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The Debate Of Obamacare And Obamacare

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Today’s political landscape is more polarized than ever before. The age-old tradition of compromise and “reaching across the aisle” seems to be more and more unlikely. Nonetheless, there has been no issue more polarizing than healthcare. It is a policy that has traditionally created a rift between the Republican and Democratic parties since its inception in the 1960s. With a majority in both Houses of Congress, the Republicans look to overturn Obamacare as their first priority. Congressman Tom Price 's (R-G.A.) 's introduced the Empowering Patients First Act in 2015, legislation that will completely overturn Obamacare. Recently, Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) unveiled the first page of the Republican alternative to Obamacare. It is essential…show more content…
Price recommends that individuals currently covered by a government provided health program should contribute to their insurance plans through health savings accounts. Proponents of this policy argue that it will hold consumers to be more responsible when seeking healthcare services. Opponents argue that while it might decrease the growth of health care costs, it will worsen health care outcomes.

4. Tax credits and subsidies will be reduced.
Currently, individuals whose incomes range from 100% to 400% of the federal poverty level, receive subsidies to help them pay for their insurance packages. Under the EPFA, tax credits will be linked to age rather than income. In addition, these tax credits are comparatively modest, ranging from $1200 for those aged 18-30 to $3000 for those above age 50. In an age of rising premiums, these tax credits would do little to cover the baseline costs for many insurance packages, especially in rural regions in the country where only one option is available in the online insurance marketplace.
5. Repeal expanded Medicaid coverage. Currently, Medicaid expansion has been implemented to cover individuals up to 138% of the federal poverty level. It fills in the coverage gap between individuals whose income is too high to qualify them for Medicaid but too low to purchase a healthcare plan on the exchange market. This policy has provided health insurance to millions more of Americans, created jobs
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