Health Policy Experts Look to Life After the ACA

Trump’s vow to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act has been criticized by President Obama, who has asserted that millions of Americans would lose coverage under the proposed replacement plan. This week’s election means that the party now has the political trifecta it needs to dismantle the law: Donald Trump will be in the White House, and the GOP controls the U.S. House and Senate.

Insurers including Louisville-based Humana have said that they are losing hundreds of millions of dollars this year on the patients who have signed up for the ACA. At some point in January, the Trump administration and Congress will begin to dismantle or outright repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Most Republicans understand that Medicaid is an important safety net program for children, seniors, and those living in poverty.

1M people have already shown us they want their 2017 coverage to start Jan 1, that coverage is something they need and want. Lifetime limits on benefits also are generally off limits. Arizona took advantage of that. And that, said Ducey, is unacceptable. But that second figure raises a second question: how you define “insurance.” Many conservatives say it is enough simply to offer low-priced, high-deductible plans covering fewer services.

Trump has yet to lay out a detailed plan to replace President Obama’s signature health reform law. We will also advance recommendations to support the delivery of high quality patient care. It’s not awful as a concept except when states spend up their block grant and human needs continue to arise, or when mean-spirited governors and legislatures make eligibility unfairly restrictive.

“That includes a lot of people who could not afford coverage before the Affordable Care Act, it includes lots of people who couldn’t get coverage because they had a pre-existing condition, and their coverage is at risk”, he said.

Q: My state expanded Medicaid to adults with incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level (about $16,000).

The state received almost $9 billion from the federal government in fiscal 2015 for health care expenses related to MassHealth, the Health Connector and other programs. Obamacare adds to Republicans’ fears over the economy because it drives up the amount of money health care providers have to spend to offer more services for more people.

Whatever happens with the Affordable Care Act, Bertolini emphasized that the nation still had to tackle big health care challenges. Maura Collinsgru, leader of New Jersey for Health Care, a coalition of community groups that has worked to expand enrollment, told The Record that “first and foremost, nothing changes overnight”.

Republicans could keep those provisions they favor, like guaranteeing coverage for pre-existing conditions, and eliminate one they strongly oppose, the “individual mandate” – a requirement that all Americans purchase health coverage or face a financial penalty.

We don’t know what the ultimate answers to the questions arising from “repeal and replace” are, but we are sure that Louisiana is better off with its workers covered by health insurance.

Instead of repealing, Pate said legislators should cap health insurance costs for consumers.

“I’m talking about repeal and replace, ” Ducey continued.

Perhaps states could get separate block grants for subsidies to lower-income, non-Medicaid customers on the health-care exchange.