Cruz Makes Push to Rescue Health Care Bill

The Republican attempt to repeal and replace Obamacare hit it its latest snag last week when the Senate vote on the party’s proposed health care bill was delayed due to a lack of support from GOP leaders.

Now, an amendment pushed by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) could help to revive the bill.

The Better Care Reconciliation Act

Cruz pushed for a provision in the Senate health care bill that would allow insurance companies to sell policies that are free from Obamacare’s regulations, as long as they also offer a number of plans that do abide by those regulations. The Cruz proposal serves as a compromise to the full-on repeal of Obamacare that the Trump administration has been calling for.

The Senate health care bill, now known as the Better Care Reconciliation Act, is likely to undergo more changes to help sway a number of Republican senators that have expressed concern over the bill. It is not known whether the Cruz proposal will be one of those changes, nor is it known when the Senate will attempt to vote on the revised bill.

GOP leaders have sent two versions of the bill — one with the Cruz amendment included and one without — to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) for review.

Does Having More Insurance Options Mean Lower Premiums?

The goal of the Cruz amendment is not just to win over fence-sitting Republican senators in order to pass the health care bill. Cruz also hopes insurance policies that can operate free of Obamacare’s regulations can be sold at a lower premium.

The cost of health insurance premiums under the Better Care Reconciliation Act has been a point of contention for some Republican senators. The CBO estimated that premiums under the new bill would cost 15-20 percent more in 2018 and 2019 before gradually lowering over ensuing years.

The Cruz amendment is similar to the one spearheaded by Rep. Tom MacArthur of New Jersey. MacArthur’s amendment allowed individual states to opt out of Obamacare coverage requirements that include maternity and mental health care. The MacArthur amendment was added after the bill temporarily stalled in the House of Representatives.

For more information about the new proposed health care legislation, read the following featured articles:

• What Is Trumpcare?
• Is Congress Really Exempt From Trumpcare?
• Will Trumpcare Affect Employer-Sponsored Plans?

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Sources

The Hill: http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/cruz-plan-could-be-key-to-unlocking-healthcare-votes

Congressional Budget Office: https://www.cbo.gov/publication