In recent days, GOP began saying its plan's goal was not necessarily to cover everyone, but to cut costs. CBO now confirms it does neither
— Brian Fallon (@brianefallon) March 13, 2017
Well, this is a Top Chef-worthy deconstruction of a giant shit sandwich https://t.co/3VPN20vsqq
— Zedd's Not Dead (@ZeddRebel) March 13, 2017
… The long-anticipated score immediately puts the writers and supporters of the GOP Obamacare repeal bill on the defensive. It is also certain to complicate the party’s already troubled efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.
The CBO, along with the Joint Committee on Taxation, found that 5 million fewer people would be covered under Medicaid by 2018, and 14 million fewer people would enroll in the program by 2026. Meanwhile, 6 million fewer Americans would be covered in the individual market by 2018, but by 2026, only 2 million fewer people are expected to be covered. That’s in part because fewer employers would offer insurance to their workers, driving more people to the individual market.
In total, an estimated 52 million people would be uninsured by 2026 under the GOP plan, compared to 28 million who would lack insurance under the current law.
The Trump administration immediately downplayed the report’s findings.
“We disagree strenuously with the report that was put out,” Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price said Monday outside the White House…
Tom Price attacks the non-partisan CBO as partisan.
The head of the CBO is a Republican.
He was appointed by Tom Price. https://t.co/cNjniVtEJT
— Mikel Jollett (@Mikel_Jollett) March 13, 2017
According to the CBO, Trumpcare isn't just worse than Obamacare at covering Americans. It's worse than repealing Obamacare, too. pic.twitter.com/bjwB2PXmg7
— Angus Johnston (@studentactivism) March 13, 2017
Senate Finance Cmte Chair Orrin Hatch on CBO score:
"We know that some are going to lose their coverage. There's no way we can avoid that."
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) March 13, 2017
CBO says GOP health bill will reduce deficits by $337-B over 10 years, reflecting $935-B in lower spending and $599-B in tax cuts
— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) March 13, 2017
The $935b is about taking things from the elderly, sick, poor and middle class.
The $599b is largely about giving things to the rich. https://t.co/TFz9SpIcF4
— David Leonhardt (@DLeonhardt) March 13, 2017
Kicking 24 million people off health care is one way to save money. Not giving huge tax cuts to the wealthy is another. https://t.co/hd6ttCHrBP
— Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) March 13, 2017
The law, in its majestic equality, permits rich and poor alike to spend $18,000+ a year on health insurance.
— Kelsey D. Atherton (@AthertonKD) March 13, 2017
goblue72
California already starting to draw its line in the sand.
If Obamacare repeal gets pushed through (I expect it will), I am feeling fairly confident that getting a single payer system in California will become a redux of California’s $3B stem cell research proposition during the Bush Administration – an opportunity to push through a big spending program that wouldn’t otherwise happen save for voters wanting to stick a giant finger in the Republicans eyes in DC. Except in this case, it would be for something far better than stem cell research. Much like how single payer in Canada started in a single province, maybe this is how we actually get there.
Though I also expect it will play out as part of the Governor’s race and not earlier, as healthcare reform isn’t a Jerry issue and Jerry hates spending money. (Climate change OTOH, is Jerry’s pet issue, so the next 2 years as his term winds down will be focused on eye poking DC on environmental issues.)
amk
Isn’t that the exact opposite of what the twitler ‘promised’ and ‘won’?
Raoul
Apparently calling Paul Ryan a granny starver was never really hyperbole by Charlie Pierce.
And with that, good night, all.
David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch
24,000,000 people covered.
Remember how the Alt-Left, emoprogs, Firebaggers, and “True Progressives™” wanted to “KILL THE BILL”
but, but… revolution!
efgoldman
@Raoul:
I never thought it was.There was some bill – maybe a social security or medicare reduction – that he was trying to push through years before the 2012 election. It became known colloquially as the “Granny eats cat food” bill. When Charlie started calling Snotty Walker “The Goggle-Eyed Humunculous.” the elision to “Zombie Eyed Granny Starver” from the same state seemed a natural.
