Readers: Do you like the proposed ACA replacement plan?

Salisbury

Americans deserve better than ACA or GOP replacement

The information that has been published regarding the replacement process for the Affordable Care Act is most disturbing if individuals are depending on Medicaid options. And we don’t know how it will affect Medicare recipients, which of course is of main concern to me.

There is no doubt this insurance coverage has become unaffordable, but I still don’t understand how the new plans will be affordable or appropriate for everyone. How can a plan be passed in Congress if arrangements to fund it haven’t been developed?

The Affordable Care Act was pushed through Congress without a lot of review, and now it seems the repeal and replace bill will be pushed through just to get it done.

Where has all of the common sense gone in this country? It just seems as if it is always get it done, but not get it right.

The citizens of this country deserve better.

Rose Carey

Delmar

It appears millions of Americans will suffer

Like with Obamacare, my wife and I don’t have to like or dislike Trumpcare no matter its form. It won’t drastically influence our health care.

Luck and fortuitous timing in our lives — along with good and some bad decisions, work and persistence — has, for now and we hope for the rest of our lives, made our health care good, if not the best, and affordable until we depart.

Understand the emphasis is on the luck and timing, which was often beyond our control.

Unfortunately, tens of millions of Americans work and persist, but lack the luck and timing we were blessed with.

Now for those Americans, health care is controlled by well-to-do tax-cutters who believe they are an island and the poor are lazy. Their fears include a sense that helping the needy will cost money — and somebody undeserving might benefit.

It appears millions of Americans, including Trump’s supporters, will suffer.

George Timothy Mason

Salisbury

LETTER: ACA replacement contradicts itself

Give GOP time, space to get it right

Considering the number of lies told by the Democrats in order to get Obamacare passed, to wit:

“If you like your doctor you can keep your doctor,” “If you like your health plan you can keep your health plan,” “We will start by reducing premiums by up to $2,500 per year,” “We have to pass the bill so you can find out what’s in it” and my personal favorite from Jonathan Gruber of MIT and an adviser to the president on the bill: “The lack of transparency is a huge political advantage” and “The stupidity of the American voter ... was really, really critical for the thing to pass.”

Never forget, Obamacare was designed to fail so we would have no choice but a “single (government) payer” system.

I think I’ll give the Republicans the time and space they need to get it right (if that’s even possible, considering the death spiral Obamacare is in now).

Carol Frazier

Ocean Pines

Approach using ‘partial repeal’ unsatisfactory

I am unhappy in its approach. It has been reported to be a partial repeal and not a total replacement.

House Speaker Paul Ryan is defending this course because it is only the first of three major bills to replace the Affordable Care Act.

I wanted to see a total repeal, and then there would be a greater pressure on all members of Congress to bring back those portions of the ACA that are good.

How many people realize the ACA put a tax on real estate sales? How many people know the ACA took over the Federal Student Loan Program and prescribes what interest rates are, instead of the market? The payment board will lead to eventual rationing of health care.

There were just too many parts of the ACA that need to be totally repealed. I’m afraid this piecemeal approach will miss the mark.

Arie Klapholz

Ocean Pines

Many concerns, but hopeful Trump will fix them

It is early yet to see what will actually be finalized in President Trump’s plan, especially since some Republicans think it is too lenient.

I am glad to see young people will be able to remain on their parents’ plan until age 26, and that pre-existing conditions will still be covered.

I agree that people shouldn’t be required to buy health insurance and shouldn’t face penalties for not having it. How much sense does that make?

People can’t afford to buy health insurance and then have to pay a penalty in addition to paying for their health care?

It is a concern to me that expanded Medicaid may be eliminated, causing millions of people to lose their health coverage.

Another problem that needs to be addressed is the huge profits made by pharmaceutical companies, causing medications to be outrageously priced.

Trump has promised to do something about this; hopefully, he will follow through.

Deborah Nissley

Fairmount

I have a suggestion about that

The proposed health care replacement plan has fewer pages of regulations than the current Affordable Care Act. Granted, the ACA is chock full of regulations and left many people with no personal physician, increased costs and no insurance.

The new proposal has different regulations, and so-called cost savings or tax incentives.

The original ACA was passed with no adult supervision and based on pure politics.

The new version is much of the same, except it has fewer pages.

Congress gets Cadillac health care and only cares about re-election — regardless of political affiliation.

Physicians and patients are confused and frustrated by complicated government control.

The solution: Stop benefits for all elected officials and let them shop for affordable coverage, along with a personal physician who will accept their insurance.

With the money that is being wasted by Washington bureaucrats, Americans could have free health care. Any time government gets involved, watch out!

Carl Crumbacker Sr.

Eden

Many issues raised by this first draft

The president has said this draft is just a starting point.

The bill that survives the processes will have an uncertain relationship to this draft — if the parties involved can produce a bill that will gather enough support.

As to specifics, I oppose to the refundable tax credit approach because it will provide unneeded subsidies to those with upper incomes, but no meaningful support to many with lower incomes. The latter point will substantially increase the nation’s health costs by increasing again the use of emergency rooms for routine care.

The draft put forth — largely the Paul Ryan approach — seems to be a “Back to the Future” set of proposals. Preventive care is downplayed, coverage of the impoverished (with more health needs) is reduced and it will increase health costs for all.

Let’s re-examine when the House votes on a bill and it goes to the Senate.

Dick Taeuber

Salisbury

Time for Republicans to take ownership

Republicans finally have to take responsibility for their actions. No longer can Republican conservatives bloviate about all the fixes they have for the ACA. They must deliver or suffer the consequences.

It is already clear the new plan they proposed is going to hurt the poor, but give tremendous tax breaks to the wealthy.

It is also clear they have never had a clue about to how to “fix” the problems they earlier created by opposing ACA solutions that could have solved health care for all.

The only real solution to health care is to have Medicare for all. Funding it properly through fair taxation is reasonable, but Republicans have a history of wanting a free ride — with no taxes from anyone to pay the bills.

Conservatives must now be held accountable. That is something they have never wanted.

Let’s hear our local conservatives rationalize that.

Geoff Smoot

Hebron

MORE OPINION: Reader panel rate's Trump's first address to Congress

Too early in process to like or dislike

I really do not know how anyone at this juncture of the legislative process can say whether or not they like or dislike the alternative to Obamacare. This new bill is a work in progress.

The single bill recently released is not even the entire plan. Replacing Obamacare is a three-step process.

First, this single bill must go through reconciliation because it is a budgetary process.

The next step will be to go through the hundreds of rules and thousands of guideline letters issued under Obamacare to determine if they help or hurt patients.

The third step in the process is to pass another bill that does not have to go through the budgetary reconciliation process and addresses a myriad of issues — including the sale of health insurance across state lines, lawsuit abuse reform, expansion of health savings accounts and other issues that will bring the cost of health insurance down.

David R. Etheridge

Hebron