The Republicans Unveil Their Health Care Plan

http://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/08/opinion/the-republicans-unveil-their-health-care-plan.html

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To the Editor:

“G.O.P. Health Bill Trades Mandate for Tax Credits” (front page, March 7) correctly points out real problems in Obamacare Lite. But the split in congressional support and in the latest polls indicates that we just might have a revision that will eventually fly with some amendments. This could be a watershed moment in health care in America.

For the G.O.P, the bill adds free market features. The Democrats lose (perhaps just temporarily) the individual and employer mandate, but keep the most important features. The net result is that we’re on the road to a national health care system with an unwelcome G.O.P. detour.

Now everyone can claim a victory of sorts, and that’s a good thing in these fractious times. The likely rise in premiums as the buyer pool shrinks will bring future adjustments. But what cannot be stopped is the direction of health care in America.

ALLEN PRICE, MOSS BEACH, CALIF.

To the Editor:

An egregious giveaway to the insurance companies has been cleverly disguised — in full sight — in the Republicans’ pathetic stand-in for a serious health plan. The language in question trumpets the end to the penalty that Americans must now pay if opting out of health coverage. As your article notes: “People who let their insurance coverage lapse, however, would face a significant penalty. Insurers could increase their premiums by 30 percent.”

This little twist turns the Obamacare penalty — which went to the government to help subsidize health coverage for all — into a river of cash for (guess who?) the insurance companies. Bah.

GARY E. OSIUS, NEW YORK

To the Editor:

Re “No Wonder They Hid the Health Care Bill” (editorial, March 8):

Republicans have wasted seven years trying to repeal and replace Obamacare, and this latest effort is a cruel joke to the millions of Americans who depend on the Affordable Care Act. Millions of people will likely lose or drop their health care coverage, and millions on Medicaid will surely be affected negatively. The G.O.P. says health care will be cheaper and better because their bill will increase competition among insurance companies. But the simple truth is that the insurance industry is waiting with bated breath to have many millions of confused and desperate customers at their mercy.

And speaking of costs, the House Republicans are so eager to sneak this bill past the public that its costs have not even been analyzed by the Congressional Budget Office! What the nation needs is a Medicare-for-all system, run by and funded by people who truly understand health care delivery, and whose motives are quality, affordable patient care, not profit.

HENRY A. LOWENSTEIN, NEW YORK

The writer is a former chief executive for both for-profit and nonprofit health care companies.

To the Editor:

An important part of proposed Republican changes to the Affordable Care Act is the change in federal Medicaid funding to a system of block grants to the states. This will hurt Republican-leaning states more than Democratic-leaning states, as many of the reddest states are among those receiving the maximum match for their Medicaid programs from the federal government (about 70 percent) while many of the bluest states receive the lowest allowable match (50 percent).

States that have 70 percent, or close to 70 percent, of their Medicaid programs funded by the federal government include Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, North and South Carolina, and Georgia. States that ask the federal government to pay only 50 percent of their Medicaid costs include California, Washington, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maryland.

Red-state governors might be a bit less enthusiastic about “repeal and replace” when they realize that they have the most to lose.

JONATHAN ENGEL, NEW YORK

The writer is a professor of health care policy and management at the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs, Baruch College, CUNY.

To the Editor:

The Republican Party has just given the House of Representatives back to the Democrats. The G.O.P. health care proposal will reduce coverage so substantially for so many people that Democrats can regain control of the House in 2018 — if they just give Republicans a little of their own medicine.

Republicans gave the Affordable Care Act a name — Obamacare — in a calculated strategy to undermine the law. Their scorched-earth effort to “repeal and replace” needs a moniker, too, one that holds them accountable. If the Democrats call it “Republicare,” voters will get the message loud and clear.

JONATHAN GIBSONSHREWSBURY, VT.