{"articles":[{"id":17719,"title":"What Do You Think American Healthcare Should Look Like?","html_content":"

by Causes | 12.19.18

What’s the story?

Last Friday, a federal judge in Texas ruled that the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) was unconstitutional and, as a result, the entire law was invalid.
President Donald Trump immediately tweeted “Now Congress must pass a STRONG law that provides GREAT healthcare and protects pre-existing conditions. Mitch and Nancy, get it done!\"
How would you like to see it “get done”?

Various policy proposals

If the recent decision stands, it would dismantle all facets of Obamacare, including protections for pre-existing conditions, the mandate that children can remain on their parents’ plans up to age 26, expansion of Medicaid, and premium subsidies.

Here are some alternatives:

\nMedicare For All - Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) legislation looks to phase in Medicare coverage to all Americans. Private insurers would still be able to offer coverage for elective treatments, like plastic surgery, and for non-necessity items, like private hospital rooms.
\nPublic option – this would be a government plan open to everyone—this could be Medicare or Medicaid.
\nSingle-payer and universal health care – Kaiser Health News explains the differences (and similarities): “Universal health care could mean a single-payer system, Medicare-for-all or building upon what exists today — a combination of public and private programs in which everyone has access to health care.”
\nPre-existing condition coverage – During the midterms, a number of Republicans – including those whose lawsuit resulted in the recent ruling – had promised to protect pre-existing conditions. In fact, President Trump said shortly before the midterms that he'd reinstate protections for pre-existing conditions if the lawsuit — which his administration supported — gutted the Affordable Care Act. That's exactly what the lawsuit did.
\nObamacare without the individual mandate – Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) said the court, or Congress, should remove the individual mandate to buy health insurance but keep the rest of the law intact. “There are many good provisions of the law. Those should be retained,” Collins said.

What do you think?

It's up to Congress to enact an Obamacare alternative if higher courts strike down the ACA. What would you like to see in new legislation? Take action above, then share your thoughts below.

—Josh Herman

(Photo Credit: iStockphoto.com / marchmeena29)

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