In 2017, we have entered a world where even insurance companies are lending their powerful voices to protect coverage for people with preexisting conditions. And in doing so accusing the GOP of contributing to what it hates most.
The nation’s largest insurance lobby group lent its voice to the chorus of growing opposition — including late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel — to the GOP’s latest salvo against Obamacare, the Graham-Cassidy bill.
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The president and CEO of America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) sent a letter Wednesday to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer Wednesday saying it is not in support o the Graham-Cassidy bill. More importantly, it charged that the bill might potentially allow “government-controlled,single-payer health care to grow.”
That is a potent criticism against a legislative proposal by a party that considers single payer healthcare a cardinal sin because it epitomizes government-run healthcare. Under the proposal, states would get block grants and then decide how best to cover their citizens.
The AHIP letter was much stronger and more lengthy than the letter the trade group sent to Senate leaders against the “skinny repeal” less than two months ago.
In the current letter, CEO Marilyn Tavenner outlines the six principles that should govern any legislative proposals. Here’s a portion of the letter with those principles spelled-out.
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- First, reforms must stabilize the individual insurance market.
- Second, Medicaid reforms must ensure the program is efficient, effective, and has adequate funding to meet the health care needs of beneficiaries.
- Third, reforms must guarantee access to coverage for ALL Americans, including those with pre-existing conditions.
- Fourth, reforms must provide sufficient time for everyone to prepare – from doctors, hospitals, and health plans to consumers, patients, and policymakers.
- Fifth, reforms should improve affordability by eliminating taxes and fees that only serve to raise health care costs or reduce benefits for everyone.
- And finally, reforms should rely on the strengths of the private market, not build a bridge to single-payer systems.
The first and the third recommendations (with her added emphasis on covering “all” with pre-existing conditions) is indeed something to behold.
When insurers are saying, “No one should be denied or priced out of affordable coverage because of their health status,” it’s unclear why the authors of the bill decided to craft a bill where affordability by most accounts will all-but-disappear for people with preexisting conditions if it becomes law.
AHIP joins the country’s Blue Cross Blue Shield plans and the following list of institutions/people that do not support the bill:
AARP
ALS Association
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
American Diabetes Association
American Heart Association
American Lung Association
Arthritis Foundation
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Family Voices
JDRF
Lutheran Services in America
March of Dimes
National Health Council
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
National Organization for Rare Diseases
Volunteers of America
WomenHeart
A bipartisan group of governors, including Republicans Chris Christie of New Jersey, John Kasich of Ohio and Brian Sandoval (of Nevada)
Senator Rand Paul
Come next week, if the GOP is hoping for the third time being the charm in finally felling the law that has haunted them for seven years, the vote may not delight. All eyes, of course, are on John McCain of Arizona, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine who came together to sink the last effort at repealing Obamacare.
And maybe one of them will repeat that dramatic thumbs down gesture that sank the last Senate effort.
Photo: nito100, Getty Images
