A Comparison Between the AHCA and
California's Single Payer Proposal, SB 562.
THE AHCA |
SB 562 |
How much will it cost you for insurance?
|
Variable, depending on age. For some older people, coverage could well cost more than their annual income. |
Nothing. Ever. |
How much will it cost you if you get sick? |
|
Potentially everything you have, and more. States
can define what is covered ("essential benefits")
and your illness may not be covered. There could also
be yearly and lifetime limits on what your insurance will pay. |
Nothing. Ever. |
What happens when you run out of money to pay for
your life-saving treatments?
|
|
There's always GOFUNDMe. |
Never happens. |
If you are able to get insurance, what will your
deductible be? |
|
Thousands of dollars. Possibly much more than now
because the infamous cost-sharing subsidies would
likely go away. |
Nothing. Ever. |
If you do have to visit a doctor, what will your
copay be? |
|
Whatever your insurance company thinks they can get away with. |
Nothing. Ever. |
IF YOU NEED A PRESCRIPTION, WHAT WILL YOUR CO-PAY OR COST BE? |
|
Whatever your insurance company thinks they can get away with. |
Nothing. Ever. |
Who will control whether you get the treatment
your doctor recommends? |
|
Your insurance company. |
Your doctor. |
How many California residents will die OR SUFFER
NEEDLESSLY BECAUSE THEY LACK MONEY FOR TREATMENT?
|
|
Likely thousands of dead, tens if not hundreds
of thousands suffering needlessly. |
No one. Ever. |
WhO will Benefit? |
|
Insurance companies and their executives. |
Pretty much everyone except
health insurance CEOs. (Plus
health care professionals
who may initially see more
patients and businesses that
may end up providing more medical devices and services.)
|
What will happen to those on Medicaid? |
|
Medicaid will be phased out and coverage potentially
reduced. Ten years from now, if you were to need it
and would have been eligible for Medicaid under
today’s standards you probably won’t be able to qualify.
|
Not relevant. Everyone is covered. |
What will happen to those who get coverage through
the exchanges? |
|
Your premiums could rise exponentially, especially if
you are older and now receive a subsidy. As time
goes by, since there is no inflation adjustment for
the already emasculated subsidies, it will get worse
and worse. |
Not relevant. Everyone is covered with no premiums. |
What happens to those who get coverage through Medicare? |
|
Nothing. Yet. (Cue ominous music). |
You’ll no longer pay for Part
C or Part D. But you’ll get
full coverage, just like
everyone else. |
Who will end up paying? |
|
Those who get sick. Those with pre-existing
conditions. Those without workplace coverage.
Those who lose their jobs. But not the very well
off, who will see their taxes cut. |
Everyone who can afford it, through progressive taxation.
(a gross receipts tax on big businesses, a sales tax with
a rebate for the indigent) |
What happens if I need expensive dental work? |
|
You can always go to Mexico. |
You get it done. For free. |
WHAT DO I DO WHEN THE DEBT COLLECTOR THREATENS ME ABOUT MY MEDICAL DEBT? |
|
You can always declare bankruptcy. |
Never happens. |
What if I go insane because Republicans are
destroying the country? |
|
Too bad! That’s clearly a pre-existing condition. |
You’re covered! |
|
|
Note: Yes, the Senate may change the AHCA parameters a bit, but the major thrusts seem clear.
Note: Before you ask the standard questions in the comments about single-payer and the California proposal, consider READING THE FAQ! And also An Analysis of SB 562.
The financial study on SB 562 is here, and the legislation itself is here.
You can find other diaries of mine about the topic here as well.