A Republican’s fixes for Obamacare- 😃 Just joking‼️

Dr Monica Wehby, the Republican Senate candidate in Oregon has some ideas to “fix” Obamacare. You would think a doctor would have more sense and a better understanding of the health care system.

On the other hand, when someone decides to run for political office it appears they lose common sense and integrity in favor of trying to push all the voters buttons. I wonder if that is some kind of a medical condition? Let’s call it “getelecteditus.”😃

Monica’s Fixes

1. Allow the exchanges to sell less expensive catastrophic plans that cover major expenses but not routine care.

👎 Catastrophic coverage is already available to anyone under age 30. Expanding that accomplishes what? Well, it will take the better risks out of the larger insurance pool.

2. Expand Health Savings Accounts, or HSAs, which allow people to save money tax-free for use on out-of pocket expenses

👎 To what end, to be sure there is less money to save for retirement? HSAs are already widely available and growing quickly among employer plans.

3. Allow people to purchase health insurance across state lines to increase the number of options in the marketplace

👎 Okay fine, more options will do what? I’m surprised she didn’t roll out the old increase competition line.

4. Allow EVERYONE to purchase health insurance with pre-tax dollars so they own the policy and can keep it if they change jobs.

👎. Say what? This is so bizarre it’s hard to comment. Pre-tax or post-tax has nothing to do with owning the policy. Are we talking about eliminating group coverage? Even before Obamacare workers who lost coverage were guaranteed the ability to get new coverage. And then there is the small matter of the cost of the pre-tax premiums as a result of lost government revenue.

5. Eliminate the new 2.3% excise tax on medical devices (pacemakers, MRIs, US machines, braces) to preserve medical innovation and help American manufacturing.

👎 A lot of people are for this one for good reason, but there is lost revenue to be made up and if you want to eliminate a tax that will help more people, how about the 40% excise tax on health plans starting in 2018?

6. Establish state-based high risk pools to help pay for those with high cost medical care.

👎 There were state-based high risk pools before Obamacare; some states like NJ required open enrollment. They are either unaffordable or drive up premiums for everyone.

7. Use tax credits, rather than mandates, to expand healthcare coverage.

👎 Not sure this is worth commenting on.

😡 All of the above fixes nothing, does not address health care costs or quality and like Obamacare merely tinkers with the insurance market.