United States healthcare system – Page 27 – watercress words by Dr Aletha

In 2016, voters in the United States elected a new president, Donald Trump, and a new legislature, both Republican. Analysts expect major changes in policy and law after 8 years of Democratic control, especially regarding the ACA, Affordable Care Act (often dubbed ObamaCare)

Since his election, President-elect Trump says there are two features of the ACA he would like to see preserved-(in an interview with Leslie Stahl on November 13, 2016)

Prohibition of insurance denial for pre-existing conditions
Covering young adults age 18-26 years old on their parents’ insurance plan

The Republican Platform includes:

Repeal of the Affordable Care Act
Protect insurance discrimination for preexisting conditions as long as continuous coverage is maintained
Allow people to buy insurance across state lines
Make individually purchased health insurance tax deductible
Limit federal spending on Medicaid, allowing the states more leeway in administering the program through block grants
Changes to Medicare- providing people under 55 years with a traditional Medicare option or a premium support system of competing plans; raising the age of eligibility for Medicare.

The Democratic Party supports

Continue building on the ACA to achieve universal health care
Provide a “public option” plan and allow people over age 55 years to buy-in to Medicare
Make premiums more affordable and reduce out-of-pocket costs to patients
Cap out-of-pocket monthly drug costs
Permit importation of lower-priced drugs from other countries
Allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices directly with manufacturers
Expand funding for community health centers

Mr. Levitt is Senior Vice President for Special Initiatives at the Kaiser Family Foundation and Co-Executive Director of the Kaiser Initiative on Health Reform and Private Insurance. He summarizes his review this way-

“The ACA has increased insurance coverage by 20 million people and is now the status quo in our health care system. Fully repealing it would be very disruptive.

At the same time, the public remains divided on the law, so building on it will also be controversial.”

You can read his full review and analysis here-