Today the Senate unveiled the newest version of their plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and it has gotten worse. The bill still restructures and defunds Medicaid and allows states to waive essential health benefits. It also now includes a provision that will create two tiers of health care that will ultimately punish people with pre-existing conditions and those who need comprehensive health care coverage.
The new bill allows insurers to sell weakened, skimpy plans that don't adhere to ACA regulations. These plans will offer fewer benefits, and insurers can charge sick people higher premiums. As long as an insurer also offers at least one comprehensive plan that adheres to ACA regulations, they can also sell these weakened plans. This type of system would cause an imbalance as patients with pre-existing conditions purchase comprehensive coverage while younger patients without a history of cancer or other conditions will opt for cheaper, less generous plans.
The new version of the Better Care Reconciliation Act is absolutely unacceptable. It will result in higher out of pocket costs for patients, weakened care and coverage, and the fundamental restructuring of the Medicaid program, which will be devastating to people most in need.
We have to keep up the fight. Make sure you are contacting your Senators and telling them that their original attempts at health care reform didn't work and this new version would be even more devastating to patients most in need. Call you Senators today and tell them that they must vote NO on the Better Care Reconciliation Act.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Franklin
Senior Director, Policy and Advocacy
Cancer Support Community
Senior Director, Policy and Advocacy
Cancer Support Community
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