If supposedly moderate Republicans were really concerned about the number of people who would become uninsured under Trumpcare, then they should have no problem stopping immediate repeal of Obamacare in its tracks—right now. They should deny McConnell even the first procedural vote to bring this to the floor.
Sen. Susan Collins is already a "no." With Sen. John McCain out for at least a week recovering from surgery, there only needs to be one more. But more would be good, and they have no reason to wait for more information to come in. Because back in January, the Congressional Budget Office scored repeal only, and the results were pretty devastating: 18 million losing insurance next year, 32 million by 2023, and premiums doubled by 2026.
The number of people who are uninsured would increase by 18 million in the first new plan year following enactment of the bill. Later, after the elimination of the ACA’s expansion of Medicaid eligibility and of subsidies for insurance purchased through the ACA marketplaces, that number would increase to 27 million, and then to 32 million in 2026.
Premiums in the nongroup market (for individual policies purchased through the marketplaces or directly from insurers) would increase by 20 percent to 25 percent—relative to projections under current law—in the first new plan year following enactment. The increase would reach about 50 percent in the year following the elimination of the Medicaid expansion and the marketplace subsidies, and premiums would about double by 2026.
Oh, and repeal would increase the deficit by $137 billion, according to the CBO in 2015. That number is probably a little different two years on, but it's not as if Republicans really care about the deficit anyway.
On the floor Tuesday morning, Democratic Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer listed a bunch of Republican senators who have said that this “repeal now, replace later” idea was a bad one: Cassidy (LA), Alexander (TN), Corker (TN), Cotton (AR), Hatch (UT), Isakson (GA), Moran (KS), McCain (AZ), Murkowski (AK), and Paul (KY). Any one of these could just end this farce now by refusing to move forward with McConnell's ploy.
Let's stop this now, before it even comes to another vote.
Time to jam the phone lines--Republicans are still planning a vote to repeal Obamacare, and this time without a replacement. Call your Senator at (202) 224-3121 and tell them repealing Obamacare is SICK, MEAN and CRUEL. Then, tell us how it went.