When President Obama signed The affordable care act into law in 2010, millions of people's lives were forever changed. People that had never before had access to healthcare found themselves both suddenly able to afford coverage and to have access to medical care. By 2013 nearly 20 million Americans were newly insured. Though not perfect, the Affordable Care Act, (or ACA), certainly had its benefits. Sadly, all good things must come to an end. If Trump has his way the ACA or Obamacare will end sooner rather than later.
Trump's Senate bill is raising a lot of concern in the American people
Initially named The American health care Act of 2017 and later changed to The Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017 (or AHCA), people are concerned for good reason. Under the proposed bill our most vulnerable citizens stand to suffer the most. Outlined in the bill is the elimination of two taxes levied by President Obama on the wealthy that helped subsidize health care expenses. Should the ACHA pass these taxes will be eliminated by 2017 and 2023, respectively. Our elderly, disabled, sick, and poor will be faced with serious issues as the bill aims to cut Federal Funding of essential programs such as Medicaid. The American people aren't the only ones concerned.
President Obama went on record warning Trump, " I recognize that repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act has become a core tenet of the Republican Party. Still, I hope that our Senators, many of whom I know well, step back and measure what’s really at stake."
The bill makes a veiled attempt at flowering up its language.
Though the bill promises to allocate $62 billion dollars in state grants aimed at lowering out-of-pocket expenses for Obamacare enrollees, this promise falls flat.
Experts have already warned both President Trump and the Senate that the promised $62 billion dollars won't go very far.
Disgusting that hundreds of thousands stand to lose health care
It absolutely disgusts me that while the wealthy are set to receive tax breaks under The AHCA, hundreds upon thousands of Americans are at risk of losing their health care.
The AHCA preys on America's most vulnerable. The elderly, sick, disabled, addicted, and poor will undoubtedly suffer the most should The AHCA pass into law. Hundreds of thousands of Americans currently enrolled in Obamacare will face increased out-of-pocket expenses. Americans aged 60-64, who should be enjoying their golden years of retirement, will face skyrocketing premiums, increasing by 22 percent or roughly $18,000 annually. How can we, as a society, allow our elderly, the majority of whom have spent their lives working, be penalized simply for aging? In my opinion, it's nothing short of ageism and it's reprehensible. The ever dwindling middle class will also suffer, no longer qualifying for any subsidies.
Very disturbing regarding pre-existing conditions
Perhaps the most disturbing verbiage in The AHCA comes when discussing pre-existing conditions. Under ObamaCare, insurers were mandated to cover maternity care, mental health care, substance abuse treatment, and prescription drugs. Under The AHCA insurers are free to apply for waivers that waive their responsibilities to provide these types of coverage; enabling insurers to offer less comprehensive coverage. Additionally, The AHCA allows insurers to refuse to provide coverage for those with pre-existing conditions, and should the insurer be willing to offer coverage, the insured should expect to pay a hefty amount of money for that coverage, as insurers will be free to charge patients with pre-existing conditions significantly more than those without.
There is simply no excuse
I find it laughable that Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnel, praises the 142-page bill as, "making health insurance more affordable, strengthening Medicaid, and stabilizing the insurance market." the fact of the matter is that if The AHCA passes upwards of 70 million low-income children, parents, elderly, addicted, and disabled Americans may very well lose their health care. There is simply no excuse for this in today's day in age
Clearly, an incredible amount of evidence exists to prove that Donald Trump is on a mission to destroy Obama Care and the legacy created through Obama Care, out of sheer principal. As stated by Stephen J. Rose, "enough is clear to permit the opinion that this is a shameful project that is based on Obama-hate that is firmly anchored in the brain of Donald J. Trump."
All of this disgusts me.
As Americans, we have overcome so much. We have stood tall in the face of oppression, and refused to succumb to horrible acts against our great nation. I can't help but wonder how we can allow our very own to suffer so terribly; going without the basic humanity that is quality health care?
