There remains a strong intraparty divide between GOP Senators on how best to reform our nation’s complicated health care system. Principled conservatives argue that the Senate Health Care Bill, formally known as the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA), is not ideal. For example, the bill keeps Affordable Care Act (ACA)-like subsidies intact for people who don’t have access to employer-sponsored insurance. They argue that throwing subsidies at an unaffordable problem (the unaffordable problem being the cost of health insurance as a result of premium-driving regulations) is not a thoughtful solution to that problem.
This is true.
Meanwhile, other GOPers and conservative policy wonks believe that BCRA is a way to begin pivoting the health care system in a direction that incrementally reduces health insurance subsides, mandates, and regulations that will ultimately make health coverage more affordable for more people. Think of it this way: when Obamacare was passed in 2010, many on the Left were not thrilled. The law did not resemble their ideal single-payer system, but it certainly has proven to make strides towards that direction. Just look at the large percentage of the newly insured who have gained Medicaid coverage in the 31 states that have chosen to expand this program in exchange for more federal monies.
Despite the bill’s flaws, there are some positives worth highlighting. One of the best ideas that has come out of the Senate is Ted Cruz’s proposed amendment to allow insurance companies to opt out of community rating – a regulation imposed under Obamacare that prevents insurance carriers from fairly pricing premiums based on health status. Community rating has led to a mass exodus of insurance companies in North Carolina. It is one of THE reasons why premiums have doubled over the past four years. Undoing community rating will give insurance companies the go ahead to offer plans that will lure the young and healthy to sign up for health insurance in the non-group market. And, undoing community rating does NOT mean that people with pre-existing conditions will be denied coverage.
