Most of the previous bills to replace Obamacare had pre-ex provisions that would essentially work like they used to do. The only difference would be a ‘final’ opportunity to purchase some kind of medical insurance before the pre-ex provision would apply to any new policies purchased after a set deadline.
However, although I am a perfectly healthy man, I have a very mild, asymptomatic, non-threatening atrial fib. Because of that lifelong condition, and after losing my job in 2008 (and then working two jobs part-time without group insurance), I was thrown into the pre-existing condition category and denied insurance prior to Obamacare. And I explored the pre-existing pools . . . they were prohibitively expensive relative to everything else. And I just don't like the idea of insurance companies being allowed to determine who gets thrown into that pool. So, I very much hope you are right. I have remained covered for three years, and should qualify to be covered in whatever system is put into place.
But, you know, being as healthy as I am (I run and swim) , all I really want is a catastrophic policy that covers next to nothing, but protects me if I fall off the roof or contract a fatal disease. And that should not cost me an arm and a leg.