Republican Policy Committee – The Obamacare Status Quo is Unacceptable

The Obamacare Status Quo is Unacceptable

Obamacare upended the health care system in this country. It will take time to dig out of the mess that Democrats created, but if the law isn't repealed, the pain to Americans will only be prolonged. The status quo won't work; it is imperative we start moving to replace the law.

Obamacare increases costs to patients.

Skyrocketing premiums. Premiums have gone up year after year under Obamacare. While modest price hikes are to be expected, rates under Obamacare have skyrocketed. Between 2016 and 2017, Obamacare plan premiums have increased by an average of 25 percent. Americans' wages have not gone up by that amount, but they're required to pay the higher insurance rates.

Unaffordable deductibles. For 2017 Obamacare plans, the average deductible for mid-level silver plans is rising from $3,117 to $3,572. The average deductible for bronze plans is rising from $5,731 to $6,092 in 2017.

New taxes. Obamacare includes more than a trillion dollars in new taxes that are being paid by hard-working American families. These include the individual and employer mandate taxes, taxes on Health Savings Accounts, the chronic illness tax, the Cadillac tax, the medical device tax, the health insurance tax, and higher income taxes.

Obamacare limits choices in health care.

No choice what to buy. As Obamacare unravels, Americans have fewer options for coverage. Many have no choice at all. For 2017, people living in one-third of the country have only one option on their Obamacare exchange. In two-thirds of the country, there are no more than two choices. That's not a "marketplace," it's a monopoly.

No choice but to pay. People are required to buy the health insurance that Washington chooses for them. This kind of mandate is unprecedented, and it's unfair. It applies even when there are no options that meet a family's needs.

No choice who to see. Obamacare put many new requirements on insurers. The only way they could stay afloat in Obamacare was to shrink the "network" of doctors they cover. A lot of people who liked their doctor couldn't keep their doctor under Obamacare.

Obamacare's priorities hurt people.

Putting the most vulnerable second. Under Obamacare, Washington covers most of the cost for newly eligible Medicaid enrollees, who are able-bodied adults. It covers less of the cost for the people Medicaid was intended to help: the disabled; the old; pregnant women; and children.

Worse overall health. In a Gallup poll this past fall, Americans reported worse overall health in 2016 than they did before Obamacare. In 2008, 23 percent of Americans said they had "excellent" health, versus 19 percent now.

Health insurance without health care. The number of people without health insurance has dropped, but this insurance is meaningless for many people. With Obamacare's skyrocketing prices, people struggle to cover the out-of-pocket costs that come with their plans. Half of Obamacare enrollees are skipping doctor visits to save money.