No One You Know
The great thing about Twitter is that when it’s used well, it’s good practice for sound bites. Lethal ones.
David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch
sunny raines
America has become a shitty place. sick of hearing about craven republicans exercising their sadism on the society at-large, but particularly the disadvantaged.
amk
@David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch: Forget kill the bill, they wanted twitler to win just to ‘teach the dems a lesson’. Now the loony left owns him as much as the trumpistas.
piratedan
the GOP is like the bad villain Casanova Frankenstein from Mystery Men, not only are they evil, they’ll not hesitate to kill their own voters.
NotoriousJRT
@Raoul: Don’t forget about his zombie eyes.
ETA: if there were any justice in this world, Paul Ryan would be eaten by a zombie.
jl
Hey, it gets better…..
Secret White House Analysis Showed Even More Losing Care
TPM blog
“…a secret White House analysis showed an even higher number of Americans would lose health insurance coverage under the bill. According to a document first reported Monday evening by Politico, an internal executive branch analysis showed that 26 million Americans would lose their coverage, two million more than the estimate of 24 million released earlier in the day by the CBO. ”
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/secret-white-house-analysis-showed-even-more-losing-care
There is a link in the TPM blog post to a grimly hilarious Politico story that first reported the WH OMB study. The WH claims that their study is sadly misunderstood. The OMB didn’t try to actually predict the effect of the TrumpRyanGOPCare bill, No, you stupids, the OMB was just trying to predict how badly the CBO would mess up the analysis.
Might be one Politico link you should all click, even Politico haters, just to see it with your own eyes.
I dunno, maybe Politico’s been hacked and the whole thing, WH response and all is a hoax? Hard to tell anymore.
Jim Parish
Sen. Hatch, sir? I know a way you can avoid that….
marcion
How far will Ryan E Coyote be able run before he realizes he’s run off the cliff?
Sebastian
Man, us Dema suck at branding. This is Trumpcare and Trumpcare failed to get passed in Congress. Trump can’t even get Trumpcare passed.
We all know it’s really Ryan and the GOP. But first we brand Trumpcare and then we hang around everyone’s neck. From now on everything is Trumpcare. Grown in nail? Thanks Donald! Trumpcare did it! Multivitamins more expensive! Thanks Donald! Because of Trumpcare!
Can’t get an appointment at the doctor? Trumpcare! Donuthole? Trumpcare! Out of network? Trumpcare!
Guys, we have te unique chance to hang the shittiest healthcare system in the world around the shittiest politicians neck.
America’s health system is now Trumpcare!
NotMax
Saw a clip of Ryan repeating his new half-baked talking point – that it is intrinsically evil for government to “force you” to buy insurance.
Yeah, Paul, because health care is so much less imperative than auto insurance, right?
What a maroon. If he had double the brains he demonstrates stewardship of he’d be a halfwit.
NotMax
@Sebastian
It’s not anything or anyone care, it’s healthscare.
Sebastian
@NotMax: yes, of course it is. What I am pointing out is the genius that the GOP did with Obamacare. Every little flaw was attributed to Obama. We can do exactly the same with the added advantage that whatever these guys are doing is going to be an epic shitshow. Let them own it
Chris T.
@NotMax: You forgot a key part of the analogy.
You don’t have to buy auto insurance, provided you don’t drive.
Ol’ Zombie Eyes is just saying, you shouldn’t have to buy health insurance, provided you don’t breathe!
Sab
@NotMax: @NotMax: @NotMax: Liked your comment but have issues with use of “maroon” as synonym for idiot. Maroons were escaped slaves in the caribean. Probably not stupid. Definitely resilient in the face of oppression. Shouldn’t be used as a pejorative term.
NotMax
@Sab
Tell it to Bugs.
Well established longstanding malapropism.
jl
@Sebastian: @Sebastian:
I’m on board with branding everything Trump does or sticks his name to as TrumpCare.
