2017 Affordable Care Act replacement proposals

2017 Affordable Care Act Replacement Proposals

The 2017 Affordable Care Act replacement proposals were a series of legislative efforts aimed at repealing and replacing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly known as "Obamacare." These proposals were primarily driven by the Republican Party following their electoral victories in the 2016 United States elections, which gave them control of both the Congress and the Presidency.

Repeal and Replace Notecard

Background

The ACA, enacted in 2010, aimed to increase health insurance coverage and reduce healthcare costs. It introduced measures such as the individual mandate, Medicaid expansion, and the establishment of health insurance exchanges. Despite its successes in reducing the number of uninsured Americans, the ACA faced significant opposition, particularly from Republicans who criticized it for increasing government involvement in healthcare and raising taxes.

Legislative Proposals

American Health Care Act (AHCA)

The American Health Care Act (AHCA) was the first major attempt to repeal and replace the ACA. Introduced by the House of Representatives in March 2017, the AHCA proposed eliminating the individual mandate, reducing Medicaid expansion, and altering the structure of subsidies for purchasing insurance.

CBO AHCA Health Insurance Coverage Impact

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that the AHCA would result in 23 million more uninsured Americans by 2026 compared to the ACA. The bill passed the House but faced significant opposition in the Senate, where it ultimately failed to pass.

Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA)

The Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA) was the Senate's version of the ACA replacement. It retained some elements of the AHCA but included additional provisions to gain broader support. The BCRA proposed deeper cuts to Medicaid and allowed states to waive certain ACA requirements.

Despite multiple revisions, the BCRA failed to secure enough votes in the Senate, leading to its eventual abandonment.

Other Proposals

Other legislative efforts included the Obamacare Repeal Reconciliation Act (ORRA) and the Skinny Repeal, both of which aimed to repeal key components of the ACA without a comprehensive replacement. These proposals also failed to pass the Senate.

Impact and Analysis

The failure to repeal and replace the ACA highlighted the complexities of healthcare reform and the challenges of achieving consensus within the Republican Party. The CBO's analyses of the various proposals indicated significant increases in the number of uninsured individuals and potential disruptions to the healthcare market.

AHCA Effect by Income Level

The debates over these proposals underscored the importance of healthcare policy in American politics and the difficulties in balancing cost, coverage, and quality.

Related Pages

• Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
• Health care reform in the United States
• United States Congress
• Presidency of Donald Trump

CBO Projections of Persons Uninsured Under 65 years of Age