The New York Times reports some Republicans want to keep Obamacare taxes for their version of the monster, delay repeal for two to four years, and assure an orderly transition in the insurance marketplace.
That bureaucrat, politician timeline is simply throwing Obamacare a lifeline.
Obamacare should be repealed now! Replacement legislation should contain only four primary provisions.
1. Insurance companies are allowed to compete across state lines, creating a national market and competition to keep a lid on prices. Any policy offered nationally will not be subject to state-level regulations.
This means state politicians with itchy legislative fingers can’t force companies to cover pap smears, prostate exams, birth control, or any medical fad do-gooders want to force on consumers. Individual buyers will be able to pay for the coverage they want and not be forced to pay for coverage a major campaign contributor wants them to have.
Any policy offered must be offered in all states. Any company selling a policy within a state must conform to that state’s financial stability rules.
2. There will be no exclusions for pre-existing conditions if the patient can prove continuous coverage for the prior six months. Otherwise, companies may impose a six-month waiting period. Patients who don’t want to buy private insurance may participate in a federal pool patterned after the high-risk driver pools many states have for auto insurance.
3. Hospitals that accept federal money are required to post turnkey prices on the web for the 25 most common surgical procedures requiring hospitalization; the 25 most common out-patient surgical procedures, and the 25 most common tests.
These listed charges must match the best price offered by insurance companies.
Currently healthcare pricing is totally opaque. Consumers spend more time pricing a new tire than they do pricing a new hip. This single provision will give consumers comparison power.
4. Enforcement of the new law must be broken up among older existing agencies and the Obamacare infrastructure completely eliminated. Let the FTC monitor interstate insurance policies. Medicare can handle hospital price listing and the pre-existing condition pool.
Breaking up responsibility makes it harder for Democrats to revive Obamacare if and when they take power in the future.
There’ll be a grace period of one year before repeal takes effect. That gives insurance companies time to devise and market new policies and customers time to start looking for the new option that best fits their situation.
Any more time and panicky politicians will undermine repeal as the 2018 election approaches.
Finally Republicans must not allow Democrats to set the terms of the debate. If the repeal of Obamacare is a fight about healthcare, we’ve lost. This repeal is about personal liberty, individual responsibility, and government intrusion.
Ending the nanny state starts with firing the nanny.
Michael R. Shannon is a commentator, researcher for the League of American Voters, and an award-winning political and advertising consultant with nationwide and international experience. He is author of "Conservative Christian’s Guidebook for Living in Secular Times (Now with added humor!)." Read more of Michael Shannon's reports — Go Here Now.