Congressional Republicans missed their best and probably last chance this year to stabilize the Affordable Care Act when they passed a government funding package without a health deal. As a result, repeal of the individual mandate and the Trump administration’s proposal to expand non-ACA plans are projected to spike premiums by 18% beyond medical inflation next year.
At the same time, the Trump administration is encouraging waivers to the Medicaid program that put up barriers to enrollment, limit benefits and increase costs for the poor.
States can take action to mitigate coverage losses and premium increases, and most of the ACA’s historic coverage gains will persist. But it is imperative to chart a path forward for the health care system — a path of expansion and greater security rather than retrenchment. That path is the idea of “Medicare for anyone.”
The above excerpt was originally published in USA Today.
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