Trump ends key insurance subsidies, vows to dismantle Obamacare

[s0me0nesmind1]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday pledged to dismantle Obamacare “step by step” after he scrapped subsidies to health insurers that help low-income Americans pay out-of-pocket medical expenses, a move that raised concerns about chaos in insurance markets and could face legal challenges.

Trump's action, announced late on Thursday, took aim at a critical component of the 2010 law, his Democratic predecessor Barack Obama's signature domestic policy achievement. Frustrated by the failure of his fellow Republicans who control Congress to repeal and replace Obamacare, Trump has taken this and several other steps to chip away at it. (For a graphic on cost-sharing reductions click tmsnrt.rs/2kL2RAq)

The administration will not make the next payment to insurers, scheduled for Wednesday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. The subsidies cost $7 billion this year and were estimated at $10 billion for 2018, according to congressional analysts.


Trump’s action came just weeks before the Obamacare open enrollment period begins on Nov. 1 for 2018 insurance policies through the law’s marketplace.

Congressional Democrats accused Trump of sabotaging the law, and Democratic state attorneys general in New York and California threatened a legal challenge.

Hospitals, doctors, patient advocates and health insurers decried Trump’s move, saying consumers will ultimately pay the price. They called on Congress to appropriate the funds needed to keep up the subsidy payments.

About 10 million people are enrolled in Obamacare through its marketplace, and most receive subsidies.

Trump, who as a candidate last year promised to roll back the law formally called the Affordable Care Act, received applause for his latest action during an appearance on Friday before a group of conservative voters.

“It’s step by step by step, and that was a very big step yesterday,” Trump said. “And one by one, it’s going to come down, and we’re going to have great healthcare in our country.”


He said he was taking “a little different route than we had hoped” because of Congress’ inability to act. Republicans for seven years had vowed to get rid of Obamacare, but deep intra-party divisions have sunk their efforts to get legislation through the Senate.

Trump on Friday called Obamacare “a broken mess” and urged Democrats to reach out to him to make a
deal.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-u...ies-vows-to-dismantle-obamacare-idUSKBN1CI0E4


Well we just opened up a new can of worms here. I'm wondering how this will affect everything going into next year.

Someone that has more knowledge on this front remind me - which subsidies are we talking about here? I've had employer coverage, so I haven't done the full research - but I always figured the "subsidies" were the tax advantages where the government covers up to ~90% for those under certain income thresholds. Are those the ones we are referring to here?

 

[hal2kilo]

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-u...ies-vows-to-dismantle-obamacare-idUSKBN1CI0E4


Well we just opened up a new can of worms here. I'm wondering how this will affect everything going into next year.

Someone that has more knowledge on this front remind me - which subsidies are we talking about here? I've had employer coverage, so I haven't done the full research - but I always figured the "subsidies" were the tax advantages where the government covers up to ~90% for those under certain income thresholds. Are those the ones we are referring to here?

Probably will make non ACA rates, meaning us people with jobs that have real benefits, go sky high as well. I'm starting to get worn out from winning so much.

 

[J.Wilkins]

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-u...ies-vows-to-dismantle-obamacare-idUSKBN1CI0E4


Well we just opened up a new can of worms here. I'm wondering how this will affect everything going into next year.

Someone that has more knowledge on this front remind me - which subsidies are we talking about here? I've had employer coverage, so I haven't done the full research - but I always figured the "subsidies" were the tax advantages where the government covers up to ~90% for those under certain income thresholds. Are those the ones we are referring to here?

It's a good thing, Dear Leader will only do good things.

Soon enough the fake news will be gone and everyone will know this.

 

[theeedude]

Interesting... Republicans really want to pave the way to universal single payer for some reason.

 

[Zorba]

This is what happens when you elect a caricature of the Republican base to be President.

 

[Zorba]

Where are all the right wingers claiming he is a dictator? Or were not actually genuine in their concerns with Obama's executive actions?

 

[zerocool84]

Seeing as most of his voting base likely benefitted from the subsidies, it's funny. The rich people don't care though because it doesn't affect them.

 

[theeedude]

Yep, got great insurance at work. Gonna enjoy watching the Republican shitshow tho.

 

[repoman0]

It's nice being young, healthy, and gainfully employed with excellent insurance while watching Dump fuck over all his middle aged and old voters. By the time I actually need to go to the doctor for something this scum will be long gone and reasonable policies put in place.

 

[woolfe9998]

Trump owns all this now. No one will be responsible for millions losing their coverage except him. Not even the GOP in Congress. Nice going dumb****.

