Exciting and optimistic news for those currently covered by the Affordable Care Act came this past Tuesday when the Better Care Reconciliation Act, a bill proposal that would repeal the ACA see at least 22 million Americans become uninsured over the next 10 years and systematically dismantle critical parts of existing coverage for Americans nationwide, was all but doomed due to a lack of GOP support. Two more Republican Senators broke party lines and blatantly said that would not support the bill as it stands now, bringing the count to *4*, with another nearly three dozen Republican Senators either undecided or deeply concerned over the provisions and cuts built into the bill. Those opposing Senators are Susan Collins of Maine, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Mike Lee of Utah and Jerry Moran of Kansas.
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As of now, 52 members of Senate oppose the the current replacement, according to the New York Times, which als0 includes all 46 Senate Democrats, Independents Angus King, also known from his current placement on the Senate Intelligence Committee, making appearances at both the Comey and Sessions hearings, and Bernie Sanders, former Presidential Candidate from the 2016 cycle.
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The main concerns from all parties opposed to the bill is that it does nothing to improve Obamacare (the Affordable Care Act) from either a coverage or a financial perspective. Not only does the new plan eliminate tax increases to the wealthy, a key component to the ACA’s ability to expand Medicare and fund affordable health insurance to low income families across the country, but it also guarantees a one year complete defunding of Planned Parenthood with built-in options to continue defunding it, less equitable coverage for those with pre-existing conditions, state-to-state definitions of “essential health benefits”, endangering millions of people of potentially being disqualified from basic benefits to their lives, and would eliminate individual and employer insurance mandates.
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