The health reform affects us all. While decisions are still being made, here’s an update on the latest.
Earlier in May, the U.S. House passed the ACHA. As for the policy challenges, there are three key moderating areas with the greatest likelihood for changes in the Senate. Those policy areas are Medicaid reforms, tax credits to purchase coverage, and insurance market reforms. In addition to navigating the political and policy challenges, Republicans will need to perform legislative gymnastics in order to comply with the complicated rules of reconciliation. This is particularly important since some of the carefully negotiated provisions that ultimately helped achieve House passage may need to be dropped in order to maintain reconciliation protections.
While details remain scarce, the document is expected to outline a path toward a balanced federal budget within 10 years through a combination of economic growth (estimated at 3%), cuts to non-defense spending programs and other savings, and up to $800 billion in cuts to means-tested mandatory spending programs, including Medicaid but not Medicare or Social Security. Additionally we can envision a scenario in which a number of ACA taxes are repealed as part of AHCA and Congressional Republicans end up calling that “tax relief.”
What does this mean for California? CAHU’s annual Capitol Summit was May 9-10 in Sacramento. A wide variety of speakers and information was provided to 225 participants. The big topic of information was SB 562 that calls for a government-run universal single payer health program. A high point was the revealing of CAHU commissioned professional polling results on how California voters viewed single payer.
- Some key poll highlights: 81% of voters 81% are happy with their health plan over the past three years.
- 66% of voters are against universal single payer when they know the cost
- 74% become less likely to support universal single payer healthcare knowing it eliminates employer paid health coverage
- 73% become less likely to support universal single payer healthcare knowing it would leave Californians with a limitless bill for their health care
The right health insurance can help financially protect you. To learn more about your insurance options, contact Donald Weiss Insurance Services today!