It’s no secret nor surprise that President Trump has wanted to do away with Obamacare. This is a promise he made back in the days of his election campaign, and it’s one he’s had every intention of keeping.
That said, it’s been more difficult than anticipated for the president to remove all traces of Obamacare, and come up with a new healthcare system for the country’s citizens. There have been various roadblocks, mostly a lack of votes needed to pass some of his policies.
Trump has not been deterred, though. This past week, he’s pushed for the finalization of a new mandate on Obamacare. Federal health officials will vote on whether those with health insurance should get access to free contraception.
Under Trump’s mandate, moral objections, religious objections, and more can prohibit an employer from granting access to health insurance coverage to their employees.
Supposedly, President Trump has had this mandate up his sleeve all summer, since at least early June, when a similar mandate appeared online.
Some have viewed this mandate as controversial, such as Jamila Taylor of the Center for American Progress or CAP. She cites a 2014 study produced by the admittedly leftist organization.
In said study, which refers to the 2014 Burwell vs. Hobby Lobby case, it was ruled that when it came to contraceptive decisions, the Department of Health and Human Services or HHS could let for-profit religious companies pass on such a mandate via religious accommodation.
“The data suggest that Trump’s new rule could open up the floodgates for nearly anyone to force women to either pay out of pocket or navigate hurdles to obtaining additional coverage for contraception…President Donald Trump and [HHS] Secretary Tom Price are, in effect, saying to women that any employer’s personal views can decide whether or not you get birth control,” elaborated Taylor.
Regardless of the opposition, though, President Trump has seemingly every intent to push on with the plans. He already had a White House spokesperson put out a statement regarding Obamacare for the month of August.
Since the month is already more than halfway over, the insurers will receive their money for Obamacare, the statement said. Although Trump has suggested the opposite in the past, for the rest of this month, at least, Obamacare is still in play.
That said, there seems to be a divide among Republicans about how Trump’s healthcare ideas can see the light of day. As mentioned before, some of the obstacles include the Senate’s repeated disapproval of attempted mandates for a new healthcare reform.
Even in July, when the Republicans repealed, the Senate still shot the efforts down.
At any point, President Trump could decide to figuratively pull the rug out from under Obamacare, ceasing to pay the insurers.
If that happens, experts suggest that healthcare prices will only increase in 2018. In fact, there could be a 20 percent jump in insurance premiums for those who are currently covered under Obamacare.
Insurers are running out of time. Before September is over, they need to have the health insurance plans ready for 2018 so American citizens can start purchasing coverage for the year ahead.
Republican Study Committee Chairman Mark Waller, a Republican, was displeased with the back-and-forth and said as much.
“Instead of the executive branch issuing unconstitutional payments to bail out insurance companies, the Senate should continue working until they have passed a bill to repeal and replace Obamacare…Their constituents are tired of their inability to fulfill their promise,” he said.
Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Senator Lamar Alexander took a different stance. He was glad to hear the payments were being made to insurers, even through this month.
However, he did believe some changes were in order. He said that, following the summer recess, lawmakers might approve varying health care system rules on a state-by-state basis.
Alexander also stated that the program needed more cash through Congress, and that this should be done sooner than later.
“These two actions will help make insurance policies available at affordable prices…Congress owes struggling Americans who buy their insurance in the individual market a breakthrough in the health care stalemate,” Alexander explained.
Whether Trump will be more on the side of Waller or Alexander remains to be seen. In the coming weeks, we will surely have an answer about the future of Obamacare.
~ Conservative Zone
