Sure, I agree that could happen. My point is no matter if Price sabotages the law and millions lose coverage, they will be forced to come up with a solution, or get slaughtered in the mid-terms. From Republican Governors who have accepted medicaid expansion, to Republican Senators that represent those states, to Republicans like Darrel Issa who got an earful at Town Halls, Republicans other than the Freedumb Caucus agree these people need and deserve insurance.
Republicans 8 years ago said that the Federal Government had no business getting involved in health insurance markets.
Now Republicans agree they need to at least guarantee “access” to insurance. For which of course they have no viable plan.
Hardline conservatives had a point that Trumpcare was Obamacare lite. Per Kevin Drum.
- When they say that AHCA tax credits are the same thing as ACA tax subsidies, they’re right.
- When they say that AHCA’s community rating with a 5:1 age band is the same thing as ACA’s community rating with a 3:1 age band, they’re right.
- When they say that AHCA’s continuous coverage provision is the same thing as ACA’s individual mandate, they’re right.
- When they say that AHCA’s ban on turning down people with pre-existing conditions is the same as ACA’s ban on turning down people with pre-existing conditions, they’re right.
- When they say AHCA’s reliance on Medicaid for the very poorest is the same as ACA’s reliance on Medicaid for the very poorest, they’re right.
Throw in allowing young adults to stay on their parents policies until they are 26, and you have Obamacare lite. And recent events have shown, enough Republicans prefer Obamacare to Obamacare Lite, that the battle is essentially over. They have the Senate, they have the House, they have the Presidency, it appears they had the Parliamentarian willing to go along with getting rid of the 10 EHB’s via reconciliation,and they couldn’t get it done.
I didn’t state they overtly supported universal coverage as a goal, but if you look at the dynamics, and their current positions, especially in the context of recent events, they have painted themselves into a corner of agreeing the government has a role in making sure everybody has access to health care, I am pretty sure I heard Tom Price say those exact words.
That is far different from what they said in 2009.
EDIT* After posting this, I went to peruse the Huffington Post, and this link below was the lead article. This expresses the gist of my thoughts and what I was trying to say.