Since it was introduced 7 years ago, millions have vehemently opposed Obamacare, but now that President Trump is trying to overturn it, some are becoming reminiscent. Trump, however, is getting more and more aggressive in his efforts to replace it as the House vote on his new healthcare bill draws closer and closer.
When it comes to politics, you cannot please everyone, even everyone in your own party, and this new health care bill is no exception. Many conservative Republican lawmakers fear the bill does not go far enough, while moderate Republicans fear that it goes too far. Trump is now caught in the middle fighting for the support of his party as he tries to appease both sides enough to get the bill passed.
According to Reuters, in a closed door meeting on Tuesday, Trump issued a warning to Republican lawmakers that there would be “political problems” should they choose not to support the bill. It appears he was trying to create a sense of necessary camaraderie as he stressed the importance and political fallout that could come if this bill did not pass.
According to Reuters the House Speaker Paul Ryan said that “the president was really clear: he laid it on the line for everybody.” Telling reporters that “we made a promise. Now is our time to keep that promise…If we don’t keep our promise, it will be very hard to manage this.”
With so much riding on the new bill passing, it is important to look at what it will really mean if it does. When the bill was introduced it offered many changes to Obamacare, such as that those who have a lapse in healthcare coverage can be charged higher premiums for the first year, new enrollments to Medicaid will not be allowed starting in 2020, and people who buy their own coverage will no longer be charged based on their income, but rather based on age. In addition, the cost sharing subsidies, and small-business tax credits, will be eliminated in 2020. It also is changing the definition of a qualified health plan, saying that it is one that excludes abortion coverage services (unless the abortion is to save a woman’s life or due to a rape or incest.)
These are just a few of the changes to Obama’s Affordable Care Act. However, as the vote in the house gets closer, the bill is changing more and more, and thus far it is getting more conservative to appease those staunch republicans in Congress who are against it.
Now those against those against the new healthcare bill fall into two categories: those on the liberal side that feel the bill repeals too much of Obamacare and doesn’t offer enough, and those on the far right who do not think the bill is conservative enough.
Those in Congress that fear the bill goes too far, are scared that with possible rising costs, million more will be uninsured than were under Obamacare. Many civilians also have concerns about Planned Parenthood, abortion rights, the ability for low income adults to get healthcare. People are fearing for their own healthcare with this new bill and have even led protests. However, others in power feel the exact opposite.
Representative of Ohio, Jim Jordan, told The Atlantic in a phone interview that the new bill is not introducing enough change and is just “Obamacare in a different format.” He is not alone in feeling that the bill does not go far enough. The Freedom Caucus, a staunchly conservative group that boasts three dozen member members of the House, for the most part, want the new healthcare bill to do more, and they just might get it. If they all vote against the bill it almost certainly will not pass so new conservative amendments are being introduced.
Now, the majority of Republicans in the House do support the bill, feeling that it repeals the weak aspects of Obamacare, forces people to work for their healthcare and offers better coverage.
With so many different views only time will tell the fate of this new bill, that is being voted on later this week.
