Replace Obamacare

Contrary to news reports the Republicans have two health care proposals to replace Obamacare. Price has one called Empowering Patients First and Paul Ryan has one called A Better Way. Empowering Patients First Act Price’s approach is comprehensive – his latest proposal totals 242 pages People would get subsidies in the form of refundable tax credits based on age, $1,200 per year for ages 18 to 35 and $3,000 per year for all over age 35. After being insured for 18 months pre-existing conditions are waived. This encourages people to maintain coverage. He proposes health savings accounts with pre-tax dollars and this tax break would apply to those covered by Medicare and VA. The federal government would provide grant money to states to take care of high risk patients. His plan would reduce the amount that companies to deduct for employee health care plans. He would remove single adults from Medicaid like it was before Obamacare and provide some government subsidies so that group could purchase private plans. He would allow purchase of private plans across state lines. He would allow the cost of insurance to increase as people get older since their usage would increase with age. Ryan’s plan would also provide subsidies for low income people but would push to privatize Medicare. Subsidies would increase as people get older and must purchase more expensive plans. Medicare already has a private side called Medicare Advantage plans and about half of new people signing up chose these plans. Ryan would set up insurance exchanges where people could chose Medicare coverage or private insurance.