Thomas Kaplan at The New York Times:
The House Republican plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act would raise the number of people without health insurance by 24 million within a decade, but would trim $337 billion from the federal deficit over that time, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said on Monday.
Republicans had been bracing for what was almost certain to be a bleak accounting of the legislation’s projected effects. The American Health Care Act, as Republicans call their bill, was already facing widespread criticism from providers of health care, some conservatives, and a united Democratic Party. The numbers released Monday will make only it more difficult for Republicans to explain why their legislation would bring positive change to the country’s health care system.
After years of complaining of the rising costs under Obamacare, the GOP has done nothing to reverse the trend. In fact, this plan will make costs continue to rise, while at the same time scaling back tax credits many depend on to help offset the costs in the first place.
The bill leaves in protections for people with pre-existing conditions, but if you can’t afford insurance in the first place, what good does it do? This bill should not be allowed to pass.