE. I was just on a webinar this morning with one of my health insurance carriers.

They said how it's looking the new plan will be the same as old Open enrollment period every year and if you do not purchase have to wait until the following year just as it is now. You sign up each year in Nov/Dec for a January 1st effective date. If you have no insurance and on Jan 15th you get diagnosed with cancer you cannot get insurance until the next January

And if you wait there is going to  be penalty of higher priced premium and possible a waiting period for coverage on pre ex to kick in

@bolobaby

Haha. You believe that? You honestly believe that if you didn't sign up and get cancer in March that there will be no government sponsored assistance for you?

Is that what you honestly think?

Heh. Cute.

[Chosen Daughter]

NOPE. I was just on a webinar this morning with one of my health insurance carriers.

They said how it's looking the new plan will be the same as old Open enrollment period every year and if you do not purchase have to wait until the following year just as it is now. You sign up each year in Nov/Dec for a January 1st effective date. If you have no insurance and on Jan 15th you get diagnosed with cancer you cannot get insurance until the next January

And if you wait there is going to  be penalty of higher priced premium and possible a waiting period for coverage on pre ex to kick in

@bolobaby

30% and companies do not have to provide healthcare.