Celebrating the Loss of Healthcare for Millions

It was a day worth celebrating for Republican supporters of the bill repealing healthcare benefits offered in the Affordable Care Act. Their “win,” which if followed by another “win” in the Senate, will result in countless deaths, is a reason to celebrate—for them. The wealthiest country in the free world, it would appear, has the greediest politicians.

Our retribution will come on Election Day. The following members of the House of Representatives who voted yes are up for reelection next year:
*Jason Chaffetz was all smiles as he rolled in to vote yes on the bill that cuts healthcare coverage for millions of taxpayers— after having had his own elective surgery on a preexisting condition—paid for by tax payers. 

The phrase that comes to mind when I think of this attitude toward healthcare is “There but for the grace of God go I.” I live in recognition that others misfortunes could be my own. I understand that my fate is not entirely in my hands. Because I am fortunate to have healthcare today does not guarantee I won’t meet with the adversity of being uninsured tomorrow. 

If you have an excellent healthcare package through your employer, as do I, you may think none of this matters to you. Think again. Many of these stipulations allow employer provided plans to follow suit in what will become the new normal. 

“Deductibles are going to come down. It’s going to be fantastic health care,” Trump said of the Republican-backed American Health Care Act. “Right now Obamacare is failing.” 

A closer look at the changes the bill provides: 

• At least 24 million Americans will lose their healthcare. 
• Slashes Medicaid benefits overall by $880 billion.
• Lifetime caps on coverage…Insurance offered by employers may also be imposed with a lifetime cap. 
• Allows states to exclude such benefits as: emergency services, hospitalization, mental health care, preventive care, maternity care, and substance abuse treatment.
• Insurance rates will be based on health history. States will no longer require insurers to charge the same rates for everyone, regardless of their medical history. The elderly will pay 5X more for their insurance coverage, and cancer patients could be required to pay up to $140,000 annually for insurance. 
• Preexisting conditions put you into a high-risk pool…and if you’re wondering what is considered a preexisting condition here are a few examples: alzheimer’s, rape, asthma, epilepsy, pregnancy, mental health disorders, diabetes, arthritis, aids, cerebral palsy, paralysis, eating disorders, paraplegia, alcoholism, Parkinson’s disease, strokes, transsexualism, Pneumocystic pneumonia, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, organ transplants, Crohn’s disease, congestive heart failure, hepatitis, lupus, coronary disease, kidney failure, (meaning dialysis isn’t covered), etc. 

Those with preexisting mental health issues will be denied healthcare by the same politicians who will make guns accessible to them.

• Medical underwriting, is back—when you apply for insurance you’ll have to document every condition or ailment you’ve ever had.
• Ends taxes on corporations by almost $300 billion 
• Tax cuts of $300 billion given to the wealthiest 2%
• Big Pharma’s lobbying pays off with hundreds of billions of dollars in tax cuts – for the industry that charges Americans exponentially higher prices for the same drugs than any other country in the world. 

Supporters of this bill have their own peculiar preexisting condition. They lack the humility that would allow them to understand that no one deserves healthcare more or less than they do. They believe they are entitled to that which they would deny others. These politicians who celebrated yesterday voted to keep ACA benefits for themselves…paid for by taxpayers, many of whom will lose their own coverage. 

Hours after celebrating the first step in the annihilation of America’s healthcare, Trump met with Australia’s Prime Minister and praised their universal healthcare system. 

“I shouldn’t say this to our great gentleman and my friend from Australia, because you have better health care than we do. We’re going to have great health care very soon.” ~Trump 

And now Trump is in NJ golfing for the weekend.

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