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[Vanillalite]

NPR

This week, presidential candidate and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush released his own detailed proposal for repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act. In a speech and an op-ed in the New Hampshire Union Leader, Bush announced his plan is aimed at cutting health care costs. Here's what his plan would do.

What are the basics of Bush's plan?

Bush's speech and op-ed decry the "skyrocketing premium costs" he says Obamacare created and argue for giving more power to the states. With those as his major guiding principles, here are the highlights of his plan:

Repeal Obamacare, providing its 17 million participants a "transition plan" away from the program.

Give people tax credits to buy catastrophic health care plans.

Replace the so-called "Cadillac Tax," albeit with a policy similarly imposing higher taxes on expensive health plans.

Allow some businesses to contribute toward their workers' health insurance, in lieu of providing that coverage themselves.

Eliminate the benefits the ACA requires health plans to provide.

Increase the maximum amount that people can contribute to their health savings accounts from $3,350 to $6,650.

Cap federal health spending to states, creating what appears to be a block grant-like Medicaid program.

 

[Volimar]

Fuck over the middle class.

And the poors.

 

[Hollycat]

Catastrophic isnt enough Jeb. Go jump in a lake

 

[Sub_Level]

Just read the OP, not the article, but at least its SOMETHING as opposed to the time and time and time and time again that republicans have just simply said its bad without providing any real ideas.

If they could have done that with the Iran deal maybe there would have also been some more actual discussion.

 

[BajiBoxer]

No.

 

[B-Dubs]

Jeb! you are a horrible human being and you should feel horrible and embarrassed at even suggesting this as a "solution."

 

[Pai Pai Master]

Hey guys I have a solution. Let's allow insurance companies to fuck you over for pre-existing conditions again. Sound cool? No?

 

[Raxus]

Wow that sounds awful and against a lot of what the modern medical community is gunning for. Did Jeb talk to anyone from the medical community?

 

[deadlast]

In Bush America, only the rich are allowed to have health care.

 

[Leatherface]

Derp!

 

[Dennis]

!Jeb is still running?

But he is dead in the water...

 

[Crud]

BushCare

 

[Mengy]

That's not a solution, nor even a viable alternative. Holy Shit.

 

[Vicetrailia]

Republicans are bad news.

 

[Patryn]

Health Savings Accounts pretty much work only for those in their early 20s. They're basically useful if you have one catastrophic event, after which your account is pretty much wiped out.

 

[jmdajr]

My insurance hasn't gone up in years.

 

[Raxus]

!Jeb is still running?

But he is dead in the water...

At 8% despite a dead fish having more personality than him. His rise and fall in the polls is a good indicator how far name recognition alone can get you in a primary.

 

[la flama blanca]

!Jeb is still running?

But he is dead in the water...

Wouldn't the Republican party have to settle for him as he's one of the most moderate runners?

 

[Omegasquash]

Define "catastrophe" in this context, please.

 

[TemplaerDude]

Ignorant. Not surprising.

 

[Blader]

Health Savings Accounts pretty much work only for those in their early 20s. They're basically useful if you have one catastrophic event, after which your account is pretty much wiped out.

The demographic most likely to have a spare $3,000 sitting around and waiting to be invested.

 

[Raxus]

Define "catastrophe" in this context, please.

Savings spent upon a major health crisis (an MI, car accident, etc.)

 

[Plinko]

Fuck over the middle class.

And the poors.

Once again, first post nails it.

 

[Goro Majima]

I just don't see him winning the nomination much less the presidency thankfully. His numbers have been low for so long at this point.

His plan is basically more or less to bring back the old system unless I'm reading it wrong?

 

[TheOMan]

Fuck over the middle class.

And the poors.

This is redundant to the people pulling his strings.

 

[erlim]

Catastrophic isnt enough Jeb. Go jump in a lake

And to add to that, don't have fun while you're leisure swimming.

 

[Walter White Walker]

Health Savings Accounts pretty much work only for those in their early 20s. They're basically useful if you have one catastrophic event, after which your account is pretty much wiped out.

No way, man - it's the best retirement account I own. I put in the max every year and it gets me back about $1100 more on my federal taxes, so basically I have an "immediate" 33% return. I pay my health expenses out of pocket when I have them and leave my HSA to grow.

The rest of his plan is bullcrap, though.

 

[Raxus]

I just don't see him winning the nomination much less the presidency thankfully. His numbers have been low for so long at this point.

His plan is basically more or less to bring back the old system unless I'm reading it wrong?

Aside from the tax credits and the 'transition system' it seems to be that way at first glance without more details. It is less of a plan and more lipservice that would never get passed in the house/senate.

 

[RustyNails]

HSA is such a bullshit vehicle. It basically says, hey you idiot, save some money in case you hit your head with a rock, because you're stupid enough to do that.

One visit to the doctor and its all gone. Now what?

 

[RustyNails]

My biggest question is how does he plan to get those 17 million uninsured without obamacare on a transistional plan without a mandate?

 

[balladofwindfishes]

The GOP finally gave up the "trade healthcare across state lines!!!" race to the bottom nonsense, I guess, as it isn't in the plan.

 

[Guevara]

What is with HSAs? I mean, they'd be great if you hate taxes and know you'll never be sick.

 

[Slayven]

i always imagine Jeb going home and crying to Barb saying "but Unca Rove said it was my turn!"

 

[massivekettle]

OP failed to quote the important bit.

Altogether, the plan looks like it could easily lower health care spending.

