An analysis by the Congressional Budget Office showed that whether it is the House or Senate version of the Obamacare Repeal bill, millions of Americans would lose their health care coverage. If it is the House version which will prevail, 23 million people would lose their coverage by 2026.
Under the Senate version, millions will also lose their health insurance provided by the Affordable Care Act, The Washington Post reported. Either versions of the bill will break President Donald Trump’s campaign promise of insurance for everyone that is less expensive and much better.
Reneging on campaign promises
The bill, which most Republicans are pushing, will cut Medicaid and scale back the ACA marketplaces, another break of a campaign promise by the GOP. Once signed into law by Trump, it would hit his supporters as some would lose their coverage, others get fewer benefits, and more will experience a hike in their premiums.
Michael Steel, former chairman of the Republican National Committee, warned the president and the party are engaged in a very risky play as whole generations of Americans, including Trump voters, would lose their health care. He predicts whether Trump signs the bill or fails to get a bill, it will still hurt Trump politically.
Media focus on Russia investigation
The president has admitted the bill is “mean” which he attributed to health care being a very complicated subject. It does not help the bill is shrouded in secrecy that the Democrats find it difficult to break through on its repeal, Politico reported. The website added it does not help that the GOP strategy of keeping the bill behind closed doors is aided by the media focus on the Russia investigation than on Medicaid spending.
In the area of an advertising push, the Save My Care and AARP have boosted their efforts to defend Obamacare, but it could not match the war chest of the GOP. Over $8 million was spent on radio and TV advertising by the American Action Network, a nonprofit organization with links to House Speaker Paul Ryan, when Congress debated on the repeal.
In contrast, during the same time, two progressive groups spent less than $2 million.
Despite the advertising push, popular opinion is growing against the repeal. An NBC News/Wall Street Journal survey found only 16 percent of adults polled think the House bill is a good idea, while 48 percent believe it is a bad idea. Among Republicans, 34 percent have a positive view of the bill, but 17 percent view the proposed legislation negatively.
