Recently, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released an updated analysis of the American Health Care Act (AHCA). As mentioned in my previous health care updates, my staff and I remain plugged into this debate. We will continue to deliver a fact-based analysis of any new information we receive and break down the specific impact it will have for us here in Nevada.
In regards to the AHCA, I hear from many of you on a daily basis who have raised concerns about the recent House-passed legislation, so I wanted to take a moment to address some of those concerns. Below is information pulled directly from the CBO’s latest analysis of the AHCA in regards to the uninsured population and lost coverage.
Uninsured Population & Keeping Your Current Coverage
1. Most of the Uninsured Population Fall into this Group by Choice
It’s important to note the distinction between “losing” your coverage and not maintaining any coverage, because if the AHCA is passed, all Americans would then have a choice about whether or not to purchase health insurance. The present CBO analysis counts individuals voluntarily opting out of coverage as a part of the total number of individuals in the “lost coverage” category – even though they chose not to buy health insurance in the first place. This is also important to keep in mind the next time you hear hyperbolic numbers being reported in regards to the number of individuals who will “lose” their coverage under the AHCA.
CBO ANALYSIS: The CBO estimates the number of uninsured individuals will increase by 23 million by 2026. Again, being uninsured does not mean an individual has “lost” insurance. In fact, the CBO stated in their report that “most” of the estimated 23 million individuals would choose to no longer have insurance due to the lack of the Individual Mandate, which forced them to purchase health insurance against their will.
Under the ACA, millions of individuals are paying for coverage they either don’t want or cannot afford to use. The AHCA is consumer choice – not a government mandate.
2. Current Medicaid Enrollees in Nevada will NOT be Required to Leave
CBO ANALYSIS: The CBO uses the term “losing” when describing the condition of individuals not currently eligible for Medicaid enrollment, but who could potentially become eligible after 2019. If the AHCA becomes law, those people who do not currently have Medicaid, would become eligible for tax credits and other cost-sharing mechanisms. It’s not possible for individuals in this group to “lose” Medicaid coverage they never had.
As promised, my staff and I will continue examining all new information related to the AHCA and clarify what it means for folks in Nevada. I ask that you please take a moment to review the CBO’s analysis if you have not already, and let me know what you think through my website. Stay tuned for the next health care update in which we plan to examine: the Medicaid impact. In the coming weeks, we will also be discussing: Community Health Centers, women’s health services, pre-existing conditions, and the single-payer system.
