THE 2017 REPUBLICAN HEALTH "CARE" PLAN
A STUDY IN EVIL AND STUPIDITY.
THIS LEGISLATION MUST BE STOPPED.
WARNING: TOXIC! DO NOT CONSUME!
PASSAGE OF THIS BILL
CAN PRODUCE SICKNESS AND DEATH!
Every modern country in the world believes its citizens have the right to health care, except America. And now under the new republican health "care" plan, around 24 million will lose their coverage by 2026. This is the official estimate from the Congressional Budget Office. The estimate from the White House is even worse, placing the loss around 26 million (Politico, 3-13-17).
The issue of health care in this country should not be a Republican or Democratic issue. It is an issue of life and death. It is an issue of national security.
Thousands of Americans die every year from a lack of health care. Before the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (or "Obamacare") 50 million Americans were not insured. 45,000 People died every year from a lack of health coverage (Harvard Gazette, 2009). Yet an estimated 30 million people still don't have coverage, even after the implementation of "Obamacare" (Census Bureau, 9-13-16). So this means that it's likely that somewhere around 27,000 people are still dying every year because of a lack of health insurance.
Former President Obama's Affordable Care Act was not a perfect health care plan. Yet Obama deserves some credit for helping to provide health insurance to 20 million Americans who didn't have it before.
However, House Republicans have been trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act for as long as it has existed. They've had six years to come up with their own replacement plan, and as of Monday (March, 6th 2017), this plan has been released to the public. A plan they call "The American Health Care Act."
It was our hope that if the Affordable Care Act was replaced, it would get replaced with something more comprehensive, such as Single Payer (which is what every other modern state has). We agree that the current system is inadequate, and needs to be replaced with something that can cover everyone. We're not going to get into the details of how that should be done, but the important thing is to make sure every American has access to care. And we as an organization have long been on the record in supporting universal health care for all.
In his campaign, President Donald Trump made the American people a solemn promise that he would cover everyone. He promised that he would not let people "die in the streets."
But what the Republicans have released is not a comprehensive plan. It is a disaster. A political disaster. A health care disaster. A disaster for the sick and the poor. In President Donald Trump's support for this legislation, he has abandoned his promise to the American people. And many of the poor, working class Americans who voted for him will lose their coverage.
The plan will roll back the expansion of Medicaid by 2020, cut funding for Planned Parenthood, and repeal subsidies for low income people.
In the 2018 Congressional Elections, this plan could be an utter disaster for the Republican Party. Already people are turning up in record numbers at their local town halls to express outrage at their representatives over the very real fear that they will lose their coverage. And if this plan passes, it will be a disaster for the American people.
THE NEED FOR SINGLE PAYER
The Need for Single Payer Health Insurance
THE HOUSE GOP HEALTH CARE ACT
Introduction To The Bill On The GOP Website
ESTIMATES OF REPUBLICAN PLAN
Official Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate (PDF)
White House analysis of Obamacare repeal sees even deeper insurance losses than CBO (Politico, 3-13-17)
ORGANIZATIONS FIGHTING THE HOUSE GOP HEALTH CARE PLAN
(Disclaimer: This is not a complete list of all groups against the House GOP plan. There are many more than what is listed. )
LIBERAL GROUPS
Families USA MoveOn American Bridge Center for American Progress Our Revolution
CONSERVATIVE GROUPS
Heritage Freedomworks Club For Growth CATO Institute Americans for Prosperity Tea Party Patriots
MEDICAL GROUPS
The American Medical Association AARP The American Nurses Association The American College of Physicians National Nurses United
National Physicians Alliance Association of American Physicians and Surgeons American Academy of Pediatrics
NEWS ON GROUPS
Medical providers oppose Trump-backed health plan, Democrats take aim (Reuters, 3-8-17)
UPDATE 3-Democrats fight Trump-backed U.S. healthcare plan, Ryan defends it (CNBC, 3-8-17)
Powerful conservative forces line up against House GOP health plan (Politico, 3-7-17)
MORE NEWS ON THE GOP HEALTH CARE BILL
Trumpcare: Fiction and Fact (The New York Times, 3-13-17)
The GOP Health Bill Is an Assault on People of Color (Our Future, 3-12-17)
The poor ‘just don’t want healthcare’: Republican congressman faces backlash over comments (Washington Post, 3-10-17)
The House Republicans’ health-care bill is a thicket of bad incentives (Washington Post, 3-8-17)
Rep. Republicans unveil bill to repeal and replace Obamacare (CNN, 3-7-17)
Why GOP plans on health care will hurt all women (CNN, 3-7-17)
'Obamacare Lite'? Not Quite (The Atlantic, 3-6-17)
House Republicans Unveil Plan to Replace Health Law (New York Times, 3-6-17)
For Chronically Ill People Like Me, the ACA Repeal Is Life Or Death (Common Dreams, 3-6-17)
TAKE ACTION
There is action that you as a citizen can take to oppose the GOP Health "Care" Plan. Americans all over the country are lining up at their town halls to hold their representatives responsible, and to demand that their representatives take action to stop this disastrous bill. There are also other ways to fight back, such as in contacting a representative, spreading the word and getting others mobilized for action. See the guides and resources we have listed below.
Protect Our Care (Families USA)
A guide to taking action against the Health Care Bill that includes information on how to contact your representative, and spread the word on social media.
Email Congress Today (Coalition to Protect America's Healthcare)
A guide to emailing Congress about the Health Care Bill.
Find a Town Hall Near You (Town Hall Project)
A guide to finding town hall events near your zipcode.
Your Guide to Town Halls (The Sierra Club)
A guide on how to find and engage with your representatives at town halls.
A Practical Guide For Resisting Trump (Indivisible)
A thorough guide to political action in the age of Trump.
Citizen Education Guide (World Future Fund)
Our own guide to civic engagement.