Sunday, May 07, 2017

Red House, Blue House

I am mad about the AHCA. I highly doubt that is surprising. But, there are some things about it that should concern even the reddest of Republicans.

1. It was rushed. They didn't even ask the budget committee to look it over and calculate how many Americans would loose their insurance or have more expensive insurance under this. That means it had one actual purpose. To fulfill a campaign promise. But, there was a lot more to that promise then "repealing Obamacare". The rest of that campaign promise has not been met.

2. At least one person who supported it admitted he didn't even read it. Really? You trust something that will heavily impact your life but wasn't even read first? These are people that are very not subtle about only caring about the super wealthy. What makes you think they care about your health? It's full of ways to make the ultra rich richer by charging YOU more. I thought you were against it because you didn't want to pay for insurance for people who are sicker then you? You do realize it was cheaper to you personally to pay for sicker people then it will be to pay for this insurance, right?

3. Pre-existing conditions, The list is so long almost every living human in the country has at least one. Some argue "they leave it in, it's the states that can decide to opt out". True, but, there are thousands of people in scarlet red states. These are the governors that will back out. These are the states receiving the most government assistance. The states with citizens living in poor health because of the Republican governing style of anti labor protects and anti environment protections. The states with the highest rates of people with issues falling under pre-existing conditions.

Pre-existing conditions from the following website (in red)

http://thepoliticus.com/content/complete-list-pre-existing-conditions-gop-bill

The new health care bill, the American Health Care Act, could weaken protections for those with pre-existing conditions (aka a "health problem you had before the date that new health coverage starts") That's an estimated 52 million adults under 65. Please see the list below:


  • Acid Reflux
  • Acne
  • Acromegaly
  • AIDS/HIV
  • Alcohol or drug abuse with recent treatment
  • Alzheimer’s/dementia
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
  • Anemia (Aplastic, Cooley's, Hemolytic, Mediterranean or Sickle Cell)
  • Anorexia
  • Anxiety
  • Aortic or Mitral Valve Stenosis
  • ARC
  • Arteriosclerosis
  • Arthritis
  • Asbestosis
  • Asthma
  • Bipolar disease
  • Bulimia
  • Cancer
  • Cardiomyopathy
  • Celiac Disease
  • Cerebral Palsy (infantile)
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
  • Cirrhosis of the Liver
  • Coagulation Defects
  • Congestive heart failure
  • Coronary artery/heart disease, bypass surgery
  • Crohn’s disease
  • C-Section
  • Cystic Fibrosis
  • Demyelinating Disease
  • Depression
  • Dermatomyositis
  • Diabetes
  • Dialysis
  • Epilepsy
  • Esophageal Varicosities
  • Friedreich's Ataxia
  • Heart burn
  • Hemophilia
  • Hepatitis (Type B, C or Chronic)
  • High cholesterol
  • Hysterectomy
  • Kidney disease, renal failure
  • Kidney Stones
  • Knee surgery
  • Lupus
  • Lyme Disease
  • Menstrual irregularities
  • Mental disorders (including Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Schizophrenia)
  • Migraines
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Muscular Dystrophy
  • Myasthenia Gravis
  • Narcolepsy
  • Obesity
  • Organ transplants
  • Pacemaker
  • Paralysis
  • Paraplegia
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Pending surgery or hospitalization
  • Pneumocystic pneumonia
  • Polycythemia Vera
  • Postpartum depression
  • Pregnancy or expectant parent (includes men)
  • Psoriatic Arthritis
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis
  • Renal Failure
  • Sarcoidosis
  • Scleroderma
  • Seasonal Affective Disorder
  • Seizures
  • Sex reassignment
  • Sexual deviation or disorder
  • Sjogren's Syndrome
  • Sleep apnea
  • Stroke
  • Transsexualism
  • Tuberculosis
  • Ulcers
Normally, I do a ton of digging and load my blog posts with stats and articles proving everything. But, it's notoriously known that most Republicans don't read facts unless it's the "alternative facts" from fox news, Breitbart, or anything else in that category. It's also information most Democrats have likely seen already. It doesn't seem worth the effort.

I'm not stressing about the AHCA yet. Because it's in the more moderate Senate. What I have read is that the Senate is going to review it for reconciliation. But, that it is likely they will be using it as a frame for writing their own healthcare law. Which will be more moderate and we'll see how the house responds to what they come up with. As it stands, this is unlikely to be the completed version.

I read in an article a quote from a GOP representative. I think it was in Politico. He said basically, "it was a mistake to call this repeal and replace. We should have just said "repair the ACA all along." I think he was correct. Now, the Senate is going to have to get Democrat feedback. Finally, they will be working together.

I agree the ACA needs to be fixed. There needs to be MORE taxing of the ultra rich so MORE money can go to Medicaid and tax subsidies. The government needs their own insurance company. Not one run by a rich greedy bully. But, one run to provide quality plans for the people. It creates competition so the big name insurers are less likely to leave the marketplaces.

The red house didn't even ask the blue house for input. This isn't a football game. You're not cheering for the ACA as is or the AHCA as is. It's creating legislation. Laws of the land. That requires compromise. Making sure both sides get what they want. Something that the poorest of the poor can get and the richest of the rich would like too. Time for the red house to start listening to the blue house. When the Senate is done, they won't have a choice.


A New York Times article on how the house's votes might effect 2018:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/06/us/politics/health-care-vote.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share&_r=0

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