In his letter (June 6), Richard Grover asks about the differences between Obamacare (ACA) and Trumpcare (AHCA).
According to CNN Money (March 27) “How Obamacare Affects Everyone” — “under Obamacare, senior citizens pay less for Medicare coverage and for their prescription drugs. Many people receive free contraceptives, mammograms, colonoscopies and cholesterol tests. And those with pre-existing conditions are no longer turned away. Some 20 million people have gained coverage under Obamacare.” Children can stay on their parents’ plans until age 26, a lifetime limit on benefits is forbidden, and older workers can’t be charged more than three times the cost for younger workers.
Trumpcare is basically a plan to slash health care to finance huge tax cuts for businesses and the richest Americans. Many conservative Republicans have always disliked the idea of taxes helping to pay for health care, a system that is successful in many countries.
Trumpcare in its latest form would cut nearly $1 trillion from federal health care programs. States could get waivers allowing insurance companies to raise premiums for people with pre-existing conditions and charge older people five times as much as younger people. The 20-plus million people who now have insurance through Obamacare would lose their coverage.
Everyone in every state needs health care. Government insurance such as Medicare is cheaper than private insurance, which exists only to make huge profits denying coverage and overcharging people. Some form of health care is needed for everyone — perhaps expanded Medicare. The public doesn’t need Republicans destroying existing health care programs.
Ellen Field, New Gloucester
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