Get rid if EPA air and water quality standards: You can thank TrumpCare when you get sick! (TrumpCare gave us TrumpAir)
Immigration sweeps up visiting scholar, or author of businessperson and deports them without a hearing: they got some great TrumpCare didn’t they?
Trump shafts union coal miners whose companies went bankrupt and doesn’t get them their pensions? They should thank Trump for their great TrumpCare!
Soldier’s undocomented spouse gets deported while he or she is deployed. That deported spouse got first rate TrumpCare!
jl
@Chris T.: i think that excuse is BS. Try to do anything that interferes with forcing people to use automobiles to travel anyplace and suddenly driving a car is right guaranteed in the constitution according to them.
Sebastian
@jl: that might be even better. All jokes aside, we should take a good look at how they did it w OCare and do the same thing. Simple and repetitive branding works, see that damn MAGA
Lapassionara
I also think we should remind people that the so called tax reductions are money for rich people that will not be spent in the healthcare system. That is one part of the economy that has been adding jobs at a good rate. This will slow if not stop that trend. And it will hit rural areas the hardest. All around suckitude.
Bruuuuce
@marcion:
All the way to the bank, like the rest of the gonifs running the show.
Central Planning
@NotMax: So he’s a quarter-wit? You’re being generous.
cosima
@NotMax: Trumpscare — best of both worlds.
cosima
On this side of the pond headlines say the shitgibbon has canceled his meeting with Merkel at the last minute. Scary lady cooties? Worried she’ll have a microwave? Worried that he’ll be taken to the woodshed over the anti-EU/NATO antics? The list is too long.
David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch
Make America Sick – AGAIN@!
raven
@cosima: storm
cosima
@raven: That’s too easy! I was hoping it was something that he could be ridiculed for. Oh well. I’m sure there will be plenty of other opportunities to ridicule him for his actions.
SiubhanDuinne
@raven:
@cosima:
Yeah, the meeting wasn’t cancelled, but postponed until this Friday because of the weather. Not sure whether she’s already here or will defer her trip a few days. I heard somewhere (can’t confirm) that all DC-area airports are closed down for the duration.
Ksmiami
@Sebastian: Make America Sick Again- Trumpcare
NorthLeft12
@jl: I am old enough to remember the response of many Americans when President Carter lowered the speed limit to 55 to conserve gasoline. The howls of indignation were heard all the way up here in Canada. Apparently the US constitution protects the right of drivers to be able to drive over 60 MPH on the interstate. I think that was the fifty-fifth amendment.
NorthLeft12
@NotMax: I have been fortunate to grow up under a single payer health care system. I know a lot of Canadians bitch about our system because of some perceived inefficiencies and wait times for non-emergency medical procedures, but outside of a very small minority [under 10% IMO] they are horrified at the thought of a health care “system” that is run solely by insurance companies, private hospitals, Big Pharma, and doctors.
Thanks for the ongoing example about how bad things can be without single payer. I desperately hope that you dump your current health care system into the ash heap of history.
Zinsky
@NorthLeft12: Just curious, NorthLeft, two questions: (1) Are wait times really that bad in Canada for elective procedures? Give examples. (2) What percentage of Canadians really do come to the U.S. for elective procedures? 5%? 10%? More? I wish I could find a study of this, to have facts to fire back at American conservatives who say “Canadians always come to the U.S. to have elective procedures done, due to wait times”.
FlipYrWhig
@Zinsky: They don’t say “to have elective procedures,” they say “to get treatment.” Because they’re a grotesque bunch of liars who believe their own lies.
Zinsky
@FlipYrWhig: Fair enough. Let’s see what NorthLeft has to say. I was just talking to a friend the other day about this. I would like to fund a poll of 10,000+ Canadians (i.e. a very large sample) and ask how many had sought treatment in the U.S., due to long wait times and see how they respond. I’m guessing it’s less than 10%. That way, when some right-wing asshole spouts this nonsense, we can have statistics to beat them into the ground. Anyone know of any such studies?
