5 Ways the Senate Health Care Bill Would Hurt You Skyrocketing insurance premiums are just one of t

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http://www.aarp.org/politics-society/advocacy/info-2017/effects-of-senate-health-care-bill.html



Skyrocketing insurance premiums are just one of the pain points




5 Ways the Senate Health Care Bill Would Hurt You




by Dena Bunis, AARP, June 28, 2017




Senate Health Care Bill What It Means to You!

Istock: Illustration by AARP

Medicare services could be threatened under the new legislation.

The Senate bill introduced last week to replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) would dramatically increase the cost of health care for Americans 50 and older.

The Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA) would allow insurers to charge older people substantially more than younger ones, and states would have the ability to erase important protections such as essential health benefits.

Among the key provisions in the bill, here are those that would really sting:



You would have to pay more for insurance.

The Senate bill essentially levies what AARP calls an Age Tax, leading to higher premiums for older Americans. The pain is twofold: Seniors could be charged five times as much as younger people for health insurance, and they would receive less in tax credits.

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Your insurance might not cover all the services you need to treat your illness.

The Senate bill lets states opt out of mandating that insurance policies cover a set of basic medical services, also known as essential health benefits, that help treat such illnesses as heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and cancer. That means you may have to pay out of pocket for the care you need to stay alive. Current law requires all insurance policies to pay for such things as hospital stays, prescription drugs, lab tests and other medical services.



You could lose your (or your loved one’s) Medicaid coverage.

The Senate bill cuts $772 billion from Medicaid over a decade. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, that means 15 million fewer people would get Medicaid in the coming years, and states would be forced to cut back on services. Keep in mind that about two-thirds of nursing home residents across the country rely on Medicaid to pay for their care. If the Senate bill becomes law, millions of those nursing home residents might not be able to afford to stay in their current facilities.



You may lose some Medicare services.

The Senate bill repeals a payroll tax on high-income individuals that was designed to help make sure Medicare remains solvent. By repealing the 0.9 percent tax on high-income earners, the bill would cut $58.6 billion from Medicare — making it harder for Medicare to pay for services in the future.
Your employer might cap some of your current insurance benefits.

[BigmanPigman]

1. McConnell is determined to hold a vote this week...still time to call!

[phone].
RESIST!