Posted on 11/11/2016 2:14:57 PM PST by nickcarraway
He has repeatedly called the law a “disaster” and pledged full repeal. President-elect Donald Trump just announced his first big possible compromise. And it’s on, of all things, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), aka Obamacare.
Trump made President Obama’s health reform law one of his scariest political boogeymen during the 2016 campaign. He called it a “disaster” that’s crushing consumers with spiraling costs and fleeing insurers (the reality is considerably more complicated despite very legitimate problems with the ACA). And Congressional Republicans, who have voted to repeal Obamacare upwards of 60 times during the now-lame duck president’s tenure, have pledged to fully do away with it the moment they can under Trump’s administration.
But Trump told the Wall Street Journal in an interview Friday that his meeting with President Obama on Thursday, which had an air of cordiality, had convinced him to consider preserving critical Obamacare provisions like guaranteeing coverage for Americans with pre-existing conditions and allowing young people up to the age of 26 to remain on their parents’ health policies.
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“I like those very much,” Trump told the Journal. Obama asked the president-elect to keep those measures intact during their meeting. “I told him I will look at his suggestions, and out of respect, I will do that,” said Trump, adding, “either Obamacare will be amended, or repealed and replaced.”
It may not be entirely surprising that Trump is, at least partially, changing his tune on a policy he’s consistently said he despises. The reality of repealing a law that provides coverage to more than 20 million Americans, no matter its flaws, is no mean feat—as evidenced by the fact that Trump’s surprise victory on Tuesday night may have helped fuel a massive and unexpected Obamacare enrollment surge on Wednesday, when more than 100,000 people signed up for individual insurance coverage through Healthcare.gov.
But there are still plenty of questions about how preserving these measures, especially guaranteed issue for people with pre-existing conditions, could possibly work alongside Trump’s and the GOP Congress’ other proposed reform to U.S. healthcare. Trump’s transition website posted some more details about what his health policies might look like on Thursday, including providing the option of “continuous coverage” for people who have already purchased individual plans and creating “high-risk” insurance pools for those with pre-existing conditions who haven’t.
It’s unclear how these various proposals could work in tandem with, at the very least, Trump’s ostensible willingness to keep guaranteed issue in place. That provision could lead to a massive adverse selection problem without Obamacare’s so-called individual mandate, which Trump and the GOP alike despise, requiring all Americans who make enough money to procure insurance so that consumers can’t just buy plans when they get sick.
i’ve never seen a family plan with three adults...i’ve seen:
single
husband and wife
parent and child
full family
never husband/wife/overaged child and rest of the children
Fixing the Obamacare mess is one giant challenge. I agree with you that we should not be too quick to criticize.
He needs to ease the parts that messed it up for those that can afford insurance then work on the rest gradually.
I’ve posted plenty of stories that were pro-Trump, and negative about the people who were against Trump. I don’t see why this article shouldn’t be posted on Free Republic.
Most likely misinterpretation by the author. But, Trump is so good at laying rabbit trails and red herring I wouldn’t be surprised to hear something like this just to keep the left preoccupied until they get hit with a left hook.
I agree, was more thinking about what I related and also, my kids when young, at some point oldest was diagnosed with asthma that never really was, he had a cold... but went on to their record and it became an exclusion... Every time they got sick or congested, claim was denied... They all BMX raced and did sports continually and he never used an inhaler... After 8 years of nothing asthma related they finally removed it, shortly before he got a job and his own insurance... Pre-existing turned into an excuse. I think Insurance industry as a whole, turned into a scam, but that was probably because they were scammed too... the deep pockets got sued and we paid for it. Life insurance? We are all going to die, it’s just legalized gambling on when... but I digress.
When it comes to somebody diagnosed with Aids or Terminal Cancer, real pre-existing conditions, I agree those are pre-existing conditions no private company should be forced to insure after the fact. I probably cant go get insurance on my house that is halfway hanging off a cliff over a river, after the ground below eroded...
Like you said if you bought a policy that followed you around nothing would be pre-existing. Personally I prefer health savings accounts, with a low $ catastrophic policy. If my premiums had gone there, and because we were healthy and unused, sat and grew over time, it would be bigger than any 401K I could have put together. Premiums were 5-10x depending on when, of what I was socking away there, back when I had a job that had insurance and a 401k... It would then have covered normal old age medical expenses in a non-inflated industry... probably not today though, as ours is way over inflated.
You were a predictable to post bs articles like this after Trump won the election and more when he becomes president!
On Jan. 20, Trump can order the IRS to stop collecting the penalty. This will further destabilize 0-care and force repeal.
Exactly.
He is one helluva shrewd negotiator.
Right now he wants a peaceful transition on his terms because that leaves intact the trail to where all the bodies are buried.
It’s the art of the deal. You put in a maximum bid or a minimum bid depending on who you’re dealing with and what you’re trying to accomplish.
He’s in deal mode.
Obamacare will be repealed and replaced and the new law will pass because Trump dealt with the democrats and with the republicans to get a consensus that will sail through AND actually work.
Considering is NOT THE SAME a accepting the ideas or portion of odumbo care.
Lets wait and see! Lets see how Trumpcare is—I bet it will not be a financial disaster and be cheaper in the long run. The few good parts of Obamacare might survive the cut—whats so bad about that?
How about say under 25 year olds maybe still considered living with their parents but maybe getting a Master's Degree or going to medical school. They could easily be on a family rate auto insurance and their premiums would be slightly higher commensurate with their risk. Why would health insurance be any different?
How do the GOP plans address pre-existing conditions and coverage for older “children”?
too many maybes, sorry, preview is my friend....
THIS. "Medical Insurance" has distorted the market for medical services badly. The only problem is, I am not so sure we can put that tooth paste back in the container.
Well said! Thanks for calling them out!
You were a fanatical anti-Trumper.
Own it, the posting history is there for anyone who wants to review it.
Did you vote for him?
I have asked you several times and you refuse to answer.
That seems to be an answer.
Nick was as fanatical an anti-Trumper as we had here on FR.
During the primaries it became a running joke to get in on a thread before nick could show up to crap on Trump.
He got quiet after Jim zotted most of the other anti-Trumpers
I have asked him repeatedly if he voted for Trump and he refuses to answer.
That might be an answer by itself.
I don’t understand the leftist college supporter routine. I am not ashamed of being a conservative or a Christian. I never voted for a Clinton in my life.
That was not what I asked.
Did you vote for Trump?
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