7 ways an Obamacare repeal would affect Pa., N.J.
Earlier efforts to repeal the law failed, but
Last year, a
The lawsuit could ultimately go to the
1. Millions would lose insurance coverage
2. Medicaid -- and access to rehab -- would shrink
The ACA enabled states to expand Medicaid eligibility to an additional 12 million people by raising income limits on the public insurance program for the poor. Under the law, states pay for 10 percent of the additional cost and the federal government pays 90 percent. States would be unlikely to cover that entire cost, the New York Times reported.
3. Pre-existing conditions would again mean coverage denials
The ACA bans insurers from denying coverage to people with a pre-existing condition, agreeing to cover them but not their ailment or charging a much higher rate. Half of adults under age 65 have what could be considered a pre-existing condition -- such as cancer, heart disease, asthma, diabetes -- and may be forced to go without insurance if the law is struck down, either because they can’t find coverage or can’t afford it.
4. No more essential health benefits
The ACA mandated that most health plans cover a list of 10 essential health benefits with no additional co-pays or cost sharing. The list varies somewhat among states, but typically includes coverage for pregnancy, mental and behavioral health, primary care check-ups and a range of preventive tests, such as mammograms and colonoscopies. Even with the law’s protection, women routinely meet their plan’s deductible and out-of-pocket maximum during a pregnancy. And screening colonoscopies to detect colon cancer -- required to be covered even when a polyp is removed -- are a constant source of angst and cost for patients.
5. Young adults would lose coverage under a parent’s plan
One of the most popular provisions of the ACA allowed young adults to remain under their parents’ health plan until age 26. The eventual transition to their own health plan can be jolting, as one
6. More uncompensated care debt for hospitals
If the number of people without insurance rises, so would the amount of care that hospitals and doctors provide without payment. The demand for uncompensated care, which includes bad debt from unpaid bills and charity care written off by a health system, would increase 116.8 percent in
7. Flimsy health plans could flourish
The ACA tightened restrictions on short-term, limited-duration health plans, which are much cheaper than comprehensive health insurance because they have fewer benefits and aren’t required to cover pre-existing conditions. The health law limited their duration to three months, a rule the Trump administration has already nixed, enabling the plans to cover individuals for 364 days. If the ACA were eliminated, these plans could be even more aggressively marketed.
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