Take Affordable out of The Affordable Care Act and…The Republican Bill

After much anticipation, we finally have, in our arthritic hands, the proposed bill House Republicans have tirelessly worked on- their answer to the Affordable Care Act. The American Health Care Act (creative), eliminates affordability as the title suggests.
The bill is an answered prayer for rich, healthy twenty year olds everywhere. Of course it can’t be all things to all people, so everyone else is going to be priced out of health insurance. No one will be forced to participate, so we will end up with a majority of the population choosing to be uninsured…in order to keep their phones.

My sarcasm is directed at House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), a ‪man with lifetime government healthcare paid for by taxpayers, a man who makes $175,000. annually- a salary paid by taxpayers, a man wearing an Apple Watch, and holding an IPhone who said, regarding the AHCA: “‬Americans have choices, and they’ve got to make a choice. So rather than getting that new iPhone that they just love and want to go spend hundreds of dollars on that, maybe they should invest in their own health care.“ 

If only healthcare could be purchased for the price of an iPhone. 

On the up-side, with AHCA republicans will get their tax cut for the wealthy, insurance company CEO’s will see pay increases and bonuses, and grandma won’t have to cut her pills in half anymore…because she won’t be able to buy them at all. 

AHCA, would allow insurers to charge older Americans up to five times more than the younger population would pay for insurance.
AARP, the nation’s largest organization for older Americans, with 38 million members, is in opposition to the House bill for that reason. AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond said in a statement: “Older Americans need affordable health care services and prescriptions,” “This plan goes in the opposite direction, increasing insurance premiums for older Americans and not doing anything to lower drug costs.” 

The bill also changes Medicaid, which has made insurance available to millions of low income adults who would otherwise be uninsured. It would make Medicaid a responsibility of individual states, so if you live in a poorly run state, like Illinois—well it’s time to consider a move.

LeaMond said “Medicaid cuts could impact people of all ages and put at risk the health and safety of 17.4 million children and adults with disabilities and seniors by eliminating much needed services that allow individuals to live independently in their homes and communities,” “This harmful legislation would make health care less secure and less affordable.” 

That’s what I said.

Americans in rural areas, the people who voted this administration into office, will be hardest hit by these changes…oh the irony.

Older workers will have to postpone retirement, and Nursing homes will be affordable only to the wealthiest demographic. If only it was a question of choosing to turn over your iPhone or having seniors wandering the streets, it would be a great plan. 

How important is insurance?

“They’ve got to make those decisions themselves,”– Clearly Chaffetz, Ryan, Trump, and the rest believe not everyone deserves healthcare. 

The choice is yours…I would advise choosing to be young, healthy and wealthy, because only then will this plan be beneficial to you.