Five Consequences of the New Health Care Plan
Republicans are close to fulfilling their lifelong dream of replacing Obamacare.
On May 4th, House Republicans passed the American Health Care Act — a replacement plan for the Affordable Care Act. Senate Republicans introduced their version of the bill, the Better Care Reconciliation Act, on June 22nd.
The Senate bill will likely change before lawmakers vote on it later this week. However, its already clear both House and Senate bills would have negative effects on the lives of Americans. Here are five things everyone should know about the new health insurance plans:
1. 22 million people would be uninsured by 2026.
According to an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office, the Senate bill would increase the number of uninsured people by 22 million. The House version would leave 23 million.
2. The Medicaid program would be overhauled.
Medicaid is a health insurance program designed primarily for low-income people. Some middle-class disabled and elderly people also qualify. It covers 74 million Americans, and Federal Law guarantees coverage to pregnant woman, children, elderly, and disabled people under certain income levels. Both bills would end Medicaid expansion, and there would be reductions in Medicaid spending over time.
3. Planned Parenthood would be cut off Federal funding.
The organization, which provides sexual health care to millions of women, would be severely affected by the bill. Federal funding would be cut for one year, depriving women of birth control and safe sexual health procedures.
4. The bill would benefit mainly the rich.
Resources would be shifted from the poor to the wealthy. The rich would receive significant tax cuts, while federal funding for low-income Americans would be greatly reduced. As The New York Times puts it: “The bill’s largest benefits go to the wealthiest Americans, who have the most comfortable health care arrangements, and its biggest losses fall to poorer Americans who rely on government support.”
5. It wouldn’t provide enough support for addicts.
The bill includes $2 billion for addiction services, and experts say that’s not enough for the treatment programs.
