Now there is a GOP Obamacare alternative.
Yesterday, Pete Sessions (R-Texas) and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) introduced an ObamaCare alternative bill called the HELP Act. The bill calls for a tax credit of at least $2,500 to every American. Citizens could use the tax credit to buy health insurance, but they are not required.
Under this bill, employers are not required to provide health insurance to employees. The Affordable Care Act requires that employers with 50 or more full-time employees must offer health insurance to employees.
The bill strikes these key mandated provisions of Obamacare. In addition, health insurance plans no longer have to cover ACA-mandated benefits. The 2010 law currently requires all health plans to include 10 standard benefit categories.
Obamacare alternative is not a replacement bill
The bill is not meant to replace Obamacare.
In a Fox News article, Sessions said, “someone who repeals (ObamaCare) is left with nothing.”
One haunting speculation is that the repeal of ObamaCare will force over 20 million people to look for new health plans. Under the HELP Act, folks who currently have an Obamacare plan can keep it.
Earlier this week, the GOP held a strategy meeting discussing party unity. Members of the party agreed that they could unite in their fight to repeal Obamacare. The introduction of the Obamacare alternative is a strange twist of events, for the bill seeks not to repeal ObamaCare.
Obamacare alternative: six years in the making…
Republicans have long tried to repeal ObamaCare. Since 2009, the GOP vowed to repeal the current health care law, but they have struggled to produce an Obamacare alternative. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) recently previewed a GOP alternative to ObamaCare. Jeffrey Young is one Huffington Post reporter who thinks Paul Ryan’s ideas are borrowed and flawed.
A tangible bill is a victory for the Republicans. While Republicans have won the battle to produce an ObamaCare alternative, there is yet a war against Obamacare to be waged within the party.
Strong urging from the GOP party leaders call for a repeal of ObamaCare. The HELP bill seeks to exist in tandem with ObamaCare. The two actions of the party send mixed messages, and it is not certain that GOP members can go along with the Sessions-Cassidy bill.
Sessions says that it isn’t his intention to compete with Speaker Ryan’s health care initiatives. At this point in time, members of the Republican party are just brainstorming ideas.
The GOP plans to introduce an alternative health care bill in June.
Philip Strang never envisioned a career in the health insurance industry before October 2015. He fell in love with the industry instantly, and his goal is to make health insurance simple for you. Feel free to write him at p.strang@americanexchange.com. Comments are encouraged!
