Rock The Western World

It looks like the House of Representatives will vote and most likely pass the Obamacare repeal and replace bill. Unfortunately, no one really knows what is fully in the bill. That includes the people voting on it.

NEW: Now that they voted for it. Let’s never let them forget it.

H.R. 1628

In theory, the bill text will eventually appear here as H.R. 1628. Once the bill text exists, I’ll try to break it down.

As the GBO score becomes a reality and the Senate continues to act, I will update this post.

Regardless, continue to call your representatives and Senators. Tweet at them. Post to their Facebook pages. They are taking away something meaningful to millions of Americans. But they keep it for themselves.

What’s Actually in TrumpCare?

I will read through the text so you don’t have to:

• MediCaid expansion ends on December 31, 2019
• MediCaid will only be available for individuals with a Social Security number or citizenry paperwork (Currently about $2B is set aside for emergency funds in case illegal immigrants show up at hospitals, so hospitals can recoup some of the cost.)
• States could increase the home equity limitation for long-term care elders who qualify for MediCaid to $750,000. Now, the Republicans capped it at $500,000. This would disqualify any middle class families from seeking assistance for their parents or grandparents who may still own a home.
• States would receive money if their insurance markets are not large to help offset the increased costs with less competition
• The individual mandate disappeared, but if you have a lapse in coverage, you will need to pay a penalty to get back in.
• Your tax credit will be based on your age, not your income.
• If a small business health insurance plan covers abortion, you get no tax credit.
• The tax on Cadillac health plans gone.
• Flexible savings account no longer have a cap.
• The medical device excise tax ends.
• Your gross income now includes Medicare Part D subsidies.
• The medical care deduction moves down to 7.5% of your income.
• The Medicare Tax increase on high earners ends.
• HSA contribution limits increased. (Basically, this whole bill wants to make us all get HSAs, which are not beneficial to anyone who actually is sick. Imagine a 401k for health insurance.)
• Tanning tax dead.
• Net investment income tax (basically why all rich people hate this bill) dead.

MacArthur Amendment

According to Vox, states can waive out of pre-existing condition mandates, essential health care mandates, and state can consider adding pre-existing conditions back into their insurance systems. Looking at the text, I cannot add anything else to it.

Upton Amendment

Representative Fred Upton was a “no” vote. But he proposed an amendment.

“This amendment would provide additional funding, $8 billion over five years, to ensure a strong safety net and reduce premiums, or other out-of-pocket costs, for those with pre-existing conditions.”

The AARP reports that this is not enough money. According to one estimate, it would take $178 billion per year to adequately fund state high-risk pools, where people with preexisting health conditions would go to access health insurance coverage.

What’s Happening in the Senate?

No one really knows. But regardless, Medicaid will be destroyed as we know it. In theory, bill text comes out tomorrow.

News stories About the AHCA:

• Four Changes from the Past Bill That Helped It Get Through the House
• How the GOP bought moderate votes – with not enough money.
• Congress will not be affected by these changes. They keep Obamacare.
• States can waive everything you like about health insurance to save costs.
• The next time Republicans talk morality. Remember AHCA.
• They are lying about the AHCA. Their supporters do not care.
• The people most likely to lose insurance: Trump voters.
• The bill cuts special education funds.
• Reason Magazine, a libertarian outfit, disagrees with this process.
• Children with birth defects will spend their entire lives unable to get affordable health care.
• Without question, the concept that wealthy people are closer to God and success means holiness contributes to the current Republican culture. I hate Joel Osteen, the prosperity gospel, and all of its ilk. Because you have lots of money only means one thing – you got lucky and you haven’t done anything to help your fellow man.
• As we all send in for Ancestry.com testkits, remember that the next stage of health care coverage will involve what your DNA says about you.

Who Do We Target for Defeat in 2018?

Let’s start with these fourteen. This list will continue to grow and change.

Below are currently 17 Representatives to target for defeat. It may take a lot of work, but if nothing else, we need candidates to run. And then we need to support them.

• AZ-2. Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ) stood up in GOP conference meeting and said let’s get this “fucking thing” done. Sec. Clinton won the district by 5 points. Know anyone living near Tucson?
  • Current candidates:
    • Billy Kovacs. Check out his page and contribute.
• CA-49. Rep. Darrell Issa
  • Current candidates:
    • Doug Applegate
    • Mike Levin
• IL-6. Rep. Peter Roskam
  • Current Candidates:
    • Suzyn Price
    • Austin Songer
• IL-16. Rep. Adam Kinzinger. He ran unopposed in 2016. Let’s get an opponent.
  • Current Candidates:
    • No one credible yet
• Fl-26. Rep. Carlos Curbelo
  • Current Candidates:
    • No one credible yet
• CA-21. Rep. David Valadao
  • Current Candidates:
    • No one credible yet
• MN-03. Rep. Erik Paulsen
  • Current Candidates:
    • No one credible yet
• CA-39. Rep. Ed Royce
  • Current Candidates:
    • Phil Janowicz
• CA-25. Rep. Stephen Knight
  • Current Candidates:
    • Katie Hall
    • Jess Phoenix
• CA-45. Rep. Mimi Walters
  • Current Candidates:
    • Kia Hamadanchy
    • Dave Min
    • Katie Porter
• CA-10. Rep. Jeff Denham
  • Current Candidates:
    • No credible candidates yet
• TX-32 – Rep. Pete Sessions
  • Current Candidates:
    • Colin Allred
    • Danielle Pellett
• CA-48 – Rep. Dana Rohrbacher
  • Current Candidates:
    • Boyd Roberts
    • Harley Rouda
• TX-7. Rep. John Culberson
  • Current Candidates:
    • No credible candidate yet
• NJ-7. Rep. Leonard Lance. Although he voted No on the final bill, he voted to let the bill out of committee.
  • Current Candidates:
    • Scott Salmon
• NY-19. Rep. John Faso
  • Current Candidates:
    • Steven Brisee
    • Brian Flynn
• NY-27. Rep. Chris Collins. Didn’t read the bill and was unaware that 635,000 New Yorkers lose their health care.
  • Current Candidates:
    • No credible candidate yet