New Election New Obamacare?
The people have spoken at least for now and they are saying they are unhappy. The storm clouds over Obmacare has ushered in GOP victories: +7 Senate + 13 House. 47% of those who cast ballots in the midterms said the 2010 health care law, which opened for enrollment a year ago, went too far. On the other hand, 26 percent said the law didn’t go far enough, CNN exit polls reported. Only 22 percent said Obamacare was just about right.
How will GOP use these powerful election gains on Obamacare?
GOP still will not have the needed 60 Senate Seats to repeal the Affordable Care Act. That said, they will now be able to pass budget rules on the legislation since the Courts ruled individual mandate penalty as a “tax”. Reinsurance funds such as Risk corridors could also be on the chopping block. Other examples would be the definition of “full-time” employee taxes on employer penalties (bipartisan support), medical devices & tanning salons etc.
According to Huffington Post article GOP-Controlled Congress Expected To Try To Repeal, Weaken ACA while Republicans have been “chomping at the bit to repeal Obamacare” since it was signed into law in 2010, even a GOP-controlled Congress is unlikely to undo the law. However, that won’t stop Republicans from forcing at least one vote on repeal. President Obama “would then swiftly veto it, but not before Democratic senators were forced to cast a vote very directly in support of Obamacare, which remains generally unpopular.” Additionally, the GOP might take aim at several provisions of the ACA, such as the individual mandate, the employer mandate, the Independent Payment Advisory Board, and the medical device tax. Some Senate Democrats would likely join them in eliminating or amending some of these measures.
A Democrat President governing with both Houses going GOP may not be so bad after all. The successful Clinton Presidency had to contend with the same balancing act. Two decades later, the key question is can both branches find a common ground and a productive working relationship?
For specific details on all available health plans in 2015, contact our team at Millennium Medical Solutions Corp (855)667-4621. We work in coordination with Navigators to assist with medicaid, CHIP Child Health Plus, Family Health Plus and Medicare Dual Eligibles. We have Spanish, Russian, and Hebrew speakers available. Quotes can also be viewed on our site.