Appeals court appears to side with striking down Obamacare

[Poiuyt]

The two Republican-appointed judges on the appeals panel hearing a Trump-backed challenge to Obamacare -- a majority of the three-judge panel -- suggested Tuesday that they might side with a lower court judge who said last year that the whole law should be struck down.

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Lawyers from the Trump administration and a group of Republican states squared off against attorneys from a coalition of Democratic states and the House of Representatives in the New Orleans appeals court. If the Texas challenge is upheld, it threatens to wipe away coverage for millions of Americans, as well as the law's protections for those with pre-existing conditions. And it would do what Congress failed to accomplish in 2017 -- take down Obamacare.

Three 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals judges -- one nominated by President Donald Trump, one by George W. Bush and one by Jimmy Carter -- heard the arguments. Because the case is before one of the most conservative appellate courts in the country, it is almost guaranteed to wind up in the Supreme Court.

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Trump is pinning his hopes on the court striking down the law, allowing him to fulfill his campaign promise to repeal it, but congressional Republicans are keeping their distance since it gives Democrats fodder to attack the GOP for not protecting those with pre-existing conditions -- a hallmark of the landmark health reform law.

Trump has repeatedly said he is working on a replacement plan that will preserve those protections but has yet to release any details. He has said Congress won't vote on it until after next year's presidential election.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/09/politics/obamacare-appeal-arguments-texas-california/index.html

I hope they're wrong since my wife relies on Obamacare. But I think that if it gets tossed out, the Democrats would win big in 2020.

[Caliman73]

1. It was predictable in the 5th Circuit.

I hope they're wrong since my wife relies on Obamacare. But I think that if it gets tossed out, the Democrats would win big in 2020.

I think you are correct. 7 million people already lost healthcare under Trump so far. If this goes through a lot more people will be tossed out of coverage and the Exchanges will collapse. States who expanded Medicaid will get screwed. A whole lot of pain for a whole lot of people.

Democrats need to hit really hard on who made it happen. This has to be pinned on Trump and the Republicans because it is exactly their fault and they have nothing set up to take the ACA's place.

[Turin_C3PO]

2. I rely on expanded Medicaid.

If it’s eliminated, I will be without lifesaving medications. I simply won’t be able to afford them. I hate this administration with the fire of a thousand suns!

[mcar]

9. They don't care about any of us, Turin

They just wanted the issue. I bet McConnell and co are praying it doesn't get struck down.

[Turin_C3PO]

16. It'll be their funeral in the GE if they strike it down.

As for me, my medicine will cost me more than $3000 monthly (and that’s WITH Medicare as a primary). I simply don’t have that kind of money.

[mcar]

18. That is terrible

So many of us are one health crisis away from financial disaster.

[Kurt V.]

3. there are a couple of reliable takes on this. Existing conditions will be the only casualty.

or a mass killing of actual ppl. ( aca saved my life in 2014 )

[ismnotwasm]

4. Trump will role out a big announcement reforming kidney dialysis tomorrow

When people say “Medicare for all” how we treat chronic renal disease is the closest example we have. Although reforms are needed, I don’t trust trump not to fuck it up. He will, however, tweak it so organ transplants are easier to get, and shift funding from stand alone Hemodialysis clinics to home dialysis

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.politico.com/amp/story/2019/07/08/trump-kidney-care-market-1573651

He will use this issue to try and look good on healthcare reform

[maxsolomon]

5. I don't think losing the ACA will change anyone's mind in the 2020 election.

And we probably will lose it, as the GOP has been working to cripple it since the day it was signed into law. First Rubio's sabotage, then this Death-by-a-1,000-Cuts lawsuit strategy.

Nor do I think "Medicare for All" is a winning issue, in apparent contrast to most Democratic candidates.

The swing voters, the people who decide, vote based on impressions and emotions, not policies. they barely look up until the debates.

Healthcare is an abstract - until you need it and it's too late.

[Thekaspervote]

6. Oh I don't know. Healthcare is the #1 voter issue right now

No, I don’t think we will change the idiot’s base, can’t fix stupid, but I do think it will work with those trying to decide. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t have a relative or friend that will not be effected by this.

It may work too on the down ballot ticket

[maxsolomon]

7. Considering the ACA freakout that gave Congress to the GOP for 8 years,

and the legislative nightmare it took to just get that done, Medicare for All is a pipe dream.

If it turns voters out, fine. I just don't see it as a realistic possibility as long as the GOP has any power whatsoever.

[mcar]

10. 65 million people have pre existing conditions

I don't know how many millions have their young adult kids on their policies. This would open the eyes of many clueless voters.

[maxsolomon]

11. The loss of the ACA? One would hope.

Unfortunately, I think Trump Voters will go to the grave refusing Obamacare. I already know one that did.

[mcar]

12. Millions of dollars voters have Obamacare

They just don't know it. Wait till it goes away and they can't get their insulin, heart meds, etc.

[Corgigal]

13. But you will have a bunch of families

who has junior going to college and believe that he will be covered under his parents policy to age 27. When they find out they might have to buy an Individual policy for junior at hundreds of dollars a month.

Oh well.

[mcar]

8. Go ahead, you assholes, strike it down

Democrats will win 45 states in 2020.

[eleny]

14. Savage

From Merriam-Webster: savage means "lacking the restraints normal to civilized human beings".

[sir pball]

15. Eh, absolute worst case scenario, a lot of Trumpers die.

Sadly along with a lot of good people, but if you absolutely can't win, at least take as many of them with you as you can.

No, I'm not a nice person.

[Dan]

17. Trust Trump and the GOP Senate, if the ACA is struck down.

Our fearless leader has indicated that the GOP has a BEST ever plan that will bigly address our health care insurance issues, while replacing the failing Obamacare.

The new TrumpCare like the former Trump University - is the best of the best and will be very strongly accepted by everyone that it covers.

People with pre-existing conditions that have indicated that TrumpCare won’t cover their pre-existing conditions is nothing but FAKE news. All of Donald’s friends that have pre-existing conditions can use the new and best TrumpCare at an affordable rate.

Only the best people in the GOP Senate are working on this plan. The TrumpCare plan that will be available for all right after the 2020 election IF the GOP is able to take both houses of Congress. If the GOP is not able to take both Houses of Congress then it will be the Democratic Party’s fault that there will no longer be health care for those previously protected by the ACA. This will not be Trump’s fault.

Trust the GOP - and with TrumpCare - don’t get sick and need medical care.