Health care reform: Repeal of Obamacare faces uncertain future

The House is expected to vote on the proposed Republican repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, this week. But after weeks of trying to craft acceptable legislation it remains a big if. Moderates and conservatives within the party cannot agree on certain changes, and Democrats oppose the repeal altogether.

Odds are even greater against the measure in the Senate, where the Republicans hold an even slimmer margin. Still, lawmakers are pushing ahead with the complicated reform package, hoping to get the health care bill approved and to President Trump's desk by April.

Trump himself is touting the bill as a reasonable alternative to the current law.

We believe something needs to be done to make the bill more palatable to older Americans before it can become law. Many members of Congress agree that more aid for older consumers is needed to help them with out-of-pocket expenses, which are expected to increase significantly under the current Republican plan.

The Republicans' basic problem is that they are trying to fix a system that inherently runs counter to their way of thinking. Guaranteeing health care to everyone necessarily means there will be winners and losers in the game.  The trick is to keep the losers from losing so much they won't want to participate at all. Right now, those losers are the older Americans who face big increases in their premiums.

Published in Editorials on March 21, 2017 9:32 AM