Obamacare Repeal and Replacement Plan
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PBS NewsHourObamacare Repeal and Replacement Plan
Uploaded by
PBS NewsHourOBAMACARE REPEAL AND REPLACE
Our Plan
Why We Are Taking Action Now to Repeal
and Replace Obamacare
Since [Obamacare] went into effect, the insurance choices and coverage
have gotten lower and the costs have gotten higher. Virtually no doctors
take the marketplace insurance so Im left to change doctors who Ive seen
for over 30 years and switch to new doctors who I dont trust, and
who cannot provide the same healthcare benefits Ive received in the past.
I have a brain tumor that I have monitored by a very skilled neuro-
oncologist. Not anymore.
KIMBERLY K., OHIO
Why We Are Taking Action Now to Repeal
and Replace Obamacare
I am 60 years old and a private, retired citizen. I have always had private
insurance. Prior to 2016, I enjoyed a PPO, my doctors, Memorial Herman,
and MD Anderson if I should have ever needed it. In 2016, my premiums
went up, I lost my PPO, I lost my doctors, my hospital and MD
Anderson if I should ever need it In 2017, my premiums jumped 69.21%
to $900 a month. I have a deductible of $7,150. I need a knee replacement
If I have a knee replacement under Obamacare it will run at least $20,000.
LAUREN M., TEXAS
Why We Are Taking Action Now to Repeal
and Replace Obamacare
Despite Obamas promises, my plan was canceled at an affordable $450 a
month when Obamacare was implemented. My new plan has gone up every
year and for 2017 will be over $1,300 a month. My husband and I cannot
keep up with these increases. Soon it will be a choice between food and
housing or health care.
VIRGINIA Q., FLORIDA
As Americans Across the Country Have
Made Clear, They Need Relief Now
Obamacare is collapsing across the country, raising costs for patients and forcing
insurers out of the marketplace, which leaves patients and families with nowhere to go.
Death Spiral Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini said on February 15th that the Obamacare
marketplaces are in a death spiral and doomed to fail. Its not going to get any
better; its getting worse.
Fewer Options: On February 14th, Health Insurance provider Humana announced they
would be pulling out of Obamacare markets completely, citing a failing system and
massive financial losses. This leaves patients with fewer options for care.
Because of Obamacare, Premiums are Skyrocketing
Because of Obamacare, Choices are Dwindling
House Republicans are Working with Our New
Administration to Deliver Solutions Through:
Regulatory Relief by Repeal and replace Additional Legislation
Administration through Reconciliation
Strengthen insurance
Provide patients Repeal significant markets by
immediate relief from portions of Obamacare empowering patients,
expensive Obamacare families, and States
mandates Ensure a stability
period for patients
Reforms to stabilize the
market Include elements of
Replace
Repealing Obamacare
Deliver relieffrom the Obamacare taxesthat have hurt job
creators, increased premium costs, and limited options for
patients and health care providers.
Eliminate the individual and employer mandate penalties,
which forced millions of workers, families, and job creators into
expensive, inadequate Obamacare plans that theydont want and
cannot afford.
Repeal Obamacare spending for the Medicaid expansion and the
new, open-ended subsidies.
Protecting Patients
The GOP plan would offer strong protections for patients and the most
vulnerable:
Protect patients with pre-existing conditions - Our plan ensures
every American, has the comfort of knowing you can never be denied
coverage or charged more because of a pre-existing condition.
Protect coverage for young people - Our plan allows dependents up
to age 26 to stay on their parents plan, helping younger Americans
receive health care and stabilizing the market.
Bring Medicaid into the 21st century - Our plan brings Medicaid into
the 21st Century empowering states to design Medicaid programs that
best meet their needs, which will help reduce costs and prioritize care
for our most vulnerable citizens. Additionally, those who gained
coverage under the Obamacare Medicaid expansion will continue to
Transferring Power from Washington Back
to the States: State Innovation Grants
States know how to best take care of their own patients not the
federal government. Through this process, we can give states the
ability to repair their health insurance markets that were
damaged by Obamacare.
As envisioned in A Better Way, providing funding for state
innovation programs whether it is high-risk pools, cutting out-of-
pocket costs like premiums and deductibles, or promoting access
to health care services states can gain resources to best take
care of their unique patient populations.
Transferring Power from Washington Back
to the States: Modernizing Medicaid
Instead of burdening states with more mandates from Washington
bureaucrats, our plan empowers states to design plans that will
best meet their needs and put Medicaid on sustainable financial
footing.
The Medicaid program, a critical lifeline for some of our most
vulnerable patients, is three times the size and costs three times
as much as it was under President Clinton. This is not
sustainable.
The reforms will focus the program back onto those most in need,
and put Medicaid on a budget, and ensure we dont pull the rug
out from anyone who received care under the expansion.
Empowering Individuals and Families, Restoring the
Free Market: Enhanced Health Savings Accounts
Obamacares one-size-fits-all policies limited how individuals could spend and
save their health care dollars.
Our proposal empowers individuals and families to spend their health care
dollars the way they want and neednot the way Washington prescribesby
enhancing and expanding Health Savings Accounts, or HSAs.
For example, our proposal increases the amount of money an individual or
family can put into their HSA, and allows individuals and families to spend
money from their HSA on over-the-counter health care items.