Just One More Canuck
@NorthLeft12: @Zinsky: The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) has a study on wait times concluding that wait times in general have remained steady while the number of procedures have increased substantially – it depends a lot on the specific procedure and the province (if the link below doesn’t work, go to cihi.ca and search by wait times
https://secure.cihi.ca/free_products/wait_time_report2016_en.pdf
I don’t know of any studies on the number of procedures that get done in the US – it seems to be a lot of anecdotal stories – not to say that that the information isn’t out there, just that I haven’t found anything.
what a lot of the stories in the media about wait times don’t mention is the reason for the wait. A lot of times it is that the patient simply isn’t in good enough condition to go through surgery, although I know of a case (my mother-in-law’s hip replacement surgery) where the doctor cancelled the 3 days before the surgery was to take place because the doctor wanted to go skiing instead (we found out later)
bemused
I remember several decades ago, iirc, when Canadians crossed the border in droves to shop in the US. Duluth, MN is 150 or so miles from Canadian border and you could spot almost as many Canadian license plates in mall and store parking lots as MN plates then.
I always think of this and laugh when even local wingnuts will proclaim seeing so many Canadian license plates in Duluth clinic parking ramps and lots “proves” Canadians are flocking to US for healthcare. We’ve never seen a Canadian license plate ever and have had plenty of visits to various clinics. They love their fantasies.
laura
I’m down with calling this colossal shite sandwich Trumpcare but REALLY prefer something with a harsher ring of truth because it sure ain’t health care -and never was intended to provide healthcare, it’s just a massive tax cut. The sooner it gets known that it’s nothing but a tax cut, it will save time when “entitlement reform” rolls around.
Tax cuts for the rich followed by they’re planning to steal YOUR social security and your medicare.
Just One More Canuck
@Zinsky: ok just did a bit more looking (curiousity got the better of me). There was a study published in 2002 (I know, it’s a long time ago) in “Health Affairs” called “Phantoms In The Snow: Canadians’ Use Of Health Care Services In The United States” that has quotes like “depicts this popular perception as more myth than reality, as the number of Canadians routinely coming across the border seeking health care appears to be relatively small, indeed infinitesimal when compared with the amount of care provided by their own system” and “Surprisingly few Canadians travel to the United States for health care, despite the persistence of the myth.”
The story seems to be driven both by people lobbying for more funding for our health care system (I’m in Ontario) as well as people trying to increase the presence of the private sector in the health care system
I hope this is useful information
http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/21/3/19.full#abstract-1
bemused
@laura:
Email from my congressman Rick Nolan called it GOP bill “Live Sicker, Die Younger”.
wuzzat
@Sebastian: As tempting as that is, I have reservations for two reasons. First is that Trump’s people might hate it, but Trump himself would love it. Stick his name to something and it’s the best thing ever, reality be damned. I’m pretty sure he always wanted to be Batman — he’s got a Trumpmobile and Trumperangs, just you wait.
Second, Trump’s “outsider” image is too well established right now to make “Trumpcare” stick to anyone but Trump longterm. As far as I’m concerned, this is Republicare. Make them own it. Make them own Trump too.
Zinsky
@Just One More Canuck: Excellent! Thank you very much. Liberals need to be armed with information, to immediately call “Bullshit”, when conservatives trot out these ridiculous canards and myths time and time again. Thanks again!
Just One More Canuck
@Zinsky: Happy to do so – I always thought those stories of widespread trips to the US for elective surgery had a bit of an odor to them. Some of the stories I have read about where people do go to the US have been for people looking for a particular specialist or the funding for a procedure having not been approved yet in Canada. Wait times is used as a cudgel to dramatize the story when the reality is often a lot more complicated.
Theodore Wirth
No more ACHA or Republicare. Since the WH is flapping its jaws over the fake CBO report, it is now officially TRUMPCARE. How about we enshrine this Cheeto Benito legacy a catastrophe a la Obamacare?
Full disclosure: quote marks deliberatively withheld.