I still haven’t decided whether or not I support the Ryan plan. I assume as it works its way through the process, and with President Trump pushing it, there will be changes, either before it leaves the House or when it gets to the Senate, probably both. Who knows how the CBO analysis will affect it?
As for tax credits, I don’t see how tax avoidance is a bad thing, nor do I think they should be considered entitlements.
Phase 2, which doesn’t require legislative active will allow the Secy of HHS to make changes in existing regulations. I assume they would be relaxed or eliminated, which would lower the costs of health care, would they not?
I presume the best time to execute phase 3 would be just before the 2018 congressional elections. Sounds like they want a stand-alone bill to allow health insurance to be bought across state borders, and are prepared to call to task all of the US Senators up for reelection. Getting a bill passed in the environment sounds like a reasonable gamble to me.
So, so far, I’m not too upset about it. I’ve read so many criticisms, but I don’t recall being convinced that that this thing, which will eventually be called Trumpcare, would not be a significant improvement to the status quo.
I agree. Those who say “just repeal it” forget that Trump made a specific promise that nobody was going to lose their coverage in the process. There are tens of millions who are now, through no fault of their own dependent on Obamacare. Just saying “what did they have before?” is not an answer. Maybe they had coverage through jobs they lost. Maybe they now have “preexisting conditions” they didn’t have before. A lot of those people are people who never voted for a Republican until Trump, because they believed the GOP only cares about the rich. Dump them from coverage with nothing to replace it and it will be the last time they vote for one.
Funny how Trump doesn’t need to keep promise that “everyone will be taken care of” as far as some are concerned. Some promises are more important than others I guess. People need to realize that whatever happens now, even if nothing is done is on the Republicans and Trump because they are in control. It doesn’t matter if no Republicans voted for Obamacare, whatever happens next they own it.