If the ACA is gone, we’re back to the nightmare we had before it was implemented. A broken system where skyrocketing insurance rates were pricing more and more people out of the insurance market. Which in turn causes more people to neglect their health, because they can’t afford regular medical care and pharmaceuticals. Which in turn causes more people to wind up in emergency rooms because of not being able to manage a manageable condition. Which in turn causes more people to be unable to pay their hospital bill. Which in turn causes hospitals to have to raise their rates to avoid closing their doors. Which in turn causes insurance claims to be higher. Which in turn causes more and more people to be priced out of the insurance market. Etc. Etc. Etc.

And this death spiral will affect employers, and people who get their health insurance through their employer. Employers, no longer required by any mandate to provide insurance for their employees, will forego that benefit when the price gets to be too high. Or cut back on the portion they pay for, and ask the employees to pay a greater share — maybe even all. Which will put their employees in the death spiral described in my first paragraph.

And insurance companies? They’re caught an a trap of sorts, too. The higher they make their rates, the fewer people can afford to be insured. Which in turn causes them to raise their rates higher…

But no price is too great to pay if the prize is being able to erase Obama’s signature piece of legislation, is it? No number of people too great to screw over. No amount of premature deaths due to lack of medical attention.

This is the logic of Republicans.

    Victoria Lamb Hatch

    Written by

    Pacific Coaster transplanted to North Carolina