Wisconsin is one of the states that has not accepted the Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. It is there hopes that Congress comes up with a new strategy that covers the 20 million Americans who will lose coverage if the Affordable Care Act is repealed. the Medicaid expansion would save Wisconsin over $206 Million. It is common knowledge that other Republican Governors have expanded Medicaid such as John Kasich in Ohio.
It is also not commonly known that John Kasich did have a health reform plan in 1993. Yes, he had basic conservative ideas such as Health Savings Accounts etc. Then Congressman John Kasich had other ways to improve healthcare that was in line with what the Clinton administration was proposing. (1)
A year later, Kasich introduced a plan that would have provided health insurance to all Americans by 2005. He would require people to purchase through their employers on the private market, with government subsidies helping those below or near the federal poverty line. Small businesses and individuals would have been able to join “voluntary alliances” to purchase insurance as a pool. It also ensured that those with pre-existing conditions could get coverage. (1)
In 2006 Economist Johnathan Gruber was the architect of the Massechussets Healthcare Reform. This closely followed John Kasich's model such as the requirement of employee-based health insurance. It expanded government programs such as Medicaid. It allowed young people to be covered under their parent's insurance up into the age of 26. Gruber also worked on the Affordable Care Act and has publically stated that the Affordable Care Act is based on the Massechussets Health plan.
Now that the new Republican Party has totally gone off the rails. They are determined to repeal Obamacare no matter what happens. Ohio Gov. John Kasich warned Republicans in Congress against any delay in replacing Obamacare, saying any lag time after repealing the health care law would have “serious consequences.” (2) Kasich also asked GOP leaders not to repeal the Medicaid expansion, which has allowed 700,000 Ohioans to gain coverage. That request is sure to be controversial since most Republicans want to nix Obamacare in its entirety. (2)
There are two ways to look at this turn of events. One is that Kasich is getting ready to leave the Republican Party. Since he was on the never Trump wagon. Plus he didn't attend the convention that was held in his own state. Second, He is doing this for political purposes. Repealing the Medicaid expansion from the Affordable Care Act would make it really hard for him to challenge Sherrod Brown in 2018.
Rather your thoughts on Governor Kasich are good or bad. It is important to point out that the law that Washington Republicans want to repeal is rooted in his proposals from when he was back in congress. I personally believe that repealing the Affordable Care Act will be tricky and if Congress repeals it without replacement, there will be serious consequences.
I personally was helped by the Affordable Care Act. I was covered under my parent's insurance until I was 26. I also have a pre-existing condition.
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