Republican alternative to ACA

[PolishHeadlock]

I hadn't seen many right wing alternatives to ACA until I stumbled across this article. Not trying to champion it or anything but it's good that the GOP is starting to come up with policy that could replace ACA if they were ever able to repeal it. Up until now I don't really remember hearing of what the replacement would be.

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-healthcare-congress-republicans-20160517-snap-story.html

The centerpiece of the Sessions-Cassidy plan is a major change to the tax code that would provide every American adult with $2,500 to purchase health coverage, but also shake up the nation’s current employer-based health insurance system.

This new standardized tax credit would replace tax breaks that many Americans currently get if their employer provides health coverage.

Health benefits, unlike wages, are not subject to income or payroll taxes, and that means that higher-wage employees with comprehensive health plans often enjoy substantially greater tax benefits than low-wage employees without health coverage.

The proposed tax credit would also be available to people who don’t have work-based insurance, thereby equalizing the tax treatment of health benefits.

 

[My Spot]

They had an alternative back in the summer of 09 (HR3400) but Pelosi wouldn't even bring it to the floor for debate.

 

[oldshadow]

I pay 4,500.00 for my part of my health care yearly (about) before taxes, so we get screwed no matter what.

So unless the wife and I both get the break then it would suck for me.

If we both got the break then it would change basically nothing for me.

 

[Cubo de Sangre]

$2500 doesn't sound like much. Might be time to remove insurance from the equation altogether.

 

[Diamond Jim]

Wasn't the ACA the conservative alternative to Medicare for all in the 90's?

 

[Awesomesauce]

Thats stupid, it doesn't help the huge portion of Americans that pay no taxes at all. The ones that are at the most risk.

 

[theBLADE1]

$2500 doesn't sound like much. Might be time to remove insurance from the equation altogether.

But... but think of the poor insurance workers!!!!!!!! Have you no heart man?????

 

[PainIsLIfe]

I hadn't seen many right wing alternatives to ACA until I stumbled across this article. Not trying to champion it or anything but it's good that the GOP is starting to come up with policy that could replace ACA if they were ever able to repeal it. Up until now I don't really remember hearing of what the replacement would be.

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-healthcare-congress-republicans-20160517-snap-story.html

The centerpiece of the Sessions-Cassidy plan is a major change to the tax code that would provide every American adult with $2,500 to purchase health coverage, but also shake up the nation’s current employer-based health insurance system.

This new standardized tax credit would replace tax breaks that many Americans currently get if their employer provides health coverage.

Health benefits, unlike wages, are not subject to income or payroll taxes, and that means that higher-wage employees with comprehensive health plans often enjoy substantially greater tax benefits than low-wage employees without health coverage.

The proposed tax credit would also be available to people who don’t have work-based insurance, thereby equalizing the tax treatment of health benefits.

I'm not sure what the going rate is, but my family plan coverage runs around 20k/year. Without knowing the full details it seems like I'm going to get taxed on the coverage my employer provides and people who can't afford coverage are going to get about 20% of the cost reimbursed - which they wont be able to afford.

How does that help anyone?

 

[Deleted member 159002]

What a joke.

In 2007 the top 10% of spenders among 25 year olds who bought single insurance on the individual market paid over $7000 on healthcare. Among 55 year olds for that same group over $10,000.
http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/29/1/156/T5.expansion.html

Republicans really just have a problem with healthy people helping to carry the burden for people with expensive healthcare needs.

 

[Cubo de Sangre]

Have you no heart man?????

Yeah, but it's two sizes too small.

 

[Deleted member 409801]

What a joke.

In 2007 the top 10% of spenders among 25 year olds who bought single insurance on the individual market paid over $7000 on healthcare. Among 55 year olds for that same group over $10,000.
http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/29/1/156/T5.expansion.html

Republicans really just have a problem with healthy people helping to carry the burden for people with expensive healthcare needs.

I have a big problem with being forced to help enrich ana middle man......a paper shuffler that contributes nothing to anyone's care in the process

 

[therealdope]

Don't expect anything to change. 10% of the US workforce is employed in healthcare -- anything that reduces costs is untenable. Why do you think ACA didn't address (overall) cost?


It's a really terrible situation.

 

[TheComebackKid]

How about we just let insurance companies compete across state lines?

 

[ripskater]

The only true solution to the USA's health problems is this:

Eat right,
Sleep 8 hrs
Get healthy exercise daily
Get your mind right by living right and lower your stress. Don't live so fast paced. It's killing us.

A govt program (republican or democrat) won't make us healthy if we continue to ignore these things.

 

[Deleted member 409801]

The only true solution to the USA's health problems is this:

Eat right,
Sleep 8 hrs
Get healthy exercise daily
Get your mind right by living right and lower your stress. Don't live so fast paced. It's killing us.

A govt program (republican or democrat) won't make us healthy if we continue to ignore these things.

That should do it ! I'm sure those $30-50k 2/3 day hospital stays that are the norm now will just work themselves out on their own if we all just eat more fruit.

 

[ripskater]

That should do it ! I'm sure those $30-50k 2/3 day hospital stays that are the norm now will just work themselves out on their own if we all just eat more fruit.

Your insurance costs would go down if Americans did this. It's the only true solution for an increasingly unhealthy society like ours.

 

[Deleted member 409801]

Your insurance costs would go down if Americans did this. It's the only true solution for an increasingly unhealthy society like ours.

Yes , I'm sure that everyone with their hands in the pie will be clamoring to charge less when even fewer people are using their services.Oh don't disagree that a healthier overall population would be a good thing , but Youve got to be incredibly naive to think that our current system.........one that's designed and evolved into something where lots of people make obscene amounts of money by leveraging something that every human needs from time to time , is just gonna resolve itself on its own.

Why did my buddies MRI cost 12k? Why did my chest ct scan ( a test that tool 15 minutes) cost almost 5k? Greed and a captive audience don't mix very well..........well maybe if you're the one selling something.

 

[ripskater]

Yes , I'm sure that everyone with their hands in the pie will be clamoring to charge less when even fewer people are using their services.Oh don't disagree that a healthier overall population would be a good thing , but Youve got to be incredibly naive to think that our current system.........one that's designed and evolved into something where lots of people make obscene amounts of money by leveraging something that every human needs from time to time , is just gonna resolve itself on its own.

Why did my buddies MRI cost 12k? Why did my chest ct scan ( a test that tool 15 minutes) cost almost 5k? Greed and a captive audience don't mix very well..........well maybe if you're the one selling something.

I actually agree with much of that. We've been the victim of that.

 

[Deleted member 409801]

I actually agree with much of that. We've been the victim of that.

Everyone has , the middle class is really feeling the pinch these days. I don't know about you , but my out pocket cost have climbed precipitously the past 5-6 years or so( though it's been brewing way longer than that ) Right now , my HSA has a $7000 deductible. That means I'm paying out of pocket ( on top of my $500 or so a month premiums) for damn near everything.

With three kids and doctor visit and stuff it probably works out to a grand a month or for routine medical care. We do pretty well , but aren't wealthy by any means, and 1000 bucks a month definitely affects our opportunities and quality of life. Meanwhile, some dickhead at Aetna or MetLife or a specialist that wants to make $600,000 a year is loving the status quo.

 

[Deleted member 159002]

I have a big problem with being forced to help enrich ana middle man......a paper shuffler that contributes nothing to anyone's care in the process

If single payer allows people to get care that would otherwise consume a large portion of their resources, that they may forgo absent SP, then the "middleman" is contributing a great deal to the care of people with expensive healthcare needs.