Amendment to ACA Repeal-and-Replace Bill Likely to Increase Premiums and Decrease Covered Services for Many
<p>Yesterday, House Republicans released an amendment to the American Health Care Act (AHCA), their proposed repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act. </p><p>In an updated post on <em>To the Point</em>, The Commonwealth Fund’s David Blumenthal, M.D., and Sara Collins write that the amended AHCA is still likely to significantly increase the numbers of uninsured Americans, raise the cost of insurance for many of the nation’s most vulnerable citizens, and cut and reconfigure the Medicaid program. </p>
<p>The amendment offers states the option to apply for waivers to reduce the Affordable Care Act’s consumer protections. Beginning in 2019, states would be able to waive the ban on charging people with preexisting conditions higher premiums, as long as states set up special programs to help people with illnesses like cancer or heart disease who could no longer afford coverage. But if the experience of state high-risk pools is a guide, states that try to make these premiums affordable could face untenable expenses. </p>