 

[J.Wilkins]

Trump owns all this now. No one will be responsible for millions losing their coverage except him. Not even the GOP in Congress. Nice going dumb****.

And because no one apart from you and few others will see it that way Trump will rule for another 4 years.

 

[dank69]

I think this is great and exactly what America wants.

 

[brycejones]

I think this is great and exactly what America wants.

Yep, and some of them will show 3 months from now whining here about how much Obama sucks and the ACA is a disaster because their deductibles and rates went up yet again.

 

[woolfe9998]

And because no one apart from you and few others will see it that way Trump will rule for another 4 years.

Me and a few others, like the 56% of the country who disapproves of Trump's job performance? That's a few, eh? You're over-generalizing about Americans. Again.

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/trump-approval-ratings/?ex_cid=rrpromo

 

[R0H1T]

Seeing as most of his voting base likely benefitted from the subsidies, it's funny. The rich people don't care though because it doesn't affect them.

So long as they get their tax cuts

 

[woolfe9998]

Yep, and some of them will show 3 months from now whining here about how much Obama sucks and the ACA is a disaster because their deductibles and rates went up yet again.

Nah, the GOP is not doing well with the public on healthcare at all. The problem is whether that translates to voting patterns next year or in 2020.

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/03/poll-republican-health-care-241291

 

[J.Wilkins]

Me and a few others, like the 56% of the country who disapproves of Trump's job performance? That's a few, eh? You're over-generalizing about Americans. Again.

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/trump-approval-ratings/?ex_cid=rrpromo

I remember polls about Trump being so far down in the sticks that he had no chance in hell of winning the first time.

He'll win again, mark my words.

The stupidity has not yet subsided and while facts do not matter to about 85% of americans pretend patriotism does.

 

[woolfe9998]

I remember polls about Trump being so far down in the sticks that he had no chance in hell of winning the first time.

He'll win again, mark my words.

The stupidity has not yet subsided and while facts do not matter to about 85% of americans pretend patriotism does.

The polls showed Clinton up an average of only 3 points on the popular vote. She won the popular vote by 2 points. The polls were only off in a few rust belt states, and even there, not by much. It's a myth that polling was way off last year. It wasn't.

 

[dank69]

Yep, and some of them will show 3 months from now whining here about how much Obama sucks and the ACA is a disaster because their deductibles and rates went up yet again.

This is going to turn into a shit show almost immediately. Insurance companies are going ape-shit already. Open enrollment just started and now everything has changed after all the pricing was negotiated. I hope this triggers a stock market crash to make 2008 look like a minor dip.

 

[J.Wilkins]

The polls showed Clinton up an average of only 3 points on the popular vote. She won the popular vote by 2 points. The polls were only off in a few rust belt states, and even there, not by much. It's a myth that polling was way off last year. It wasn't.

The very last polls, we are not at the very last polls for the next election quite yet, are we?

Look, I'm a sane human being and while it's funny as hell to watch the joke that is the US squirm around like you're trying to find one policy made during the last century that isn't completely horrible I still would love it if you got rid of this particular piece of utter shit. So I'm rootin' for ya but my expectations are VERY low at this point in time.

In the meantime, it might be good to sever all ties with the nation led by the madman.

 

[ivwshane]

Who was that one poster here who was complaining about the ACA and how it directly affected him and blamed the Democrats despite, repeatedly, being shown that Republicans were the mayor cause for some of the markets collapsing? His attitude was fuck everyone else I want mine.

I know, I know, I could be describing any number of people.

Anyways, to that guy, enjoy your even higher premiums and even fewer insurance provider options! The good news is that you'll finally get that basic coverage you so desperately wanted! I'm sure the insurance companies will be happy to have suckers that will pay them and that they can minimize their payout when you get sick. Winning!!

 

[bradly1101]

Our fearful leader has determined that the flak he'll get for this from healthcare consumers is less important than the praise he'll get from leaders in his party for undermining his predecessor, a republican goal since Obama's election.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Champion of the people. Here here!

 

[soundforbjt]

Who was that one poster here who was complaining about the ACA and how it directly affected him and blamed the Democrats despite, repeatedly, being shown that Republicans were the mayor cause for some of the markets collapsing? His attitude was fuck everyone else I want mine.

I know, I know, I could be describing any number of people.

Anyways, to that guy, enjoy your even higher premiums and even fewer insurance provider options! The good news is that you'll finally get that basic coverage you so desperately wanted! I'm sure the insurance companies will be happy to have suckers that will pay them and that they can minimize their payout when you get sick. Winning!!

I think that was Sea Ray, iirc.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Sea Bray. Should be pretty excited about the butt fucking red states are about to get.