CBO: 14M more Americans won't have health insurance next year if GOP plan adopted

All that ER billing is part of what led to mandatory coverage. ACA didn't work for many reasons; one main one being states that didn't participate. CBO estimates of 14 million to lose coverage in next year, and 24 million by 2026 are of concern. Larger concern is estimates of $ 150 - $ 800 billion in tax breaks for wealthy. These are all estimates but it's the yardstick government has used in the past. Either way somebody will pay at next election. Fact is that they can take care of citizens or lobbyists but not both, and the norm seems to be support the industry vice citizens. Voters will likely consider losing insurance while rewarding wealthy as final straw.

Most of the problems with any government program are because the govt does not hold vendors accountable. It starts with the legislation and gets worse from there. Procurement is one example. Healthcare is another. All the flexibility is baked in from the start and the contractors take full advantage of it. Instead of setting a standard and holding them to it, they allow them to max out costs for everything and it is passed on. VA healthcare varies according to the Medical Centers. I have used 2 and the first was very bad, while the second was much better. It should be uniform across the board but I always hear from other Vets that it's either feast or famine. Some of it is the climate set by management at the Center. I've had some experiences where the providers or facilitators truly went the extra mile. I've also had some with people that had an attitude of not really caring because their job is secure whether they do their job or not. If you have an issue and notify a Patient Advocate you usually get the same story - "we are aware of the problems but just don't know what to do about it". They realize that many have nowhere else to go so the bar is low for customer service, and they have no problem letting you know that they're not really concerned about the level of care.

PO1 John Crafton - Absolutely !

LTC David Brown - I've commented on this in other areas. Yes it is possible to get rid of bad government employees. Did it twice, but it takes a lot of work and from what I've seen and heard the motivation to do that doesn't seem to exist within VA management. As others have said, they have their jobs and just want to maintain.

CPT Jack Durish - Nobody has even tried to repair it, so saying it is beyond repair seems a little premature. few health care providers shut down and among those that did MEDICARE payment cuts seem to be the primary reason and that is not part of the ACA.

The payments for MEDICARE keep getting slower and the rates lower.

1stSgt Nelson Kerr - Actually, the ACA was partially funded with monies taken from Medicare. In fact, this past week was the first time I was denied Medicare prescription coverage and had to pay for my own drugs. Fortunately, I discovered GoodRX.com and was able to purchase a $211 drug for $24. But that's what happens when govt pays for things. The price goes up, way up. Now you may not believe it but many medical service providers have either left the country or left their practices. Even the AMA is recommending against pursuing a career in medicine under the current conditions. And how are you going to convince insurance companies to reenter the health care insurance market after driving them off? Do you think they'll believe promises that we won't again interfere with the free market?

Dont worry Trump and crew getting rid of medicare and medicaid even though he said he wouldnt touch it. Man some people will stay loyal no matter what they favorite politicians says or does

SFC (Join to see) - I don not mind those lemmings charging over the cliff, but do they have to take the rest of us with them?

Good question. What insurance? You mean overpriced Obamacare plans with deductibles so high that you need insurance just to cover them? The only people who can afford insurance are those receiving it for free, well paid for working people who can't afford to buy their own.

So it wasnt meaningless when Trump was praising them during his campaign? Now its meaningless..lol

SFC (Join to see) - I don't know what you are talking about, this discussion is about the CBO's rating of the AHA draft bill and has nothing to do with the campaign. However, If you actually read the CBO report, you would know that the document they rated is two years old. It's like sending a home inspector to inspect the house you looked at last week, then using that report to judge whether you should buy the house next door to it. It might give you some basic information about the neighborhood or the builder, but won't tell you anything about the plumbing in the new house.