It seems that the opponents of the ACA or Affordable Care Act (nicknamed Obamacare), won a point when the amended version of the American Health Care Act or AHCA got passed. AHCA is also nicknamed as Trumpcare. It is a set of two highly publicized new bills that might replace ACA. However, now since the AHCA is moved to the Senate, the Senate will decide whether the bills will reach its goal. May be the change in the Senate will ensure the AHCA’s success till the President’s desk.
What AHCA has in store?
The Trumpcare or AHCA has following laws in its amendment:
• It will let the states to continue to enroll people in the ACA Medicaid expansion only till January 1, 2020. After the enrollments will be stopped.
• The bill will include age-based tax credits for those who earn less than $75,000, or $150,000 for joint filers.
• The bill would have required insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions.
• The AHCA also states if individual currently has insurance and is changing insurers, will not pay a higher rate with their new insurer.
• The Individuals who want to buy the insurance, but were outside of the coverage gap would have paid a 30% premium surcharge for one year. After that, they will have to pay the standard rates.
However, this particular bill compels both healthy and the sick to pay the surcharge. Due to this, the healthier people may choose to remain outside of the market. This further causes overall health care costs to rise.
Following statements were published by America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) CEO and president, Marilyn Tavenner:
“AHIP believes that every American deserves coverage and care that is affordable and accessible, including those with pre-existing conditions. The American Health Care Act needs important improvements to better protect low- and moderate-income families who rely on Medicaid or buy their own coverage. We stand ready to work with members of the Senate and all policymakers, offering our recommendations for how this bill can be improved to ensure the private market delivers affordable coverage for all Americans.”
To know more about latest updates about AHCA, visit the AHIP website.
Date:May 04, 2017