Democrats–Time to go to work

The Republicans are unveiling their ACA  replacement. It bears no similarity to the extravagant promises made by Donald Trump. Remember he promised better, less expensive healthcare for everyone.

First point. This plan does not offer healthcare. It offers" access" to health insurance. The Republicans are talking about free markets and choice. The choice part is a total illusion. There will be a so-called choice between plans which have higher deductibles and less coverage and those which provide actual health care at a much higher cost. The cost of an insurance based Health coverage is the cost paid to the insurer plus the deductible. Thus, a plan with a $10,000 deductible w ill cost $10,000 dollars plus whatever is paid to the insurance company. Also, add in the cost of uncovered healthcare under the plan. Free markets are illusory when it comes to healthcare. It's not like buying a TV set. When one needs health care, it is not a discretionary purchase.Many people are going to be thrown back on the emergency ward Health care model.

Second point. Those on the Medicaid and who need Federal subsidies will find themselves disadvantaged. Medicaid block grants to states will put recipients at the mercy of whatever the state to size to do. The Federal subsidies being proposed will severely disadvantage all the those except those who are nearing Medicare as they are based on age rather than need.

Third point. The cost of healthcare is largely experienced at the provider level. The Republican plan as thus far explained does nothing to address this. As it is Insurance based, it also retains of the 15% excess administrative cost over the administrative cost of Medicaid and Medicare.

Finally, this proposal will not only provide nothing new  but also takes away much-needed benefits from all those unemployed or marginally employed workers from West Virginia through Pennsylvania Ohio Wisconsin and Michigan who voted for Trump. This is where the Democrats need to expand their time and energy. The Democrats need a persistent and relentless campaign of telling these people they have been lied to. That needs to begin now. And, the Democrats need to be offering their own solution which must include the public option. They need to also harp on the notion that the United States among all of the advanced Western democracies is the only one that does not provide healthcare for all its citizens.