Our proposal also allows spouses to make additional contributions, and
expands the amount of time and individual or family can use an HSA on certain
expenses.
Empowering Individuals and Families, Restoring the
Free Market: New, Portable, Monthly Tax Credits
Today, many Americans receive support for their health insurance
through work, Medicare, Medicaid, or other government programs,
while others are forced to subsidize Obamacares sky-high costs
by purchasing mandated health insurance they do not like and
cannot afford.
Our proposal provides all Americans access to a portable, monthly
tax credit that they can use to buy a health insurance plan thats
right for themnot one tied to a job or a government-mandated
program.
Our proposal is based on age, so as individuals health needs
evolve over time, so will their monthly, portable tax credit. It can
Moving Forward: Advancing Step-by-Step, Patient-
Centered Reforms to:
Decrease costs and increase choices by promoting competition
and innovation in the insurance market.
Increase flexibility for employers to offer affordable, quality health
care options to their employees.
Allow individuals and families to purchase insurance across state
lines.
Maintain pre-existing condition protections, allowing kids under 26
to be on their parents plans.
Questions?
Common questions
Powered by AICriticisms of Obamacare highlighted by personal accounts include skyrocketing premiums, loss of preferred healthcare providers, and restrictive plan options . For example, testimonies describe the burdensome costs leading to dilemmas like choosing between healthcare and necessities like food and housing . These criticisms align with the GOP plan's objectives to lower healthcare costs, increase patient choice, and reduce federal mandates by empowering states and individuals through mechanisms like portable, monthly tax credits .
The key reasons for the repeal and replacement of Obamacare include rising insurance costs, decreased choices in health care providers and plans, and the financial burden on patients and families. Testimonies from individuals indicate increasingly unaffordable premiums and loss of access to preferred doctors and hospitals . Additionally, policy summaries highlight systemic issues such as failing insurance marketplaces and the 'death spiral' phenomenon where insurers are withdrawing due to unsustainable financial losses .
The proposed HSAs under the Republican healthcare reform are enhanced by increasing the amount individuals and families can contribute. They can also now use their HSAs to pay for over-the-counter items and make additional contributions through spouses . The accounts are designed to provide more flexibility by extending the time frame during which funds can be used for certain expenses, thereby empowering individuals to manage their healthcare spending more personally .
The GOP's proposed plan aims to integrate free market principles by enhancing competition and innovation within insurance markets and providing portable, monthly tax credits that are not tied to employment or government-mandated programs . These credits adjust based on age, allowing individuals to select insurance that best suits their evolving health needs . Additionally, the plan promotes purchasing insurance across state lines, further fostering competition and offering more insurance options to consumers .
The GOP plan proposes to handle the existing Medicaid expansion population by ensuring they continue to have access to affordable care while shifting towards empowering states to redesign Medicaid according to their specific needs . This suggests a long-term directional shift of Medicaid towards greater state control, increased efficiency, and financial sustainability. The focus on budget limitations indicates an intention to control federal expenditures while maintaining essential services for vulnerable populations, likely changing from a federally driven expansion model to a state-initiated program framework .
The GOP's reforms to HSAs could significantly alter healthcare expenditure patterns by providing families greater control over how they allocate healthcare funds. Enhanced HSAs allow larger contributions and more spending options, such as on over-the-counter items, fostering direct engagement with healthcare spending . These changes may encourage families to be more judicious with healthcare decisions, potentially leading to increased savings for future medical needs and decreased reliance on traditional insurance structures for everyday expenses . Moreover, by broadening usage parameters and contribution limits, HSAs could lead to a more proactive approach in managing personal health finances .
State flexibility in Medicaid program design is expected to improve healthcare outcomes for vulnerable populations by allowing states to tailor programs that effectively target local needs, leading to more efficient resource allocation . This focus can prioritize critical services for the most vulnerable, decrease administrative costs, and innovate care delivery methods . By shifting power from federal to state control, the proposal is anticipated to lead closer alignment of healthcare services with state-specific demographic, economic, and health challenges .
The GOP plan aims to empower states by allowing them to design Medicaid programs that best meet their individual needs, thus reducing costs and focusing care on the most vulnerable citizens . State innovation grants are proposed to provide funding for high-risk pools and to promote healthcare access, enabling states to better address unique patient needs . The plan also focuses on modernizing Medicaid by putting it on a sustainable budget to ensure its continuity for those most in need .
The GOP plan proposes to protect patients by maintaining coverage for those with pre-existing conditions, ensuring they can never be denied coverage or charged more based on their health status . Furthermore, it protects young adults by allowing dependents up to age 26 to remain on their parents’ plans, which helps stabilize the market and provides greater coverage options . These protections address significant concerns regarding affordability and access under Obamacare, supporting a more inclusive healthcare environment .
The GOP healthcare plan outlines financial implications for individuals and families primarily through introducing portable, monthly tax credits. These credits are not related to employment, thus providing freedom in choosing insurance regardless of job status . Financial implications include potentially lower out-of-pocket costs, increased flexibility in purchasing plans across state lines, and reduction in wasted premiums on undesired coverages . The plan intends to decrease costs by enhancing market competition and personalizing insurance options to better fit consumer needs .
