People, who was supposed to be watching Grandpa last night? Because he went out and was on TV and… he was. no. good.
For 18 long minutes on Wednesday evening, we were subjected to a rant from President Trump that predictably shifted from (bad) immigrants to (good) jobs, and rarely slowed in reality. But among the vitriol and venom was a vision of American health care that would shake the terrifying M3GAN villain into Mary Janes — a vision we should all fear because it would return us to a dark age when insurance would be unreliable.
Trump’s comments offered little more than a blueprint that, as usual, health insurance premiums might cost less — but it would be because the coverage is terrible. Yes, you will save money. But so what? A cheap car without wheels is no deal.
“The money should go to the people,” Trump said of his type of plan.
The money he was vaguely alluding to are government subsidies that make insurance under the Affordable Care Act more affordable. And after antics and a mini-rebellion also by four Republicans on Wednesday, Congress has essentially failed to do anything meaningful regarding health care — pretty much ensuring those subsidies will disappear come the new year.
Starting in January, insurance premiums for too many people will skyrocket without the subsidies, jumping by an average of $1,016 according to a World Bank report. KFF Health Policy Research Group.
That’s bad enough. But Trump wants to make it worse.
The Affordable Care Act is about much more than those subsidies. Before it went into effect in 2014, insurers in many states were able to Deny coverage for pre-existing conditions. These didn’t have to be expensive things like cancer. Child with asthma? Or does she have colitis? These were the routine but chronic problems that prevented millions from getting insurance — and thus care.
Obamacare required that policies sold on its exchange be non-discriminatory. In addition, the Affordable Care Act required plans to limit out-of-pocket costs, establish a lifetime dollar cap, and provide a baseline of coverage that includes basics such as maternity care. These standards put pressure on all plans to include more, even those offered through large employers.
Trump wants to undo a lot of that. Instead, he wants to get back to the activity he loves most – send a check!
What he proposes by sending support money directly to consumers would also potentially open up the market to schemes without ACA regulation. So, yes, small businesses or even groups of individuals may be able to band together to buy insurance, but there will likely be fewer rules about what — or who — it should cover.
Most people are not smart or careful enough to understand the limits of their insurance before it matters. So, the lifetime cap is $2 million? This seems like a lot for your child to need a treat to eat within a couple of months. Then what?
Trump suggested that people pay for it themselves, from health savings accounts funded through a subsidy check sent directly to taxpayers. Because this will definitely work, people won’t be spending money on groceries or rent, and what they save will definitely cover any medical expenses.
“You’re going to get much better health care at a much lower price,” Trump said Wednesday. “The only losers are the insurance companies that have gotten rich, and the Democratic Party, which is completely controlled by the insurance companies themselves. They won’t be happy, but that’s normal to me because you, the people, will finally have great health care at a lower cost.”
Then he bizarrely tried to blame Democrats for the expiring benefits.
He said Democrats “are demanding these increases and it’s their fault.” “It’s not the Republicans’ fault. It’s the Democrats’ fault. It’s the Affordable Care Act, and everyone knows it.”
Trump seems to just want to cut costs at the expense of quality. This is where I deal with the Democrats. I’m not here to defend insurance companies or our health care system. Clearly, both need to be fixed.
But why do Democrats fail to explain the significance of the phrase “the money should go to the people”?
I understand that affordability is the message, and as someone who bought a steak and a carton of milk this week, I understand how powerful this issue is.
However, everyone, Democrat or Republican, wants decent health care they can afford, and the peace of mind of knowing that if something terrible happens, they will have access to help. No American is willing to gladly pay for insurance every month that, no matter how low the premium, will leave them without care when they or their loved ones need it most.
Grandpa Trump doesn’t have that worry, because he has the best health care our tax dollars can buy.
But when he promised to send a check instead of providing management and organization for one of the most important purchases of our lives, the message was sickening: My victory in exchange for your well-being.