Interestingly, the plan includes neither a mandate nor shoots for single payer
(Fox News) After months of promising to repeal ObamaCare, but failing to spell out how — and what would replace it — Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump finally revealed some specifics Wednesday night, including doing away with the individual mandate that requires everyone to have health insurance, an apparent reversal of his previous support for the provision.
Trump also proposes that states take over management of Medicaid and provide incentives to eliminate fraud and waste.
The seven-point plan, posted on the GOP frontrunner’s website, slammed the Affordable Health Care Act, saying it has “tragically but predictably resulted in runaway costs, websites that don’t work, greater rationing of care, higher premiums, less competition and few choices.â€
In explaining his plan to abolish the individual mandate, Trump said no one should be required to buy health insurance if they don’t want to. The current law requires everyone to have health insurance, or pay a penalty. That’s an apparent reversal from his “I like the mandate†comment last month during a CNN town hall.
Should citizens be forced to purchase health insurance? No. Many can afford to pay for health care without it. Some people want to take their chances. On the other hand, should health care providers have to provide service to those who cannot pay? There’s the rub, and was kinda the point when conservative think tanks were discussing the need (not advocating for, mind you) for a mandate.
Anyhow, here’s Trump’s plan, which, for all those who are thinking Trump is the next Hitler, Chavez, or Mussolini (interestingly, the Left never compares him to their friends Stalin or Mao), says Congress must do this when a President Donald Trump sends the plan to them. I’m only going to excerpt the beginning portion of each point, you’ll have to hit the link to see it all
- Completely repeal Obamacare. Our elected representatives must eliminate the individual mandate. No person should be required to buy insurance unless he or she wants to.
- Modify existing law that inhibits the sale of health insurance across state lines.
- Allow individuals to fully deduct health insurance premium payments from their tax returns under the current tax system.
- Allow individuals to use Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Contributions into HSAs should be tax-free and should be allowed to accumulate.
- Require price transparency from all healthcare providers, especially doctors and healthcare organizations like clinics and hospitals.
- Block-grant Medicaid to the states. Nearly every state already offers benefits beyond what is required in the current Medicaid structure. The state governments know their people best….
- Remove barriers to entry into free markets for drug providers that offer safe, reliable and cheaper products. Congress will need the courage to step away from the special interests and do what is right for America.
Now, I do have to wonder, is this what he really believes, considering his love of the mandate and socialized medicine, including single payer, per previous comments, or is he simply pandering? Some intrepid reporter should ask, as I’m pretty sure he won’t answer me on Twitter.
Trump goes on to note
Providing healthcare to illegal immigrants costs us some $11 billion annually. If we were to simply enforce the current immigration laws and restrict the unbridled granting of visas to this country, we could relieve healthcare cost pressures on state and local governments.
Let’s not forget the number of ERs closed in California and other states due to illegals using them as doctor’s offices.
To reduce the number of individuals needing access to programs like Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program we will need to install programs that grow the economy and bring capital and jobs back to America. The best social program has always been a job – and taking care of our economy will go a long way towards reducing our dependence on public health programs.
Well, not just a job, but a good paying job.
Anyhow, the plan, such as it is, is very much what Conservatives have been offering for years, especially in the era of Ocare. So, again, pandering, or real belief?
Crossed at Right Wing News.
“after months of promising to repeal….”
Teach why not actually say how many months? Hasn’t been like 80+ months?
Teach what type of healthcare do your stores offer to all their employees and what is that cost to the company?
Our host noted the problem:
No, of course they shouldn’t have to provide services for people who cannot pay, and that’s where we need to have the balls to say that if someone cannot pay for health care, he should have to go without it, even if the lack means that he dies in the dirt. For any health care plan to work, the law must allow doctors and hospitals to turn away those who cannot pay.
Further, doctors and hospitals must have the right to sue into penury any person who presents for health care who cannot pay: seize their homes and cars and all tangible assets, and garnish their wages, up to the point at which their bills are satisfied.
Mr Trump’s plan says:
We kind of have that already: the employers’ portion of health insurance is not listed as income in Box 1 of your Form W-2, meaning that it is not counted as income on which you have to pay tax. The greater the employers’ percentage, the greater the benefit to the employees.
Donald Trump hasn’t been running for 80 months, John. You really need to pay attention.
And, they aren’t “my” stores. The company provides health insurance at a rather affordable rate, with affordable deductibles, as a benefit. It’s not the Government forcing people to pay for something.
The fact that the portion of health insurance that is paid by the companies is not reportable income ought to be a selling point in recruiting employees. A smart company could say, “Yeah, we have offered you $5,000 less than Jeffrey’s business, but we are paying 100% of your health insurance, which means that you won’t have to pay taxes on the entirety of your health insurance compensation.”
Personally, I believe that our taxes are way too complicated, with far too many deductions and the like. Obviously, people are going to use these deductions, but this stuff is really just the H&R Block Full Employment Act.
Full disclosure: I have paid off my mortgage to the point that my mortgage interest deduction no longer has Schedule A Itemized Deductions greater than the standard deduction. I am still able to deduct certain expenses from my rental property.
Where do normal people get the idea that conservatives are heartless?
Hey Dana. You said earlier you build roads. Do you finance these roads out of your own pocket or are you paid by governments? Do you think it’s moral for millionaires to take government payments but for the nation to allow children to die in the dirt for lack of healthcare?
One could make the argument that healthy children (and workers) is a valuable resource. Possibly more valuable than new roads.
Trump is the grandest liar to ever run for Prez. So it’s a good bet he’s lying about healthcare. After all, all the way back in 2015 he told 60 Minutes’ Scott Pelley (concerning healthcare) that he would take care of everybody and the government would pay for it.
Some of his greatest hits:
He doesn’t know who David Duke is.
He opposed the invasion of Iraq.
He saw thousands of Muslims in New Jersey celebrating 9/11.
He sent investigators to Hawaii who found shocking things related to Obama’s birth status.
The real unemployment rate is 42 percent.
I didn’t call John McCain a loser.
Americans are the most heavily taxed in the world.
Obamacare premiums are up 30, 40, 50%.
Illegal immigrants are pouring across the southern border.
Among Syrian refugees, there are very few women and children. It’s mostly “young, strong men.”
When it comes to education spending “we’re number one per pupil by a factor of four.”