"Do I believe that his plan will cost less than the current status quo under the Affordable Care Act? I believe the answer is yes," said Mark Fendrick, a professor at University of Michigan's medical school and public health school.

 

[Somnid]

The solution to "skyrocketing" premiums is to charge poor people more for crappier plans?

 

[Polioliolio]

Can someone name one single bad thing about Obama-Care?

Thanks to it, I was able to have health insurance this past year where I otherwise would have nothing.

Thanks Obama!

 

[David Incorporated Esq.]

What is with HSAs? I mean, they'd be great if you hate taxes and know you'll never be sick.

They're a very good vehicle for getting young people with incomes into buying healthcare. They don't need constant medical attention like their elders, but are still vulnerable to catastrophic issues like accidents or cancer that would leave them bankrupt ('Murica!). Having an HSA is good coverage for people in situations like that.

Myself, I spend maybe $500 a year on medical expenses out of an HSA with a $3,500 deductible. I've more than enough money in the account so I'm not depositing very little in it and my premiums are also very low because it doesn't have to cover small expenditures. The coverage does, however, net me some credits as I pay a negotiated rate to doctors, not straight cash.

 

[massivekettle]

Can someone name one single bad thing about Obama-Care?

Thanks to it, I was able to have health insurance this past year where I otherwise would have nothing.

Thanks Obama!

https://obamacare.net/problems-with-obamacare/

 

[Slayven]

Can someone name one single bad thing about Obama-Care?

Thanks to it, I was able to have health insurance this past year where I otherwise would have nothing.

Thanks Obama!

A Black Democrat pushed it through

 

[cameron]

Bush's plan gets rid of the requirement that plans cover certain things (Obamacare's "essential health benefits"), like maternal care and mental health. Rather, it encourages so-called "catastrophic" health insurance plans — bare-bones plans that protect people in expensive emergency situations. Those plans tend to not only have lower premiums but also higher deductibles.

"Bush emphasizes high-deductible plans and [health savings accounts] and wants to encourage those plans. High deductibles do discourage people from using services and lead to lower health spending overall," Leavitt said.

Lower health spending by removing essential health benefits and discouraging people from using health services due to high deductibles. This is something to be proud of?

 

[PeskyToaster]

Yup HSAs aren't a bad way to go to save money if you don't need health care on the reg but still want something in case things go south. I have routine eye issues to sort out so it was better for me to go with a more traditional plan.

 

[OnPoint]

This is basically what I'm reading from that:

"Yeah, the government just spent all this time and money and energy setting this all up, and yeah the people using the program finally have coverage, and spent time to set this up.

"What we're going to do is spend more time and money and energy tearing this down, requiring people to go through another program to have coverage, and spend time setting that up again."​

Sounds like a great waste of resources, time, money and energy, and they'd be better off working on or improving what's already there instead of cutting something down simply because of politics.

 

[Lambtron]

OP failed to quote the important bit.

No fucking shit it will be cheaper; it's not providing suitable healthcare coverage for people. That's a hell of a lot cheaper than helping them out.

Spoiler

Something something the best way to lower costs would be single payer.

https://obamacare.net/problems-with-obamacare/

From this link: "One of the biggest concerns among opponents of the ACA is that they will have to support medical procedures and treatment options that go against their religious beliefs. This is a legitimate concern since the ACA is paid for by taxes."

Ah. Solid source.

 

[Holmes]

Well at least he offered an alternative, which is rare among Republicans. Still horrible tho.

 

[balladofwindfishes]

They're a very good vehicle for getting young people with incomes into buying healthcare.

An HSA was the only insurance my dad's old company offered and it was absolute garbage for a family of 5. The HSA system seriously needs to be restructured so it can't be the only insurance offered for certain companies.

So I've been incredibly put off by them. A lot of people in my company have as well, since nobody used our HSA system, they discontinued it and went back to offering 75% of regular insurance.

 

[deltatheta]

Well, I have to give a little credit for a republican to actually propose something other than "repeal and replace with ... tort reform I guess!"

 

[Mr. X]

We'll call it "Jeb Doesn't"-Care

 

[djplaeskool]

Bush's plan gets rid of the requirement that plans cover certain things (Obamacare's "essential health benefits"), like maternal care and mental health. Rather, it encourages so-called "catastrophic" health insurance plans — bare-bones plans that protect people in expensive emergency situations. Those plans tend to not only have lower premiums but also higher deductibles.

"Bush emphasizes high-deductible plans and [health savings accounts] and wants to encourage those plans. High deductibles do discourage people from using services and lead to lower health spending overall," Leavitt said.

Loss of benefits for maternal and mental care, and reliance on HDHPs and HSAs.
What a god damn nightmare.

 

[CharlieDigital]

Bush's plan gets rid of the requirement that plans cover certain things (Obamacare's "essential health benefits"), like maternal care and mental health.

- "Pro-life, but fuck mothers! FETUSESFO'LYFE"

- "It's not a gun problem, it's a mental health problem. But fuck it, who needs mental health?"

 

[JaggedSac]

Health Savings Accounts pretty much work only for those in their early 20s. They're basically useful if you have one catastrophic event, after which your account is pretty much wiped out.

I am on a plan with an HSA that also has a yearly deductible of $1500, that once reached, 80% of costs are paid for. There is a yearly out of pocket maximum too, but I can't recall what that is currently. My monthly premium for this plan is $12.

The big problems with this Bush plan are lifetime limits and pre-existing conditions.