In a week the Senate will decide the fate of another Republican bill on health care, proposed as a replacement for Obamacare. A vote on the bill the Gramm-Kasidy will consider on September 30.
Paper presented as the alternative rejected previously Better Care Reconciliation Act, is still a mystery to most Americans. At the same time, it doesn’t Bode well for American health insurance system.
The bill shifts the responsibility for health reform on the authorities of individual States.
Unable to determine the role that the Federal government should play in providing health services to members of the middle class and poor Americans, the authors of the bill have provided this to regional authorities. According to their proposal, the user States the right to decide to keep or repeal the affordable care act insurance.
The bill will not help to stabilize insurance markets in the short term
Bill the Gramm-Cassidy provides for the continuation of the program Obamacare, but nothing helps. Cancelling the mandatory health insurance, it does not provide tools that would encourage healthy people to purchase policies. The result can be a rapid increase in the cost of insurance premiums.
The bill cuts funding to States, preserving Obamacare and increases to the waived program
From 2020, the year of public funds among the States will be distributed in an absurd way. States that maintained the program of medical assistance to the needy, and dramatically reduce the grants to cover costs. As a result, the funding for States with a democratic majority will be reduced in favor of States with a Republican majority.
The bill denies protection to people with chronic diseases
The proposed bill removes the restriction that prevented insurance companies from charging higher cost with people suffering from chronic illnesses. Besides, it allows States to relieve the insurance company from the obligation to provide benefits for vulnerable categories of the population.
The bill may destroy the insurance system by 2017
According to the bill, in 2017, the deadline for grant funding for all States. In the best case it will be extended, but the proposed law does not oblige to this. Thus, the document puts a question mark on the state insurance system.
Note that Republican Senator John McKay has already voted against the bill the Gramm-Cassidy, refusing to vote for him. Given the fact that the Senate has 52 Republicans and 48 Democrats (who were unanimous against the proposal), the final decision will depend on literally a couple of votes.
