I know I haven't been posting much in the last few years. However, there is an important issue at hand... The AHCA.
The AHCA is the new healthcare bill (H.R. 1628) that Congress just passed, and it effects all Americans. The AHCA does more than just repeal The ACA (Obamacare). It will raise insurance premiums for those who need healthcare the most: the elderly, the poor, and those with preexisting conditions.
This bill will now move on to the Senate to vote. If it passes, the President signs off on it, and it becomes law. WE CAN STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING!
I'm urging everyone to please call their senators about the AHCA (American Healthcare Act). If your senators are Democratic and you know they plan to vote no on it, call the chair of the Senate Republican Policy Committee - John Barrasso (R - WY) and the Leader of the Senate Majority - Mitch McConnell (R - KY). Their contact info can be found at the bottom of this post, along with a link to help you find info for your state senators.
You will be told they cannot respond because you are not in their constituency, and it's possible your comments may not even be passed along, but if a lot of people are calling, you better believe the heads of the Republican-controlled Senate will know about it!
This is why you should call:
Before the ACA went into effect, the Department of Health and Human Services broadened the definition of what "preexisting condition" includes. Insurance companies largely get to define what they consider to be a preexisting condition. So, if they decide that a c-section, or certain conditions relating to rape or domestic abuse (such as preventative HIV meds, for instance) are preexisting conditions, and you fall into that category, your health insurance coverage could get a whole lot more expensive. A WHOLE LOT. In fact, some of those with preexisting conditions could even be "priced out" of coverage, which means you would have access to it but it may be too expensive for you to afford.
If you are older than 55, your healthcare premiums (what you pay each month to purchase health insurance) could be 5 times more than younger adults. A 64 year old person with an income of $26,500 annually would have to pay $14,600 a year for health coverage alone. More than half of their income. If you are 65 or older, and you are on Medicaid, cuts to the program mean that your coverage would be capped - Medicaid will only pay up to a certain amount annually. After that, you're on your own. These caps are not expected to cover the healthcare needs of most Americans over 65. The AHCA would also allow for higher deductibles and out of pocket costs for older adults.
Even if you are covered through your employer, your premiums and out of pocket costs would go up.
If you have a preexisting condition as defined by your insurance company, your state can apply for waivers to drop your coverage if they can prove that it’s more expensive than “better coverage” that can be provided by the state. States that apply for these waivers will get federal subsidies (money from the federal government) to do one of two things:
1. Create a high-risk pool to fund insurance for those with preexisting conditions. Historically, these high-risk pools have been very expensive. Often 125%-200% of a comparable private plan. There are often long wait-lists to get this coverage, as well, due to inadequate funding. Many times the federally-funded high-risk pools closed their doors to new enrollees altogether because they ran out of funding, leaving many people with preexisting conditions with no healthcare coverage at all.
2. Reinsurance: Instead of creating the traditional high-risk pool detailed above, this option would allow states to give the money from the subsidies directly to the insurance companies to lower premiums. The ACA also did this during the transition period, however, no one was allowed to deny patients with preexisting conditions under the ACA. Under the AHCA, states could apply for these waivers to deny people with preexisting conditions coverage, and then pay the subsidies they receive for those waivers to the insurance companies, who still aren’t required to cover you, because their state applied for the waiver… so their costs could go down, but you may still be left without health coverage due to one little loophole. And, if anyone is good at finding loopholes and increasing their bottom line, it’s insurance companies!
If you have a preexisting condition and your state doesn’t apply for a waiver, insurance companies are allowed to charge you higher premiums than your healthier counterparts. Much higher. "On average, a 40-year-old with asthma would pay $4,270 more in premiums, while someone the same age with breast cancer would pay $28,230 extra."
Add to all this that the GOP has only proposed setting aside $8 Billion over 5 years to pay for these subsidies. Experts estimate that it would cost $25 Billion PER YEAR to cover those with preexisting conditions, meaning that $8 Billion just isn’t going to cut it, and millions of people with preexisting conditions could be left without health coverage.
Furthermore, this plan would ration medical care to fund high-income tax cuts - meaning the people who benefit are those with high-income. They will pay less taxes at the cost of those with lower incomes and disabilities paying much more or possible losing health coverage all-together.
And yes, I have read the bill, personally. It’s hard to understand, and even many of the Republican law-makers that voted “yes” on it didn’t even read it in it’s entirety, but relied on their staffers to translate it for them. This is why it’s important to research and read, not just the bill itself, but also articles about it from various, reputable news outlets on both sides of the political spectrum, as well as government websites, to better understand what is at stake here. I’m honestly not 100% certain that even our elected officials completely understand it. As our own President once said, “Who knew healthcare was so complicated?”
Also, keep in mind that, currently, the members of congress who just passed this bill still get to keep their benefits under the ACA (Obamacare). So, this won't even effect them.
Also, keep in mind that, currently, the members of congress who just passed this bill still get to keep their benefits under the ACA (Obamacare). So, this won't even effect them.
Concerned? You should be! Here’s the contact info to let the Senate know you want a better alternative:
Mitch McConnell
601 W. Broadway
Room 630
Louisville, KY 40202
Phone: (502) 582-6304
John Barrasso
100 East B Street
Suite 2201
Casper, WY 82601
Main: 307-261-6413
P.O. Box 22201
Casper, WY 82602
Main: 307-261-6413
Things to keep in mind: Be professional and respectful. No one will listen to you if you lose your cool and your comments most certainly won’t be passed along. Stay on topic - pick several talking points and make it short and sweet.
If your Senators are Republican, contact them directly. You can find their info here: https://www.senate.gov/senators/contact/
YES, DO SHARE THIS POST! Copy/paste or share directly.
#NoAHCA #WeArePreexisting
Sources:
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-the-ahcas-preexisting-condition-rules-could-cost-you/
https://www.verywell.com/high-risk-pools-1738930
https://www.forbes.com/forbes/welcome/?toURL=https://www.forbes.com/sites/johngoodman/2017/05/02/high-risk-pools-worked-just-fine-before-obamacare/&refURL=https://www.facebook.com/&referrer=https://www.facebook.com/#2070ed3be78d
http://chirblog.org/whats-difference-reinsurance-high-risk-pool-two-approaches-insuring-pre-existing-conditions/
https://rules.house.gov/bill/115/hr-1628
http://www.businessinsider.com/ahca-high-risk-pools-healthcare-vote-obamacare-2017-5
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