ACA Update | June 23, 2017: The Senate GOP Health Care Repeal Bill Is Worse Than We Thought

Yesterday, after weeks of working on their health care repeal bill in secret with no hearings, Senate Republicans released a “discussion draft” of their Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2016 (BCRA). After the House passed their bill (called the AHCA), Senators like Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, said “The Senate will review the House bill but will write its own version over the next few weeks.”

Despite such statements, the Senate version is very similar to the House and is actually worse than we thought. Sarah Kliff at Vox.com sums it up:

 

Furthermore, the bill significantly threatens anyone with a pre-existing condition, by allowing states to waive Essential Health Benefit (EHB) requirements. As Tim Jost at Health Affairs Blog points out:

 
Basically, yes, people with pre-existing conditions won’t be denied the ability to purchase health insurance. HOWEVER, that insurance might not cover any treatments or medicines they need. Without requirements for benefits to be covered, insurers will offer skimpy plans that won’t meet the needs of cancer survivors. Premiums will rise for more generous plans that people with pre-existing conditions need. Note: waiving EHB also returns annual and lifetime limit caps for millions of people.

Finally, what BCRA does to Medicaid, which millions of children and low-income, disabled, and elderly Americans rely on for health care is cruel. Per Sarah Kliff again:

Please call (844) 257-6227 TODAY and tell your Senators NO on the health care bill. Even if you’ve called before, please call again.

Call EVERY DAY until the Senate votes.

Senators in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Nevada, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia are crucial votes. Please share this message with friends and family members who live in these states, and ask them to call (844) 257-6227.