Insightful ten points that summarize the hell that is the Graham-Cassidy bill.

[kstewart33]

Ben Wikler, Washington director of Moveon.org provides an insightful summary of the hell that is Graham-Cassidy. Read from the bottom up. His twitter feed: https://twitter.com/benwikler

10. Every state will ultimately lose a massive amount of funding. And on top of that, everyone with private insurance loses protections.

9. Graham & Cassidy are going around saying that under their bill, if a state likes Obamacare, it can keep it. That's a lie.

8. Read more here, incl why this affects every state, not just those that get waivers:
https://www.brookings.edu/2017/05/02/allowing-states-to-define-essential-health-benefits-could-weaken-aca-protections-against-catastrophic-costs-for-people-with-employer-coverage-nationwide/

7. Getting rid of that ban hurts everyone on private insurance. Not just people who think they're on Obamacare.

6. But here's the thing. The ban on insurance caps benefited everyone: folks w/employer insurance & individual mkt alike.

5. That's b/c the ACA ban on annual/lifetime caps only applied to services defined as Essential Health Benefits. No EHBs under G-C, no ban.

4. But it also means insurers can reimpose annual and lifetime caps on insurance coverage. Meaning if you get really sick, you're cut off.

3. That means basic services (say, prescriptions or maternity) won't necessarily be covered by insurance plans on the individual market

2. As with past #Trumpcare bills, G-C would let states waive requirements that insurance plans cover so-called Essential Health Benefits

1. If you get health insurance from your job, the Graham-Cassidy #Trumpcare bill puts you at risk. Here's why:

https://www.brookings.edu/2017/05/02/allowing-states-to-define-essential-health-benefits-could-weaken-aca-protections-against-catastrophic-costs-for-people-with-employer-coverage-nationwide/ …

[brokephibroke]

1. That is so messed up

Can't believe anyone would vote for that.

[smirkymonkey]

2. How can anyone in their right mind - who is not a member of the 1% - possibly be in

favor of this? It is a death sentence for so many people. The thing is, you may be healthy now, but that is no guarantee later on down the road. This is just so unbelievably sick I can't even get my mind around the fact that we are this close to it becoming a reality in this country.

[BigmanPigman]

3. I am very sick yet I called 13 senators today and they are beginning to

recognize my voice. I guess that calling close to 400 times since the beginning of the year could have something to do with it. Also, my hyperventilating and sobbing throughout each call could have something to do with it too. At least now it is harder to get through on the phone. On Sept 6 when a DU post alerted me that the expected rebirth of the ACA repeal was happening it was too easy to get a call through. Now that the DEMS are finally getting the word out and the media is starting too (too little too late in my opinion!!!!!) people are finally realizing that McConnell never gives up. The grassroots activates warned us to stay vigilant but any one with a triple digital IQ didn't need to know that...NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE TRUE EVIL NATURE OF THE GOP!!

[kstewart33]

4. I'm devoting all day tomorrow to call.

Here in Colorado, the impact would be devastating. From the Washington Post:

"An initial estimate for Colorado, according to state officials, suggests that it could lose at least $700 million in annual federal funding by 2025. Since the state has roughly 450,000 in its Medicaid expansion program and another 100,000 receiving premium tax credits on its health care exchange, that could translate into hundreds of thousands of Coloradans losing coverage."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/renewed-obamacare-repeal-effort-dealt-a-blow-as-governors-come-out-in-opposition/2017/09/19/499478fe-9d51-11e7-9083-fbfddf6804c2_story.html?utm_term=.1070f3aa03a3

[BigmanPigman]

5. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!

[kstewart33]

6. Hang in there, Bigman.

It's not over yet.