Democratic Senator Goes on Tweet Storm Over Leaked Obamacare Repeal Plan

By Brooke Seipel, The Hill

01 March 17

 

en. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) blasted the leaked Republican plans for repealing and replacing ObamaCare in a Friday night tweet storm.

A draft House Republican ObamaCare bill was leaked on Friday and includes plans to dismantle the core aspects of the healthcare law and replace them with a system centered on a new tax credit.

The measure is dated Feb. 10, so it is not the most recent version of Republicans’ plan. It is unclear how much has changed since then.

Murphy starts his "rant" with a tweet saying, "Let me count thy ways that the leaked GOP ACA repeal plan will totally, completely, monumentally screw you."

He followed it with a series of tweets highlighting six parts of the draft ObamaCare repeal bill.

Let me count thy ways that the leaked GOP ACA repeal plan will totally, completely, monumentally screw you.

— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) February 24, 2017

(1) You get a couple thousand bucks to help u buy insurance. That's it. If u aren't rich or healthy, u won't be able to afford anything.

— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) February 24, 2017

(2) It gets worse. When u can't afford your premiums bc the tax credit is too small, you get a huge penalty when you try to sign up again.

— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) February 24, 2017

(3) Coverage mandates and penalties only work if you make insurance affordable. GOP plan cuts subsidies so much that penalty is unworkable.

— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) February 24, 2017

(4) Mandatory benefits are repealed. So even if you CAN get insurance, it doesn't have to cover ANYTHING. Out of pocket expenses skyrocket.

— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) February 24, 2017

(5) Oh, and Medicaid expansion is effectively GONE. Millions and millions lose coverage, start using ERs again for health care. Others die.

— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) February 25, 2017

(6) Last rant, for now. If you're older, your premiums go WAY up. GOP plan guts premium protections for older consumers.

— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) February 25, 2017

In contrast to ObamaCare, the credits are not based on income, which Democrats argue means not enough help is given to low-income people to be able to afford coverage. Republicans say income-based credits discourage work.

The GOP plan is paid for in part through a proposal to start taxing more generous employer-sponsored health insurance plans. The proposal would start taxing plans above the 90th percentile of premiums.