Issue Position: Affordable Health Care

Issue Position

Once again, the GOP is running for election this year on the slogan "repeal and replace Obamacare." In fact no candidate can make it through a GOP primary without taking this pledge. Repeal and replace, amend, improve, evolve, or rename. Let's stop the games and move forward.

You would think the GOP would at least admit from a moral standpoint that due to the expansion of access to health care, the Affordable Care Act is clearly better than what we had previously. The Medicaid expansion provision, which was made voluntary to the individual states, does a lot to help people who cannot afford insurance premiums.

Of the 8 million plus who have signed up for Affordable Health Care nationally through exchanges, many switched from existing "limited" or "substandard" or "catastrophic coverage" insurance policies. In Georgia, 22 percent of the population (one of the highest nationally) was uninsured before ACA. In other words at a minimum, 78% of Georgians were paying the medical bills for the other 22% who do not have insurance.

Even if all 8 million plus had been uninsured, tens of millions are still without insurance and will be for the near future. The fact is especially true in red states like ours that have inexplicitly chosen to turn back federal money to expand Medicaid, a purely political decision.

Medicare expansion may be the best way to expand ACA coverage. A bi-partisan commission would be a good way to find out. If the ACA in it's present form becomes a Democratic sacred cow, we are no better than our opponents.

As long as we are moving forward, not backwards I want to keep the dialogue open to improving the Affordable Care Act. Repeal and replace, amend, improve, evolve, or rename. Let's stop the games and get serious about solving our health care problem.

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